A Beast's Lot Is Not a Happy One
A tree in the mansion grounds
"Now Logan I know you're enjoying this really. Now let's see how quickly I can get the tension out of those arms. Look at how tightly knotted your muscles have got, a little massage ought to do the trick."
Logan growled at Selene, he had to really strain to keep from popping his claws. Still at least for the moment she had stopped touching his muttonchops, no-one was allowed to stroke those without his permission on pain of getting a claw through the heart. He let the anger fill him as with a burst of adrenalin he burst his arm free of the confining branches and slashed at Selene with his claws extended.
"Oh you look so primal, so feral, and so sexy. Oh sh-," yelped Selene as adamantium claws slashed through wood and the branch she was sitting on was severed. The External plunged to the ground to land in an awkward heap right outside the window of the kitchen in which several male students were sitting.
After overcoming their momentary awe of seeing the falling Selene they all wanted to be the one to help her. A brief scuffle ensued but after a few minutes Beak came over to the window opened it and popped his head out.
"Do you need any help babe, err I mean Selene," stuttered Beak somewhat distracted by the fact that Selene's cleavage had slipped slightly.
"Thanks for the offer but I'm fine. It seems that Logan likes to play rough."
"Well looks like I'm going ta have ta get a new shirt again, and a new vest. Why is it that I always seem ta be getting torn shirts every time I get in a fight? Makes ya wonder sometimes. Alright bub yer the best there is at what ya do so getting out of a tree's gonna be a cakewalk."
To the sound of splintering wood Logan broke free of the confining tree, all of him except his boots that is. With a grunt and further straining off his thigh muscles he pulled free. One of Logan's boots flew off one hitting Beak right in the well beak and the feral himself fell out of the tree landing right on top of Selene and the two rolled into a bush in a tangled heap.
"Flamin hell, this ain't good."
"Well I didn't think you were this keen," gasped a somewhat breathless Selene.
Bobby's room
"Are you sure I've got to dress up like this? I feel ridiculous," whined Bobby as he glanced down at the Hellfire Club costume which had been provided for him. A growl and a glare from Creed forestalled his further protests and after throwing it on as quickly as he could he admired his reflection in the mirror. Admittedly he could do with a shave and he still looked somewhat slovenly but he had to admit he looked surprisingly good in it. Still he'd much prefer to be in jeans and a T-shirt.
"Well ya look almost presentable now don't ya Popsicle. Now yer going ta come with us fer a little inauguration."
"What does that involve Sabes?" asked Bobby nervously.
"Basically mate ya come with us fer a drink or two and usually we'd have a little party," said Jack.
"I think there's some pizza in the kitchen and I know there's a couple of six packs. Only problem is that Scott, Jean and Emma are due back from their mission at any moment. Considering the present um tensions between them they're not likely to be in the mood for having guests," said Bobby hoping they'd decide it was best to leave preferably immediately.
"Relax Bobby-san, they should have no problem with us visiting our fellow Hellfire Club members and pizza will do fine," said a smiling Yuriko.
Bobby gave her a tight nod and fixed a sort of desperate grin on his face as Jack and Creed took him by the arms and guided him gently and firmly in the direction of the kitchen. The werewolf seemed quite affable but Bobby wished that Creed would stop looking at his throat quite so thoughtfully, it made him very nervous. His mood wasn't improved when Fitzroy gave him a calculating look and asked him something which had apparently been preying on his mind.
"Bobby are you sure you're not gay?" asked Fitzroy to which Bobby gave a growl worthy of Sabretooth.
"I'll take that as a no then shall I?" mumbled Fitzroy as he suddenly found himself with a beard full of icicles.
Hanks room
Hank heard the low rumble of the Blackbird coming into land and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had been having an interesting conversation with Martinique but he would sooner not have Hellfire Club members running about all over the mansion. In particular he felt extremely worried about how well Bobby's sanity would emerge intact from his experiences.
"I think my fellow X-Men are returning and it would be best for you to depart now dear. Stars and garters, what on earth are you doing now?"
"I'm just brushing out your mane for you Hank, it's got a bit tangled," explained Martinique as she set to work with the hairbrush.
Back outside in the garden
"Oh my god, she's trying to seduce him! Don't worry Logan I'll save you from that witch," called Jean.
Logan had been desperately trying to fend off Selene with his claws but he was still somewhat groggy from the fall and Selene had taken the opportunity to kiss him, draining just enough life energy to leave him feeling quite exhausted. The other kisses had been deep and passionate but otherwise harmless. However she had started stroking his sideburns again.
