17754/Clever Chess Puns are Overrated
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| Clever Chess Puns are Overrated | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 24 April 2024 |
| Location: | VIP Lounge - Hellfire Club |
| Synopsis: | Selene and Susan find they have common ground in their worldviews. And since they've both reacted to world events faster than events themselves can unfold, why not enjoy the privileges of rank? The world's not actually burning. Yet at least. |
| Cast of Characters: | Selene Gallio, Susan Richards
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- Selene Gallio has posed:
It's not atypical for the Hellfire Club's VIP lounge to be a den of business and commerce, of wheeling and dealing, of a moving and shaking that is so much more clinical and academic than the moving and shaking in the Club's various dancefloors.
But it's quite atypical for such meetings to take place hours after the stock exchange has closed for the day, when that far more frenetic moving and shaking is in full swing, yes, even on a Tuesday night the club's debauchery is like a self-fueled fusion reaction. All heat and pressure in careful balance.
Though this evening, Selene Gallio trusts that reaction to manage itself, to avoid boiling over into armageddon without her careful touch. Because while the VIP lounge is nearly deserted, Selene awaits the arrival of her equal and opposite. In rank in the club and hair color if nothing else. She's had precious few moments to meet the White Queen of the Hellfire Club that weren't brief murmured hellos at one gala or another. And she's concerned that all too soon the Club is going to be focused far less on hedonism and entertainment, and far more on the political maneuverings across the globe in the wake of recent events at the Atlantic Space Port. Admittedly, they're recent events that she holds a manila folder detailing. She'll read them. Eventually.
For now, she sips at a martini and sighs out, pale skin covered in spots by gleaming black material of her tall boots, and a snug choker, and less gleaming midnight silk dress that... well, it covers more than her usual attire for 'Formal Club Business'.
Which somehow just makes her seem more dangerous and tempting. But mostly? Oh, this evening Selene is mostly curious. Susan Richards. White Queen of the Hellfire Club, media darling and really, Worlds #1 Mom And Wife. Which one will arrive? She can barely restrain from letting her black painted lips spread in a smile of anticipation at the thought of finding out.
- Susan Richards has posed:
Indeed, affairs at the Space Port have been front and center to everyone's minds. Not the least, the Fantastic Four and Susan's husband, Reed Richards. While he was busy making projections and performing analysis, Susan had received word that there were those within the Hellfire Club curious as to the true nature of what had happened. Details that Susan herself could provide. Details that had made her membership in the Hellfire Club an easier navigation.
Sadly, those details were yet to be available, but she HAD left her darling husband to research them while she came out in search of a way to alleviate the stress that had built up with the pressures of the world. And like her counterpart, Susan had eschewed the typical Hellfire Club attire for something simpler, less overstated, but also, perhaps far more intriguing. A sparkling white version of that little black dress, slit up the side to allow a healthy view of legs and thigh, and a neckline plunging enough that it rivaled her brief foray into risque fashion, the FF suit with the Four cut out of her chest.
Thin enough straps that perhaps she was using some of her innate powers to hold into place, Susan Richards breezes into the VIP Lounge in search of the woman who summoned her. Is the Black Queen a partner? A rival? She did not know. She hoped to learn soon. Perhaps tonight was that night.
- Selene Gallio has posed:
Selene's dark eyebrows lift, her lips spreading slowly, from small, thoughtful smile to... almost too broad. Too wide. Dark eyes drink in every inch of Susan Richards as she arrives, that attire, that figure, the poise and elegance and the mixture of their shadowy cabal and her public persona. "Oh my goodness. Mrs. Richards!"
Her voice chimes out, a faint accent, though it's truly difficult to place, tinges every word as Selene's eyes drift and scour and her breath sighs out. "This. This is why I have been saying that you spread yourself too thin. Jealousy, my dear woman. Every moment you spend inspiring the corporate leaders of tomorrow, and encouraging the scientific minds of young women?"
The dark haired woman sighs out and shakes her head slowly as she gestures to a lush seat at her own table, "Benefit to society as a whole, to humanity itself. But it means moments less amongst your esteemed peers. And we are lesser for it."
Selene's free hand lifts to gesture towards the bar and draw the attention of the staff that await, "Do feel free to order whatever you desire. I'm sure it's... still novel to you. Demanding your due instead of politely requesting, hm?" Those dark eyes don't even flicker towards the bar staff, her focus is intent. Utter. Susan Richards has every single iota of her attention. She murmurs a thoughtful noise, "I suppose I did invite you to meet a tad early for us to have anything concrete to discuss in regards to current events, didn't I? But then, that's not so bad. We can get to know each other. Ensure we can compliment one another when the time for action comes. That we can cooperate when necessary."
