A Weekend Affair # 5 - The White Brunch

[Seer]

Much has happened, with more still to come. The weekend was nearly over, with just one day and two events remaining. Alliances had been formed, and rivalries as well. Many of the Europeans had bonded with the American Inner Circle, while some were estranged by their own tactics. And even within the American Inner Circle, radical changes were developing.

The morning sun rises, and so does Hellfire. While most of the Inner Circle May sleep in before attending a late morning brunch, some will awaken early, with matters to attend to. All the while, the staff is preparing the Great Hall for the next big event, the White Brunch.

It would not just be the Inner Circle this morning. The pawns were attending as well, which implied a significant announcement would be made. The large, long dining table had been replaced by several smaller round tables. Each table had been assigned, with the staff tasked to make sure every guest was guided to the right spot. There was a table intended just for the Kings and Queens to share, with one extra chair for Erika. There was also a table for the rest of the Inner Circle, the Knights and Bishops and Rooks, as well as the Princess who’d switched sides.

 

[Persephone]

The night had gone by far too quickly before it was time for Ava and John to get up for their sunrise ride. In all honestly, Ava would have been content just staying in bed with John, sleeping until late afternoon, but a part of her wanted to go out into nature and be around her horses. It always soothed her when she was feeling anxious and upset, and today was no different. They made their way down to the stables where both Phantom and her other horse Aslan were both already saddled and ready to go. They headed toward the trails that weaved around the massive property, taking the one that lead to the mountain top that overlooked all of Arklay and the land beyond. As they arrived, the sun began to peak over the horizon in a picturesque scene that would make the movies pale in comparison. Ava and John sat on the mountain top for a while, until the sun was high in the sky, just talking and holding each other like none of the drama at Hellfire even existed. Soon, however, they headed back down to Arklay where they returned to bed and made love until they fell back asleep.

Ava stirred under the covers, her back to John and his arm wrapped around her stomach with his body pressed against her. The sun was now filling the bedroom making Ava slowly open her eyes to try and adjust to the light. She softly groaned as she reached out her hand to where her phone was sitting on the night stand. Picking it up, she looked at the time to see it was nearly 11am - right around when the White Court's brunch was about to begin. Even in her sleepy state, she semi rolled her eye and put her phone back down, deciding that was something she didn't want to think of right when she woke up. Rolling onto her back, Ava looked over her shoulder at John to see he was completely dead to the world. She softly smiled, her hand running up his arm gently.

"John..."

She whispered, trying to coax him awake. Either it was all the sex they had or the ride earlier that morning, but he barely even flinched. Slowly moving his hand from off her body, she softly kissed it before placing it next to him and quietly climbing out of bed. Taking her phone with her as she went into the large bathroom, Ava called up the staff to order a variety of different brunch foods to be delivered within the hour as she started the water in the large bath tub. Pulling her hair up into a high messy bun as the tub began to fill with hot water, Ava then grabbed a bottles of essential oil and dumped some into the water; the aroma immediately filling up the steamy bathroom. Climbing into the water, she sunk into the tub while letting out a relaxing sigh. This was what she needed. Oils, hot water, and peace and quiet. Her body felt like it had been through a war, completely exhausted and drained from the emotional rollercoaster of the night before, so to be able to soak in a bath in the middle of Arklay where only her King slept in the other room? It was perfection.

 

[Steel]

Arklay

They had fallen asleep together, but had only a nap really before it was time to get up and head to the stables. He was an early riser anyway, and he knew how much Ava loved riding, so that made it easy to get himself moving. He tried not to be insulted that he'd been given a horse named after a character from a children's book, but in truth he'd probably earned it with the result of his last ride.

They reached the top of the mountain just a the sky began to turn pink. They let the horses graze and John sat in the grass, holding out his arms for Ava to lean against him. He wrapped her up and they sat and watched the sky turn a myriad of color. After riding back to Arklay, they slipped back into bed, making love and falling asleep again. He knew peaceful time together like this wouldn't last, but he slept soundly in the knowledge that they had it for now.

There were no more nightmares that morning, just images of her, his Queen, his goddess. And when there was a knocking at the door, he fought waking, wanting to stay in that dream world. But he finally did jolt awake, hearing people moving in the next room. Still half asleep, he felt the bed next to him.

"Ava?"

He lifted his head, one eye still closed, seeing that she wasn't in the room. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed so his feet rested on the floor, and he wiped a hand over his unshaven face. After a pause to brace himself he stood up and slipped on his shorts before heading into the next room. A massive amount of breakfast food was being set up there by staff, and Steel grabbed a breakfast roll and took a bite on his way back into the bedroom, looking for Ava.

He realized the bathroom door was shut, and he crossed the room to it and knocked gently.

"Babe?"

He waited a pause for a response.

"Babe, breakfast is here."

He opened the door a crack and peered in.

"Are you hungry?"

 

[Hex]

"Ughhhh..."

Brienne groaned into the black satin pillow, her sandy blonde hair spread about and her naked body tangled between legs and blankets. To say she had an unexpectedly pleasant evening with the White Rook was an understatement. Their powers combined made sex absolutely incredible; paired that with a lot of alcohol and a few bumps of coke, and Brienne was hardly in a state to finish packing, let alone make it to the jet to head back home. Instead, she passed out the rest of the very short evening and into the late morning.

Finally awaking, Brienne lifted her head from her pillow to look at the clock next to her bed to see it was nearly 11am. It was then she realized something - or rather felt something. An arm around her waist. Cocking up a sleepy brow, she slowly turned to her head to see Zach still in bed with her, sleeping soundly next to her.

"No..."

Brienne never let anyone sleep over. She fucked them then sent them on their way. No attachments, no heart break, no problems.

"Noooo no no no..."

She grumbled as she let her face fall back into her pillow. It was then she felt him stir awake, Brienne shoving Zach's shoulder and pushing him onto his back and away from her while her face still remained embarrassed and regretful in her pillow.

"Get out."

Her voice was muffled by the pillow. She needed to get out of America. It was making her soft.

