The butter knife chimed against the polished glass. Jerome cleared his throat from where he sat, at the head of the table. "Attention, attention please," he announced, inclining to his guests a little. Eyes glanced to him them, belonging to the top players in the Legion of Horribles; Dr. Freeze, Firefly, Mad Hatter, Scarecrow and their host, The Penguin. Hex Girl was present as well, having taken a spot opposite Jerome at the other head of the table. She wore a black and red corset-type top with thin straps over her shoulders, a choker with a red gem dangling from it, a frayed skirt, black and white leggings and her favored combat boots.
"I would like to first thank you all for being here," Jerome rose his glass, grinning a wicked little grin to them all. "I would especially like to thank 'ol Penguin here for hosting this little shindig," eyes glanced to Penguin. Amelia mused silently as she noted how uneasy Penguin looked, sniffing at her drink and then taking some sips. She still wouldn't mind squashing his annoying little head, though was behaving for now.
"So, what exactly is the point of this meeting again...? Besides establishing your Legion, of course," Penguin stammered, trying his hardest not to come off too insolently, though it was not easy for him in the presence of, well, Jerome Valeska.
"Ah, that is the point, I guess," Jerome sent on with a shrug, Penguin blinking in a way that told of his perplexity as well as his impatience. Amelia stood.
"We've gathered here today to acquaint ourselves, of course," Amelia clarified, green eyes flicking over the infamous criminals sitting at the long, cherry wood table. "I'm honestly thrilled to finally meet all of you. It is best that we all work together, isn't it?" There were some soft rouses and murmurs of agreement then. Penguin rolled his eyes.
"Yes indeed, it is best to take heed... of one another," Mad Hatter sent on with a few nods as his eyes glanced to everyone momentarily, flashing his big teeth as he grinned. Then, he winked to Amelia. Amelia took the olive from her martini's tooth pick and chunked it into his eye, to which Hatter yelped and then glared at her. Jerome cackled softly, silently adoring Amelia's charm.
Amelia cleared her throat. "As one of the newest additions to this Legion, I look forward to reaping chaos as it suits us," she said, the others rousing a little more in their assent.
"We're gonna paint this city crazy," Jerome agreed, grinning darkly as he tapped his fingers together.
"You're speaking my language," Firefly agreed with a pleased grin.
"Ah," Jerome suddenly smacked the table. "Before I forget, Hex Girl here would like to introduce a couple of our other newest additions..." From two double doors off to the right, Holly and Laura walked through, walking in sync with one another. "Hex Girl's trusty sidekicks, no doubt..."
Laura looked to Amelia as she spoke. "We look forward to being a part of things, but will have you know that we will mostly be working from the shadows."
Holly looked to the others then, who gazed over curiously, seemingly not knowing that there were other witches in Gotham. "After some discussion, Holly and I decided that this would our dynamic, since Jerome and Amelia," ahem, "Hex Girl, have established themselves as the face of this Legion. If any of you all would be in need of a hex, don't hesitate to give us a call," Holly grinned then, a sinister little grin of her own. Amelia laughed in glee, clapping her hands together, thrilled to have her sisters back. And they were now just where they belonged, as dangerous additions to the dark side of Gotham...
-That night-
Amelia was at her apartment, taking some time to relax as she and Holly spruced up a bit, while Laura was of course spending the night at her boyfriend's home. She was glad that they were back, things felt a bit more normal now which was a tad bizarre. Her life had taken some twists and turns recently, some that had pushed her to her limit... Amelia was in a better place now, and she felt alive. Though she was aware there was still that part of her that lingered, that part that still desperately held up her steel wall. Perhaps, she was just more comfortable this way... perhaps, it really was best to stay friends and partners in crime with Jerome. No pressure whatsoever.
She and Holly finished their cleaning off with placing some lit candles in a few areas and some large healing crystals to accent as extra décor. Holly knew Amelia could use all the healing she could get, especially after everything that ensued. Holly and Laura had admittedly begun leaning more into their dark sides, Holly especially due to the turmoil she had to plow through following Marcus's death. The truth was, ever since the sisters were young, they had a mischievousness about them, and working for the dark side was fitting for them. It would especially reap in some decent money, and perhaps they could all even eventually get a nice, big house.
Two slow knocks sounded at the door then, Holly moving first to peep and see who it was. She opened the door then, and Amelia glanced over to see that it was in fact Jerome. He nodded to Holly a bit, who was trying to get used to him lately but still always looked so hesitant in his presence. He intimidated her, and Jerome found it a bit funny. He would've messed with her because of it, though because she was connected to Amelia, he tried his best not to.
