Siege Perilous - Part 2 - Reports
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xp_logsSiege Perilous Day 2 - Following the mission, the Hellfire Club’s Inner Circle convenes to report to their Black Queen.
"I'm disappointed. Strange would have been an excellent resource, a valuable hostage and a fine triumph to lord over Xavier's attack dogs. Instead, we sacrifice significant manpower and influence to remove a minor obstacle. Very disappointed." Selene said, shooting a look at Amanda and Clea which made them flinch. When the Black Queen was displeased, she tended to spread it around with a very large spade. Fortunately for them, she wasn't displeased. She'd learned years ago it was better to make her subjects fearful enough of displeasing her that they'd do anything to not make any mistakes later. It was as effective a leash as the ones her prisoners and intimates alike wore before her.
The grand table of the court was supposed to be ringed with the elite of both courts, but Selene and Shaw had broken the White Court years ago, leaving the puppet White Queen as the sole member seated. Selene smiled lightly, cruelly at the cheap and tawdry outfit that Shaw had demanded the Queen wear for the meeting. It was a petty and unnecessary bit of cruelty, utterly befitting Shaw's petty and small nature; an amateurish villain at best. She gestured at Scratch with her right hand, uncurling her fingers towards him, while her left stayed hidden in her lap below the table.
"Nicholas, pet. Say something about this disaster that will make your Queen happy."
Nick was shaking, trying not to let the pain he was in show. He'd only breathed in a bit of the gas, but the effects were still vile. He clenched his fists, breathing in and out a few times, his voice tight as he spoke. "Well, my queen... we were able to draw them out and show their full hand. Surely they would have pulled all forces in to save the good doctor."
"Expensive way to call them out." Shaw leaned back in his chair, tapping on his tablet. "Seventeen of our guards dead, not counting the trash that Cohuelo lost on the street. A half dozen vehicles. Over five million in bribes to city, state and federal officials, not counting our legal costs to stay clear of the coming investigation by the FBI. Our costs are going to reach eight figures at-"
"My costs, Shaw." Selene's voice cracked like a lash. "You forgot yourself, my King." She met his furious gaze and held it until he dropped his eyes.
"... of course, my Queen." He choked out finally.
"Despite the incompetence displayed last night, we might still salvage something from this fiasco. Tell me, Amanda. Did you and your coven discover Strange's naughty little secret?"
Amanda's face was impassive, even as her stomach lurched. "We did, my Queen," she said as respectfully as she'd been taught. "The name of the holder of the Soulsword. A Russian woman, Illyana Rasputin."
"And you've already acquired her in preparation for the ritual. Oh how industrious, my Knight. But-" Selene paused. "I don't see her. Clea dear, where is she? Haven't you acted on your mistress's needs?"
Clea looked up at The Black Queen when questioned. "We've tried locator spells but there has been nothing. It seems that Rasputin is being blocked from magical means of location." Clea paused only for a second, "That doesn't mean she cannot be found. Anyone can be found, you just have to know where to look. I think a visit to the magical underground would be the next steps. Someone has to know something."
"Yes, but you haven't. It's a shame. I thought you would have brought me something before declaring your failure." Selene waved her away. "Go sit with our White Queen. Emma, dear, what should Clea have done to avoid a fate like yours?"
“Do what you’re told,” Emma recited, her voice dull. “Do what the Black Court wants. Please your King and Queen.” She didn’t raise her eyes from the table in front of her. The collar and leash around her neck weren’t visible, but everyone around the table knew they were there.
"Oh, Emma. She should know what you think, really. How would you find this woman?"
Emma raised her eyes obediently from the table, looked at Selene. “She thinks a visit to the magical underground would be good,” she said. “There are people she knows there, that she thinks might know where this woman is. This woman is hard to find.” Emma’s voice ground to a halt, a doll whose batteries had run out.
Amanda spoke up, although she really would have preferred to avoid any more of her Queen’s attention. But she was Selene’s Knight, and that meant enacting her wishes. “Rasputin may be difficult to find, my Queen,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. “But we do have resources. The Cypher may be helpful, if properly rewarded.” She glanced back at Clea, behind her. “Clea would be very much to his taste, and I’m sure she would appreciate a chance to correct her mistake.”
Clea had already sat down next to the White Queen but kept her thoughts to herself. Her eyes were also lowered. If they wanted to use her body, so be it. She had been through worse. "Yes, my Queen."
"I doubt Clea alone would meet the price. She's dreadfully undertrained. We should correct that." Selene said, leaning back in her chair. "Shaw, prepare an appropriate package to compliment Clea's amateurish quim. This Cypher needs to believe he's truly earned the generosity of the Hellfire Club for the moment. I think some of your remaining legitimate assets might intrigue him."
Shaw gritted his teeth but said nothing. "Perhaps some time with your pet- I mean, our illustrious White Queen. She's significantly older and more... used than Clea, but some men prefer that. Especially after Clea takes the initial sting out of him." Selene continued to push the dagger in.
