yourwhitequeen (yourwhitequeen) wrote in marvel_prep, @ 2013-09-13 22:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | black king, white queen ii |
Log: Of Cabbages and Kings
Characters: Emma Frost & Sebastian Shaw
NPCs: n/a
Location: Small, unnamed coffee shop
Timeline: 9th September {Backdated}
Description: A King and Queen talk
Rating: PG-13
Like with most discussions concerning the Hellfire Club and plans, Sebastian had met Emma off school grounds in a place where their words would be disregarded amongst strangers. It was a small coffee shop not to dissimilar from another they had frequented once before.
He sipped at his coffee then regarded Emma from above the rim of his cup, eyes cutting through the nonsense of the world around them and focusing rather intently on her sharp features.
"So, you mentioned the possibility of you registering?" Sebastian would broach the other topic on his mind as soon as he was aware of Emma's intentions in regards to the MRA.
Emma's eyebrow lifted, unsurprised at the lack of small talk before getting straight down to business. She appreciated that in a person. It infuriated her when people spoke in riddles, it was a blatant way of indicating that the riddle speaker thought themselves both better than the person to whom they were talking and infinitely smarter. And that was certainly never true when speaking with Emma. She was very smart. She just went to great pains to hide it from everyone.
She pushed a few strands of hair back behind her ear. "I did, yes," she said with a nod of her head. "I need some advice," she added. "My reputation as a Frost is on the line, if I become a wanted criminal, it would damage me later on down the line. I also sort of feel that I need to do this to show that at least the lighter side of the Hellfire Club is respectable. At the same time, the very notion of registering and giving my information to those cretins to put on some database turns my stomach."
Sebastian with a languid movement of his arm rested the cup on the saucer provided before he reclined into his seat, long finger steepling and tips pressing against his lips as he listened to what Emma had to say.
"You do have your reputation to consider," he conceded with a movement of his eyebrow. "Especially given that you are a Frost." The idea of registering was laughable at best to Sebastian as he had no desire to file his name on a database nor have his secrets exposed, but he could appreciate the necessity for it if you wanted to conduct your life within the set parameters of polite society.
He observed his nails for a moment before simply dropping his hand to rest on the table, tips knocking against the wood as he built the smallest amount of energy from that movement alone. "I have to wonder just how much the government knows about all of our unique abilities."
"I wonder if - considering we are not officially being accused of anything - a criminal record would be born of your decision not to register if you were not caught." Emma frowned and then lifted a shoulder, considering Sebastian's question as her hands curled around the china mug to absorb the heat. She always had cold fingers. Poor circulation, she supposed.
She wet her lower lip again, tasted the tang of the tropical flavoured lip balm she had applied before they had left the school.
"I very much doubt they're completely ignorant."
"Not completely ignorant," Sebastian agreed. "But where do you think they're getting their information from? It's not like many places contain detailed information on different mutants with their unique abilties save one place."
And the Professor had already made his intentions clear.
The Black King swept his gaze over the coffee shop before settling it on Emma once more. "And that information is only as good as what has become known."
"They did raid the school, Sebastian, after we moved out." Emma's shoulders lifted again, another shrugging motion. "I think it's safe to assume whatever the Professor knew, they will know too. So lying to them for false information to be put on the database seems like it might be a waste of time."
She shivered, "I have no desire to end up in the MDC, though. It's a vile place."
"I can only imagine," Sebastian remarked. "I haven't been there myself" He'd kept away because truthfully Sebastian no reason to visit except for curiosity purposes. Sebastian picked up his cup and sipped at his coffee, letting the bitter taste linger on his tongue before he swallowed it away.
He caught her gaze. "But you missed my point, Emma. The MRD will only know what the school knows so if you have any other talents those can remain as yours and yours alone."
"I didn't miss it," Emma said calmly, "but largely, members of our group save for perhaps you and I do not have anything secret from the Professor. Therefore the only people who might benefit from this lack of knowledge are the two of us sat at this table." She sighed and leaned back into the booth, curling her fingers around the edge of the table.
She shook her head. "And the MDC is not a nice place, soul destroying. You had better keep Gabriel on a tight leash. Not even you could get in and out of there without ending up collared like a dog."
Sebastian expression remained unchanged and his eyes were for the most part impassive and hard to read. "Exactly," he said with a nod of his head. "As in if you do register then the MRD does not need to know all that you can do, Emma." He leaned forward and removed his jacket, the dark material of his shirt pulling and tightening as he did so before he simply folded the jacket over the arm of the chair, the Black King making himself more comfortable.
"If I did keep him on a leash I can't imagine it would last too long," he remarked. "But leave that worry to me, Emma. I'm well aware of the boy's attitude to the world, especially in recent days."
"It would be bad enough that they would know the baseline of my abilities. It doesn't take genius to compare what Xavier and Jean Grey can do to my own abilities for them to try and make a comparison." Emma frowned, "I understand the sense in registering, but the mere thought makes me feel sick at myself. It goes against what I believe in, surprisingly." She pressed her lips together.
She didn't like that she had no idea what they were doing with this information. What they would do with it. Whether or not she would be in any further danger later on down the line.