"Logan isn't yours to take Jean! Besides you've already got a husband of your own," snapped Selene throwing one of her fireballs at Jean. A telekinetically hurled broken tree branch struck her on the head and stunned her.
"Oh Logan I'm here for you now, you poor man, whatever has she done to you," cried Jean.
"Please take yer hands of me darlin, I really ain't in the mood fer women at the moment," moaned Logan rising to his feet.
"Well I suppose that's about what we could expect from that bitch, taking men who don't belong to her," said Emma.
"Actually I thought that was your department," snapped Jean and a fight promptly broke out between them.
"Well it looks as though the feral is all worn out, a shame but here's another man. Well Scott if you're having trouble with the women in your life why not try me," began Selene but Scott's only reply was an optic blast that sent her flying back through the trees.
"Come on Logan let's get you a drink while we leave those two to sort themselves out," said Scott helping Logan with a supporting arm.
"Yeah I've got a six pack in the fridge that ya welcome ta share with me,"
Hanks room
Mastermind smiled down at Hank as he snoozed gently on his bed. As she had brushed out his mane she'd sent him soothing thoughts with her telepathy, creating the illusion that he was in a calm peaceful place and helping him to forget his stress. Finally he had stumbled over to the bed, curled himself up and was now fast asleep. It was the least that she could do for her Black King.
"Yes now you will have pleasant dreams darling Hank and I'll see you tomorrow when we come for tea. Goodnight dear Black King," whispered Martinique kissed him on the cheek before giving the soft blue fur one final stroke.
"My dear just because I'm amusing myself with a certain feral does not give you liberty to try and advance to White Queen by snuggling up with my Black King."
Mastermind sighed as she turned to see Selene standing there looking absolutely livid. Thinking swiftly she decided the best tactic was to tell her the truth, emphasizing that having a good nights sleep would mean Hank would be more up to coping with having Selene coming for tea tomorrow. The Black Queen nodded and gave Hank a rueful smile.
"Well he looks pretty peaceful; I expect he's dreaming of me."
"Actually in a way he is," said Martinique, her scan of his mind revealed that Hank was dreaming about Selene being banished to Limbo while Hank enjoyed the pleasant company of Cecilia Reyes.
"Well I think Bobby should do as the White Knight so we might as well leave him to enjoy his party while we get back to the Club. There you will have the very important job of helping me decide what to wear tomorrow."
With that she teleported herself and Mastermind back to the Hellfire Club mansion.
Main entrance
"I don't know why they all keep glaring at me like that. What did I do, drown their puppy or something?" asked Scott.
"I don't think they liked what ya did ta Selene," growled Logan.
Scott shook his head in bemusement and together he and Logan wandered through to the kitchen. Opening the door they received the shock of their lives when a rather enthusiastic Yuriko embraced Logan kissed him and then turned away in disgust. Logan snarled at her but the cyborg ignored him and then kissed Scott.
Jack and Creed had wolfed down most of the food in the fridge and were presently eating raw meat in a manner which made Scott's stomach turn. Fitzroy and Bobby seemed rather the worse for drink and were presently dancing on the table and singing old Beatles songs out of tune. Logan snarled and leapt at Creed and Jack and a brief if bloody battle ensued.
"Scott-san you are so handsome, I will kiss you again."
"I really didn't think it was possible for a cyborg to get drunk," was the only reply that Scott could think of.
"Well this really is the limit husband dear, bad enough that you cheat on me with Selene without adding Lady Deathstrike, am I that bad that you prefer Robotramp here?"
"Jean, listen this isn't what you think," gulped Scott.
This time Scott suffered a severe concussion and needed three stitches from getting his head smashed against the wall. Jean had perhaps overdone the telekinesis a little in her anger. On seeing this little display Fitzroy and Yuriko instantly sobered up and after dragging a reluctant Jack and Creed away from an even more reluctant Logan made a swift getaway by smashing down the door and fleeing into the night.
"Well Bobby you have a lot of explaining to do," said Emma.
"W-well ya know it's rather a funny story,"
Bobby was fortunate and only suffered a minor concussion and needed no stitches at all.
Dark Beast's lair
"Now how do I look?" asked McCoy.
Blackheart had to admit that McCoy was at least looking a lot neater now. His gray fur had been brushed to perfection and with sideburns and goatee trimmed to a reasonable length and hair pulled back into a ponytail he actually bore a freakish resemblance to Sebastian Shaw. Well if Sebastian Shaw hadn't shaved for at least a few years, been a werewolf or yeti the resemblance would have been exact. It had also surprised Blackheart when McCoy dug out the business suit since he would hardly have expected him to have an Armani one.