 

[Persephone]

Soft music was playing throughout the bathroom's bluetooth as Ava laid submerged under the hot water, her arms resting on top of the tub and her head laying back against the marble wall. It had been about twenty minutes since she got in the water and it was absolutely heaven ever since. It wasn't until she heard a soft knocking against the bathroom door and John's voice that made her lift her head and realize there was still life outside the four walls.

John: "Babe?"

"Yeah?"

Sitting up from her relaxed position as John cracked the door open, she turned to see him peering in politely.

John: "Babe, breakfast is here. Are you hungry?"

She smiled as she stood from the deep tub, grabbing a plush black towel from the wall.

"Starving. I'll be out in a second, babe."

Dabbing the towel against her skin as she climbed out of the tub, Ava went to the vanity within the bathroom and grabbed some more essential oils, rubbing her body down with it. Trading the towel for a black silky robe, Ava wrapped the robe around herself and tied it shut before letting her curled hair free from her messy bun. Running her fingers through her hair as she exited the bathroom, she made her way through the bedroom into the livingroom to see a massive display of breakfast foods. She smiled immediately at John, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him.

"Smells amazing."

She rose to her toes to give him a kiss.

"Sorry...I woke up early and decided to take a bath. You were out cold so I thought i'd let you sleep a little longer."

Giving him another peck, she finally turned to the food and picked up a plate. Piling on some scrambled egg whites, breakfast potatoes, a bit of fruit, and a croissant with jam, Ava grinned.

"Now this is a brunch I can get behind."

She grimly joked as she took a seat at the small round table the staff had set up by the open balcony doors, overlooking the property. Pouring herself a cup of French press coffee, the staff had brought John his English breakfast tea, Ava knowing he'd prefer that over what she was having. Taking a sip of her coffee, Ava then took a few bites of her food.

"Maybe we could go on another ride later? Or have the staff prepare us a picnic dinner and we could eat on the greens during sunset..."

Ava was fully aware of the Red Event that evening, but the thought of going back to Hellfire was suffocating. She knew the moment they stepped foot back into Hellfire, they would be getting an ear full from all sides because they skipped the White Brunch. Ava just wanted to prolong their stay at Arklay as long as possible; no outside drama, no stress, no masks to put on pretending everything was okay when it wasn't.

 

[Steel]

Arklay

Steel called into the bathroom, the door only open a crack, to ask if she was hungry and let her know the food had arrived. He suspected she gave him an eyeful on purpose when she stood from the tub and began to towel off.

Ava: "Starving. I'll be out in a second, babe."

He shut the door and went back out in to the living room, checking out all the items Ava had ordered. For a woman who would probably eat what amounted to three crumbs, the sheer volume of food was comical. He smiled as she came towards him and wrapped her arms around him.

Ava: "Smells amazing."

She stood on her toes to give him a kiss, his hands going lightly to the small of her back.

"So do you."

He nipped at her neck playfully, the fabric of her robe leaving little to the imagination.

Ava: "Sorry...I woke up early and decided to take a bath. You were out cold so I thought I'd let you sleep a little longer."

He let his hand slip down her arm to squeeze her hand.

"Well somebody wore me out. But thank you, babe."

She gave him another quick kiss, and he sighed happily as she turned to make a plate.

Ava: "Now this is a brunch I can get behind."

He laughed, picking up a plate of his own.

"That's more food than I've seen you eat in a year."

He piled his own breakfast on two plates, then joined her at the table near the balcony. He gently placed his napkin in his lap, then took a sip of the nice hot tea. She had thought of everything.

Ava: "Maybe we could go on another ride later? Or have the staff prepare us a picnic dinner and we could eat on the greens during sunset..."

"Or both?"

He smiled, liking that she seemed so full of energy this morning.

"We can have dinner set up for us so we can go there when we get back from riding. It would be nice to walk the grounds a little bit also. I'm sure everything is coming up in bloom."

He reached out and took Ava's hand.

"But today is your day: whatever you want to do, we'll do."

 

[Ruby]

Hellfire Club – Black Wing


:: The first thing Cass noted when she entered wakefulness was the strong arm holding her. The second thing was the feel of a human body pressing up against her back. ::

Damien...

:: She opened her eyes and sighed. The slight movement made Damien sigh, and he held her closer. ::

Damien: *sleepily*: “Noooo...”

:: Cass sat up and tried to get out of bed, but Damien grabbed hold of her and pulled her back down. His eyes were now open and he had a teasing smirk on his face. Cass smiled at him. Somehow, even though he just held her while she slept, she felt even closer to him. ::

“Thank you, for last night.”

<< Last night... >>

<< Cass originally was going to spend the night over in Bretta’s suite, but once she walked through the door with Damien after leaving Ben, she found that a servant had already went to the trouble of lighting a fire in the fireplace. So she changed into some pjs and came back out to the main area where she helped Damien move the coffee table by the fire so that they could lean back against it on the floor while watching the fire. They made some small talk before the topic eventually made it to Ben. >>

Damien: [grinning] “Yeah, we’re eskimo brothers now.”

<< Cass let out a loud groan and rested her head on his shoulder. She still couldn’t believe that Ben said that. >>

“Can you believe it? He was like, ‘Hi, I’m Ben. I used to have sex with your girl.’ Clearly that wasn’t his first scotch of the night.”

Damien: “’Your girl’?” *teasingly*: “Are you my girl?”

<< Cass chuckled nervously and shifted uncomfortably. She pulled away from him. Though she couldn’t deny that they had some kind of connection...she wasn’t at all comfortable talking about them in those kinds of terms. If she were to be honest with herself, it kind of scared her – and for good reason. Cass brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them with her arms. It was a classic self-protective position. She had never spoken aloud what Kelly had done, hell, she had never admitted it to herself, but she sensed that the time had finally come to talk about it. Unshed tears were in her eyes as she looked at Damien. There was pain in her voice. >>

“Ben and I were in love – passionately in love.”

<< She stopped talking and shut her eyes. She shivered as she remembered how his knuckles lightly ran up and down her spine. She could still recall the taste of his sweat as she kissed his neck, the look of pleasure on his face as he came inside her. She remembered the way her body shuddered underneath his as he brought her to a climax. She remembered the cute dates that they had, like going to the Central Park zoo or even sharing a pretzel from one of the street vendors. She remembered the smiles, the hugs, the kisses, and the laughter that they shared. A single tear slid down her cheek. >>

*whispers*: ”He was the love of my life, and I was his.”

