Hellfire Gala: Before we storm the gates...

[William Rydenborne]

William Rydenborne had been in New York City on business for several weeks, and so far things had gone in his favor. If his luck was still holding out, tonight would be the jewel in his crown. Tonight he'd show his father that he was more than prepared to take on the elder Rydenborne's mantle and lead the family into the next century.

Now if his old man would kick off, and if he could dispatch the rest of his siblings, life would be golden indeed.

As his limousine circled the block that housed the Hellfire Mansion, William couldn't help but think of those he wanted to grind into paste at this party, but he knew the security surrounding this affair would be formidable. "I'll get out here," he told the driver as he set down the scotch he had been sipping during his ride across town. Soon the driver parked, got out and opened the door for the young mogul. Well, young in appearance at any rate. "I'll call when I'm ready to return to my hotel," he said as the driver got in the car and left, parking a few blocks away from the mansion. "Now, I wonder where Miranda is? Bella's not cold in the ground, and Miranda has started up where she left off. With a vampire."

[Craig Dragotti]

            *Enter Mr. Dragotti from Mi Casa... thread*


   *Hopefully Jack and I won't die here!* Craig thought as he found himself by a very unfamiliar building. He had to be on his guard in case of potential battles. He turned his head and noticed William until he acknowledged him with a nod. Craig chose not to say anything unless he was addressed. There was no way of knowing if William was a friend, foe or neutral. He adjusted his vest in order to pass the time.

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack walked out behind Craig and who was the first person he saw? William Rydenborne. "Bugger!" Jack snarled as he looked at the man and prayed he was not carrying a sword, mace or some other instrument of torture.

"Sparrow? How in the name of the Goddess did you get invited to this party?" Rydenborne asked as Jack gave him a very quick smile. 

"William," Jack said with a nod, "I do own a major shipping and cruise business. You munitions makers can't have all the fun, can you?"

"William Rydenborne," the man said as he extended his hand to Craig.

"This is Craig Dragotti, a very good friend who was kind enough to accompany me to this event," Jack said as he motioned to Craig. 

"A pleasure. Dragotti. Do you have family in Milan? My sister goes there for Fashion Week, and I'm sure she mentioned a Dragotti," William asked as Jack snapped his attention back to Craig for a moment. William was fishing for information, and that might not be good at all.
 

[Craig Dragotti]

The sound of Jack's sudden voice caused Mr. Dragotti to turn his head and face him. ''How do you two know one another?'' he inquired as he looked a bit puzzled. After noticing William's hand, he took it with a quick shake. He frowned and shook his head after William's question. ''There aren't any relatives in Milan.'' Craig wondered if William desired information to use against Jack. 

[Belatu-Cadros]

After his little sojourn to The Wicked Wolf in San Francisco, Bryan O'Cathain had been doing his best to avoid any more mobs with flaming torches as he gathered information on his large and rather insane lot of maternal relatives. He had run into his Uncle Quinn briefly on the Left Coast, as the rabble liked to call it, and he had warned his nephew not to start a war.

Too bad Bryan rarely listened to anyone.

The Hellfire Club gala was just the place to start a bit of trouble. His mother was going to be there with the dog she called a lover, and that, in and of itself, was enough reason to crash this silly soiree. Meeting the rest of his siblings was also going to be a highlight of the year. Most of them were pathetic if his intel was correct, and he'd use this night to rub their collective noses in it.

Bryan stood back behind the red carpet and watch a trio of men talking. Perhaps they would provide entertainment until the X-Men arrived?

[William Rydenborne]

"Then I must have misunderstood what Miranda told me," William said to Craig as he nodded to the man. "I swore she mentioned a Dragotti in Milan. Maybe I'm thinking of the Bianchi family."

"Miri likes to chat," Jack replied as William shook his head and mumbled something under his breath. "What was that, William? Can't hear you for all the screaming ladies over there. I actually know William's father, Craig. They make weapons. Have since I was a boy, and you know how old I am!"

"Yes, I'm sure you had more than one Rydenborne canon on your ship, Jack," William replied as he saw a blonde man staring at them. "Jack, did you know Antonia and Marco will be here tonight?"