"Well, you have your orders. Nicholas, dear, join me. It seems I must make some contingency plans in case my Knight fails again. You may assist me. The rest of you... there it is."
"I'm disappointed. Strange would have been an excellent resource, a valuable hostage and a fine triumph to lord over Xavier's attack dogs. Instead, we sacrifice significant manpower and influence to remove a minor obstacle. Very disappointed." Selene said, shooting a look at Amanda and Clea which made them flinch. When the Black Queen was displeased, she tended to spread it around with a very large spade. Fortunately for them, she wasn't displeased. She'd learned years ago it was better to make her subjects fearful enough of displeasing her that they'd do anything to not make any mistakes later. It was as effective a leash as the ones her prisoners and intimates alike wore before her.
The grand table of the court was supposed to be ringed with the elite of both courts, but Selene and Shaw had broken the White Court years ago, leaving the puppet White Queen as the sole member seated. Selene smiled lightly, cruelly at the cheap and tawdry outfit that Shaw had demanded the Queen wear for the meeting. It was a petty and unnecessary bit of cruelty, utterly befitting Shaw's petty and small nature; an amateurish villain at best. She gestured at Scratch with her right hand, uncurling her fingers towards him, while her left stayed hidden in her lap below the table.
"Nicholas, pet. Say something about this disaster that will make your Queen happy."
Nick was shaking, trying not to let the pain he was in show. He'd only breathed in a bit of the gas, but the effects were still vile. He clenched his fists, breathing in and out a few times, his voice tight as he spoke. "Well, my queen... we were able to draw them out and show their full hand. Surely they would have pulled all forces in to save the good doctor."
"Expensive way to call them out." Shaw leaned back in his chair, tapping on his tablet. "Seventeen of our guards dead, not counting the trash that Cohuelo lost on the street. A half dozen vehicles. Over five million in bribes to city, state and federal officials, not counting our legal costs to stay clear of the coming investigation by the FBI. Our costs are going to reach eight figures at-"
"My costs, Shaw." Selene's voice cracked like a lash. "You forgot yourself, my King." She met his furious gaze and held it until he dropped his eyes.
"... of course, my Queen." He choked out finally.
"Despite the incompetence displayed last night, we might still salvage something from this fiasco. Tell me, Amanda. Did you and your coven discover Strange's naughty little secret?"
Amanda's face was impassive, even as her stomach lurched. "We did, my Queen," she said as respectfully as she'd been taught. "The name of the holder of the Soulsword. A Russian woman, Illyana Rasputin."
"And you've already acquired her in preparation for the ritual. Oh how industrious, my Knight. But-" Selene paused. "I don't see her. Clea dear, where is she? Haven't you acted on your mistress's needs?"
Clea looked up at The Black Queen when questioned. "We've tried locator spells but there has been nothing. It seems that Rasputin is being blocked from magical means of location." Clea paused only for a second, "That doesn't mean she cannot be found. Anyone can be found, you just have to know where to look. I think a visit to the magical underground would be the next steps. Someone has to know something."
"Yes, but you haven't. It's a shame. I thought you would have brought me something before declaring your failure." Selene waved her away. "Go sit with our White Queen. Emma, dear, what should Clea have done to avoid a fate like yours?"
“Do what you’re told,” Emma recited, her voice dull. “Do what the Black Court wants. Please your King and Queen.” She didn’t raise her eyes from the table in front of her. The collar and leash around her neck weren’t visible, but everyone around the table knew they were there.
"Oh, Emma. She should know what you think, really. How would you find this woman?"
Emma raised her eyes obediently from the table, looked at Selene. “She thinks a visit to the magical underground would be good,” she said. “There are people she knows there, that she thinks might know where this woman is. This woman is hard to find.” Emma’s voice ground to a halt, a doll whose batteries had run out.
Amanda spoke up, although she really would have preferred to avoid any more of her Queen’s attention. But she was Selene’s Knight, and that meant enacting her wishes. “Rasputin may be difficult to find, my Queen,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. “But we do have resources. The Cypher may be helpful, if properly rewarded.” She glanced back at Clea, behind her. “Clea would be very much to his taste, and I’m sure she would appreciate a chance to correct her mistake.”
Clea had already sat down next to the White Queen but kept her thoughts to herself. Her eyes were also lowered. If they wanted to use her body, so be it. She had been through worse. "Yes, my Queen."
"I doubt Clea alone would meet the price. She's dreadfully undertrained. We should correct that." Selene said, leaning back in her chair. "Shaw, prepare an appropriate package to compliment Clea's amateurish quim. This Cypher needs to believe he's truly earned the generosity of the Hellfire Club for the moment. I think some of your remaining legitimate assets might intrigue him."
Shaw gritted his teeth but said nothing. "Perhaps some time with your pet- I mean, our illustrious White Queen. She's significantly older and more... used than Clea, but some men prefer that. Especially after Clea takes the initial sting out of him." Selene continued to push the dagger in.
"Well, you have your orders. Nicholas, dear, join me. It seems I must make some contingency plans in case my Knight fails again. You may assist me. The rest of you... there it is."
