5984/The once and future Queen

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The once and future Queen
Date of Scene: 13 December 2018
Location: Hellfire Club, New York City
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Magneto, Emma Frost




Magneto has posed:
     Another diplomatic visit to New York, and through the usual channels, arrangements were made with King Magnus to meet at the Hellfire Club.

  The King was in a private parlor, in view of a barkeep to wait on him. The cognac in his snifter was absurdly expensive, but the age on it made for a luscious drink. The Royal was enjoying a moment of solitude before he was to meet an old friend.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost just happened to be that old friend, and an otherwise frequent visitor to the Hellfire Club, despite her rather coloured past with the Inner Circle. As it happens, she's in rather a foul mood, though why isn't clear yet. Her old friend Erik might have already caught on that the usually cool and collected (read: controlled) woman was erring on the side of quiet rage.

And if he hadn't yet, her arrival at his table with a tumbler, and a full bottle might inform. That, and the fact that instead of her usual greeting, she sits down with no preamble, and pours herself a rather large measure, downing it before pouring another, offering only then a rather terse, "Erik."

Magneto has posed:
     Magneto of course stands as Emma enters the small parlour, and raising his glass to her. "Emma, dear." The white haired man takes his seat, and sips the cognac. "Rough time I take it?" He comments, clearly ready to listen to his friend.

Emma Frost has posed:
"You might say that," Emma retorts dryly. "Though it all depends on how frank we're being with one another tonight as to the reasons you get."

She arches a brow at her long time friend and waits, fully expecting him to encourage her, though one never knows. It is, after all, not a story she can tell many.

Magneto has posed:
     "Fully frank is fine with me. Who other than me can you be so brutally honest with?" Erik comments, taking another sip of the liquor. "Come come, my dear." He adds in, seeming as helpful as he can.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma takes the time to pull out a slim package of cigarettes - likely expensive, if the gold lettering on the label, and the extra long filters are anything to go by. A single cigarette is shaken out, and lit with a gold zippo, Emma taking a long drag before answering.

"I know, filthy habit. I plan on quiting, but right now I think I deserve this one." Or will, at any rate. It is rather a whopper of a tale.

"You're aware of the Shadow King?" Emma says the name in clipped tones whose edge are just a tad too brittle to be neutral. She expects he has, but these things do play out in specific ways, and truth be told, she needs a moment to collect her thoughts on the matter.

Magneto has posed:
     Magneto himself has had his fair share of cigarettes, but that was a long time ago. But of course, he does not judge, plus, the Dunhill brand are outrageously delicious. "Good, this isn't the fifties where we all just puffed away as if we were steam trains." A subtle hint on his age, but she knew he was deceptively old for his looks.

  "The Shadow King? That is a name I have only had the...unfortunate pleasure of hearing a small number of times before."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma shrugs. "Believe it or not, the two things are related." She waves her cigarette holding hand in case he is confused as to what two things: the smoking, and the Shadow King.

"Unfortunate, indeed. Which may make what I'm going to say next rather surprising. If not amusing."

Another slow drag of her cigarette, exhaled in a thin blue line of smoke that curls upwards, the last of the puff given as she lifts her tumbler to her lips and swallows some of the very expensive scotch within - with a complete lack of reverence for its quality, one might add.

"What would you say if I said I had the misfortune to fall completely and head over heels in love for the Thing." Again, the distaste as she says 'Thing'. "Or, perhaps more rightly, besotted as a school girl with her first crush. To the tune of linking myself to him."

A pause.

"Voluntarily."

Which may not be as surprising as it sounds, given Emma's need for control in all things.

Magneto has posed:
     The man rears back when Emma mentions the voluntary part. "You? With him? Please tell me that it was some...adolescent 'phase' you were going through. Or..." He trails off, alluding to if this crush is current. And if so, extremely scandalous. "You know you could have any man you ever wanted."

Emma Frost has posed:
"I'm so glad you didn't overreact," Emma says in clipped tones. Dry as dust. "But I'm afraid so."

She's about to sip from her drink, when she pauses, "Oh? How so? Any man I want."

Because while he's right in many respects, he's also very far from the mark. It's a complicated thing, but she's curious what's pushed him to make such an assertion.

