6 Months Later: The Hellfire Club

[ngm_hellfire]

The fall of Sebastian Shaw did not change much of the societal face of the Hellfire Club; it was still where the people who mattered gathered, just with one less cranky meglomaniac. But the effect on the Inner Circle and the plans Shaw had for them quickly disintegrated. His loss of power left a vacuum that nature only allowed for a moment.

Selene had waited for years, if not decades, for the opportunity. She had a lifespan long enough that while her whims could seem mercurial, the patience for her machinations to unfold seemed boundless. Once Shaw was arrested for his unfortunate assault on an international businessman, the poisoned whispers she had been planting since he slaughtered her followers took hold. Shaw's name was worth nothing, and someone of prominence needed to take control. Selene did it with smooth efficiency.

All of Shaw's promises were quickly discarded.

She was named Lady Paramount with her promises of righting what Shaw had taken so wrong. She embodied the hedonistic past of the Inner Circle but her alliances showed how she could rehabilitate the Inner Circle from the path it had been set on. Her dark yet silken touch seemed a balm after the iron grip.

All other chapters of the Hellfire Club around the world were still subordinate to the power of the New York chapter. However, Selene reversed much of what Shaw ordered. All other chapters would reform their ranking to her wishes. Once the more classically game rankings were applied, they formally acknowledged the New York chapter was in charge. Then it was in the other Clubs' hands to impress her and reap rewards from doing so. Selene's proper feudalistic system was more palatable than what had been put in place previously.

For the young, rich blood of New York, invitations were sent out for some functions held at the Club. After a couple, Selene had more secret invitations to those of Hellfire lineage, like Worthingtons, Wyngardes, Braddocks, and Frosts, as well as to those newer to society that showed promise Selene was looking for.

Selene kept tabs on the recipients of those special invitations and what they had done in the time after her ascension. When she had all of the international business settled, invitations to the young blood of New York City went out. They would be allowed, one by one, into one of the inner sanctum parlors where the Lady Paramount and Black Queen of New York City sat casually on the lone chair in the room.

One of her slender fingers idly tapped the rim of the wine glass with a very deep red liquid in it. The gatekeeper to the Inner Circle was ready.

Comments

[ngm_hellfire]

"I've met your father. I know your mother. The invite was to make her angry when she got wind of it." She glanced Kassi over.

"And I've met actual mermaids. They would either be flattered, enraged, or jealous of your dress. You're Atlantean. There is a difference. "

[atlanteanhellion]

"Oh so this was the good old jab at Emma Frost. I really would have expected something more original from you. Mom's on vacation. She won't get wind of this for awhile and by then she probably won't give much of a damn because she tends to be really chill after vacation.

"And there's surprisingly not the difference you'd expect, but I'm going to go with jealous of my dress. It is fairly fabulous."

[ngm_hellfire]

"There is a lot of petty needling between her and I. She did try to train one of her students to assassinate me. As much as I've forgiven her for the lapse in judgment, this is a minor lark in comparison." That Emma now had a position at Xavier's only minorly worried Selene. The headmaster for the school would probably remember the previous shishkabobbing for the last attempt on Selene's life.

"As I consorted with several around the world, I can list the various ways. But modern day ones would likely be jealous."

[atlanteanhellion]

"At least you're up front about it things," Kassi said with a shrug.

"So why did you call me here? You're not someone who invites folks over to chat about dresses and poking at their mothers."

[ngm_hellfire]

"I was curious if what I heard about your ambitions and interests were true. If the life of the heir to throne and the hero's life kept you busy. It's not often an Atlantean gets this far into the Hellfire Club without a lot of punching. Or very tight swim trunks." She quirked one eyebrow in amusement.

[atlanteanhellion]

"Oh you want to know if my desire to rule to world is true? It is. And punching is so eighties. As are the trunks. Tridents, though, never go out of style."

[ngm_hellfire]

"Then I should start putting in a good word for my surfacer rights under your rule. Though now I'm curious. Do Atlanteans forego the net out of the traditional net and trident combo?"

Selene did love a good gladiatorial combat.