- Susan Richards has posed:
The slightly more daring than expected dress with its easily flowing light silks may seem like the sort of thing one would not expect from the Invisible Woman, but with age comes confidence, and as the years have not robbed her of her figure, she has become even more willing to show it off, as she does now. Is it for Selene, or the VIP Lounge as a whole? Or just for herself?
"There must be some to rise to replace me so that I myself can take a break and enjoy the leisure of one who has accomplished enough." Susan laughs as she approaches Selene's table. "Not that I am ever satisfied with what I have accomplished, but there comes a point..." She laughs musically and moves to draw herself down into a seat, an exercise that MUST be aided by her forcefields, for there is simply no way that she could claim a seat without that slit rising up nearly indecently. But alas for those onlookers, it remains firmly in place until she has settled upon the cushion.
"I trust your judgement," she intones, perhaps unwisely, to the Black Queen. "And I have yet to really come to determine when I should demand and when I should request. I have not yet really had to demand, to be honest, as all seem perfectly content to offer without request OR demand." The blonde settles back into a recline beside the raven haired beauty, and nods with a sigh. "There is still much to sort out, and likely it will Reed occupied for days as he tries to determine just what it is we should be doing next."
- Selene Gallio has posed:
Selene laughs softly and arches one dark eyebrow skeptically. "Oh, please, Mrs. Richards! From what I've heard of your past with the Club, even before you were welcomed into our most august inner circle... I do not think you have ever truly reached the level of 'enough' when it comes to accomplishments. Drive and determination are what bring us together after all." She sighs softly and dips her head, "And, of course, a certain amount of appreciation for the pleasures and leisures of our station in life..."
Her gaze never drifts from Susan as the blonde woman joins her, at any moment those dark eyes are appraising with cool, caged wariness, a jungle cat sizing up a rival of unknown ability and yet profound respect. But there are equal moments of shameless, brazen delight and approval for her fellow Queen's style and presence. Indeed, even that seemingly impossible feat of taking her seat without that slit in the dress revealing more than should be allowed earns a brief little change in expression, a flash of ivory teeth against lower lip as Selene bites herself softly.
And from that almost pensive bite to a crooked little smile, interrupted only for Selene to drain her martini and then signal for two. She purrs out a soft laugh, "Oh, yes, well you are quite naturally regal. Famed. The face of a near posthuman society, really, the first woman to put on a costume and force the world to yield to her will in so public a fashion?" Eyebrows perk and she sighs out, "Honestly, you're far too good for the company you keep." Eyes glint playfully as she murmurs out, "By which I mean it's most surprising that Shaw was able to bring you to us. I didn't think he had it in him."
And as drinks are brought to the duo, Selene looks pensive for just a moment, "I admit, your joining us is quite fortuitous. Outer space is one of those frontiers that I honestly never considered being anything but a... dalliance for nation states to compete in as a measuring contest." She snorts out a soft breath, "And much like men, well, it was quite clear what they were trying to measure, hm? But now... aliens arriving on Earth, governments refusing sanctuary and... yes, I daresay we may wish to spend these days before your husband has finished his investigations and reports enjoying ourselves to the utmost and beyond. I think we may all /actually/ be far too busy for galas and debauchery far too soon."
- Susan Richards has posed:
"True, there is never 'enough' not for me. Which is part of what drew my attention to..." Susan looks around, before leaning slightly towards Selene and dropping her voice to a more conspiratorial level. "...your little corner of the club." Then she corrects. "OUR corner."
She gives no indication if she is aware of anything other than Selene's polite appraisal of her dress, and certainly as she settles upon the cushion she seems to enjoy taking a lounging posture which does little for the modesty of the dress. But this is the Hellfire Club, so who cares how much skin is shown, or to what extent a dress clings to her? For a woman who spent so many years literally being Invisible, it is somewhat liberating to now be very, very visible.
"What make you think that it is I keeping him company, versus him keeping ME company?" The disinctition may be semantics, but Susan emphaisses the language as the drinks arrive. "Perhaps he was simply the avenue that I exploited to get where I wantd, and not the other way around?" She closes her lips around the glass for a moment to take her slip, and uses her tongue to remove the last traces of the martini before setting the glass down on the table.
There is a consideration paid to Selene and her statements, and Susan tilts her head. "Are you suggesting that we presume the world to be ending, and therefore engage in all manner of reckless behavior as if tomorrow will bring no consequences?" Susan's blues sparkle as she regards Selene, the glass brought back to her lips. "Do go on," she says with a sly smile before taking another, longer sip of the drink.