"Oh. Really," Jack said as his facial expression suddenly changed from one of relative ease to one of dread. "Joy of joys. Oh wait. Marco is part of the Hellfire Club overseas. I forgot about that."

"Craig, what line of work are you in?" William asked as he looked again at the blonde man watching them.

[Craig Dragotti]

''I see!'' Craig muttered after Jack said how he was familiar with William's father. He actually didn't know Jack's age, but seemed too polite to mention anything about it. He noticed a blonde man and had no idea how to react. Was the fellow friend or foe? William's sudden question caused him to face the other man. ''I'm a former mob boss, but I'm with Jack now.''

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack looked at bit fidgety as he listened to William questioning Craig. He knew the Rydenbornes had been involved in far worse than anything Craig might have done in his career as a mob boss, and he'd call William on it if push came to shove.

"A former mob boss?" William replied to Craig. "Fascinating. So, are you working with Jack in his shipping business, or are you involved in another venture?"

"William, where is dear old pater? Is he coming to this soiree? What's a party without Black Jack Rydenborne?" Jack interjected as he motioned back toward the building, trying to keep William from bothering Craig and asking meddling questions. He then turned and saw the blonde gent staring at them. "I have no clue who that is, but if he keeps staring, I may need to go have words with him."

[Craig Dragotti]

''I'm just living with Jack now,'' Mr. Dragotti said to William. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to reveal what he did during his past career. He lost count of every person he murdered while Sasha and Reynard worked as his button men. It was sometimes difficult to forget viewing the bloody bodies of his enemies after his men ended their lives. Mr. Dragotti tried not to focus on the mysterious blonde man. ''I'll protect you with my pyrokinetic abilities if that fair-haired fellow bothers us, Jack!'' he muttered. 

[Jack Sparrow]

"I'm just wondering if he's a reporter or some hanger-on looking to make his name off other people's work?" Jack said to Craig as the blonde man turned and moved off in the other direction. "Good. No need to worry about him for the moment. I'm glad you did not need to intervene, Craig."

"Jack, Jack," William said as he watched the man walking away. "He's probably some New York pseudo-sophisticate looking to get on Page Six of the Post. He'd be right there between some club brawl and the latest fashion faux pas by a woman overloaded with silicon implants!"

"No. He seems very familiar, in a creepy sort of fashion," Jack replied as he kept eyeing the blonde man. "I wish they would let us go inside. I want to stake out an interesting vantage point for the evening. Craig, perhaps one of our teammates will be open to having a dance once this party starts? I have heard Miss Frost is an excellent dancer, and of course Alison Blair is marvelous as well."

[Craig Dragotti]

Mr. Dragotti kept his eye on the blonde man before he turned to Jack again. ''It's been a long time since I used my pyrokinesis. I meant what I said when I wished to protect you with fire, Jack.'' A small frown appeared on his face as soon as Jack mentioned the X-Men. ''As long as Reynard and Sasha aren't present. I can't forgive the mischief they caused earlier.''

[Belatu-Cadros]

Bryan had finally had enough of all the staring back and forth and walked over to the trio talking at the front of the building's walkway. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you gentlemen. I'm just a tad bored hanging around outside the building. Bryan O'Cathain, at your service."

As he looked at the three men, Bryan could not help but chuckle inside. He knew two of them, the pirate Sparrow and the time-hopping war monger Rydenborne, by reputation, but he had no idea if they knew him. 

"So, when will they let us inside? Any clue?"

[Craig Dragotti]

''Bryan O' Cathain, hm? I'm Mr. Craig Dragotti and this is my associate Jack.'' He focused on Bryan again in case the latter tried anything. The man's words and vocal tone didn't seem hostile. Then again, most psychopaths were able to appear and sound friendly. Seeming kind happened to work in their favor. ''I have no idea when we'll step into the building.''

[Althena Dalmasca]

"Ohh, what a pretty place..."