[atlanteanhellion]

"It depends on the opponent and the type of combat. If it is ceremonial, such as for War Games, we do use the net. And sometimes if I need to be particularly vicious I use it."

[ngm_hellfire]

"I do like seeing a master retiarius in action." She had seen her fair share in ancient Rome. She settled back in her chair.

"Does Atlantis have murmillo as well?"

[atlanteanhellion]

"We do. I'm somewhat surprised that you haven't been to our War Games. They seem like they would be something that you would greatly enjoy as we have so many traditions that we brought with us from Roman times."

[ngm_hellfire]

"It does sound tempting, but I have been busy for a very long time. And I don't see that changing for a few decades." Going into anything deeper than a pool was not something Selene preferred to do. She did like the feeling of earth beneath her feet.

[atlanteanhellion]

"You're the one missing out. Invitation stands, though, should you find time in your schedule for a little unbridled violence for sport."

[ngm_hellfire]

"I will keep that in mind." Always having a nice cover for beating a hasty retreat was one of her talents. Though she would need to study some spells to make sure she didn't end up dead.

Though now she had a yen to go back to Nova Roma and declare a gladitorial event.

[atlanteanhellion]

"You didn't invite me here to discuss mermaids and gladitorial combat," Kassi said. "What can I do for you?"

[ngm_hellfire]

"This amusing conversation has been enough. Unless you had interest in becoming one of the elite of the Hellfire Club. Though less gladiators and mermaids as a general rule." Selene had been bored enough between visitors that she had made the table beside her chair invisible. It had been a long night of interviews and divining intentions.

[atlanteanhellion]

"The better question is if you had intent on me becoming one of said elite. I'm wagering on the side that you didn't because you didn't expect me to show and if I did, the invite would mostly serve to poke a bit at my mother. I'm aware the two of you don't have quite the best history. And that's all well and good, but really, Lady Paramount, you're far better than some needling and poking."

"I'm a McKenzie. We aren't known for diplomacy or having an in-check ego. If there is a place among the elite, I'll simply claim it. I wouldn't be here if I intended just to entertain you."

[ngm_hellfire]

"Everyone sent an invitation has potential. I didn't expect you because while you have the hereditary claims, you've never shown interest in non-aquatic high society. I'm also allowed my needling and poking after sending Trevor Fitzroy away to where he would never come back. Altruism is not nor never will be my forte."

She let out a short, soft laugh. "While it does have some benefits, it's not the McKenzie side that got you that invitation."

[atlanteanhellion]

"Most non-aquatic high society is too polite for my tastes. This," she gestured around them, "is far from polite and a few drinks. And to be frank, the Frost side is a little played out."

[ngm_hellfire]

"This is the decadence high society aspires to. We are the elite, after all." She pressed her fingertips together for a moment. Mostly to stop a supernatural itch that would likely not help what she was building in the long run.

"It is still a name with pull and power to it. And one with long association with the Hellfire Club."

[atlanteanhellion]

"True, but it's long association with anything related to the Hellfire Club comes with some baggage that probably isn't useful or helpful to whatever you are aiming to build. You could do well with some old blood disguised as new."

[ngm_hellfire]

Selene paused, tilted her head, and raised an eyebrow.

"So, taking someone with Hellfire Club associations to work on the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club wouldn't be good for the Hellfire Club."

[atlanteanhellion]

"You phrase that as though the opposite of good is bad, but good and bad are subjective terms. It wouldn't be bad, but it would definitely be...beneficial if you reached outside the association box. Isn't the definition of madness doing the same thing over and over and expecting new results?"

[ngm_hellfire]

"I have reached out and sponsored some with no previous Hellfire affiliation. And I have not pursued several of the old blood lines due to... unsuitability for Inner Circle redemption." Or one of the people in question having no desire to take her place there.

[atlanteanhellion]

"So. Am I wasting your time here? Bottom line."

[ngm_hellfire]

"This conversation has been pleasantly diverting and informative. Knowledge of the most promising of your generation is never a waste." She took a breath and straightened up a little. Back to business from bemusement.

"If you were serious about being considered for the Inner Circle, could you work well with your half-sister? Because while I am reforming the power to how it should be, the Inner Circle is a council."