16111/Out of Hell-Bernation

Out of Hell-Bernation
Date of Scene:	19 October 2023
Location:	The Victorian Restaurant - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Frost and Shaw squabble while Aurora looks on.
Cast of Characters:	Emma Frost, Jeanne-Marie Beaubier, Sebastian Shaw

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Emma Frost has posed:
It's a quiet evening over in the Victorian restaurant. Emma Frost is settled odwn over, drinking from a goblet of wine while occasionally glancing over at a tablet to the side. It's flashing with rapid fire data of the stock market, various things going on in politics, and the other normal catastrophies and calamities that perpetuate the day by day existence of humanity and mutantkind.

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
Aurora enters the restaurant, but rather than be all outgoing as usual, she just requests a table by her lonesome. A look of concern drawn about her visage, as she orders a drink while being lead to a more secluded table. Not going out of her way to make any eye contact with anyone.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would glance over at Aurora for a moment, gesturing over at her in invitation, "Why hello there darling, are you doing all right?" She would query over with a little waggle of a finger over in invitation to the other woman toj oin her.

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
Aurora doesn't seem to hear Emma at first, leaning over into the drink she was just served, before eventually looking back and offering Emma a weak smile. "I'm okay, really, I'm fine..." noting the beckoning gesture, she lingers, "it's okay, I would hate to bother you."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would shake her head, "You're never a bother. It's a pleasure to have some conversation that's not so banal." She would casually point over on her tablet to a discussion of current stock market and defense industry prices.

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
Taking her glass in hand, Aurora puts on a remarkably obvious fake smile, nowhere near the quality of performance in her usual act, as she moves to share a seat at Emma's table. "I guess you're doing good with work and everything, huh?"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "The joys of running one's own business. You can always make your won definition of success. And for failure.. Well, that's what tax writeoffs are for. One never has to worry, they're always making money no matter htier financial standing." The joys of the military-industrial complex.

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"I guess..." Aurora agrees regardless of whether she completely understood Emma's words or not. "I guess what you do takes a great deal more, huh? I just have to look pretty and smile." And there goes a sip, or more like half her glass. "You ever deal with challenges that are beyond you?"

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"There are no challenges beyond Emma Frost," comes a deep baritone voice from behind the table, manifesting into the form of Sebastian Shaw. "At least, none that anyone seems to be aware of." There is a glimmer of a smile in the man as he regards Emma, an inclination of his head in respect, before he turns his attention to Aurora. "And you, my dear, do far more than just look pretty and smile, although you do excel at both of those."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would glance over her shoulder, "Why Sebastian, thank you. I do hope tha tyou've been well. You weathered this little faux crisis with the cure successfully? Kudos." A lightly dropped statement moreso to see how he responded to it.

"Oh, one has to always do many things. What one can do is have power over the narrative. Play up to or agaisnt expectations. You know how the story will flow, you can twist it about. If they see you as just a pretty face.. Then seem to remain one and jot down what they have for thier wine so you know who to poison. Prettiness can lead to invisibility."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
Aurora hasn't seen Mr. Shaw in a good while now, so she looks up with surprise as he enters and approaches the table. "I guess that has to be true," her smile thaws into something more genuine now. "My self esteem appreciates you for that," she laughs, clearly not entirely convinced, but quite approving of the gesture.

When Emma turns to business, Aurora looks a bit out of it, but doesn't quite inserts herself into that conversation, merely remarking, "I don't think there's much Mr. Shaw wouldn't handle, he's very impressive." She inclines her head at Emma's lingering last words and nods. She has noticed that affect in person after all.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"If I had some sort of magical power, it would definitely be in enhancing the self esteem of beautiful women." Certainly, Sebastian Shaw has no magical powers, and he offers a light shrug to Emma at her question. "What crisis?" he asks. Not seeming that he does not know, of course - more a shrug of dismissal.

Glancing over at Emma's advice, Sebastian chuckles. "No one weaponizes prettiness quite like Miss Frost." Compliment or insult? Unclear.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Why t hank you, Sebastian. Perfection is a continued pursuit. Always to be improved upon. And what isn't that way can be made that way." Said the woman that on occasion in fights told the victims she'd had more dangerous plastic surgery than they had.

She takes a sip over of her wine.