Magneto has posed:
     If the master of magnetism needed glasses, he would be looking over them at the moment, that slight look of recognition. "Yes. Wether it by nefarious means, or otherwise. Wether you believe it or not."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Oh, Erik, you wound me." Emma gives a light laugh, and inclines her head to the man. "I'd hardly waste my time at this juncture of my life procurring a man by nefarious needs. I'm hardly a rutting teenager looking for a one night stand to cool my heels. And frankly, the choice of eligible males who meet my strict criteria are lacking."

There's something that might be an impish grin were it to come from anyone else.

"Why? Were you considering auditioning for a position?"

Her glass is availed of, a sip of the amber liquid within taken, and savoured, her respect for a quality vintage seemingly renewed for the moment.

Magneto has posed:
     Erik laughs fully at the statement. "Oh? Has the huntress lost the will to hunt? You're not nearly old enough to have lost that youthful vigor." His own cognac is supposed again, the snifter gently cradled by his palm, and warmed by the same appendage. "Auditioning? So actual royalty is only enough to get me an audition? No, Emma, you are the one who is wounding the other." He offers, feigning being hurt by her comment.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma chuckles over her drink, her cigarette slowly ashing itself, threatening to drop the greyed flakes of burnt tobacco upon the table between them. "Oh, Erik, please. Let's not pretend you think so little of yourself. Not now. We've known one another too long. And yes. You. Surely you know you rank up there amongst those I'd consider."

It's a rather bland little confession as such things go.

"As for hunting, it's all rather boring, don't you think. If not slightly debasing to reduce one's self into nothing more than a rutting animal. Honestly, you shouldn't be so surprised I'd be attracted to someone like the Shadow King."

And while she says the name with notable distaste, there is something running as an undercurrent to that derision, something counter to it. "Go on, though. Ask away. You may never get the chance again."

Magneto has posed:
     Erik himself had a laugh again. "I know, Emma. I was trying to lift your spirits. But I am pleased you consider me in that pool."

  The snifter is emptied and Magneto raises the glass, signifying that he would like another dram. "I would only assume someone as...he is, is rather unattractive, save for his gifts."

Emma Frost has posed:
"I wouldn't know," Emma says quietly. "I never saw anything but his mind."

Which is, in and of itself, telling. And a large insight into the woman.

"I'm curious, though, why attractiveness should play into it. Beyond the obvious, when have I ever seemed to be that crass?" Which is something of a trick question as Emma is most definitely opinionated on what she finds attractive in a male, and pretty and stupid has never ranked. "Or why you'd have believed otherwise for yourself? One of the things I've always found refreshing about you, Erik, is your complete lack of hitting upon me. A man with your mind, who doens't talk to my chest. Surely you can see the attraction. Though I suppose it would rather complicate matters in the long run. Still, there you have it. On the shortlist."

She seems to remember her cigarette, and thinking better of it, stubs the thing out on a coaster, setting the half-smoked thing aside.

"But yes. I willingly went to him. In a manner of speaking. He caught me out on the Astral Plane and somewhere in the conversation that ensued, I found myself besotted and looking for any way I could to crawl into his favour. I'm about as displeased with myself as you imagine."

Magneto has posed:
     Magnus gladly accepts the new drink from the barkeep. "Thank you, Lucious."

  The white hair of the old king glistens in the gentle lights of the Hellfire Club. "The White Queen, on her knees to ingratiate herself to the Shadow King. My word, Emma, how far must you fall?" He comments wryly. "But would that be a sight, King Magnus and Queen Emma of Genosha."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Well, not on my knees. At least not beyond figuratively. And even then, I might argue the point." Emma can't help a small chuckle. "You know, if he hadn't made a fatal error, I might still be involved. However."

Her drink is sipped from, amused blue eyes peering over the edge of the tumbler to regard the man. "I do like the sounds of that. If I thought you were serious." Her glass is set down, but not released. "I didn't consider it falling, though. Though I will admit I should have seen it coming, and stopped it before it happened. His mind, though.."

Her voice trails off as she recalls the sensation of experiencing that mind.

"Like nothing I've ever seen or felt before. So very vast. It was like witnessing the birth of eternity." She shrugs and breaks her own spell. "Is it any wonder I was entranced? However, like so many things, it was nothing but distraction and sleight of hand. I do rather think my regular stance on men still holds water better. I don't imagine I'll be making that mistake again anytime soon."