"I'll give you two a moment," Holly smirked gently as she scurried off to her room. Amelia narrowed her eyes as she gazed after her, not liking that she'd been teasing Amelia at times about their relationship status. She'd told Holly not to do that, but her sister could be a gnat at times.
"What's up?" Amelia questioned, looking to Jerome momentarily as she moved into the kitchen. "Hungry?" She asked, though was already throwing a baked muffin towards him that she and Holly made earlier. Jerome caught it, looked at it, and then looked at her as she went into her fridge to heat up some left overs.
"I've come partly to discuss some things, and partly... well, just 'cause," Jerome smirked, looking back to the muffin in his hand and taking a chomp out of it. "Ooh, that is delicious," he sent on, with his mouth full before swallowing his bite. Amelia chuckled, then leaned against the kitchen counters as she took some bites of her turkey and stuffing. "Anyway, obviously some things came up recently. But it's almost time to seek out dear brother," Jerome said as he edged a little closer to Amelia, placing his muffin down for the moment.
"Ah, I was wondering when we'd get to search for that little weasel," Amelia said in interest.
"I'm sure you have. It will be a pivotal moment, indeed. Plucking off my family members has been an interesting and very necessary ride," he hummed a little as he glanced around her kitchen. It looked mostly normal, save for some baskets and containers full of various herbs, potions and other witchy things. Jerome noted the bouquet of flowers he'd given her on the window sill, in a clear vase, still all perfectly in tact.
Amelia nodded then to his words, finishing off her plate and placing it on the counter. She remembered his stories of his retched family, and she enjoyed assisting him in targeting them, knowing it was important to him. As was the Legion, and eliminating Bruce Wayne. "Yup," Amelia agreed. "So, what's the plan for when we do go check out St. Ignacious?"
"I may have to pull some strings, you know how people get in my presence... all panicky and fumbly," he cackled softly. "Can't really blame 'em, I figure. I thought it would be beneficial to have your help, and perhaps Hatter's as well," he grumbled the name, still not liking the fact the man always insisted on flirting with Amelia. It was perhaps because he knew they weren't actually an item, since Amelia always held up that pesky wall of hers... at the moment, she was a bit hard to read in that regard. The witch seemed more at ease now, with her sisters around and all. Thus, he couldn't tell if her demeanor was just a product of that, or if perhaps she was finally surrendering.
Amelia looked to the floor, falling quiet a moment, and then chuckled a bit. "You always get so bent out of shape around him," she commented, turning to Jerome with a sportive grin, teasing him.
"Just as you got bent out of shape when I faked fawning after that little gadfly, Selina," Jerome countered, raising his brows a bit. Amelia whacked him on the arm, to which he merely laughed. The sound died quickly, however and was replaced with a keen look. "As I said before... can we really keep denying what is so obviously present...?" He asked, grin falling away as he edged closer now, so that he was only a foot away from the dark haired witch. Jerome stared at her, even as she looked away, drinking in her intoxicating beauty, her splay of soft feathery spikes of hair, like a dark pixie. Jerome truly relished her eyes especially, they always had this way of looking utterly vigorous.
Amelia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "There is nothing there," she lied, murmuring, though as she felt those wily hazel eyes on her, her face began to warm. Seeing Jerome murder Eric had made her finally see what she meant to him. Nothing had to be pointed out clearly in words, necessarily... seeing him get like that spoke for itself. And they both seemed okay with that.
"Really...?" Jerome tilted his head, voice a low purr, inclining closer to her now, his head dipping a little so that their faces were closer; Amelia being a few inches shorter than him. Amelia turned, glaring at him. Though the fire he knew she had within her was not nearly as strong as Jerome knew it was. It wasn't because it had died, it was because Amelia knew she no longer held such strong defenses. The didn't mean she wouldn't choose to be difficult, however. For a moment, they stared at each other, Jerome's eyes intent and Amelia's glaring unconvincingly. Truthfully Amelia was finding it so much harder to resist Jerome now, especially after that day... in fact she'd always been drawn to him, though was in such deep denial. It was safer that way, even if more frustrating. She crossed her arms, about to say something to counter him, though Jerome moved, a hand roughly clutching her slender waist and his other grasping at the back of her neck. Before the Gothic witch could say anything at all, Jerome pressed his lips roughly to hers, fervently and hungrily.