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"You're too selfless, Mr. Shaw," Aurora remarks, her voice going up in pitch as she praises Shaw. It may amuse Emma who likely knows Shaw a great deal better than Aurora does. "I can see all eyes fall on Miss Frost when she's around," Aurora does look a bit taken back at Emma's flippant ease at the concept of cosmetic surgery, "you...you have had work done on you?" Aurora asks curiously, "I thought that's all natural."

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
There is a bit of a snort from Sebastian at Aurora's comment. "Everything about Miss Frost is carefully curated, rest assured."

Perhaps in intentional contrast, while other eyes may fall on Emma, Sebastian's gaze lingers almost exclusively on Aurora. "I will confess, however, that if you believe me to be too selfless, you really should get to know me better." There is a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would shrug over, "Beauty is a weapon as any other thing is. What is not there can be improved, after all." Was Emma stating at one point she hadn't been beautiful? Perhaps. Shaw likely knew. Or not.

"A fortune, and worth every penny of it."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"Oh," Aurora is quite taken back by how freely Shaw and Frost seem to skirt that fine line between amicable exchange and verbal sparring. Either way, she can feel the air is a bit tense, and so doesn't take any sides at all. Just listens and observes.

"I heard beauty could be a weapon before, but honestly, I find it a very valuable paycheck, and I guess a key of sorts. It definitely opens doors," she notes, before adding more softly, "particularly to bed rooms."

She looks curiously at Shaw, wondering what that almost ominous suggestion she really should get to know him better might hold within.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
There certainly is a crackle in the air between Frost and Shaw. There always is, and it speaks of something far longer in history.

As Aurora speaks of bed rooms, Shaw's eyebrows arch, and he chuckles in amusement. "Certainly, your beauty could open the door to my bedroom, if that is what you are suggesting."

Perhaps that is the ominous suggestion after all. Or something even more ominous. Who is to say?

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would fold her fingers together and smile at Shaw, "And don't take up the offer, dear. You don't know where he's been. And yes, beauty is a weapon just like any other. But it can also easily be taken away. It's but one weapon to have available. An effective one, mind.. But merely one of many. Just remember that too often it's only.. Skin deep." A barbed smile is given over to Shaw as Emma takes a sip of her wine.

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
As Shaw picks on Aurora's flirtatious bit and answers in kind, she laughs, and shifts to raise from her seat, "I think on this note, I ought to go and powder my nose," she borrows an old timey execuse. Though perhaps she means something more modern, who truly knows just how playful or outright honest she was being at the moment, as she excuses herself and takes leave.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
Watching as Aurora departs, Shaw turns his gaze back towards Emma, his face still a smile. "See, when the adults fight, we chase the children away. And what fun is that?"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would glance at Shaw, "So then Shaw, what is the reason for this little tete a tete? Are we bored tonight or is there any sort of frivolity about I should be aware of?"

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"Frivolity flees your presence, Emma," replies Sebastian with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "And we were doing just fine until you took the first shot. I cannot be helped if mine simply sunk your ship with greater alacrity."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would muse, "But Sebastian, where's teh fun in that?" She's not saying he's an easy target. This is his club after all and she's still a guest here, and permitted, not tolerated. "I hope that all the preparation for the coming costumed festivities do well."

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"We have a different definition of fun, I do believe," comes the reply. Although clearly, Sebastian eagerly enough engages in such discourse, so that is not entirely accurate. "The preparations, as always, run onward and are proceeding as I have designed. I think it shall be quite impressive this year."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would nod, "Yes, do be a dear and keep an eye on Selene. It will be rather less fun if she attempts a mass sacrifice of everyone present to fuel her own power. ANd would make such a mess on the floor to clean out." In total fairness to Emma, that /was/ something that was a possibility.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
A slight shrug. "Selene knows her place, unlike some others I would mention." Sebastian gives Emma a consequential look at that. "Besides, she hardly needs my help to gather up whatever she needs for her dark purposes. She is quite capable on her own."

Emma Frost has posed:
And that gets an honest to goodness laugh out of Emma. A very sincere one that she doesn't bother to try and cover up. "All right, you've got me there." Wait, she's admitting Shaw is right? And that he was making her laugh?

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
"I am sure victory in that will merely be fleeting," Shaw replies, bowing his head briefly in acknowledgement.