Alistaire Anton Shaw (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hellfire_child) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
nextgenerationmarvel2016-03-12 01:49 pm
hellfire_child) wrote in nextgenerationmarvel2016-03-12 01:49 pm
Six Months Later - A Return To Public Life
A Lifetime Ago
Sebastian Shaw was dead. It was over. It was... it was finally over.
It was time.
The dust hadn't even had time to settle before Alistaire invoked his authority as the Black King and called the Inner Circle to order. Once everyone was assembled and the usual formalities were out of the way, the Black King snapped his fingers and a Pawn brought an item draped in cloth to the center of the floor, before being dismissed.
"Lady Selene, esteemed others.. this is the end." He drew back the cloth, revealing a stark black filing box and a steel drum. "My time as the Black King, as any member of this organization is complete. I am departing peacefully, and taking nothing from your ranks or your resources for myself." He laid a hand across the lid of the box. "This was my previous way out. My... means of mutually assured destruction. Meticulous files, really. Compiled by the very best."
Another glance around the room, with eye contact in all the right places, before he let out a breath. He produced one of his favorite blades with a flick of the wrist, and smoothly cut open the box. He upended the contents into the drum, giving the exterior of the box a firm tap against the rim, before dropping it in as well. He reached into his pocket and swapped the blade for a lighter. He ignited it, then dropped it into the drum. He watched as it took a moment for the contents to ignite. The smell of burning paper, tinged with a hint of metal and plastic from clips and discs and thumb drives, wafted through the room.
Alistaire let the white noise of the fire and the furtive murmurs of the Inner Circle hang in the air for a long moment. "But I think I like this better." He signaled for the Pawn again, and the drum, still burning, was wheeled out. No sense leaving any scraps to be investigated. There were instructions to add accelerant and repeat as many times as necessary. Resurrection was too common a theme in his family to allow the information the same opportunity. "I can't honestly say I wish you all the best, but I can leave one piece of gentle advice. Something I read somewhere or other...
"'There will always be fools who believe that if a man dislikes violence and goes to great lengths to avoid it, it is a sign of weakness and vulnerability.'
"Goodbye."
Six weeks and three days ago
The courtship had been particularly public, and suitably extravagant. The wedding had everyone who mattered invited, and everyone who could be found on such 'short' notice showed up.
At the end of the day, there was a Mrs Reiko Shaw.
Six weeks ago
"I just need to cut out a few last cancers... I'm changing things going forward." He kissed his wife on the forehead. "Let me do this, and keep you out of it. I'll be back as soon as I can. If anything happens, go to my aunt."
Five weeks and one day ago
"Breaking News: Efforts were mobilized by the US Coast Guard in cooperation with neighboring national authorities today, in a search for wealthy socialite Alistaire Shaw. Shaw's ship is believed to have been destroyed in an unexpected storm while at sea. Although trace wreckage has been found so far, there has been no indication of the crew or any passengers' fate--"
Now
"Hello, Mrs Shaw? Your husband has been found. We were instructed to contact you, along with his aunt, to inform you that he's left against medical advice, and being transported directly back to Manhattan by private security. He should be arriving at your primary residence with an armed security and medical escort within the next few hours."
Sebastian Shaw was dead. It was over. It was... it was finally over.
It was time.
The dust hadn't even had time to settle before Alistaire invoked his authority as the Black King and called the Inner Circle to order. Once everyone was assembled and the usual formalities were out of the way, the Black King snapped his fingers and a Pawn brought an item draped in cloth to the center of the floor, before being dismissed.
"Lady Selene, esteemed others.. this is the end." He drew back the cloth, revealing a stark black filing box and a steel drum. "My time as the Black King, as any member of this organization is complete. I am departing peacefully, and taking nothing from your ranks or your resources for myself." He laid a hand across the lid of the box. "This was my previous way out. My... means of mutually assured destruction. Meticulous files, really. Compiled by the very best."
Another glance around the room, with eye contact in all the right places, before he let out a breath. He produced one of his favorite blades with a flick of the wrist, and smoothly cut open the box. He upended the contents into the drum, giving the exterior of the box a firm tap against the rim, before dropping it in as well. He reached into his pocket and swapped the blade for a lighter. He ignited it, then dropped it into the drum. He watched as it took a moment for the contents to ignite. The smell of burning paper, tinged with a hint of metal and plastic from clips and discs and thumb drives, wafted through the room.
