13621/One Swing Ahead of the Sword

One Swing Ahead of the Sword
Date of Scene:	22 December 2022
Location:	The Inner Sanctum - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Jinx breaks in to the Hellfire club, meets the Black King, and ends up with a free lifetime subscription.
Cast of Characters:	Jinx, Sebastian Shaw

---

Jinx has posed:
The general sound of people milling about in a party, the crack of a whip, the moans of pleasure from side rooms. She's left all that behind now that Jinx has made it in to the inner sanctum. The club within a club, hidden from the general party goers exploring their adult fantasies in the privacy of the Hellfire Club.

Jinx places her stolen mask aside. She has no need for it anymore. There are no cameras in here - just two big weird thrones and what looks like an elaborate sex dungeon for roleplaying. Who is she to judge what these weirdo rich people do.

Settling on to the black thrown she looks over the control panel. Her fingers wiggle upon it and a little bit of bad luck spills in to the circuitry. One finger touches the zero, the zero, the zero, the zero.

A minor malfunction resets the unlock code back to factory standards and the computer system comes to life. Much like the rest of the security between the front door of the club and here, they all had mysterious malfunctions and shutdowns. "Now let's see who is pulling the strings...," she muses to herself quietly.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
It is commonly believed that Sebastian Shaw is among the most hearty of the partiers within the Hellfire Club. Why else would he be both the President and also a client? But the turth is that while the parties are typically filled with reckless abandon, he is anything but. So while he may be engaged in some questionable activities, and focused almost entirely upon them, it is the almost that folks commonly miss. So when he gets an alert that something is amiss in the council chamber, he is easily able to slip away from the festivities and make his way towards it. Few know every twist and turn of the secret passageways within the Hellfire Club, but Sebastian is one of them.

So when the door behind the Black Throne silently slides open to reveal a heretofore unseen passage, he catches just the tail end of Jinx's quiet, but audible question. "That would be me," he says, with the air of confidence and bluster fitting the Black King.

And of course all of the hubris to assume that it is the Hellfire Club the would-be thief is taking about.

Jinx has posed:
"Bloody hell," Jinx exclaims with a start. Her accent clearly British as she slips off the chair and spins to face the secret passage and the man that just emerged from it. Being caught in the act is not how she was trained to do things. Is she slipping? no, she just got unlucky. Again.

But then, the big reveal of the man behind the throne is anticlimactic because, "Who are you?" is her next question. She was hoping for someone a little more famous. Like Tony Stark or Mr. Fantastic. Not some guy who looks like he invented a time machine in the Victorian age.

Without a doubt, pink hair and punk like attitude, this is Jinx of the Fearsome Five. Though word on the street is she quit the band and they won't be getting back together. Wanted in numerous countries, she's high on the villain list in those criminal hunting groups who keep a low profile so their prey don't catch wind.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
An eyebrow arches as Sebastian Shaw regards Jinx. "I would have thought that someone of your reputation would have far more familiarity with your mark before moving in." He continues out from the passageway, seemingly unconcerned about whatever it was that Jinx was attempting. "I am Sebastian Shaw, owner of the Hellfire Club, and the proper occupant of the chair you seem to have appropriated for a moment."

There is a bit of a smirk on his face. "And while if you really wish to ride the Black Throne, that could certainly be arranged, I suspect that is not what it is that you are here for." His gaze drifts over her form, assessing. He himself seems quite confident and unconcerned about any threat Jinx may pose. But he is also not moving with any alacrity towards a true confrontation.

"Were you sent by one of our enemies? I can assure you, we can compensate you nicely if you care to let us in on that little secret."

Jinx has posed:
Jinx's eyes flit over to the white throne, "Whose the queen then?" Because Sebastian Shaw is not a name she's heard before. Oh, she will definitely be digging in to the business magnates personal life after this though. It should be a win for Shaw to know that the inner sanctum has remained a secret from the likes of the Fearsome Five.

She blechs a little at his innuendo, "Please. Spare me." But he doesn't know why she's here and that is useful. "Huh. Super secret sex club conspiracy. Thought you'd be more paranoid than this."

There's one born every minute, they say, but she doubts this guy is just going to give her money to walk away. Regardless, she hasn't got what she came for yet. What harm can there be in seeing where this takes her -- "Reginald 'Reg' Hackforth the Third," she states.

"He's a patron of your club and a target of ..." She dare not say HIVE. The rules of secrecy are still so firmly drilled in to her. No one knows they exist and that's the way they like it. "... of the five." A half-truth will do the job.

