Stephanie for her part wasn't particularly hungry, but she did feel the desire to have a drink. Just one, and not that admittedly lovely wine that Alistaire had brought. She went off to the drink cabinet and got out a brandy snifter and some Armagnac.

"Do you want something?" Stephanie asked Alistaire. If he did, she'd pour it, if not, she came back with two fingers of Armagnac in a snifter, which she took a small sip of.

She looked at him intently. "Nobody has ever been the Lord of the Hellfire Club without it blackening their soul. Father may never have been a good man- let's be honest, but there was a time when his ambitions were not remotely so mad or cruel. Consider, Alistaire, who has actually redeemed themselves from the circles of the Hellfire Club.

Emma Frost. Sage. They got out."

Another small sip of her drink. "Suppose you remove Father. And now you're vying for leadership of the global Club with Selene and Essex. If you're fortunate, Essex will have decided his purpose has been served and he'll move on. Selene will not, she's viewed that club as her birthright since she was first inducted into it, and we both know that.

Even supposing you have the power, ambition and ruthlessness to defeat hers, Alistaire- do you really believe that you can play that game of thrones and work towards becoming a better man at the same time?"