In Seasons of Wither We'll Stand and Deliver ((Open to HFC Inner Circle Members))

[ngm_hellfire]

After the ranks for the Inner Circle were given, Selene disappeared for a few days to handle business with other chapters of the Hellfire Club. When she returned to New York, she had invitations issued to the newly ranked members of the Inner Circle. They would each be shown to a different room from the one where they received their ranks.

The large, circular room had a black and white tiled square in its center. Where the pawns should have been on the large chessboard were two long tables. There were ornately carved and appropriately colored chairs at each spot for the rooks, bishops, and knights. No chairs sat in the white king and queen spots nor in the spot for the black king. The black queen's position had a familiar throne in it.

At each position was a triangular name plate made of gold with each person's name and rank. A couple positions had "Reserved" on their name plates: one of the white bishops and one of the black knights.

Comments

[lena_essex]

Lena was ready to mingle and make the acquaintance of the new Inner Circle members. She was wearing a black leather cocktail dress and a vintage Victorian mourning cameo on a black velvet choker, as a nod to tradition.

She sipped from a glass of red liquid, and sized up the rest of the room from over the rim.

[kinetic_assault]

Brianna arrived, wearing a form-flattering white dress and generally trying to keep her expression neutral as she looked around the room. She had a glass of water and tried to relax, idly going over the list of excuses she'd give Kayla for not being around until later tonight.

It would have been better to share this part of her life with Kayla, but not after what she'd been through. Kayla was happy. She was a X-Man. Brianna wanted that for her.

But wouldn't it be better if the X-Men weren't needed? How much time with her parents had the X-Men cost her, personally? If she could keep her friends safe, it was worth a little bit of working with less-than-reputable people.

She took another sip of her water and looked for her seat at the table.