"I don't want to see him arrested, that's all," Emma said, quick to pacify her Black King. "He's got a lot of potential, but that potential won't last if he ends up in prison, guards on his heels, collar around his neck and locked in solitary confinement. You and I both know he wouldn't play nice if he was locked up."
Sebastian watched Emma closely all too aware that the White Queen was seeking to pacify him. "No," he mused with a shake of his head. "I can't imagine you do." Their meetings were very much a play of words and reminscent of a tennis match where one would serve the ball and the other would then need to serve it back with equal or more force.
He brushed some imaginary lint off his cotton clad thigh then lifted his gaze to search Emma's features. "Illyana has registered, she says it was to get her brother off her back and give him he sense of having some sort of control. It makes sense, for some of us to be registered. For us to look as though we are playing within the rules set by society."
Emma's eyes narrowed in the corner slightly. "He's not my guard dog, Sebastian," she pointed out, "But if he were arrested, there would be little that would stop you breaching the walls of the MDC, and I fear they are far more like Troy than we would hope to admit." She shook her head, "And you do not have a wooden horse just yet." She glanced down, then looked coyly up at him through her lashes. He did, he had two. But getting them to work together would be the difficult bit. Emma, particularly, had problems with Selene, she felt that the other woman constantly belittled her and tried to put her down, twist her words and position herself between Emma and Sebastian.
Whilst she understood why he kept her around, it did not make Emma trust her any more than it made her trust a flatscan with a gun and a known history for mutant hate to protect her in a fight.
She pressed her lips together. "My concern if I register is that I may very well lose the respect of someone who I wish very much to get on side. As well as losing respect for myself for playing this ridiculous governmental game."
Whilst her eyes narrowed his expression remained void of any and all emotion and he listened to her words because what good was it having people around with minds of their own if you didn't listen to their points? Sebastian filed the use of Troy away and his eyebrow twitched. "Not just yet," he admitted. "But I do have other means." He had two very powerful psychics which he was not afraid of using if the need arose.
"And who is that?"
Sebastian had his sights set on Warren Worthington for all the potential revenue he could bring into the club and as such he required a persuasive hand, to bring him on side.
"Julian Keller." Emma informed him. "I intend on meeting with him tomorrow. To discuss… this and other things." She tilted her head, "Pending your approval, of course. I feel somewhat… outnumbered as of late."
The black was quite obviously wiping the white from the metaphorical chess board and Sebastian appreciated the need for more of that colour, especially if their Hellfire Club was going to grow beyond its fledgling state.
Julian Keller? As in his room-mate? Rich, influential, powerful and also vocal about his thoughts towards the MRA.
"Any particular reason why Julian Keller?"
"Apart from the fact that he's a perfect fit for our little club?" Emma asked with an arched eyebrow. "He's as powerful as me with his father's financial backing." She'd picked up Warren's name from thoughts in the air but said nothing, she respected Sebastian's privacy too much to pry further or push for information before he was ready to give it.
She tilted her head. "I trust him."
Sebastian didn't know if he trusted him, but then out of the selection of Hellfire Club members they had there weren't many that Sebastian trusted beyond a shadow of doubt, but the club wasn't always about getting along as it was working towards a common goal. As long as they kept that in sight then they shouldn't stray too far.
"Fine," he said. "Bring him onboard."
But the Hellfire Club was and would always be Sebastian's baby and people needed to understand and respect who it was in charge. Not that the words needed to be said because Sebastian was a man of action.
"I do however have another person I wish for you to approach."
Emma feigned ignorance at Sebastian's comment of who he wished for her to speak to. She leaned forward a little, elbows on the table and blue eyes clear and curious. "Oh?" she asked, "And who is that?" Warren. It was going to be Warren, wasn't it.
"Come now," Sebastian said with a smirk. "You already know who it is." He ran the tips of his fingers over the rim of the cup. "No need to play coy with me, Emma. I know your talents remember?"
Nevertheless he continued. "Warren Worthington. I think the club needs a White King and who better than the golden boy?"
"I don't make a habit of going into your mind, Sebastian, but I think you and I need to go over how not to broadcast again," Emma said with a soft laugh. "Warren. And what makes you think I'm the person to approach him?" she asked, because of all the women in the club, if Sebastian wanted someone to seduce him in, Emma was not the person to do it.
"You're from the same circle," Sebastian pointed out. "Your family knows his family, the relationship is stronger and he trusts you." Or as much as one rich kid could trust another. "You know how to talk to him, what to say, how to say it and I trust in your ability to persuade people to the cause."
"Your other option is to send Selene to seduce him in," Emma said with a soft snort of amusement. The idea was ridiculous but she thought it was entirely possible Warren could fall for it.
She just nodded, "I'll speak with him. But I make no promises. His father and mine are bitter rivals. Warren and I have rarely seen eye to eye. If I have to humble myself to speak with him and bring him on side, you, Sebastian Shaw," she pointed her finger at him, though her lip was curled up slightly, "will owe me."
Sebastian offered a slow smile before he held up both hands, the same hands that held a great deal of power invisible to the naked eye. "Noted, Miss Frost." He took a sip from his coffee and then sat back into his seat, fingers steepling again.
"Do let me know how it goes."