<< They had had it all, and they were both so loyal to the Black Court and to their Queen, Kelly King. >>

*voice breaking*: “I don’t know what had happened, but suddenly...it was gone. He was gone. Back then, our Queen was Kelly King and she...she...” [crying] “She took his love for me away from him.”

<< Cass dissolved into a puddle of tears at that, and she felt Damien’s arms go around her as he held her tight and close. >>

Damien: *softly*: “Oh, Cassie...Cassie...”

<< Cass was still crying as Damien held her close, not stopping even as he kissed the top of her head. ::

Damien: *quietly*: “Bretta is not at all like Kelly King, I can promise you that.”

<< Cass couldn’t stop crying, even if she wanted to. This was a healing cry for her. After physically not being able to cry about what had happened, it finally, at long last, came out. Cass cried until there was nothing left, until she was left with nothing but a numb feeling. All the while, Damien held her in his arms and for that, she was grateful. He didn’t say anything; he didn’t even say those platitudes that most people would’ve said in that circumstance. No, he just let her BE in the moment. She had needed this moment. >>

*quietly*: “Thank you.”

Damien: *softly*: “Let’s get you to bed.”

<< He helped her to her feet and led her to her room, where he gently tucked her in. Cass grabbed his hand and looked up at him. >>

“Could you please stay?”

<< She had meant ‘stay’ as in there’s a guest room ‘stay’, but he misunderstood her and, after taking off his pants and shirt, he got into bed with her and just held her as she fell asleep. >>

*playfully*: “But when I meant ‘stay’, I actually meant that there’s a guest room in this suite.”

Damien: [smirking] “I wanted to be here in case you needed me.”

:: Cass gave him an ‘uh huh, sure, riiiiight’ look before she got out of bed and went to her closet to get dressed. Being the former Black Princess, she didn’t have much in red but she did have some booties in red that went with her outfit, so she figured that that would be okay. After all, she was meeting Ben to talk in the Black Lounge first before heading down for brunch. She went back into her room where Damien was putting on his outfit from last night. She couldn’t resist teasing him. ::

“The ol’ ‘walk of shame’, huh?”

:: Damien grinned and held out his hand. ::

“Could you use an escort to the Black Lounge?”

“Why, thank you, kind sir.”

:: They both headed out of her soon-to-be old suite and headed towards the Lounge. When they got to the enterance, Cass let go of his hand and took a deep breath. ::

“See you down there at brunch.”

Damien: “Looking forward to it, love, [teasingly] and hey: if you want to engage in some goodbye sex, that’s all right with me.”

:: Cass let out a gasp and playfully punched him. ::

“Now, now. There won’t be any of that.”

:: Cass laughed as she headed inside, and was still laughing as she approached the bar. ::

“Hey, could I get a chai tea latte, thanks.”

:: The man behind the counter went to work at making her latte as Cass glanced around. It looked as though she was the first one here. She looked around some more and her eyes lit up as she gazed at a small alcove that offered some privacy. The man handed her the latte and she thanked him again before heading for the alcove. Setting her latte down on the table, she got confortable as she waited for Ben to show up. ::

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Club – Great Hall


Gia was up early. After last night, she wanted to – no, she needed to – make sure that everything was P-E-R-F-E-C-T for the brunch. She had done what Zach had asked, not leaving Cameron, and had followed him up to the White Wing. However, he had fixed her with a dark look and then stormed off. Gia had been totally freaked out and so, because she had heard that Haleigh was in the Red Wing, she went to see if her Queen was okay. Something about Cameron had unnerved her. When she reached the Red Wing, though, she was shocked – and more than a little freaked out – to discover that NOBODY outside of both Red Courts was allowed in the Red Wing. So she told one of the Red Guard to deliver a message to Haleigh asking if she was okay, and then she headed back to the White Wing where she did something that she had never done before: she texted Heidi to let her know what was going on. That was a testament to how freaked out and unnerved Gia was about what had happened with Cameron and with the Red Guard.

Now she was going from table to table, making sure that everything was just so, cleaning up some wilted flowers, fiddling with the utensils and such. Everything must be perfect for this. She didn’t know what was going on with her King and Queen, but keeping busy kept her from dwelling on the weirdness surrounding both Haleigh and Cameron.

 

[Persephone]

Walking out into the living room, the staff had prepared everything Ava had asked for. It was quite literally a feast for two people, but none of that matter. She wanted make her sure they had everything and anything they wanted; a brunch of their own. The aroma of food filled the room, Ava lifting to her toes to kiss John good morning as she commented on how everything smelled amazing.

John: "So do you."

She let out a little giggle as he playfully nipped her neck.

"I'm glad you think so."

She always leaned more toward natural oils for perfumes and lotions, loving to use plant and flower extracts since that was more along her element. Ava then apologized to John for not waking him sooner. She would have loved to have a bath with him, but he was quite literally knocked out cold when she woke up. She suspected it was because she had kept him up all night, then woke him very early in the morning for their ride. Not to mention the emotionally exhausting evening prior to arriving at Arklay.

John: "Well somebody wore me out. But thank you, babe."

Ava feigned surprise at that, giving him a playful smile before finally turning her attention onto the food. Everything looked absolutely amazing. There were pastries, fruits, egg dishes, potatoes, the works.

John: "That's more food than I've seen you eat in a year."

Ava gave John a frown before cracking a smile.

"Hey. I'm a light eater, okay?"

She lightly laughed as she piled some eggs and potatoes, along with a pastry and fruit onto her plate. Taking a seat at the small table by the balcony, Ava began to happily eat her food as she looked out the open doors to the massive lawn. She didn't want to go back to Hellfire; the mess that had happened the night before very much still an issue unresolved. She knew she would eventually have to face Haleigh and Ashley, and that she would have to talk to Cameron and Alek. The whole giant fucked up situation would have to be somehow defused and fixed before the Inner Circle imploded. And she definitely knew she would be getting an ear full for not attending the White Brunch which was scheduled to happen in a half hour. But despite all that, Ava suggested they go for another ride later, or even have dinner out on the greens to watch the sunset.

John: "Or both?"