"I'm only here to figure out what his deal is. As you say, someone of my reputation, just doing her homework."

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"Someone who would dine upon my eyeballs if I took the liberty of disclosing her identity to anyone without her approval, rest assured." Sebastian's smile remains fixed upon his face, but has a predatory air about it that leaves it devoid of any warmth.

"We are not worried about what people say or think about us. It is relatively trivial in comparison." He chuckles softly at her analysis. "Paranoia is a plague upon the weak willed."

Shaw nods slowly, mentally trying to place the name. If Tessa were here she would no doubt know for certain, and he finds himself as he does from time to time questioning his reliance upon the woman. But she truly enables him to be his best self, and remembering the names of every member of the Hellfire Club is simply not a good allocation of his mental resources. "So you are here to gather information on him for the purposes of...?" He tilts his head a bit as he regards her. "Taking care of him yourself, or determining just how much he can afford to reward someone for saving him from potential assassination?"

Jinx has posed:
Jinx flashes the man a grin as he puts his finger on the pulse of her plan. She invokes the name of the five and he doesn't flinch. He must know she's not one of them anymore. "It behooves me to keep track of where my old team is," she states diplomatically.

The man is as good as dead. There's no point her playing the hero for some low life HIVE wants taken out of the picture. But then, may be they intend to put the levers on him, blackmail him, she won't know until she's dug a little deeper.

She notes his confidence. A man at the top of his game but he's never faced someone like Jinx before. Her eyebrow raises a little bit, "You've either got a small army of security on the way or you're some kind of meta human if you know who I am but are standing there all puffed up chest. You don't strike me as an idiot."

But of course the moment she realised there was a secret society within the secret society she wanted to know _everything_ about them, not just about poor ol' Reggie. What kind of thief would she be to pass up that opportunity.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"Wise choice. While I only have one 'former teammate' still alive, I likewise keep firm tabs on her." Sebastian chuckles softly at the implication. "One never knows when something useful might come out of it, be it threat or opportunity." A pause. "Sometimes both."

Sebastian spreads his hands out to the side at her comment. "If you wanted to kill me, would I not already be dead?" He raises an eyebrow to match hers. "Clearly, you have no actual business with the Hellfire Club or myself, or you would know who I was, and you do not strike me as the type to run up a ledger of dead people unless you have a reason to."

That's when his gaze sharpens on her. "The fact that we are still talking about it also means you are trying to discern how to turn _this_ to your advantage as well. If it can be." He waves his hand vaguely. "Which of course, it can." He nods his head over towards the bar off to the side. "Care for a drink?"

Jinx has posed:
No goons showing up? Yet Shaw is sure he's safe. He's got an analytical mind which is always dangerous. "You're right. I wasn't here for you or the club. But now that I know there's something of worth here -"

She approaches. "Sure, I'll have a drink. No funny business or things will go real bad for you real quick though," she states matter of factly. She may be on her own now but she's no less the dangerous Sorceress.

"Lay it out for me, what is there to be made from a kink club for the rich and privileged. Information? I'll bite, so long as the price ain't too high."

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"Oh, I suspect there is something of far greater worth here than whatever you thought you were walking in to get," replies Shaw as he heads over towards the bar. He seems content to show his back to Jinx. So either he is incredibly stupid, or has reason not to fear a stab in the back. At least of the physical kind. The metaphorical kind, he may well be accustomed to.

He takes out a decanter and two snifters, turning to regard Jinx as he pours the one to see if that is suitable for her. "I do not engage in funny business. I believe it is my obligation as a host to treat everyone with respect." He picks up his glass and swirls the liquid around for a moment.

"What you saw below is the public face of the Hellfire Club. To most of the world, and even the gossip columns, it is, as you say, a club where the right and privileged are able to execute their fondest desires." He raises the glass to his lips. "None save for our most trusted members ever see this chamber, which is where the most powerful and privileged of us execute an entirely different set of desires." A pause. "And responsibilities." Then he finally takes a sip.

Jinx has posed:
Jinx waits until the liquid hits his lips before she too takes a sip. It's no guarantee that it isn't doped in some fashion but it's better than nothing. She folds her arms and swirls the liquid in its glass as she starts to get what he's dropping.

"I see. You really are a conspiracy then," she states matter of factly. Rich people conspiring together to make deals and business move in their favour. Nothing too unusual about that. It's no wonder HIVE hasn't gone near them - they are competition adverse.