- Selene Gallio has posed:
"Oh, my my! Susan... may I call you Susan? You have no idea how delighted I am to hear that. It's... so rare to find another who so easily realizes the truth. 'Enough' is for... others. Enough is something that is given. We take... and because we take? There is no enough. There is simply our hungers. Our desires." She pauses for a moment to indulge one of those desires with a sip from her refreshed drink, eyes closing for a long moment.
And then those eyes open and her lips spread back into that easy smile. "Oh yes. Most certainly our corner, my dear." And then her eyebrows perk in genuine surprise, "Oh my, that's a very good point, my fellow Queen... you truly are an intriguing and dare I say... bewitching figure." She lets her tongue graze her lips for the briefest moment. Or, really, her tongue grazes her lips, because even millennia old immortals can feel a sudden flare of nervousness when realizing another is surprisingly adept at the same games and dances of power and influence.
And then Selene laughs, soft and throaty and dripping pure, wicked delight. "Oh, no, of course not my dear. Merely that we may, in fact, need to be concerned we will have to act to ensure it doesn't end. Even if we sometimes consider the world our toy... that merely means we, more than anyone, will want to preserve it, no? I don't know about you, Mrs. Richards... but I take a dim view of those who might dare to try and damage my toys without permission. I'm simply suggesting we... ensure we enter into trying times as relaxed and refreshed as possible."
And Selene leans forward to stage whisper, eyes narrowing playfully, "After all, just because we have no convenient date like Halloween or Mardi Gras for a gala event doesn't mean we can't enjoy the pleasures of our positions thoroughly. And then, once strife is past, and order restored... we will have a reason to then /celebrate/ in ways that make our relaxation beforehand look... positively puritan."
- Susan Richards has posed:
"Please, I would not have you call me anything else!" Susan smiles as she draws the glass up for another sip, eyeing Selene thoughtfully. "Interesting. Perhaps I shall have to learn to TAKE more, instead of ... " Blue lacquered fingernails tap against the martini glass, and she nods. "Hmm."
"Odd," Susan murmurs as she regards Selene. "That is what I had been warned about YOU." She smiles behind the glass. "The warnings, of course, are certainly correct and appropriate. Simply misguided, because I imagine that as bewitching as you are, you would never deign to bewitch your fellow queen." Her eyes twinkle again as she draws the glass to her lips, draining the last of it. "Or would you?"
Susan's eyes scan around the room for a few moments, as if surveying the world they were speaking of saving. Or perhaps considering the options fo the enjoyments of pleasures. "There WILL be quite a lot of work to be done, indeed, and little time for diversion." She turns her gaze back towards Selene. "If you think that would aid in my clarity of mind...who am I to argue?" She leans forward slowly to place the empty glass back on the table before turning to regard Selene again before stretching out languidly into the seat. "How do you propose we best relax ourselves?"
- Selene Gallio has posed:
Selene laughs, low and throaty and all too delighted, promising wickedness beyond measure as she sighs out, "Oh, Susan... of /course/ I would bewitch you. Bewitch you, entice you, show you every joy and delight of the Club, just in case Shaw somehow missed some when he first introduced you." Her head tilts as her fingertip circles the rim of her own now drained martini glass. "But isn't that part of the fun? To know we are both dangerous, ambitious, focused and driven. And to step in and dance on the edge of disaster /knowing/ that we are?"
Glass is set aside, and Selene rises smooth, fluid, her own dress with daring slit up either side? Well, Selene hasn't got Susan's unique talents to ensure it only hints at glorious wickedness. But the staff know not to react.
And if Susan has a reaction? Well, then that's likely the entire point. And as the Black Queen reaches full, upright stature she offers her hand to her radiant rival and murmurs out. "Well! Personally, I think we go and hit a button in the elevator. And we find some misadventure or trouble. And when we tire of it, or it bores us..." Her eyes narrow and she purrs softly, "Well, the elevator has a great many buttons."
- Susan Richards has posed:
That laugh evokes a smile from Susan, and she nods towards Selene. "They did say you were more dangerous than Sebastian, and I did not doubt them." Her eyes follow the motion of Selene's fingertip, and she nods. "No doubt, there is much you could introduce me too that he missed."
Her gaze follows Selene as the black clad Queen rises up, her smile broadening as she considers the way that dress matches her figure. It is a small enough reaction, but it is one of appreciation, if not mild envy of her agelessness.
She repeats her rival's motion, this time forgoeing the forcefield and allowing at least some speculative glances from the others in the lounge. "Lead on, my Queen. I trust that you could find enough trouble for the both of us."
