Owner Pose
Sebastian Shaw It is early for the crowds at the Hellfire Club, particularly for a weekday. But nonetheless, there is still a population of the wanting-to-be-seen dancing below the VIP Lounge's overlook. To them, being within these walls may be their life's greatest accomplishment. Or lead to it, if they play their cards right - simply making it through the door confers some sort of status. So for those in the VIP Lounge, looking down at those with a greater sense of superiority, there is truly some elitism at play.

And then, above even those elite, the VIP members, are the true power of the Hellfire Club. Not known to most, even to those who can walk into the VIP Lounge and gain whatever it is their fancy is for the eve, the Council of Cardinals, the Inner Circle, those who wield every bit of power that courses through the veins of the building. The ones who pull the strings even on the VIPs who view themselves to be the puppet masters.

And above them is their King - Sebastian Shaw. To the outside world, the Owner of the Hellfire Club and CEO of Shaw Industries. Certainly enough to pad any resume and leave plenty of overage. Few knew what he is truly capable of, and that is generally for the best.

At the moment, he sits at a table in the corner, his gaze casually aimed in the direction of the overlook, but his thoughts clearly elsewhere. A glass of red wine sits in front of him, a complement to the dark purple jacket that he wears over the white lacy shirt. There are rumors of customs within parts of the Hellfire Club, and that Sebastian's attire is simply a constant nod to that. But few, if any, wear it outside of those customs. But Sebastian Shaw does not mind standing out for his antiquated fashion choices. He never seems to mind standing out.
Glorianna Silver One of the women in the VIP lounge really doesn't have to try to be seen. The tanned redhead wears her long locks pulled up and back, with strategic wisps brushing bare shoulders. Yes, bare. Just in case the striking features and red hair isn't enough, she is wearing a long, silk gown of red. Strapless and sleeveless, it is only held up by, well, the woman herself. It also highlights a rather distinctive pendant she wears. The gown trails to the floor, split quite high along the right to show plenty of leg whenever she moves. And also a nice pair of ruby-colored Jimmy Choo pumps.

Right now, Glorianna is gazing casually over into the ballroom. She looks a little bored, and holds a glass of champagne that she's carried for a little while.
Sebastian Shaw Whatever thoughts had been residing within Sebastian's mind pass, and his gaze turns from a vacant stare in the distance to a slow survey of the room as it has changed since last he looked. It lingers upon the woman who watches the ballroom. Certainly, her appearance is worth noting - the outfit, and the wearer itself. He draws the wine glass up to his lips and raises his ring finger slightly as he does so. Scant moments later, an attendant arrives at his table, leaning over towards the Black King. A word or two from Sebastian, a nod and a few words from the attendant. And then after a brief pause, the attendant's lips move rapidly near Shaw's ear. The occasional slight nod, and then a final one. The attendant straightens and makes herself scarce, and Shaw resumes drinking his wine.

His gaze is focused on Glorianna now, as his mind processes the info dump he just received of the Hellfire Club's membership dossier.
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver turns slowly away from the overlook, her weight shifting from one foot to the other. Green eyes flicker quickly about the room, just long enough to notice Sebastian's gaze upon her. She raises the champagne glass to her lips for the first time, taking a slow sip while meeting his gaze. Then she slowly approaches, the red silk swishing with every, deliberate step.
Sebastian Shaw Patience, Sebastian has found, is a virtue. Especially when everything comes to him. He watches Glorianna approach, meeting her gaze, within only brief deviations of his eyes to take in her form within the gown as she makes her way across the room. He sips casually at his wine as she draws nearer, and then places the empty glass on the table to his side. When she is close enough to allow for conversation, he inclines his head towards her.

"Ms. Silver. I do so hope you have been finding the Hellfire Club to your satisfaction."

An attendant slips along the edge of the wall, refills Sebastian's glass, and then slips away.
Glorianna Silver The gown was designed for showing off its wearer, right down to the choice of color and the weight of the fabric. Glorianna lets it do its job. She continues to carry the champagne glass, but doesn't seem inclined to sip again. She smiles a little. Polite. Professional.

"A bit formal, Mister Shaw, but I suppose that comes with the territory." she replies.

She knows him, of course, at least by appearance and by reputation. Everyone knows Sebastian, after all.
Sebastian Shaw "I find it always easier to start with the formal, and slip into the informal, than vice versa," replies Sebastian, inclining his head towards her. "It is always my job to insure that our members are comfortable within these walls.

He raises the refilled glass to his lips and takes a sip. "Would you care to join me, Glorianna?"
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver watches him while they chat, giving her full attention. When he takes another sip she does as well, the nonverbals speaking quite loudly. Her weight shifts to the other foot, silk swishing as well. "I would love to, Mister Shaw." she replies.

And with that, she steps forward and slowly turns, allowing gravity to rearrange the long dress before she settles across from him.
Sebastian Shaw To say that Sebastian allows his eyes to consume the image of her dress settling against her as she seats is an understatement. But by the time she has her seat and is looking towards him, his gaze is back up to her face. "Excellent. I do appreciate the company."

