12190/A Taste of Home

A Taste of Home
Date of Scene:	27 July 2022
Location:	Lily Anne's Lounge - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Belle stops by the Lily Anne Lounge of the HFC for a taste of home, and meets interesting people along the way.
Cast of Characters:	Bella Donna, Emma Frost, Sprite

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Bella Donna has posed:
Her New York State adventure hasn't quite gotten on as well as Belle initially expected, there's still some work to be done. Of course her main target has been elusive as ever, just as expected, but at least she has some hooks.

Tonight Belle decided to enjoy a taste of home, sitting at the Lily Anne's Lounge at the Hellfire Club, there's some very familiar jazz music playing, perhaps not quite the Preservation Hall, but the musicians are as talented as expected of the establishment. It's easy to while away some time to that jazzy tune, while sipping on her mint julep.

True to the unofficial dress the part expectation of the lounge, Belle wore a white 1920s flapper dress, decorated with glittery sequins.

Emma Frost has posed:
She may no longer be the reigning Queen of the Hellfire Club, but so long as she maintained some level of baseline terms with Shaw and didn't push her luck, Emma Frost kept reasonably good access to the Club. So she would be entering in the Lily Anne room, a casual saunter in her step. Emma wearing more of a casual business suit that something more the norm within the club's facilities.

Bella Donna gets Emma's attention for a moment as the blonde would enter in. Emma going to casually raise a hand over to see if it was lightly acknowledged, then moving over in the direction of the sitting woman if it was.

Bella Donna has posed:
"Ms. Frost...?" Belle was well aware of Emma's former stature in the Club, perhaps not in terms of Inner Circle titles, but she certainly was aware Frost and Shaw were never too far apart. Having spent most of her time in New Orleans, she hasn't really been brought up to date on the club's politics. "Good ta 'ave you grace me wit' your presence," she offers respectfully, raising her glass at Emma, "please do join me."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would nod, "OF course. Thank you for your permission." Still complete politeness now. "And what does bring you to the city? Business or pleasure?" She might inquire while going to take a seat down. "Or merely something personal that you need to deal with yourself?"

Bella Donna has posed:
Belle smiles faintly at the acknowledgement of the permission, "I'd be vairy 'ard pressed to believe many would deny such permission, non?" Clearly the blonde is well aware of Emma's stature, or at least so she thinks, as she raises her drink to her lips for another sip. "Oh, I'd vairy much like ta think it is both."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would mm, "But yes, politeness still reigns. It would be a violation after all to join you when you wished to merely enjoy the atmosphere. So please, let me cover your tab while you're present." Yes, Bella Donna probably has far more riches than it might appear even by her family, but social mores were social mores.

Bella Donna has posed:
"And t'at is w'at I most admire 'bout ze club, decorum, from both high and low," Belle muses, a brow is arched at the generous offer, and the woman flourishes with her arms at the gesture, "I would not refuse such a boon, very kind of you, Ms. Frost, are you still a frequent business parter of Monsieur Shaw?" She makes a slight idle chat, her fingers tapping along to the bass line.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would nod, "Yes, but of course. The Club has a long tradition of being the grounds for the social elite. And we are all here for it's benefits. It is poor manners to do anything that would disrupt our egalitarianism." At least openly after all. "Yes, Shaw is of course the one whom is in charge of the Club. It would be poor manners to do something to earn his attention in a way that would call for it personally."

Bella Donna has posed:
"Sensible and wise," Belle grants, before looking over at Emma more intently, "I'm not accustomed to see you not in his presence while in these halls, no offense...you work more independently these days? If so, I salute the endeavor...it's nice to see a woman take lead without a man by her side." There's some subtext of disdain in Belle's words, but one not particularly aimed at Emma at all.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would mm, "I've found that the ultiate.. Goals of the institute and my own have not quite been fully in alignment. So I have felt it best so as to not.. Have us be pushing in directions that are not mutually beneficial."

Bella Donna has posed:
"Shifting alignment is it...? A shame, but can't say I'm entirely a stranger to these," Belle notes, biting at her lower lip briefly, before finishing her julep. "At least everything is still on good terms, no boat rocking of any kind..."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would nod over, "Well, one learns to look out for oneself. If one is caught up insomething that does not serve their own interest or those of their allies,one must reconsider it after all."

Bella Donna has posed:
"Isn't that the truth," Belle sighs, and flags a server to fetch her another drink, this time opting for a gin and tonic classic. "So...if I may be so bold, have you ever had a love interest? Don't recall ever seeing you with a loverboy around, and I dare not assume that you and Shaw were ever more than business partners."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would mm over at Bella Donna, "A very bold question. And one that makes me in turn curious as tow hy you ask it." She would gesture, "In return for my response, then I would ask you why you inquired of it. Given your.. reputation." She was indicating she knew. "So, a fair exchange?"

Bella Donna has posed:
Belle offers Emma a very wide smile, a bit like the cat that ate the canary, albeit there's no room for it in what is little more than small talk. The Boudreaux never had direct dealing with the Frosts after all, nothing that wasn't amicable at least. "I'm not often around these parts, so my reputation may not carry here, but I am known to be a bold woman." As her drink is served, Belle toasts at Emma's direction, "to questions and inquiring minds then...just had the subject on my mind of late...love, it's a fantasy sold to little girls and a manipulation used to sway grown lost women. I think I respect you for the lack of a 'loverboy'"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would shrug, "But the human mind is not but a thing of pure logic. From all my encounters, even those from off planet have such a thing. Whether we understand it not. Humanity is not something of pure mathematical equivalency. And yes. I have been. It did not go well." She would admit over in a somewhat reminiscient tone. "Shall it happen again? I know not. Do I look for it? I do not."