Ava's eyes lit up at John's response. She fully expected him to say they needed to get back before the Red Party to do damage control.

"Really?"

John: "We can have dinner set up for us so we can go there when we get back from riding. It would be nice to walk the grounds a little bit also. I'm sure everything is coming up in bloom."

A full day away from Hellfire? It sounded absolutely perfect. Ava knew this was just prolonging the inevitable - putting all the bullshit on the back burner to deal with later - but she didn't care. She was fucking Queen, there were perks to having the title. John reached across the table and took Ava's hand. In turn, she squeezed it, giving him an appreciative yet awe filled smile.

John: "But today is your day: whatever you want to do, we'll do."

"I could sit here all day with you and be perfectly happy.....buuut...everything you suggested sounds far better."

Ava grinned before picking up her coffee and taking a sip, peering over the saucer at John. Swallowing the hot liquid, Ava licked her lips and gestured with her cup at him.

"We should get you your own horse. Although Aslan is fond of you, he's getting a little too old for those more advanced trails along the property."

Ava gave John a knowing look.

"And I know you're not a fan of riding a horse named after a character in a children's book. BUT, in my defense, I got him when I was 15."

Ava laughed before taking a bite of her croissant and jam.

"I can have the staff call the breeder I purchased Phantom from. They always have at least one stubborn horse for sale that they can't break. They find my ability to do so quote on quote 'unbelievable', so I get a very good price."

The perks of being able to control and communicate with animals. No horse was too much for Ava. No animal was. Ava nibbled her bottom lip as she looked back outside onto the property, softly sighing.

"I wish we could just live here instead of Hellfire. I feel so much more at home here."

 

[Pathfinder]

Erika had been up a good chunk of the night searching for her brother to no avail, and she was beginning to get pissed off. Not to mention she was tired as hell. After giving up, she had showered and changed and headed to the Great Hall where she made sure that everything was in perfect working order for brunch, hoping to be as helpful as she could be despite the anger that was welling up inside of her. As she walked the tables for final inspection, she began to feel even more unresolved about what had transpired the night before.

It was infuriating to Erika that Haleigh would so easily play the victim and the damsel in distress, letting Alek swoop into be the hero, to be her bodyguard, as if she had ever been a woman that needed to be or COULD be protected by anybody, especially after she had fucked two men in the span of four hours and gotten pregnant by both. And to see Alek so easily and willingly fly right into the web of such a black widow, it caused her to question his ability as well. Meanwhile, Cameron's sister by choice, Ava, was so self absorbed that she couldn't see the forest for the trees. So much so that she had to leave Hellfire to head towards Arklay with her guard dog, John. Their relationship was troubling in and of itself to Erika. She had tried to make nice, to show John that she did in fact, albeit deep down, care about Ava and the things she had gone through, but John had shirked her, instead reinforcing to her the point that he knew her better, and knew what was better for her. Ava had declared him publically as both her lover and king, and she would sooner die than have that be the wrong decision, so it was clear to Erika that with John as Black King, Ava's separation from The King Family would become inevitable. All of it made her angry. Cameron had turned his back on his own family for these women, and where were they? What were they doing?

"What they do best..thinking of themselves."

The White Princess had decided that she'd had enough. She was The White Princess and outside of that, her relationship with both The White and Black Queen was deep and twisted. This was a family matter, and they both needed to pull their heads out of their asses and fix things, and since she couldn't find her brother, she found herself headed towards The Red Corridor. As she rounded the corner, she was immediately stopped by The Red Guard.

Guard: "Sorry Miss. No visitors allowed."

Erika flashed with rage for a moment. She had never been turned away from any door in her life. Not the hottest clubs in Paris, not the most exclusive events in Hollywood, and certainly not in the mansion in which she had been born.

"I'm not a visitor here, bird brain. You are."

Guard: "That may be true, Princess..but that does not change our instruction. We cannot allow you passage."

"Oh please. This isn't the Emerald City. It's the red fucking corridor and I go where I like, got it?"

Erika phased through the guard's body with ease as she encased herself in a mystic shield, not bothering to look behind her as she continued to walk, feeling the bullets hit her shield behind her as she went. She shook her head and rolled her eyes as she rounded the corner, phased through the guards and through the door to where Haleigh was now with Alek, sleeping peacefully. For a moment, she pictured how good it would feel to gut the both of them and string their innards along the post of the curtain rod in decorative fashion and end this mess altogether, but she refrained. She had not killed any guards, which was rare for her, so she was hoping Haleigh would get the message that she wasn't simply just causing a stir. She CLAPPED her hands loudly.

"Rise and shine!"

The White Princess flexed a bit of power as the curtains flew open, the sheets came down from both of them and the lights in the room came on to their full brightness as a mystic chime could be heard in the air. Erika kept her shield in tact, not trusting either of them.

[to Haleigh]

"So your husband, you know the man that you married and pledged undying loyalty to before getting pregnant by another man and running off into said man's arms without so much as a word or any kind of effort to talk to him as if it were his fault you can't keep it in your pants for more than a few hours? [turning to Alek] Hi Alek [back to Haleigh] ... has fled the scene. Nobody knows where he is, he's using something to shield my magick, no doubt knows how to navigate around your tracking, and hasn't been seen in the last twelve hours. Not to mention brunch is in thirty minutes - so I'd thought maybe you'd like to wake the fuck up and attempt to, I don't know, try and find your husband, talk through your issues, save your marriage, protect at least one of your children from being a bastard, and get on with your day?"

 

[Black Widow]

Hellfire -- The Red King's Suite

Alek had taken the news surprisingly well, much better than Haleigh had anticipated. It was a serious relief, to not have to deal with his contempt on top of Cameron's. More than that, he provided support, someone to lean on when she needed it most. And he offered protection, which might be considered unnecessary when one accounted for Haleigh's skill set, but even Haleigh herself knew she was not invincible, and if there was anyone on earth who knew her weaknesses, it was her husband.

So they had gone back to Alek's chambers for the night, which was unusual but somehow still comforting, compared to the alternative, a sure fight with Cameron. Alek had suggested she get some rest, but there was no way she could sleep. Instead they spent some time together, escaping the stress through passion. And then they laid together, for the first time, in no rush to get up and get dressed again, because there was nowhere else they needed to be. Alek eventually fell asleep, but Haleigh still couldn't. First there was the textual exchange between members of the Black Court that caught her attention. She wound back the cameras in the conservatory to fill in the blanks.