"You bring up an interesting matter, though. That of royalty. There is a small thing I wished to speak with you about."

Magneto has posed:
     "Oh? And do tell, what did he do that was such a fatal mistake?" Magneto asks, curious about the Shadow King himself.

  Then the mention of a royalty and the small thing. "Speak, candidly, my dear."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Truthfully? He ignored me."

Which, if you know Emma at all, is a fairly fatal error of epic proportions. Especially if she's done you the honour of falling besottedly in love with you.

Her tones are rather dry as she continues on, "However, he won't be making that mistake again anytime soon. I left him a little present on the Astral, should he ever find himself there. As for the matter I'd like to discuss, it's really rather simple, I find myself wanting back in. We both know I'm the only White Queen there is, and this little farce of a fued has gone on long enough. So, to put it simply, what do I have to do to be let back into the Inner Circle?"

Magneto has posed:
     Brows raise as Emma explains very matter of factly. "Oh my, unrequited love."

  The Inner Circle is mentioned, and Magneto sips from that snifter again, resting the glass on the table. "I was hoping you'd ask sometime soon. The white side has been lacking since your departure, and we both know how droll Selene and Sebastian can be when they feel unopposed."

  He leans back in his chair, and looks over Emma. "I could bring you into the fold again any time. But the others may have things they want in return. But myself? I have my own plan that will need your help. Mutually beneficial though."

Emma Frost has posed:
"I'd be disappointed with anything else," Emma says of the mutually beneficial favour. "I suppose this is the time for laying cards on the table."

She nods, and reaches for her cigarette; thinks better of it; then takes her drink up again.

"Not only unrequited, he used me." Which in Emma's world, is infinitely worse. "However, he's not all he was, and I've taken measures to keep myself far away from him." She says it like if he were smart he'd keep far away from her in the future.

Magneto has posed:
     "Good, I should say that the Shadow King should think twice about spurning The White Queen."

  "Tell me Emma, what news have you heard of the state of mutantkind here in the mainland?"

Emma Frost has posed:
"Mutants? You mean beyond the usual? Not much." She pauses over her drink. "Why? Should I have?"

Emma admits to herself a certain curiousity. It would seem her sojourn as a besotten lackey had left her out of touch. That, and Erik always had his finger upon the pulse of the interesting.

Magneto has posed:
     "I have it on good word that we are about to see a large wave of mutant suppression. Humans haven't progressed in the decades near enough, ignorant fools like Underwood still get into the highest office in the land." Erik's demeanor seems very much the Erik of days gone by.

  "I will be damned if I allow the same thing to happen to my grandson's generation. We need to act."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Grandsons," Emma says carefully, drawing back into memory his prior words about them. "I can see why you wouldn't wish them to suffer under the same sorts of hatred we have. I see how you mean it would be to both our benefits."

Emma might not be the most personable of beings unless she wanted something, but she had a known soft spot for the young mutants under her care. At least known to those who knew her best.

Magneto has posed:
     Erik takes another sip from his snifter, swirling the exquisite liquor. "I will let you in on the details soon, but first, the black court...I want to see the look on Shaw's face when he sees you in the Inner Circle again." An impish smile, and one could almost see the gears turning in his head.

Emma Frost has posed:
"I'd say I want to see it as well, but hardly necessary," Emma smiles, and lifts her glass to Magneto, taking a sip, before setting the glass down and retrieving her cigarette and relighting it. A long draw is taken, and exhaled before she speaks again. "So, when shall we make that happen?"

The other, her help with and for the mutants - well, that she knew he'd let her in on in his own good time.

Magneto has posed:
     "As soon as the next meeting. They know I am stateside, I'm sure they will demand some kind of a gathering." He offers, quite relaxed. "And what should be more appropriate for that meeting than to announce the White Queen of the Hellfire Club!" A wry laugh comes from the White King, and he seems very pleased with everything currently.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Oh, that will be fun. I was thinking of possibly holding a soiree, you know." Emma looks pleased. "Something for the holidays. The club always has been good for that. Speaking of, I know someone who would dearly love a membership. I'm not sure if he is or isn't our kind of people."