"And I believe you were the one who wished to dispsense with formality. Please, call me Sebastian." He sets his glass of wine down on the table, and extends a smile. "So tell me, Glorianna, what brings you to the Hellfire Club, if I might ask?"
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver inclines her head with the shift to informality, setting her glass upon the table as well. "Many things bring me here, actually." she replies, with a light shrug. "And no, unlike some of those downstairs it isn't the free drinks and the finger-foods."

Her upper lip twitches into a wry smile at that. "Perhaps I've just been waiting to meet the right person here, is all."
Sebastian Shaw "We both know nothing is truly free, Glorianna." Sebastian chuckles mirthlessly, not taking his gaze from her. "It may all be included, of course, but the price of admission, membership, is too steep but for the very best this world has to offer." An inclination of his head towards her. "Such as yourself."

His lips twist into a smile at her statement. Flattery, of course, but on someone as vain as Sebastian? Perhaps effective. "And what would you do, once you found that right person? What devious plans reside within you?"
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver's head cants a little to one side with his compliment, knowing damn well that those aren't free either. The redhead chuckles softly for emphasis, even. "Devious? Must all plans be reduced to devious intent?" she replies casually.

"I seek what everyone here seeks, if they were to be truly honest with themselves." she replies. "Power. And what better place to find it?"
Sebastian Shaw "You are here within the Hellfire Club," murmurs Sebastian, a wolfish grin appearing on his face. "All plans here are either devious or deviant." He raises the glass of wine to his lips. "Often both."

He nods to her response, and sets the glass of wine back down again. "And what sort of power is it that you seek, Glorianna? Surely you want for nothing. You are rich, beautiful, and clearly have fine taste. What else is there?"
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver is either telegraphing or the movement of her hand is unconscious. A fingertip glides along the chain about her neck, teasing down to the pendant. It's a simple design, but either very alien or very ancient. Possibly both. She lets it drape back against her chest.

"Power is many things to many people, Sebastian. Do you know what sort of power YOU seek?"
Sebastian Shaw Either way, the movement of her hand draws Sebastian's eyes. His gaze lingers on her neck, down to the pendant. And then down further. His grin broadens ever so slightly in appreciation of the view.

"All of it," is his answer, as he draws the glass of wine back to his lips. "Whatever power there is for me to claim, I want it. As simple as that." His eyes move to hers. "But I sense you have a more focused want."
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver shrugs a little, the pendant shifting on its chain. "Only more focused on the short-term goals, really. Sometimes power comes in the form of people, sometimes it's knowledge, and sometimes it comes as a rare item."

She pauses, then, to regard him more closely. "There are rumors, Sebastian, that the Hellfire Club is more than just a social establishment."
Sebastian Shaw The words are paid careful attention to by the Black King. People. Knowledge. Item. He nods slowly to each of those in turn. "And what do you seek at this moment, Glorianna?"

He offers no words in answer to her question. Only a grin. A broad grin, confirmation that the rumors are most certainly accurate. He raises his glass of wine up, and finishes the contents, setting it off to the side. He allows the silence to linger. Waiting to see how she chooses to fill it.
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver doesn't reply to the question, although the Ember Stone practically screams into her mind.

<THE GLACIER STONE! WE MUST DESTROY IT! BURN ANYONE WHO KEEPS US FROM IT!>

She clears her throat. "I am a collector of rare antiquities, Sebastian." she replies after a moment. No, the silence doesn't bother her in the slightest. "But you haven't answered my question." What -really- goes on here?
Sebastian Shaw "We do have a rather fine collection of all manners of objects, Glorianna." Sebastian smiles towards her. "If you can be more specific, perhaps we already have some of that which you seek."

He seems to pause even further before addressing that question. "The Hellfire Club is many things, and I would say that a 'social establishment' is but the basest of them." His eyes linger upon hers for a moment. "What is it that you seek? If it is anything that the Club serves as, I would be more than happy to make any introductions necessary."
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver's green eyes brighten, but she laughs softly and shakes her head. "You do not." she declares simply. "I would know."

<HE LIES! BURN HIM! BURN HIM TO DUST!>

She shifts in her seat, crossing one leg over the other. "But we are getting ahead of ourselves. My secrets are not offered to easily, Sebastian. Much the same as yours are not." Apparently. "There are rumors that the Club keeps world leaders on strings and unseats those who would oppose them."
Sebastian Shaw An eyebrow arches. "Really? Then surely they must be quite intelligent artifacts if they can report their locale." Is he joking, or is he suspicious already? The Black King has seen all sorts of wonders in his time.

The shifting of legs attracts the eyes of the predator, and once complete they drift back up to hers. "Easily, no. Attainable, certainly." He regards her quietly for a moment, considering. "If I were to say that that is true, Glorianna, I would ask you what interest you would have in that side of the Club."
Glorianna Silver "Power is but a means to an end, Sebastian." Such as more power? "While I possess some means myself, there are some things which I lack." She pauses, then, raised foot bobbing lazily. "And I would certainly be interested in being such a guiding hand to power."