While she knew why Ava was upset, and understood, Haleigh couldn't help but feel disappointed. After everything, after supporting Ava's choice of a new King, after backing her play against Archer, after lending her hand to ensuring the hostile takeover of Sub Zero was not derailed, Ava had just left her here, like the little dutch boy with a finger in the dam. The morning would come, and Haleigh would have to deal with Archer and Brienne, on top of everything else. Not just that, which was disheartening enough, but Ava was willing to put their issues on display publicly by refusing to show up for Brunch. Doubly dissatisfying was John, who had promised his support but clearly been disingenuous in the offer.

And they weren't the only ones to run away from their problems. Haleigh had checked the cameras of her own suite to find Cameron had apparently thrown his temper and smashed a bunch of pictures, then left his ring on the coffee table. Because at the first sign of trouble, their marriage was evidently as easily discarded as that. No doubt he had gone somewhere else to regroup, and plan his attack. He wasn't anywhere to be found in the city, it had taken her all night to complete the search. As the sun peeked through the drapes, she finally stopped, exhausted. She let herself sleep. In her dreams, she fought him off. She was awoken by the sound of gunfire in the hall. Sitting up quickly, she leaned over Alek and shook him out of sleep.

"Alek! He sent his sister."

She whispered, pulling him out of bed. She tossed a small device to the center of the sheets, and a hard light hologram flickered into view, filling out the bed with their 'sleeping' forms. Haleigh handed Alek a large knife as she pushed him around the corner into the bathroom. No time to get dressed, as she could see Erika coming down the hall, but at least they could position for an ambush.

"Wait for her to attack the hologram, then we can call it self defense."

She whispered further, and then she fell silent as Erika phased through the door and approached the bed. The newly made White Princess clapped and pulled the curtains open and the sheets off the bed, but the hologram of Alek and Haleigh sleeping just laid there as Erika got on her soap box and started in on Haleigh. In the bathroom, Haleigh glanced at Alek, her expression unmistakably saying 'this fucking girl right here'.

She put her hand on Alek's forearm though, a silent way to tell him he could relax that knife hand, as it seemed Erika wasn't going to attack them after all, since it would be stupid to try and wake them up first instead of attempting to kill them in their sleep. Haleigh reached for the robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door and wrapped the red silk around her before stepping out to where Erika could see her. She leaned against the door frame and folded her arms casually.

"He's obviously removed the sim card from his phone, and neither him nor his car has been seen on city surveillance. See, I HAVE been trying to find my darling husband, so you can turn the condescension down a fucking notch. If you've got some magical fucking hocus pocus solution to tracking him down, now's the time to heroically present it, otherwise we'd all better get dressed for Brunch. For your sake, I hope he decides to show. He knows I was planning to use this morning's festivities to officially announce you as Princess."

 

[Orion]

Hellfire - The Black Wing

The sex had been intensely satisfying. More than usual, since it wasn't just Zach amplifying the lust to exponential degrees. Brienne had quite the gift of her own, increasing the physical aspect to create an experience that left a mark.

It had been so good, Zach hadn't even considered putting his pants back on and going back to his own bed. They went at it, again and again, until they were both too sated to do anything but sleep. Zach slept so deeply, a hurricane wouldn't have woken him.

He slept way past his normal waking time. When his phone alarm beeped in the usual early hour, he turned it off and rolled over, snuggling up to Brienne sleepily and nodding off again, happy as a clam in wet sand.

It was her murmuring and pushing him off of her that woke him. That and the unmistakable notes of embarrassment and regret coming from her side of the bed. She told him to get out, and he groaned sleepily.

"What?? Why?"

He asked, rubbing his face as he rolled back closer to her, propping himself up on his elbow, his other hand rubbing her back gently, draining the negative emotions, because the last thing he wanted to leave her with after last night was regret.

"What's wrong? I thought we both had a great time..."

He said groggily.

"Oh, is it because you missed your flight? I've got a jet you can use.... and I’m not talking about my dick.”

 

[Steel]

Arklay

He wanted to make sure she felt safe. That the pressure of her father & Kelly, of Haleigh & Cameron & Alek, didn't cause her to crack. Haleigh could be pissed off about the brunch all she wanted: he knew in the end the White Queen would much prefer Ava on her side, protecting her and her children, rather than on the warpath. And if she had to skip a meal to get there... Towering Inferno Ava would do no one any good, least of all, Ava.

Ava: "I could sit here all day with you and be perfectly happy.....buuut...everything you suggested sounds far better."

He smiled broadly at her, watching her drink her coffee.

"I could sit here all day just looking at you and be perfectly happy. And nothing sounds better than that."

Ava: "We should get you your own horse. Although Aslan is fond of you, he's getting a little too old for those more advanced trails along the property. And I know you're not a fan of riding a horse named after a character in a children's book. BUT, in my defense, I got him when I was 15."

"Well-"

He took a sip of tea, trying to find a way to put a positive spin on that comment.

"Maybe if he didn't look like he should be named after a character in a children's book..."

Not that Steel had ever read children's books when he was a child.

Ava: "I can have the staff call the breeder I purchased Phantom from. They always have at least one stubborn horse for sale that they can't break. They find my ability to do so quote on quote 'unbelievable', so I get a very good price."

"Whatever you want, my dear."

He leaned across the table and gave her a kiss on the lips.

"But I'm sure the stable horses are fine for me."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Just maybe one called Brimstone or Satan or something?"

Ava was looking dreamily out the window.

Ava: "I wish we could just live here instead of Hellfire. I feel so much more at home here."

He reached for a scone and started slathering jam onto it.

"If Amanda gets up to speed, who knows? It's not as if you have to worry about the commute."

He smiled at her, his eyes teasing.

"We could at least manage weekends."

He took a bite, watching her, hesitant to bring up what he knew he should.

"Ava...babe...I don't want to say this but I feel I have to, as your King and as someone who only wants what's best for you. Skipping Haleigh's brunch...I just want to make sure that that's what you really want."