Despite the blockages she placed so firmly all this time, Amelia allowed these sensations in now... her defenses had entirely crumbled as Jerome leaned into her, kissing her hotly and almost frantically. Amelia momentarily, unconsciously tried to shift away, knocking some pans and utensils onto the floor with a loud clatter. Jerome made his decision however, he would force his way through to her. His hunger for Amelia could no longer be ignored and thrown aside. Jerome held her tighter, edging her firmly against kitchen counter. From around the corner, unseen, Holly peeked over when she'd heard that clatter, giggling as she caught sight of the scene in the kitchen and then slipped back into her room.
Jerome's hand grasped at Amelia's inky and silky soft hair as his tongue pried her red lips apart. Tongue delved within the heat of her mouth, finding hers and wrestling it roughly. Amelia panted, her mind spinning so madly against these waves of potent emotion, her pale arms wrapping around Jerome's shoulders and grasping at his red hair. In that moment, she fully allowed her walls to fall away and it came as a bit of a relief. All of the resistance she had towards this had conjured up an immense amount of tension.
The kiss was by far the most passionate she'd had in her life; as frenzied and intense as Valeska himself. Jerome's actions still proved to her just how much she meant to him. She didn't understand it... but at last, she accepted it. Amelia pressed into Jerome, relishing the feel of his arms encasing her, fingers pressing against his scalp as she returned his kiss more fervently now, her tongue fighting for dominance against his. A groan—growl?—rose from Jerome's throat, faintly, as he realized just how heated and pent up he'd gotten over time... The maniac realized now just how badly he desired Amelia. He'd broken the kiss, hazel eyes gazing for a moment into hers with a look that clearly told Amelia just how much he'd been itching for this moment. A look of sheer, raving desire. Shortly after he'd moved to bite firmly at the skin of her neck, the front door opened, and then closed.
Jerome shifted away, slowly, a hungry little smirk on his lips as he stared into Amelia's green, almost helpless eyes as if telling her he was only getting started. She blinked away her state however and shifted away from the counter top when Laura proceeded into the kitchen. Brown eyes flicked between Amelia and Jerome, Laura noting how Jerome's hair looked quite wacky and how Amelia adjusted her shifted around clothes. It certainly looked like the aftermath of... something.
"Uh..." Laura stammered.
"What?" Jerome quipped. "We were just ah... plotting, and whatnot..."
"Uh huh..." Laura sent on with a knowing little smirk. She blinked a little, admittedly caught off guard by that and thinking Amelia to have some strange tastes. "Anyway, it's a good thing I caught you here, dude... I've got a favor to ask of you two. It's pretty important," her tone was frantic now. Amelia nodded, leading Jerome and Laura into the living room then. Truthfully, she was a little relieved that Laura had interrupted. Not because she didn't relish that heated moment, she was still just a bit squirmy when it came to a male dominating her like that... She likely would have pushed Jerome off after a moment, if it had gone any further. Intimacy was something she did struggle with, after all.
Laura sat with Amelia, while Jerome settled with adjusting his hair in a mirror on the wall near them, before standing near to listen. "So, what can we do you for?" he asked.
"Amelia is aware that I took up a job working for Evan Todd's fashion line previously, editing the layouts for their magazines and shit," Laura explained. "He's been ripping me off."
"How?" Amelia furrowed her brows, thinking about how she always thought Evan Todd seemed a bit sketchy. Amelia didn't know why she had worked for him.
Laura pulled something out of the bag she sometimes carried, one of Evan Todd's magazines with one of her covers on it. "Look," she pointed to some text on the lower left corner, reading 'Spreadsheet design by Clair Hutchinson'.
"He's been allowing someone else to take credit for your work?" Amelia asked, looking pissed now.
"It doesn't stop there, I found out that he's paying this new editor double what he had paid me, to do that same freaking job."
"I wonder how she got that deal..." Jerome jested, Amelia rolling her eyes at him though snickering.
"While I could cast some spell work, I thought it would be better to leave it in your hands," Laura motioned to Jerome and Amelia. "It would just... be hilarious for you two to drive his business into ground. They're going to be going to some work gathering at an event center in town. I hear their looking to hire some entertainment... I hear everyone involved in Evan's fashion industry will be there; the models, editors and designers and Evan of course."
"Entertainment, you say?" Jerome stepped near, stroking his chin and grinning fiendishly, a glint in his eye as the perfect plan bloomed in his sinister mind. "Oh, they'll be getting entertainment, all right. You won't be disappointed, Miss Laura," Amelia and him then shared the same evil, scheming grin.