Truth be told, the Ember Stone is a lot like the fire it represents. It is insatiable, a hunger that is always yearning for more.
Sebastian Shaw "It is the means and the end to some, Glorianna." Himself included, of course. "What is it that you lack, then? Perhaps share that with me, and I can see if it is something that we can provide." A pause. "What makes you think that you would be an adequate guiding hand, if I might ask?"

Sebastian reclines in his seat, considering her quietly. "Those that guide are typically those that no longer need. Else, that guidance can be considered tainted. And we would not want any of that, now, would we?" That grin returns.
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver meets his gaze, raising her hand before his eyes in a slow, lingering gesture. She snaps her fingers, leaving a small flame on the nail of her index finger. It's about the size of what one would find with a lighter, and doesn't seem to be burning anything at all. After a moment she lets it snuff itself out.

"Fire destroys, Sebastian. It consumes. It hungers. It is never satisfied. And yet fire is but one element. One manifestation of ancient powers."

<YES, BURN! BURN THEM ALL! BURN IT ALL DOWN! WE TIRE OF THIS MAN AND HIS QUESTIONS!>

"It can be controlled, however."
Sebastian Shaw The appearance of the flame earns a broad smile from Sebastian. "Ah. Power, indeed." He does not seem startled by the display, and it seems to arouse greater interest from the man.

"Is that a natural ability, I wonder, or is this the benefit of one of your...rare antiquities?" His eyes move down to rest upon her pendant, and then back up to her, an eyebrow arched.
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver watches his gaze shift and she laughs softly at his question. "I daresay you can already guess the answers, Sebastian. Which means you also know the sort of antiquities I seek." All it would take would be a little bit of research in the proper tomes to uncover the legends around the power stones, after all.

"The real question is whether or not someone with my particular abilities could be of use to the Club and its goals."
Sebastian Shaw A slow nod. "More of the same," murmurs Sebastian, his gaze steady upon the pendant. As if trying to commit it to memory.

"There is no real barrier to entry, Glorianna, based around power. At least, of that sort of power." Considering her quietly, Sebastian tilts his head. "Frankly, I would daresay that the extent of your ambition is of greater relevance than that power." A pause. "So how strong is your ambition, Glorianna, and how willing are you to do what it takes to achieve it?"
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver doesn't hesitate in her answer. "If one of these... antiquities... were in this room, right now? I would not hesitate to burn down the entire building to get to it." She meets his gaze evenly, then. "But do not mistake me, Sebastian. I do have standards, of course. And even a few boundaries. But my ambition is, indeed, quite high."
Sebastian Shaw "I would be rather disappointed if you were to burn this place to the ground," remarks Sebastian with the slightest of frowns. "Certainly, there is some remedy short of that extreme, no?"

He considers her words for a long moment, nodding in thought. "Most of us have standard and boundaries, Glorianna. It's a question of just how far we are willing to bend those in the pursuit of our ambitions." He thinks for a moment. "The greater details of this conversation are probably best kept away from prying ears. Would you care to take a walk with me?"
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver smiles wryly at the reproach, but her expression is anything but apologetic. "As I said, Sebastian, there are no such antiquities here." she replies simply. As for boundaries and standards? Probably not something she cares to discuss right here as well. Even in the V.I.P. room.

At the offer, she nods once. "Of course." And then, rather than rising, she lifts a hand to offer it to him. Apparently things are back to formal again.
Sebastian Shaw "Much to our good fortune, it would seem," replies Sebastian dryly. He slides out from the table, and as expected, reaches out to take her hand. "If you do wish to know the deeper secrets of the Hellfire Club, then I believe we should at the very least begin with a tour of the less frequently viewed chambers within."
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver's thumb is smooth, nails neatly manicured, and she casually rubs the back of his hand as he takes her own. Rising smoothly, the woman's posture speaks of athleticism and confidence. In no particular order. "Is the the all-inclusive tour, or just the one you provide to fire-starters?" she replies playfully.
Sebastian Shaw "It is the privileged tour only granted to those beyond the VIP level," replies Sebastian, as he gives her hand a gentle squeeze, before turning to lead her towards the corner of the lounge. "Rarer still, I should add, is to have myself as the conductor."

Sebastian's eyes take in Glorianna sidelong as he moves towards the corner. An attendant shuffles over quickly, and the wooden panel in the wall bearing an intricate carving slides over to the side, revealing a small passageway. From the light of the lounge, it is a narrow passageway but features the warm wood paneling of the lounge, similarly carved, although the imagery is hard to make out, so tiny is the detail. There is no light within the passageway itself.

"Shall we?" he asks, perhaps a final confirmation sought from Glorianna before moving into the bowels of the Hellfire Club.
Glorianna Silver Glorianna Silver lifts a brow, but doesn't really seem surprised. "Beyond VIP?" she echoes, allowing him to lead her along. The woman's gaze takes in everything, those full lips curling into a small smile as if the secret panel confirms everything she suspected.

"By all means, lead the way." she replies. And so Glorianna takes her first steps into the deeper, darker aspects of the Hellfire Club.