He held up a hand.

"I am one hundred percent behind you in not going, you know that, and I want you to do what you want to do. But after everything yesterday morning with Ashley leaving our brunch, and as much of a hot mess the White and Red courts are...is this perhaps an opportunity for us to show how together we are? How you, out of everyone, are regal enough to follow the protocol, to control your court?"

He reached for her hand again.

"We could spend an hour there, and be right back here in time for an afternoon ride."

He smiled softly at her.

"But I'm happy with whatever you decide."

 

[Berserker]

The Red King's Suite

That Haleigh had allowed him to protect her was a minor miracle. That she was in his room and had stayed afterward a bigger one. But the most unbelievable and huge one of all was the child growing within her, the child that was half his. He held Haleigh for a long while, but her presence next to him was so soothing that he finally slipped into slumber, secure in the feeling that all was as it should be.

He woke to gunfire and an alert sounding on his phone, and Haleigh shaking him.

Haleigh: "Alek! He sent his sister."

She pulled him after her out of bed, and he followed her lead, alert now. Typical, Cameron wasn't man enough to do it himself. When Haleigh threw a gadget on the bed that projected a hologram of the two of them, he wanted to jump on her, it was so sexy. And when she gave him a knife to use, he could have kissed her. What a woman.

Haleigh: "Wait for her to attack the hologram, then we can call it self defense."

He nodded simply. He trusted her judgment, and her strategy, implicitly. He was comforted by the feel of the blade in his hand, and he silently promised Cameron that he wasn't going to make it pretty. Erika had brought a little bit of crazy with her, opening the curtains, throwing the sheets off the bed, clapping her hands and then starting to wax holier than thou on Haleigh.

Haleigh gave him a look, and Alek's look in return, accompanied by a subtle shrug, said, Your princess.

Haleigh's hand on his arm told him to relax, and as Erika finished her tirade, she stepped out to confront her sister in law. One thing he didn't have to worry about was Haleigh being able to take care of herself in a verbal matchup, not that he generally worried about her prowess in any matchup. He came out of the doorway to stand next to her, holding the blade up and examining it thoughtfully. He was ready, just in case Erika changed her mind about attacking.

Haleigh: "He's obviously removed the sim card from his phone, and neither him nor his car has been seen on city surveillance. See, I HAVE been trying to find my darling husband, so you can turn the condescension down a fucking notch."

She had? Alek brow darkened. And what was Cameron up to?

Haleigh: "If you've got some magical fucking hocus pocus solution to tracking him down, now's the time to heroically present it, otherwise we'd all better get dressed for Brunch. For your sake, I hope he decides to show. He knows I was planning to use this morning's festivities to officially announce you as Princess."

He crossed his arms over his chest, smirking at the White Princess, the blade resting casually on his bicep.

"Care to fuck off then, Erika? If you're done spouting hypocrisy and butting your nose into things that are none of your business? I need to get dressed, and I'm shy."

He grinned darkly, his nakedness a testament to his being the absolute opposite of shy. As if she wouldn't kill Cameron as soon as look at him, if it increased her standing with either her mother or Hellfire.

 

[Persephone]

John had suggested an amazing afternoon and evening of riding, relaxing on the greens, and a picnic dinner to watch the sunset. It all sounded absolutely perfect.

John: "I could sit here all day just looking at you and be perfectly happy. And nothing sounds better than that."

"Always the charmer."

Ava responded playfully, though his words made her heart flutter in her chest. The thought of riding brought her back to her horse Aslan that John had ridden earlier. He was an older horse, one she had since she was 15. He was great for simple trails and riding the greens, but the more advanced trails that Ava enjoyed riding were a little too much for him now adays. Plus, she knew John had an aversion to riding a horse named after a Lion in a children's book.

John: "Well--Maybe if he didn't look like he should be named after a character in a children's book..."

Ava parted her mouth, letting out an awe sound as she laughed.

"Stop, he's adorable. And just as sweet as you."

She knew he would just love that comparison, giving John a cheeky smile to punctuate the compliment. She suggested getting John his own horse from the same breeder she got Phantom from. He always tended to ride the stable horses, but as King he should have his own. Especially if they would be riding more frequently.

John: "Whatever you want, my dear. But I'm sure the stable horses are fine for me."

Ava raised an eyebrow.

"You're King now, baby...."

John raised an eyebrow of his own making Ava smirk.

John: "Just maybe one called Brimstone or Satan or something?"

"Deal."

Ava chuckled as she shook her head. It never ceased to amaze her how strong and masculine John was, but something as simple as a horses name would make him feel 'manly'. But whatever made him happy, Ava would make sure the horse had a powerful and dangerous name to suit her new King. Lifting her coffee cup to her lips, Ava gazed outside onto the property, musing how she wished they could just live at Arklay instead of Hellfire. It was far more in her element than being in the city. And while she did love city life, Hellfire was becoming more suffocating than ever before.

John: "If Amanda gets up to speed, who knows? It's not as if you have to worry about the commute."

"That's true."

Amanda would be their new princess, sooner rather than later now that the White and Red Courts had no room to judge Ava's choices. The only reason Amanda wasn't appointed princess immediately was because of the whole breakfast situation, but that paled in comparison to the White Queen getting knocked up by two separate Kings. Speaking of the situation...

John: "Ava...babe...I don't want to say this but I feel I have to, as your King and as someone who only wants what's best for you. Skipping Haleigh's brunch...I just want to make sure that that's what you really want."

Ava sighed out, her eyes shutting.

"John..."

And she here she thought she would get the entire day at Arklay without having to fight John on going back to Hellfire. He made it seem like they were on the same page, but he was obviously only humoring her. Ava opened her eyes and stared out the window, not looking at him as he continued.

John: "I am one hundred percent behind you in not going, you know that, and I want you to do what you want to do. But after everything yesterday morning with Ashley leaving our brunch, and as much of a hot mess the White and Red courts are...is this perhaps an opportunity for us to show how together we are? How you, out of everyone, are regal enough to follow the protocol, to control your court?"