Alistaire let the white noise of the fire and the furtive murmurs of the Inner Circle hang in the air for a long moment. "But I think I like this better." He signaled for the Pawn again, and the drum, still burning, was wheeled out. No sense leaving any scraps to be investigated. There were instructions to add accelerant and repeat as many times as necessary. Resurrection was too common a theme in his family to allow the information the same opportunity. "I can't honestly say I wish you all the best, but I can leave one piece of gentle advice. Something I read somewhere or other...
"'There will always be fools who believe that if a man dislikes violence and goes to great lengths to avoid it, it is a sign of weakness and vulnerability.'
"Goodbye."
Six weeks and three days ago
The courtship had been particularly public, and suitably extravagant. The wedding had everyone who mattered invited, and everyone who could be found on such 'short' notice showed up.
At the end of the day, there was a Mrs Reiko Shaw.
Six weeks ago
"I just need to cut out a few last cancers... I'm changing things going forward." He kissed his wife on the forehead. "Let me do this, and keep you out of it. I'll be back as soon as I can. If anything happens, go to my aunt."
Five weeks and one day ago
"Breaking News: Efforts were mobilized by the US Coast Guard in cooperation with neighboring national authorities today, in a search for wealthy socialite Alistaire Shaw. Shaw's ship is believed to have been destroyed in an unexpected storm while at sea. Although trace wreckage has been found so far, there has been no indication of the crew or any passengers' fate--"
Now
"Hello, Mrs Shaw? Your husband has been found. We were instructed to contact you, along with his aunt, to inform you that he's left against medical advice, and being transported directly back to Manhattan by private security. He should be arriving at your primary residence with an armed security and medical escort within the next few hours."
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
"Of course you have, I'm exceptional. But I've missed you as well." He holds her as tightly as he can manage. "I was so certain I was going to die. I felt everything slipping away. My lungs were going to burst every time I went under, and I felt like I was being hit by a car every time a wave hit me."
The corners of his mouth stretch into a rictus grin, revealing a missing tooth, courtesy of a blow to the face during the shipwreck. "I was meant to survive, Reiko. I understand that now."
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
She's careful with her hug. The missing tooth has her touch his jaw lightly. "I never doubted you wouldn't come back to me." She did pull a little of his pain from him, she didn't care if he knew it. After all there was a dad that kept bringing his daughter into the clinic. She could maybe teach the bastard a lesson so he wouldn't keep pushing the kid around. Brushing that thought from her head she snuggled up against Alistaire. "Dear, you do need rest," She whispered softly. "And I'm not letting you go anywhere without me again. Hope you realize that.
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
"I've never thought of myself as particularly weak, but just the same, I never expected to be a shipwreck survivor. Washing up on some miserable mass of rock and birds. Not even so much as a pig to take down for food. I've had my fill of fish and waterfowl for some time.. and I can't say I recommend iguana." He looks at the roughness of his hands, as if they were someone else's body. "I suppose I should be glad I at least can manage a decent throw with a sharp rock. It was almost two weeks before anything useful from the wreck washed up." If he heard the urging for him to rest, he's ignoring it, lost in trying to recount the events.
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
"Then I will refrain from making sushi for us for a while." She smiled faintly already planning what she'd make for him once she felt he was ready to join her for dinner at the table. She had become decent in his time gone at making more American dishes, hopefully he'd enjoy them.
"We looked all over, I even... Pulled in favors from those who were left alive from Grandfather's men. most people told me to stop looking after the first week and no sign of you." She bit her lip. "You know I did keep insisting I should go with you, we wouldn't have been parted for so long."
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
"Did Stephanie tell you to stop?"
There's a hint of vulnerability behind the inquiry.
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
"Alistaire, she knows you're home. I'm sure she'll come over when she can. For now, you should rest. I promise I won't leave your side alright?"
Re: Barbarian at the Gate
Once things were set up properly, she moved to stand by the door of the room, ever so silent, and just observing for the time being.