Destiny awaits

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria, as ordered, arrived at the Hellfire Club. This time it was in her own car, which she had the valet park. Her attire was different as well, a light gown, her jewelry sparse, but pointed, with arcane symbols here and there. Still elegant, but everything about her would shout 'witch' to anyone either in the know or paranoid that goth girls would put spells on you. Clothes were, after all, a statement. If she'd come dressed as any good Hellfire peon would, it would have said something. If she'd come dressed like she'd seen her sister do on occasion, it would have said something else. She wasn't about to get all up in their face that she was her own person and didn't have any intention of being her sister, that would be pointlessly confrontational when they might not have any such notions in their heads. This got the point across quite well without being so... uncouth.

She presented herself at the door, letting the porter know that she was expected.

[Margali Szardos]

She was ushered in and lead further into the mansion into a room that appeared to be a mixture of a library and sitting room. There she was told to wait. After a couple of minutes Margali stepped into the room from a different door than Victoria had entered through.

"Ah, I you could make it. Splendid." She eyes Victoria briefly, noting the choice in clothing and presumably drawing the right conclusion regarding the message Victoria intended to send.

[Victoria Valentine]

"I do try not to disappoint when I've raised expectations" Victoria mused, curtsying as might be expected to one's mistress. "I trust that tonight will prove... interesting?"

[Margali Szardos]

"Don't get your expectations up too high just yet. But you're here so we can have a bit more of an unrestrained talk without having to dance around the obvious to accommodate the rich and self-important sheep. I have recommended you as Black Bishop to the rest of the Inner Circle, but you're not the only hopeful."

[Victoria Valentine]

"I think that you'll know that I don't mind competition. Keeps things much more... lively than when things are just handed to you."

[Margali Szardos]

"That's what I like about you, Victoria. You understand the game and appreciate it for what it is. One of your competitors is here tonight, the other is playing on another playing field and you shouldn't concern yourself with him. It's an issue of internal debate and one I aim to solve in favor of my candidates."

[Victoria Valentine]

"So this is another candidate of yours?" Victoria said. "I do suppose that the best idea is always to leave yourself no losing option. No matter." If Victoria was less than confident, it wasn't showing.

[Margali Szardos]

"He's another follower of the Winding Way and I won't insult you by pretending this isn't working in my own interest on several levels. I prefer to keep some amount of control over those promising enough to rise high. It keeps those gathering their strength just below me occupied with more pressing matters."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Is he before me or behind me," Victoria asked, rather needing to know if this was a sorceror whom she'd already dueled for a standing on the way, it if it was someone looking for payback.

[Margali Szardos]

"Ahead of you, but I don't think you have had the pleasure yet."

[Victoria Valentine]

Oooh, so many opportunities tonight.
I'm at an ebb in my power. Moving ahead won't be easy.
But who ever said I'm easy?
Aside from everyone?
Shut up.

"Well, this should be quite an... auspicious night on quite a few levels, then," Victoria mused.

[Margali Szardos]

"I don't particularly care for fights happening in here, regardless of whether they're fought in the Astral or not. This is neutral ground between members and hopefuls. And I don't intend to hinge any decisions on who is ahead on the Path at this time regardless. That's not to say you aren't free to try and place yourself in a more advantageous position going forward."

[Victoria Valentine]

"I've found that men when put in their place tend to force that issue at some point. I'm just being realistic," Victoria reassured her.

[Margali Szardos]

Margali let's out a faint chuckle. "Maybe so. Still, he currently has little to gain from challenging you on the Winding Path. Maybe it's time for you to meet so I won't have to repeat myself going forward." she says, walking over to one of the doors and opens it.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria nodded, watching the door with a somewhat distant look, ready to betray nothing in her expression.

[Ignacio Magana]

In the room beyond, a young man is lounging on the lavish furniture of the club. He straightens up as the door opens, and looks to Margali.

"Ah, I was beginning to wonder if this was a test," he says with a rakish smirk.

[Margali Szardos]

"Merely leveling the playing field before putting the pieces on the board." she says, gesturing for Victoria to step through the door before following the pale witch. "Victoria Valentine, Ignacio Magana." she introduces them.

[Ignacio Magana]

"This club does so love its chess references," he chuckles, rising to his feet to meet Victoria.

[Victoria Valentine]

"How else can they let the pawns know where they stand?" Victoria said with a sly smile, offering him her hand.

Urge to fight... falling.
Shut up. I'm not a slave to hormones.
I'm not?
No, I'm not.

[Margali Szardos]

"Yet a pawn can be promoted. Which is why we're here today."

[Ignacio Magana]

"I don't suppose those have been in the family awhile?" He says with a faint smirk, his eyes on her jewelry as he shakes her hand.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Heirlooms are a luxury that some of us forego," Victoria mused, smirking back. And I wonder where your path has wound from...

[Ignacio Magana]

"Magi don't come from money," he chuckles. "If we did, why would we be willing to risk it?"

[Victoria Valentine]

"Because everone wants more of something," Victoria answered.

[Ignacio Magana]

"I find the ones that are really hungry for it come from... humbler backgrounds."

[Margali Szardos]

"Well then, now that we're all acquainted we can move on to the matter at hand. Two candidates for one empty seat. You have both shown a lot of promise and I don't doubt that you are both capable of maneuvering among the upper echelons of society. I could pit you against each other but that is uninspired and a fight that may happen on it's own in due time. The Hellfire Club is not connected to the Winding Way and I don't wish to equate the two. So I posit the two of you a challenge. Impress me however you feel is adequate. You may enlist help, you may try more than one thing, you may try to sabotage each other's attempts. The only rule is that you do not compromise me or the Club in any way."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Mm, suppose I should have paced myself more lately, leave some project undone to use for this," Victoria mused with a little smirk. "No matter, opportunity provides."

[Ignacio Magana]

"I think this will take more than pet projects, yes?" He chuckles.

[Margali Szardos]

"I'd rather hope for things that you weren't planning on doing already anyway for the sake of convenience."

[Victoria Valentine]

"And you know that I endeavor to please," Victoria said, not elaborating any further.

[Margali Szardos]

"I don't doubt that. Nor do I expect you to have something prepared right here and now."

[Victoria Valentine]

"But in good time, naturally, yes. Well, this should be a profitable endeavor on all sides," Victoria decided, looking unruffled.

[Margali Szardos]

"It doesn't have to be profitable, but of course that is always welcome."

[Ignacio Magana]

"It all depends on what you think impresses her, yes?"

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria gave Ignacio an indulgent smile. "Well naturally, yes."

She didn't specifically we weren't ALLOWED to kill him...
Shut up, I don't do that.
Yet. I don't do that yet.
Yes, ye- NO. We're not killing him.

[Margali Szardos]

"Now then, with business out of the way we should celebrate our two candidates."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria found herself slightly amused that the outside candidate wasn't even a consideration now, but agreed. "I'm never opposed to a celebration."