Her line of sight lowered at John's words, staring blankly at the workers trimming the rose bushes afar. He was right in that sense. The Black Court would look unified and stronger than ever after the fuck up that was happening with the other two courts. Ava had no idea if Cameron took her advice to speak with Haleigh. She had no idea if Haleigh would listen or refuse because she wanted to continue her relationship with Alek. It was a giant mystery, one that going to the White Brunch would clarify the answers to. But the thought of facing Haleigh made Ava's stomach knot up. To know that despite the Black Court's unity now, the Red and White would forever be stronger because of the blood heirs produced by the White Queen - something Ava could never do for her own court.

John reached for her hand causing Ava to finally shift her eyes over, staring at their rings paired together before finally lifting her eyes to meet with John's.

John: "We could spend an hour there, and be right back here in time for an afternoon ride. But I'm happy with whatever you decide."

Ava heavily sighed, knowing they had to go to the brunch.

[reluctantly] "Fine..."

All the anxiety, stress, anger, bitterness, and feelings of being inadequate flooded her once again. It didn't show outwardly, but it was boiling within her. Retracting her hand from John, she took the black cloth napkin from her lap and tossed it on her barely eaten plate of food.

"I should get dressed then.."

Standing from the table, Ava crossed the living room and disappeared into the bedroom, pausing in the middle of the space to shut her eyes and center herself. It wasn't fair. None of it was. Yet she had to go on acting like none of it effected her to show strength as the Black Queen. To be an example for her court. Running her hand gently across her forehead, she could already feel a headache coming on, dull and pulsing in the back of her head. It was going to be a long fucking afternoon.

 

[Steel]

Arklay

Ava and Steel discussed the horse he had ridden that morning, affectionately called by a fifteen year old Ava, Aslan. Not the most macho horse for the Black King to be riding.

Ava: "Stop, he's adorable. And just as sweet as you."

He scowled at her, but couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth when she gave him a cheeky grin.

"Maybe I'll have to show you sweet later."

His voice lowered and gave off a distinct lustful tone. Ava suggested they buy him his own horse.

Ava: "You're King now, baby...."

He pleaded to at least get one with a cool sounding name.

Ava: "Deal."

And then he brought up the brunch they were missing. He couldn't let them ditch it without out at least pointing out the plus side of going. And then, if she didn't want to, fine. But it was his job to advise her, and there certainly was something to gain by putting in an appearance. An hour tops, and then they could be back at Arklay for the rest of the day.

Ava: [reluctantly] "Fine..."

He got the distinct impression and she pulled her hand back from him and pretty much threw her napkin at her plate that he was in trouble.

Ava: "I should get dressed then.."

"Babe..."

He watched her go into the bedroom, then pushed his chair back from the table. He threw his own napkin on top of his plate.

"Fuck."

He stood from the table, finding his phone and making the arrangements for the afternoon. Then he went into the bedroom to dress. Ava was in the bathroom, so he called in to her.

"Everything's all set with the staff. Our horses will be waiting for us, and dinner will be served on the green. It's all sorted."

He buttoned his shirt and walked over to the bathroom door.

"We don't even have to talk to anyone. A couple polite bites, a toast or two, and we're gone."

 

[Wallflower]

As The Black Court gathered in The Black Parlour to discuss the night's events, it became clear to Amanda that this would be an all nighter. The shared intel, allowing them to discern that The White and Red courts were on shaky ground - something was brewing between Cameron and Haleigh and it appeared that Haleigh was leaning on Alek, The Red King during her time of need. All the while Ashley had been left blithely unaware of what was going on around her. Her friends need to see her have a peaceful night would end up detrimental to The Red Queen, and considering The Black Knight's tryst with AJ the night before, Amanda felt compelled to loop in the red court on this matter.

With Ava and John departing to Arklay, this left The Black Court squarely in Amanda's hand, and it was something that she took very seriously, especially with a promotion at risk. At first she had shirked the title of princess, feeling it to be a bit belittling. She would only take it because it would have made her one step closer to being a Queen. But Amanda had softened after a conversation with Cassandra and knowing that Erika would soon be The White Princess. The Queens were fixtures, often appearing to be figureheads, albeit ones that held a great amount of power. People paid attention to princesses - they listened to them, they laid flowers at their grave in reverence to them everyday. Amanda had realized how stifled the power of The Black Court had been in the hands of Cassandra Johnson, and she realized, sitting on the bed with the former black princess, that if she wielded the title in the right way, she could make The Black Court untouchable. And she desperately wanted to. The members of The Black Court had been given very specific instructions. Daniel was to monitor the security detail of The Black King and keep him placated and unconscious for as long as possible. When Amanda hacked Sub Zero, she made sure to download and keep a certain amount of information that was highly sensitive and very powerful, and she entrusted this information to Ben, to use them to track any kind of movement or play that Stavros and Kelly might be planning.

The Black Knight herself made a sweep of the mansion, noticing in Erika's frantic movements throughout different floors and levels of the mansion with her power, that she was looking for something - her brother. A part of her wanted to reach out to The White Knight - but their intel had left them unclear as to where the status of allegiance between The White and Black Court was. That and Heidi was a proud woman..if Cameron was missing and she was unaware, or even if she was aware, it would make Amanda look like she was taunting her, and she enjoyed her relationship with Heidi, as well as AJ. The Knights of Hellfire worked together intimately, and Amanda had lived to several combinations. They were the club's war generals, and there was an unspoken level of respect and regard with each other. They knew how to work together despite their loyalties. As she noted the incredible security detail that was guarding The Red Corridor, she realized that while it may not have been smart to alert Heidi, it would be smart to alert AJ. She could kill two birds with one stone - inform The Red Queen of what happened, as a sign of respect as well as remorse for bedding The Red Queen's lover, and to inform her Knight to be on the lookout. She had noticed a closeness with Cameron and Ashley as of late, and she didn't want The Black Court to be ignored. They had stability, and if The Red Queen knew just how unstable The White Court was at this moment, she (and Alek) might begin to soften on The Black Court.

Stalking like a predator, she made her way to The Red Corridor, the detail seeming too focused on shooting like beasts at Erika, which would be futile. Amanda approached the ones who remained at the entrance to the corridor, putting her hands up in a back down type of motion.

"I'm not looking to break any protcol that's been established, but I need to speak to The Red Queen and The Red Knight immediately. It's important."