The activity outside of the Hellfire manor was bustling, though it was nowhere near as busy as it would be not too long from now. Casually exiting her limo, Marina quickly rose to her full gait, absorbing the sight of everything. "It's almost a pity that this will be more of a business visit than pleasure. Isn't that right?" The telepath asked as she glanced back toward the inside of the limo, graciously awaiting the emergence of her date.

"Come come, we don't have all day." Tapping her blackened high heel against the concrete curb, the mind controlled telepath began to demonstrate her impatience. Subtly, her eyes flashed a shade a blue. Seconds later, the limousine began to creek and shift as the massive frame of her date began to make his own exit. "Took you long enough Cain. What were you doing?"

To those in the know, seeing this strange woman in the presence of Cain Marko, better known to the world as the Juggernaut, would come as a surprise. Despite being a villain in the past, the world at large had come to assume that Juggernaut was reformed and with the X-Men; though he hadn't been publicly seen, aside from brief appearances and rumors here and there, since the whole World War Hulk incident.

Stranger still was how the two of them were invited? If the Juggernaut were still an X-Man, they probably would've assumed that he would show up with the X-Men.

[Craig Dragotti]

The sound of a high heel tapping against the curb caused Mr. Dragotti to turn his head. He had no idea who the woman was. His eyes widened with every passing second as soon as a muscular man appeared. Something about the fellow seemed threatening. Craig focused on his palm until fire formed on top of it. He stood in front of Jack to protect him in case the woman and her companion tried anything.

[Darkwing]

"Is it truly necessary for me to be here?"

"Of course. They invited the board of Williams Industries. It would look bad if the owner and CEO of Williams Industries didn't show up. Besides, they didn't invite Darkwing."

In the back of his limo, Brian grumbled under his breath. Even as a child, he was never a fan of these sorts of parties the Hellfire Club tended to throw. But because his parents were members of the club, he was always dragged along and forced to rub elbows with bratty and obnoxious children. Granted, there were a few people he met through this organization that he happened to admire, but as a whole, he was never into the glitz and glamor of it.

Not to mention, he was currently investigating the rich mens club for the death of his parents, amongst other things.

Unfortunately, Allen has proclaimed that Brian needed to indulge in his social life once in awhile, so he was here to pretend he was having a good time. "Are you going to get out or what? I do have to get this thing parked by valet, you know." Brian chuckled at the comment made by Allen. For a butler, he sure was lippy.

"I'll meet you inside."

And with that, Brian exited the expensive vehicle. Almost immediately, he was flocked by press and paparazzi who wanted to get a photo and a soundbite. Such is the life of an eligible billionaire bachelor. The only way someone could be hounded worse than he was right now was if they were Tony Stark.

[Jack Sparrow]

"Oh my word," Jack said as he looked past the trio with him toward Juggernaut. "I have no idea who the woman is, but that is Cain Marko, late of the X-Men, Craig, but not someone you've likely met as yet. I'm surprised he's here."

Jack stood there for a moment and then made a gesture that surely made it seem like he'd been slapped in the face. "Wait. He's Charles Xavier's half brother or stepbrother. Something like that. I'm sure he's here in Charles' stead. It is easy to forget the familial connection they have." 

It was then Jack noticed the man being mobbed by the press. "Brian Williams of William Industries. He was on the cover of Forbes. Again. I swear they swap pictures of him and Tony Stark every other week." 

[Craig Dragotti]

The fire on Craig's palm vanished after he glanced at his hand. His eyes became wide with shock as he turned to Jack. ''That muscular man is with the X-Men?!'' he squawked. He seemed sheepish for a few moments. ''The other X-Men would probably never forgive me if I attacked him. I'm relieved you revealed who he was before I did something foolish.''

[Jack Sparrow]

"Cain, the last I remember, was working with the students," Jack replied to Craig as he watched the Juggernaut moving amongst the crowd. "But then I left for a time, so I'm not sure what happened. For all I know, the man hit the lottery and decided to start a venture of his own. Then again, Xavier was very wealthy. He could have left Cain a small fortune."

Jack kept one eye on the mob around Brian Williams. "I wonder why none of the press have mobbed us? Then again, Williams was voted most eligible billionaire bachelor recently. People magazine loves to do trashy things like that all the time. Tony Stark always seems to be with someone, so he is not in the running for very long."