Bella Donna has posed:
"Mmmm....perhaps so," Belle muses, listening to Emma's words, and thinking them over. "Was he a man of distinction or just a nobody you happened to fancy?" Belle follows up casually if Emma would allow it. "I trust it never does..." comes a rather accusatory sentencing of the whole prospect. "Not looking for it is smart, makes you sharper."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would shrug, "Yes. The mind and the heart go where they go. And at the time it was the one that had caught my fancy and saved me from wasting myself>" She would go on. "But as with such things it does not always end the way one would wish to."

Bella Donna has posed:
"Now there's an unexpected turn, usually they don't do that...what about him saved you from wasting yourself...if you don't mind?" Belle asks with full interest, turning to look directly at Emma now, not minding the jazz performers so much anymore.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would go over then and move to fold her fingers together, "Now that, dear Bella, is something that I simply won't give up for free." SHe would gesture over. "You of all people should know that one does nots urrender such things."

Bella Donna has posed:
"Oh I wouldn't expect it, but it never 'urts to try, neh?" Belle laughs, before muttering, "never met anyone I could say saved me from wasting myself though, had to have been an interesting man."

Bella Donna and Emma are sitting 3 tables away from the stage, where a 1920s inspired jazz act is performing. Bella Donna dressed for the lounge in 20s flapper dress.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile over at Bella Donna, "Of course. I'm sure however that we were all young once and that it lead us astray or to great things. A nd the two are not necessarily separated from one anothner." She would smile.

Sprite has posed:
Sprite makes her own entrance to the club. She tends to turn heads; if only because most people don't expect to see an underage teen in the Hellfire Club. Since the Lounge is Prohibition-themed, she's got her own flapper-inspired dress on. It's actually one of the styles that works better for her than some others. Bella Donna she doesn't know as of yet, but she does know Emma, and so she starts over towards the table with the two ladies, giving a nod as she approaches.

Bella Donna has posed:
"I personally find that age simply does not matter in these t'ings," Belle offers, before turning to look at the young teen who just walked into the lounge. "Someone's kid?" She asks Emma, who Belle expects knows all and everything about the club and the happening inside it. Even if she feigns no longer being concerned as much.

With the kid coming closer to them, Bella Donna offers a nod of acknolwedgement, "you look a bit young to be into jazz, good to see it lives on."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would glance over to Sprite over and slowly beckon her with a finger, "I suppose you could refer to her as that. I find she has a great many.. Perspectives that hte rest of us tend to lack. Perhpas from youth and creativity. I do believe that she's had a few roles in Shakespeare. She does an excellent Midsummer Night's Dream.

Sprite has posed:
"Looks can be deceiving." Sprite says with a smile. "And jazz is wonderful." She gives a nod to Emma. "Ms. Frost. And you would be?..." she asks Bella Donna as she approaches the table. "Beyond from New Orleans."

Bella Donna has posed:
"Aren't they always," Belle agrees with Sprite, before looking a bit surprised at the suggestion Sprite is an accomplished actress, "you mean in school productions?" Belle wonders aloud to Emma, before chuckling at Sprite's comment about New Olreans, "now that is a fancy party trick."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would lean back, gesturing over at Bella Donna, "She can explain herself far better than I can. Her family goes back far there. Nearly as far back as mine does here." A light jab. Bella might be old money, Emma was Older Money

Bella Donna has posed:
Were it Marius at the table, there may have been some issue taken at Emma's quip, Bella Donna on the other hand, doesn't quite put as much weight over which old money is older. She just gets up and offers a slight inclination of her head to Emma and Sprite, "if you'll excuse me dears, I've lingered far too long...jazz can be so captivating, I do have business to attend to, au revoir." She twirls her fingers at them, and heads out as if she was in a hurry to make a certain meeting,

Sprite has posed:
Sprite is oldest money. She looks over to Emma, and smiles. "Enjoyed helping me with my deception?" She asks Emma. "You are so very much a woman after my own heart." She looks around. "Prohibition, horrible time. Great clubs, but a crazy idea."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would just smiles over, "Well, it is amusing. And I do find it a unique way to engage in some conversation. And you seem the type whom will reward others for something interesting. So it behooves me to maintain your amusement."

Sprite has posed:
"Of course. Are you fishing for rewards, Miss Frost? I wouldn't think there's much I could do to reward a woman like yourself. I doubt you lack for much."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Oh, am I not always? And I do believe that sometimes the best reward is contacts. Information. Ther'es far more to life than wealth."

Sprite has posed:
That gets a mischevious grin from Sprite. "Well, I'm certain that I don't have any contact more impressive than MYSELF, and you already know me. As for information...you're probably better versed than I am about a number of things. Now, if it's history or mythology, that I can help you with..."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Of course. I'm sure that in time I'll have need for such a thing. After all, we do live in teh modern era of gods. I'm sure that in time I'll have need of your komnwledge and expertise."

Sprite has posed:
Sprite smiles a little. "Well, at least you acknowledge it. While underplaying your own abilities and resourcefulness, I note." Sprite looks over to Emma. "You managed to fool ME, and that's no small feat. I have respect for you for that."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Why thank you Sprite. I shall not let it go to my head. For having a scheme work one time does not mean it shall again. So I shall endeavor to have my own new traps for you in the future."