There was no time rather than now to capitalize on this moment, and if Amanda could get Ashley on their side, it would make her transition to Princess all that much easier. She could only hope not to fuck it up, which she normally wouldn't have worried about. But this weekend had taught her that she didn't know everything, that she couldn't be too cocky, and that she had to expect the worst. She waited.

 

[Persephone]

John: "Maybe I'll have to show you sweet later."

Ava's eyes went dark with lust at the obvious sexual tone in John's voice.

"Promise?"

She asked with a grin before shifting onto another subject knowing if they continued down the path they were on, breakfast would be on the floor and they would be on the table. The conversation went to Amanda and her ability to handle the Black Court so they could stay at Arklay more frequently. It seemed promising, especially considering the current situation. But then John suggested that they make an appearance at the White Brunch against Ava's wishes. As Black Queen she knew it was the most logical step to show the solidarity of her own court and how they were a strong unity. But as Ava, she wanted nothing to do with the event. Still, John's words rang true despite her own stubborness, and Ava reluctantly agreed to go knowing it was for the best of her court.

Disappearing into the bedroom, Ava went straight into the bathroom and shut the door to get ready. If they were going to go, they unfortunately needed to leave soon. She was so looking forward to finishing brunch, making love all afternoon long, taking a walk along the property, maybe grabbing a drink before taking their ride, then eating dinner at sunset. Looking at herself in the reflection of the mirror, Ava's makeup was dark and smokey, including a berry lip that made her look very severe. Her dark hair was still lightly curled from the night before giving an effortlessly chic look. Dressed in an all black jumpsuit, if she was going to show up, she was going to show up looking like a mother fucking goddess who hadn't just been through emotional hell the night before.

John: "Everything's all set with the staff. Our horses will be waiting for us, and dinner will be served on the green. It's all sorted."

Ava heard John call out from the bedroom. She highly doubted after going back to Hellfire they would actually return to Arklay.

John: "We don't even have to talk to anyone. A couple polite bites, a toast or two, and we're gone."

Ava opened the bathroom door, seeing John standing there.

"Your optimism is charming."

She simply put before brushing past him into the bedroom, her black pumps in her hand.

"But there's no way in hell it's going to be that easy and you know it."

Haleigh already knew they were gone, likely listened into their private conversation via security feed. The White Queen was fully aware of Ava's plans not go to to her brunch, which would no doubt cause an issue that would need to be addressed either before or after the event. Ava sat on the edge of the bed and began to slip her shoes on.

"Lets just get this over with. It's inevitable that this brunch will end up a mess whether we skipped it or not. At least now we'll look like the only King and Queen that have their shit together."

One huge plus on their end. Ava planted her feet on the ground, still sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up at John, her eyes hardened and cold, ready to return to Hellfire.

 

[Steel]

Arklay

John hated what he had just done. Ava had been happy, getting over what had happened the night before. And now she was spiraling downward again. He wanted them to be partners, but he had no illusions about the fact that she was the Queen. But he still felt the obligation, as he always had, to tell her the truth and help her do what was best for her. Which, to Ava, was what was best for her Court.

He couldn't say nothing when he knew how the others would attack her for not being at the brunch. Not that he cared what they thought. But Ava cared. And there were the visitors to consider. the Black Court could come out of this weekend looking like the star of the show...but their conspicuous absence from an event like this could damage that perception. He was willing to take that hit, for her, but he wanted to make sure she hadn't just made a decision based on anger, which she surely had.

He tried to reassure her: they didn't need to be there long, they just had to be there. They would be back here in a flashing, doing all the things they'd planned. Not even having to give up a thing.

Ava: "Your optimism is charming."

Ava breezed past him, looking fierce. And not just in the fashion sense.

Ava: "But there's no way in hell it's going to be that easy and you know it."

He turned and followed her over to the bed, reaching for her but feeling a distinct cold shoulder.

"It will be if we make it that way. We're not going for Haleigh, we're going for you, for the Black Court. You don't have to stay and fix things today. And if they want to discuss it, you're busy."

He paused.

"You look amazing by the way."

Ava: "Lets just get this over with. It's inevitable that this brunch will end up a mess whether we skipped it or not. At least now we'll look like the only King and Queen that have their shit together."

"Exactly."

Her shoes, which looked like they could easily kill a man, were on, and Ava had a look on her face that said she had in fact killed a man with her shoe before. He reached out his hand to her.

"Give a poor geezer a ride?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Red Queen's Suite

Ashley groaned. It was too early to be awake. Her tangled mess of hair was in her face. She rolled over.

There was soft fur underneath her, next to the fire that was long out, and her arm slid over what it had been looking for. She smiled sleepily.

"Mmmm I love your skin. It's like laying on a rock that's been in the sun all day."

She pressed her lips against his chest, and when she started to get more awake, she got more awake. She rolled back over onto her side, pulling him with her, wrapping his arm around her and moving his hand to her chest.

"Alek told me Haleigh is pregnant already. We need to make sure our people know I want her child protected."

There were enemies would take such an advantage as soon as it was known. Even some of the Europeans might risk such a play. She snuggled back against him, not wanting to move from that spot and definitely not wanting to go to a brunch. Maybe they could be late...

She stretched, making sure her rear rubbed against his front enticingly.

"Last night was fun. And wait until you see what I'm wearing to the Red event tonight."

Her fingertips traced lightly over his skin as she smiled to herself. They would be lucky to make it to the Red event.

Shortly there was a commotion in the hallway, followed by a knock at the door. She groaned.

"What do you want?" she yelled, not kindly.

Red Guard: "My Queen, the Black Knight would like to see you and the Red Knight."

Ashley scoffed and murmured under her breath.

"Oh, I'll bet she would."

Ashley was surprised that she hadn't bounded right into their room.

Red Guard: "But we're not to let anyone outside of the Red Court into the wing."

She finally decided she had to get up, and headed towards the door, flinging it open.

"And why is that?"

Red Guard: "King's orders, ma'am."

What the hell was Alek up to? She exhaled loudly.

"Well, I say she can come in. Take her to the Red Lounge, I'll meet her there."

I'll be damned if I'm going to let her ogle AJ.

She went to get her robe.