Issue 1 Downtime

A stretch limo pulled up in front of the Hellfire Club, and a pale woman in full gothic lolita outfit stepped out, looking around haughtily.

To those who didn't know better, it was a crazy lady.

To those who knew a little better, it was Victoria Valentine.

To those who know a lot better, it was Will Stanton.

A valet is standing at the doors of the opulent mansion.

"Miss Valentine, I presume?"

"How very presumptuous of you," Will said, condescendingly. "But yes. I believe I am expected."

"You are indeed. Please follow me." he says politely and leads Will inside. "I shall inform Miss Szardos forthwith. Please take a seat." he says, gesturing at the couches around the foyer.

"Hrm," Willtoria nodded, lounging down on a couch, as if she expected someone to peel her a grape.

That earns her a very polite yet somehow still disdainful sniffle from the valet who hurries off to fetch Miss Szardos.

Five minutes pass, then ten and neither Margali nor the valet seem to be in any particular hurry to come get Willtoria. Instead the front door opens and a somewhat portly looking man walks through the door backwards while shaking out his umbrella. When he turns around he seems momentarily surprised to see Will Victoria sitting there. "Oh, hello there. I didn't know we were expecting guests today."

"I like to be spontaneous from time to time," Will said, hardly looking up.

"Certainly, certainly. You're Margali's friend, no? I believe I saw you at the gala?"

"Darling, if you saw me at the gala, you would know it. You wouldn't merely believe it."

He chuckles, then makes kind of an awkward face when he seems to realize that Willtoria is being serious. "Uhm, yes, right. Well, I'm Henry Hereford." he says, holding out his hand.

"Charmed, I'm sure," she said, taking his hand in one white lace glove. "And yes, I am Margali's....friend," she said, putting a pause and emphasis on the last word, despite having no idea what Henry was talking about.

"Very much so." he smiles and actually places a polite kiss on the back of 'Victoria's' hand. It's a little clumsy but well-intentioned.

"Hrm. I see manners are a thing here in England. A pleasant surprise."

"Of course. Especially when dealing with a lovely lady such as yourself."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, darling, but I'm afraid I'm here for business today."

"How unfortunate." he says with a friendly smile. "But I will see you around, I'm sure."

"I look forward to getting to know you better," she said, flashing a secretive smile--or what Will HOPED was a secretive smile.

"Well then." he chuckles nervously. "Let me go see if I can go find Margali for you so you don't have to sit around and wait, yes?"

"Oh, be a dear and do so, thank you," she said, smiling and nodding her head.

Henry heads off and up the big stairs. A couple minutes later Margali Szardos comes down. She's wearing a simple yet elegant dress.

"Ah, Victoria. I apologize for the wait but things have been in a bit of a, shall we say, disarray. I'm sure you understand. Why don't you join me in the sitting room." she says as she reaches the bottom of the stairs and invites Willtoria towards one of the doors leading out of the room.

"Indeed, mistress. One can hardly imagine the...disarray you've seen around here recently," Will said, eyeing Margali with (what he hoped was) concealed suspicion.

"That's putting it lightly. I understand someone has been trying to summon Mindless Ones into London, if the whisperings of the unseen are to be believed."

"Yes. I suppose that would be your oh-so-clever and loyal servant Ignacio Magana. Honestly, unleashing him on a city like this is...an interesting strategy, to say the least."

"So that was his doing? Interesting, if incredibly foolish. Are you questioning the task I gave you two on account of him deciding to bite of more than he can handle, Victoria?" she asks, making a point to stress Victoria's name.

"I'm questioning putting a hedge wizard like that in my class, mistress."

"He's more powerful than you give him credit for, more powerful than you are right now. But how we use that power is just as important and he has failed that test. What was your role in this? I assume you didn't come simply to report his failings to me?"

Will waved her hand somewhat dismissively. "I simply made him put his toys away, and gave him his much-overdue spanking."

Margali briefly flashes an amused smile. "Did you now. I take it we have you to thank for stabilizing the situation as well?"

"I presume that's why you had me on this...challenge...as well. To clean up the mess you knew he would make," Will said, taking a shot in the dark.

"It was a distinct possibility. And if he had succeeded he probably would have tried to squish you like a bug. I felt no upheaval on the path, so I take it you didn't kill him?"

"He may prove useful one day in the future. Better to be a collector of debts than to overextend oneself. Business before pleasure, atleast sometimes."

"I agree. Now, I do believe we have some business matters to discuss, but I would rather do that when you're feeling a little more yourself, yes? I'm sure dealing with Ignacio must have taken some effort. Recuperate and we'll discuss where to go from here."

"Hmm, thanks for your concern, darling, but I'm feeling quite refreshed. Putting men in their place gives me a second wind."

"Is that so." she chuckles. "Then I'm afraid you'll have to find something else to do with your exuberance. I don't have the time right now to give you my proper attention and I would hate to do this half-cocked, my dear."

"As you wish, Mistress," Will said, with a bit of a formal bow.

"Say, you wouldn't have happened to have run into my son recently? I haven't seen him in a while since the days when the Braddock children still lived in Maldon."

"Your...son. No, I don't believe I have had the pleasure..." Will said, carefully, trying to figure out who the hell that might be.

"Are you certain? He's hard to miss. Blue fur, tail, smells of brimstone when he teleports." she says, mostly just amusing herself at this point.

"Ah!" Will's voice said, her eyes lighting up. "Of course. No, I'm...I don't believe I have had the pleasure..." she recovered.

"A shame. Well, if you do see him then please give him my regards. It's been a while since we had the chance to catch up." she smiles.