[Craig Dragotti]

''Do I wish to know what Xavier and Cain's relationship is like? I guess Cain is OK as long as he doesn't try to attack us,'' Mr. Dragotti said. He continued to keep one eye on Cain. There was still something intimidating about him. Mr. Dragotti couldn't wait to enter the building. He also wondered how many other guests were going to appear.

[Jack Sparrow]

"That whole business between Xavier and Cain always confuses me," Jack said to Craig before he turned back to see why no one had opened the doors to the Hellfire Mansion yet. "And I spoke too soon. Heaven help me."

"Jack! Jack!" an attractive blonde woman yelled as she came running over in her flowery purple gown.






"Oh heaven help me!" Jack said as he got flustered and started rummaging in his coat pockets. "I do not want some expose in the New York papers!"

"Jack, please," the woman said as she came over and bopped the pirate on the head with her invitation to the soiree. "Carrie Carlyle. Nice to meet all of you. Jack and I are friends, so no worries. He just forgets that sometimes."

"What, you aren't doing some piece of journalistic nonsense for the Times?"

"No, I'm covering this for Vogue. Jack, Emma Frost will be here. How can I not be covering this for a fashion magazine? You are too funny. And Kari will be here with her mystery date.  I heard he's a real animal."

"I shall refrain from any comments on Kari or her date. Carrie, this is Craig Dragotti, a friend who was kind enough to come with me to the party. And these are William Rydenborne and Bryan O'Cathain. They, like us, are waiting for someone to say Open Sesame and let us in."

 

 

[Craig Dragotti]

Mr. Dragotti's jaw dropped in shock when a woman ran to Jack. He turned to the pirate for a moment. ''You know quite a few people, Jack!'' he stated. A frown materialized on his face after she bopped Jack on the head with her invitation. ''Carrie Carlyle?'' Mr. Dragotti muttered before he nodded at her.

[Emma Frost]

A portal shimmered open, and Scott Summers and Emma Frost were the first of the X-Men to arrive from their Graymalkin Industries base. "Dear God, this is a bloody circus!" Emma groaned as she saw the phalanx of reporters and camera people pushing forward. "What possessed Shaw to do this now? He must be out of his mind to think this is a good idea."

Emma turned to look at everyone in the crowd when she saw a familiar face in the distance. "Scott, there's someone over there you might actually like to meet, but we'll have to wait until that reporter from Forbes has gotten her pound of flesh. Brian Williams from Williams Industries. He actually makes Stark look like a pauper and an imbecile."

As she continued to scan the crowd, Emma saw Craig Dragotti in the distance and nodded to him as she continued talking to Scott. "And when this is over, we need to get our friend Mr. Dragotti back into training, darling. And Cain Marko made the cut? He's right over there. Color me flumoxed." 

Emma glared as the reporters hovered near Williams. "Brian? It's been a long time. A bit too long. I thought you shunned parties like this one?"

[Craig Dragotti]

A sudden portal was the reason why Craig turned his head. A huge grin formed on his face as soon as he recognized Emma and Scott. ''Long time, no see!'' he exclaimed. He was sheepish since he noticed Emma addressing Williams. After looking down for a moment, Mr. Dragotti lifted his head and saw Scott again. At least his button men weren't present.

[Karenza]

"Oh Goddess," Kari said as she, Logan and the others started to move through the portal and onto the street that fronted the Hellfire Mansion. "What is this? A scene from Gossip Girl or the Real Housewives of New York?" 

Kari had been holding Logan's hand but loosed it when they arrived in Manhattan. Things between them were good, but they  were both working the party more than anyone realized. "I see Jack made it. And William Rydenborne. Lovely."

Flashes went off as the X-Men continued to exit the portal. "Oh, Dana and Pete will just love this. Even odds Pete decks someone by the end of the night."

"And not me?" Logan grinned as Kari shook her head.

"That, my dear, is a given. It's as much of a given as me getting into a fight with Michael Priest. This is not going to be an easy evening by any means."