"I'm going to make this easy for you then," she says smelling the green, "I don't kill anymore." (Deliberately anyway) "and I'm pretty sure every one of your entitled members can afford my fees. I reserve the right to turn down any job no questions asked. No refunds either." Because a gal's gotta make a living somehow and she is in possession of rare and particular sets of skills.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
Eyes follow Jinx as she takes the sip, a slow nod coming from Sebastian. Clearly he noted that she waited until he had taken in his for her to take her own drink. There is some recognition in his eyes for the wisdom of that. Certainly no insult. He would be the first not trust anyone in his position.

"Something like that. Call it a confederation of people with shared interests and aspirations, who understand the value of working together instead of competing with each other." Sebastian waves his hand to indicate the chamber. "Admittedly, there is some pomp and tradition involved, but it is a way to convene generally like minded ambitious individuals."

He considers her 'offer', and then nods. "I understand all of that. And all of what you say is, fundamentally, agreeable. It is not a compact in any way that compels any of us to help another, merely to avoid turning our full ire against other members outside of some pretty reasonable circumstances." His eyes show amusement as he regards her. "But if you wish to have access to the members of the club to solicit business, you would need to do so as a member of the club."

Jinx has posed:
There's always a catch. She takes another sip of the drink and sighs, "I can't afford whatever your outrageous fees are." If she could afford a place like this she wouldn't be a thief. Perhaps after a decade of successful crime she'd have enough funds.

"And I'm not going to do some stupid initiation involving a spanking paddle," she says pointing a finger at him and his 'pomp and traditions' buried deep inside a kink mansion. "So don't even think about it old man." Somehow she delivers that like a Hollywood villain stereotype - mostly because of her accent.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
There is a short laugh from Sebastian. "The conventionally wealthy are the ones that pay the outrageous fees. Those who transcend such things have an entirely different obligation." He studies her for a moment, taking another slow sip as he weighs her in his mind.

"Likewise, while it may be disappointing that you would not have any interest in the more pleasurable aspects of membership in the club, certainly partaking of those activities is not required of any member. Least of all, those of the Council." His eyes make it clear that the disappointment is a palpable thing for him. "All that would be required is a certain degree of loyalty to the Hellfire Club, although that mostly takes the form of confidentiality, of which I have no doubt that you are capable." He swirls the liquid in his glass for a moment. "I would happily waive any financial responsibility for membership in exchange for a service at some point in the future." He pauses, and then adds, "A professional service, of course."

Jinx has posed:
Jinx has to consider for a while. Unlike HIVE, this group clearly doesn't want to own her. That's a life she will never allow herself to return to. But working with a debt? that's always dicey. Her eyes glance around the room - the very secrets that may keep her ahead of HIVE likely lurk in a place like this. Certainly in the sex addled minds of rich and powerful.

"Alright. I'll bite," she says and drinks. "But no still means no. I've my limits and boundaries and I won't compromise myself for anyone," she says with a firm expression. What she really meant to say but didn't add was 'again'.

"Let's give it a trial period. If I don't like what I see I'm going to walk away. No harm no foul so long as you don't come after me. But if this works out between us I'll stick around. You do right by me and I'll do right by you."

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
Watching as Jinx clearly goes through the possibilities in her mind, Sebastian is silent, doing nothing other than finishing his glass and setting it off to the side. "Rest assured, no one at the Hellfire Club is compelled to do anything that they do not want to do. We have a firm policy upon that - all coercion needs to be consensual." His eyes twinkle. Was that a joke? "I even took it upon myself to eliminate the dress code for members." A pause. "You can thank me for that later."

He is nodding along, but does raise one finger in correction. "A trial period would be tricky, to say the least. As we are, by nature, a secret organization, if we are to induct you there would be certain expectations that you would honor our nature in perpetuity, even if you were to decide to allow your membership to lapse. But if you can agree to that, then it would seem we have an accord."

Jinx has posed:
Jinx smirks back at his little joke. She appreciates it. This was not how she expected her evening to go but it's a pleasant surprise. First she ends up on a road trip with the notorious Harley Quinn and now she's joining a secret cult. These are the things a mother would warn you about - if you had one.

Her hand is offered to Shaw, "I have no problem keeping your secret if things don't work out between us. But just remember I can make your life a living hell." Which fits with the mantra Shaw is offering - friends not enemies is just a better way of doing business.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"Oh, I am quite sure that you can." offers Sebastian, with a grin as he takes her hand and gives it a firm shake. "But if you don't think I can take a little bit of Hell, I wouldn't exactly be the King of the Hellfire Club, now would I?"

He seems amused by his own little joke. But the sentiment is sincere. She is in.