A Grand Soiree [Open to anyone with potential business at the NYC branch of the Hellfire Club]

[ngm_hellfire]

"There hasn't been a party like this in years at this location, has there?" Sebastian turned towards Tessa, or rather, the clone of her that Essex had made for him. It was true, though, there was an energy in the old place that hadn't been seen ever since before he died for the first time. They didn't know yet, that he would take this moment to make his reemegence into the public eye, but there were rumours that there would be a grand surprise.

"No, sir. Attendance at the New York branch's soirees has been declining for some years." Tessa replied crisply. He wondered, vaguely, what the original Tessa would think of this pitch-perfect copy of her. As for Tessa's part, she was aware of Sage's existence and regarded it as nothing more than a vague curiosity.

Sebastian continued to watch guests filing in through the cameras at the command centre he'd installed some years ago beneath the halls of the Hellfire Club.

"What about my would-be heirs?" Sebastian spoke with a faint sneer. Disappointing as they were in many ways, they were his family. His legacy. They would have to do. He couldn't have another Shinobi on his hands.

"I expect they will both attend. I've spotted Stephanie, but but Alistaire as of yet." Tessa replied again.

"Good. And others have been invited too. The Braddock and the Worthington girls." Sebastian turned again towards the monitors. "Keep a close eye on the witch, would you? I won't have her ruining my night."

"Yes, sir."

Sebastian lifted a glass of fine whisky to his lips and took a slow sip, watching the event unfolding before him. A grand collection of the finest of New York society. A fine audience for him to emerge before, like the phoenix.

Comments

[hellfire_empath]

Though part of her family had the membership, Brooke herself wasn't part of the New York branch of the Hellfire Club. Not since becoming her father's Red Rook under the London Branch. But as a prominent New York socialite, Brooke was very much invited to this event. (There was also the fact about Sebastian's return...)

So there she was, in an outfit carefully chosen to represent all three houses under the club, with a flute of sparkling sweet red wine in her hand, her eyes seeking out Stephanie, who she knew would most certainly be present.

[pyroprincess]

When Stephanie arrived, it was in an effortless whir, a pitch-perfect smile towards all of the beautiful and insignificant people on the way. And on her arm, of course, her handsome fiancee, whom many of the people at the club treated with a certain condescending curiosity, as an exotic aberration from the New York blueblooded scene.

And she pretended she didn't notice the utter vapidity of their small talk. She did look up at Marcelo for a moment, as if to say your patience will be rewarded later with a faint saucy smile. And then she saw Brooke and glided over to her, Marcelo in tow.

"Brooke, you look absolutely stunning as always." Cue the ritual of airkisses, followed by a rather more sincere brief hug. "A big night tonight at the Hellfire Club. It's been a long time since there's been so many people here. It's as if they know something's going to happen." Which of course it was. She wondered how much people knew and suspected.

[hellfire_empath]

"So do you," Brooke said, breaking apart from the hug. She stared at Stephanie for a long moment. It felt as though this was the first time they'd spoken in months, though Brooke knew that not much time at all had passed since their last conversation. "Marcelo," she then said, offering Stephanie's un-New-Yorker fiance a hand. "How do you do? You do look...dashing."

[vesper_verde]

Marcelo had been going stir-crazy in the penthouse. He still had a bit to go before he could go back to work. As entertaining as Sancho was, he needed to get out. Stephanie had helped him get dressed since his wounds still pulled painfully every once in awhile.

He wasn't particularly bothered by the disdain he was surrounded by. Though seeing this part of Stephanie's life was a little eye-opening. He gave a gentle grin at her promising smile.

Then they were heading toward a brunette he heard about often but had only met once.

"Brooke," he greeted politely with a small nod. He looked slightly surprised by the offered hand. He shook the offered hand. "Nice to see you again. You look quite beautiful tonight."

[pyroprincess]

"Isn't he though?" Stephanie replied smoothly, going up on tiptoes slightly to kiss his cheek. He was certainly a fetching man and there were a few women that were giving him openly lustful glances.

"So, are you ready for the main event?" She managed to make it sound, almost effortlessly, like she was looking forward to it, but Brooke's advanced empathic powers would pick up traces of Stephanie's deep ambivalence towards her father's return. She didn't know what to think of this next step.

It was also safe to say that her love for the man had been largely extinguished by his brutal behaviour towards her. She respected him, yes, feared him, but she didn't really think she loved him anymore. She expected relationships to be reciprocal, and Stephanie knew Sebastian shaw her as an asset.