"You look magnificent most gloriously furry master," said Blackheart.
"Well I always dress for the occasion. Now I just need a touch of my cologne,"
"The smell is most unusual but most pleasing none the less hirsuteness. May I enquire as to whether it is of your own creation?"
"Actually it's called Eau de Beast and is based on one designed by my alter ego a couple of years back. Refined and improved by me,"
Blackheart nodded absently and then jumped six feet up in the air when McCoy patted him on the back and draped a friendly arm across his shoulder.
"No need to get so nervous demon, I was just getting friendly."
"Yes of course you were exalted one. What are your wishes now my furry master?" twittered the nervous demon.
"Well the night is young and I'm in the mood for partying so why don't you come with me and we'll have a blast."
Deciding he had no other choice Blackheart reluctantly accompanied McCoy as they headed up out of the sewers and into the streets above. With the image inducers he produced for them they managed to pass for human. Together the mismatched pair set off in search for a tavern eventually arriving at Harry's Hideaway. There McCoy switched off the image inducer as he was a regular here.
"Hello McCoy what are you and your friend having tonight?" asked Harry the bartender.
"The usual for me and a martini for my friend," said McCoy.
"Isn't he bothered by the fact that we well look a bit different from his regular clientele?" asked Blackheart popping a few Prozac.
"Oh he's used to mutants my dear demon and you look no more diabolical than Nightcrawler," laughed McCoy heartily.
The next day
The Hellfire Club had quite a busy day with many of the guards requiring hospital treatment they had to draft in new ones. There was also a lot of repair work to be done with Creed and Jack being drafted in to help while Fitzroy and Yuriko were nursing severe hangovers and also wishing the ground would open up and swallow them. Especially Lady Deathstrike who felt dishonored by flirting with gaijin dogs although Fitzroy wished he hadn't started saying he was Han Solo and would Bobby be his Chewbacca. Martinique was helping Selene prepare her clothes for the big night ahead. Since they had visited the mansion last night there was a slight change of plan, the Inner Circle were going on a mystery trip.
Hank had woken up a much happier man having had a peaceful night's sleep and pleasant dreams. He felt an old familiar tug in his heart and he realized he was starting to fall in love again. The only worrying thing was that it seemed to be with Martinique Jason. Still at least it wasn't with Selene so that was something to be thankful for. Over breakfast he had enquired after Logan's health and the feral had given him a wolfish grin.
"Lets just say that since ya were asleep and I was the only male not in the doghouse and they thought I'd had a rough time that Emma and Jean were outdoing themselves trying ta look after me. Ya know a fellow could get used ta this,"
Indeed even though he had made a full recovery Emma and Jean were still busy looking after Logan. Logan did his best to look vulnerable and in need of tender loving care, enjoying the attention. The only annoyance was Beak asking him how good a kisser Selene was. Still when threatened with having Logan's boot shoved right into his beak and down his throat he wisely refrained from further discussion of Selene. Logan had a rather good day.
Bobby and Scott also recovered under Hank's expert care and while Bobby was excused since he was Bobby and rather immature, it was a different matter for Scott. Fortunately for him a mission in England required his assistance so along with Warren, Kurt, Xorn, Stacey X and Chamber he set off. They were going up against Mister Sinister but that was a lot safer than being around Jean and Emma in their present mood.
"Well Hank at least you've got a buddy in the Hellfire Club now. Still I don't think we'll be hearing from them again in a while. Hey why are ya glaring at me like that old buddy?" asked Bobby.
"The reason Robert Drake is that every time I've thought that or said something along those lines, you know who pops up."
At that moment Selene materialized on the sofa in front of them wearing one of her dresses that could easily have passed for lingerie. She smiled at Hank and Bobby and beckoned them towards her.
"Stars and garters, what I wonder will we be doing this time?" asked Hank dreading the answer.
"That darling is a surprise, now we're all going and as you can see all the Inner Circle is here. Although Blackheart seems to have vanished again but who cares about him."
"Well are ya ready fer a little mystery trip?" asked Jack. He was standing with Fitzroy, Mastermind, Yuriko and Creed.
"We don't really have a choice now do we," sighed Bobby.
"Ya got it in one mate," replied the werewolf.
"Well let's get on with it. Stars and garters, a Beast's life is not a happy one," moaned Hank.
Selene simply smiled and with a quick incantation the Inner Circle vanished on a mystery trip. The only thing Hank knew is that he would doubtlessly not be pleased with their destination.