AAG - Finale Finale (Saturday Night)

[x-adrienne.livejournal.com]

The Grey Clerk delivers verdicts and the White Court takes their leave of the Blue Queen after the White Queen offers to help with new Blue Court appointments.


 "We have reviewed the... sudden evidence presented to us, and we have determined that it is accurate. The Lord Imperial has informed us that the outcome of the evening meets his approval. Ms Steed, Mr Shaw, you are both free to re-assume your duties as Blue Queen and Black King respectively. He also confirms the appointment of Jane Hampshire as the new Red King. With their arrests, Quentin Templeton and Conrad Strathdee are stripped of their Hellfire Club ranks and membership. Ms Steed, your court will need to discuss a replacement to the Blue King, in due course. And I will take my leave of you all. Thank you for your cooperation." With that, the Grey Clerk turned and walked from the room.

Adrienne passed the Grey Clerk as he was leaving, coming from Wyngarde's temporary office. She was exhausted, disheveled, and in pain, with a smear of blood on her dress. But she was pretty damn proud of herself nonetheless. Zeroing in on Emma Steed as the meeting was clearing out, she gave the Blue Queen a bright smile. "I'm assuming everything went according to plan." It was more a statement than a question, punctuated by the offering to Emma of a cigar, having pilfered a handful from the office. "Congratulatory offering?"

The Blue Queen smiled faintly at Adrienne, hands in a gesture of decline. "All evidence points to the affirmative, but I'm sure we will see unintended consequences in the future.  The Hellfire club is an intricate world, and even the simplest act of removing trash such as Wyngarde can strain the balance."

"Which is why I have always suggested burning the whole thing down." Christian said affably, coming over. "Well done, Emma. John would have been proud."

"Christian!"  Emma, sounding genuinely delighted to see him, settled comfortably next to him, taking his arm.  "You wouldn't take away my toy box would you?  I would be so very bored. Quiet retirement doesn't suit me."

"No, I wouldn't want to disrupt your retirement. Just here to help out a friend." Kane said. "And no, I won't be replacing Templeton, so don't ask."

Doug snagged a cigar from the sheaf of them Adrienne was holding.  Not that he really wanted to smoke it, but he liked the visual of it. "Darn," he observed in reply to Christian's firm statement.  He liked Garrison's dad.
 
"Well, now that Hampshire is appointed Red King, we can assume the post of Blue King will be open to whomsoever you choose, Emma," said the White Queen to the Blue Queen. "Which widens the field of applicants considerably. I presume there'll be a full Court party soon, to celebrate the rearrangement of London's courts? I'm certainly willing to assist with... interviewing applicants for the new position, if you would like some assistance." She smiled at Emma's nod. "Oh," Emma Frost purred, "I do so love auditions." She grinned at Adrienne's expression. "There are a great many complicated reasons why I'm White Queen of the Hellfire Club, little sister. But there are some very uncomplicated ones as well."

Adrienne raised an eyebrow at her smiling sister. "Naked butlers?" she asked.

Emma's grin turned into laugh. "It's always about the naked butlers, Adrienne. Always."