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke might have openly gagged if it wouldn't have insulted her best friend. Marcelo was a good-looking man, sure, even if those dreads were in poor taste, but he wasn't from New York. He wasn't from society. Not as Brooke Aurelia Wyngarde saw it.

Still, Stephanie's question forced Brooke to shift her attention towards her friend. "What's going on?" she asked, lowering her voice a few octaves. "You don't...you seem conflicted."

[vesper_verde]

"I had a wonderful fashion consultant this evening." She just happened to be the one kissing his cheek.

Marcelo took one of Stephanie's hands in his and gave it a small squeeze. If he could focus on being here for her, he could ignore his own emotions on what was going to happen. A lot of it being highly unimpressed with Sebastian Shaw.

[pyroprincess]

He was the heir to Brazil's largest corporation. Stephanie considered that to be plenty 'society' enough, even though she would've loved him regardless. Though his impressive fortune and connections did smooth things over occasionally.

Stephanie squeezed his hand back, her expression taking on a slightly harder cast. "This isn't really the appropriate place for that discussion. Maybe another time."

The effortless smile came back, though the emotional aura did little more than dull slightly.

[wateronthebrain]

The young heir to the Sterling fortune was invited. Erin is going to be going to college in the city within a few short months. She hadn't expected to be invited here. She thought it would be a good idea to attend this just to see why they were interested in her.

She knows she can come off as naive because of her age and due to how sheltered her upbringing led her to be on the surface.

Still she thinks as long as she is careful she will be fine. Even if she feels like she might be in shark infested waters. Next time she is going to bring a date. Someone who doesn't mind playing meat shield.

At least she pulls this little outfit off nicely. She didn't want to go too over the top. Blending in was just as important as standing out in the right situation.

This place looks packed. She glances at her dress briefly wondering if she had missed a social cue given the three different colors she is seeing in spades. Damn. She should have asked her mother. As much as the woman can be a harpy she can be useful for this sort of thing.

Oh well it can't be helped. She looks decent and has no reason to look like she fits in. She's a guest after all.

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke nodded slowly. It could wait, but she was concerned. Still, there were many eyes on all three of them, and for good reasons. She reached up and gently adjusted an earring. "Brunch tomorrow at my apartment? I can have Sharona whip up some lemon-ricotta pancakes with a raspberry syrup?" Of course, that would only happen if things went well tonight. She looked at Marcelo and added, "You're more than invited to come along as well, of course."

[vesper_verde]

His free hand went to brush across the spot where Vargas' sword had emerged from being shoved through his body. He tried to cover it by adjusting the buttons on his jacket.

"I appreciate the invitation, but I must decline. Tonight might be my only social outing for the week." He shrugged slightly and held Stephanie's hand a little tighter. "Doctor's orders on not being a third wheel."

[light_as_a_rock]

Eva hadn't really given much thought to symbolism when she picked her dress for this evening, she just knew she looked good in white.

She grabbed a flute of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter, and began to work her way through the crowd. So many business contacts, and potential contacts. Events like these were her least favorite part about being a Worthington.

[pyroprincess]

Stephanie looked over at him, finding it impossible not to notice what he was doing. She frowned a little. It was ... still difficult sometimes, to know that he'd been hurt so severely. She may have saved his life by intervening, but it was far too close. Her hand gripped his back a little protectively.

"You wouldn't be a third wheel, darling. But ... perhaps it would be good to have some girl time. We could all do dinner another night? Perhaps you could bring Alexander. If he isn't overly horrified with me ..." Yes, because of the flaming naked angel business. Rather sordid, really.

[hellfire_empath]

Whatever it was that Stephanie and Marcelo were feeling, Brooke felt it too. She blinked for a moment, wondering what exactly was going on, but turned her attention back to Stephanie rather quickly. "Alexander's fine," she said quickly. "And yes, perhaps some girl time is in order. There's clearly much to discuss," she said, her eyes darting towards Marcelo quickly.

[vesper_verde]

"Dinner sounds fine," he said with a lightness he didn't really feel. He was still out of sorts after the attack on Veridian. Also, his general distaste for Stephanie's father was nice undertone to his internal feelings.

"Maybe at the restaurant you two own?"

[kinetic_assault]

Brianna knew what the invitation was about before she opened it. She'd dreaded receiving it but she couldn't hide away. Not any longer. She'd asked her mother about the Hellfire Club once and received silence for her trouble. Even her father wasn't willing to broach the subject with her so Brianna knew it was time to do the next best thing.

She bought a dark blue dress and new heels. It was time to find out what all this was about.

She arrived at the event and put on her best act-like-a-lady face. Some of the less debonair individuals here probably had wallets on them. It wouldn't be hard to relieve them of those if she wanted but now wasn't the time.

She asked for a glass of water and tried to figure out how many of these people were just bored socialites looking for a good time or honest-to-badness idle rich that played with the GDP of nations.

She sipped her water and tried to look around for anyone she might know.

[pyroprincess]

"The Bistro Provencal is always open for our business." Stephanie replied with a thin smile she wasn't necessarily feeling. Her own feelings about Sebastian weren't all that much better, considering everything that had happened. How cruelly he'd treated her.

"We shouldn't deprive the others here of our beautiful selves, though. Let's go circulate some, shall we?"

[ngm_hellfire]

"Why hello there." A confidant man in a bright white suit spoke, his green hair separating him slightly amid the mostly conservative-looking crowd.

Trevor Fitzroy looked like he was enjoying the night, though it was hard to tell if he was actually having a good time or if it was simply put upon. He looked like he'd been working on that flawless grin for a long time.

He extended his hand. "Trevor Fitzroy. And whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

[ngm_hellfire]

Eva would be able to hear a small change in the piano music as the hired player was convinced to leave the stage, and a man in an unassuming dark suit began to play. Everything about him screamed anonymity to virtually everyone around him. Average height, medium build. A fairly pale face set off by dark hair. Trimmed goatee. Long fingers delicately striking a spare and slightly haunting melody.

To virtually everyone else, he would've been notable only for his playing. But to a few within the room, the appearance of this unassuming-looking man would inspire real dread.

Nathaniel Essex looked up at Eva for a moment, tilting his head in recognition, though not stopping his playing for a moment.

[wateronthebrain]

"Erin Sterling," she smiles warmly. The suit is a little too white.

Too bad these people don't believe in color options. She won't say that though. She will just keep track of exactly where his hands end up. Anywhere she doesn't care for them to be and she will politely remove them.

[ngm_hellfire]

"Hello Brianna." Reginald Crane said, coming up behind her with his eerily soundless step, his voice barely above a whisper, but inflected with an almost paternal regard. He regarded her for a moment in his idly curious way. His mutant power, the ability to manipulate the impressions and emotions of others through his voice was in full evidence, aimed to lull her and build trust.

"I hope you didn't neglect to invite your lovely companion." He sounded concerned, though his expression barely changed. "I was hoping to speak to you both."

A thin-lipped smile emerged from his mostly impassive features.

[ngm_hellfire]

"Ah. It's an honour meeting you." If she takes his hand, he'd kiss it instead of shaking it. His mannerisms were a touch on the foppish side. A sign, perhaps, that he is new to this particular social milieu.

"Hopefully the glare of the suit isn't hurting your eyes." He smirked faintly. "An outward sign of my status in the Club. Quite mandatory."

"May I get you a drink? I've access to some finer goods than what they're serving to the general public here." Fitzroy smirked faintly.

[kinetic_assault]

"Oh, hello Mr. Crane. You look dashing tonight." Brianna said, her English accent in full effect. She smiled warmly, unaware of what Crane was doing tonight.

"Yes, Kayla is here this evening. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you, too. How are you this evening?" she asked.

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

Alisa was sure her invitation was fake or some sick joke. But somehow she obtained one, and it granted her access to the party. She really did not wish to be here, but she was still a member of New York's High Society, and she still had to make appearances for the sake of clientele. No, not just that, but her fledgling art gallery as well.

Dressed in a black gown that was a close replica to Audrey Hepburn's (Complete with gloves), she made small talk with the few clients she had (who also attended the party as well). Eventually, Alisa would move away from most of the crowds to sit by herself at a table.

Tonight, she dared not to take any alcohol. If she got drunk, she would only make herself look worse... and the Shaws would have a field day playing hacky sack with her head. Instead, she remained somewhat prim and proper... and silent unless someone spoke to her. There was no way in hell she was going to get on anyone's bad side, tonight.

[ngm_hellfire]

"You flatter me." Crane replied with a courteous smile. "But thank you. Of course, you're stunning as always." There wasn't a hint of lechery in his voice, it was entirely innocent. Paternal even.

"Ah, wonderful. You two make such a lovely couple." He didn't say so much, but he had been encouraging regarding their relationship when so many socialites still regarded the notion with skepticism- partly because Kayla was also a woman, but also because she was spectacularly not from the inner circle of society.

"Quite a crowd tonight, isn't it? It's as if they're expecting something big to happen tonight."