Subject: [OTL]: HellsX 23 Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 04:53:39 -0700 (PDT) From: D Benway HellsX [23:45] The Big Party Produced by Benway. See notes for disclaimers. ________________________________________________________________________________ She hadn't seen Doug since he'd said the wrong thing, and so she was surprised when he appeared at the end of the training session bearing a golden envelope. "You've done well," he said. "They're letting you go to the big party tonight." "Party?" said Kitty. "They didn't tell you?" said Doug. "I guess they wanted it to be a surprise. They're all going. It's been five years since the X-Men became part of the Hellfire Club." "Oh," said Kitty. It wasn't so different from what usually happened. Fat girls were always the last to be invited to anything. "Don't look so glum," said Doug. "I've got a dress for you, and everything." It looked quite expensive. It was very fine black leather with some sort of exotic composite in it. From a distance, it appeared to be silk. It encased her from just below her chin to an inch above the floor. In it, she almost looked as if she were not fat. Blend into the background, he signed. Don't do anything to attract attention. Watch, carefully. Moments after Doug had left without telling her anything more, she heard a knocking at the door, so faint that she would not have heard it all, had it not come from a human whose heart was pumping piss-weak near-water through her veins. She opened the door to see Ororo standing at the elevator at the end of the hall, head bowed. "You knock?" said Kitty. Ororo glanced over her shoulder, then shuffled over. "I just wanted to, uh, use your bathroom," said Ororo. "Uh, sure," said Kitty. Ororo entered, but didn't go into the bathroom. Instead, she gave Kitty a once-over, from top to bottom. "15.9," said Kitty. Ororo winced. "Better than Giselle Bundchen," said Kitty. "Did you adjust for the weight of your missing blood?" said Ororo. "That would put your BMI near 17, if you were still alive. I've made it down to 14.8." "Made it to 14.6, once," said Kitty. It had been 14.9 and had resulted in a week-long stay in a private clinic where they had undone all her hard work, but Kitty didn't feel it necessary to mention those extra details. "It's sad," said Ororo. "You'll never do better." "What do you mean?" said Kitty. "Come in here," whispered Ororo, pointing towards the bathroom. "The surveillance cameras in here aren't working yet. Don't tell anyone I told you that." Ororo closed the bathroom door behind them. Kitty gave the place a once-over, trying to see any loose tendrils of smoke in dark corners. When she was satisfied, she turned to Ororo. "I'll do better," said Kitty. "I've been good. I've been following the commandments, better than ever." "You're a vampire," said Ororo, just a bit smugly. "You'll stay as you were the day you arose, for the rest of your existence. Hasn't anyone told you?" "Can't be true," said Kitty. "16+ forever," said Ororo. "I'd never wear anything that wasn't black." The urge to pound Ororo into the floor was intense. Still, Kitty would then be tempted to eat, and that would go against her Master's command. "I'll do it," said Kitty. "Just watch me. Why're you here?" "I need a favour," said Ororo. "After saying that?" said Kitty. "Mind if I use your toothbrush?" said Ororo. "Sure," said Kitty, neglecting to mention that the bristles were titanium. "You can wait outside," said Ororo. "My bathroom," said Kitty. "How badly you want to use it?" Ororo glared at her, then bent over the toilet and went to work with the toothbrush. Results came quickly. From what Kitty could see, Ororo had managed a binge of epic proportions. She could spot corned beef (although it might have been pastrami), roast beef, some American cheese (real cheese tended to dissolve quickly and become unrecognizable), some squash, some apple, lots of what had been chocolate cake or chocolate cookies or some chocolately goodness from Hostess (at least a pound's worth), together with familiar tomato-chunk-like pieces of stomach lining. As Ororo collapsed panting, Kitty marveled at the fact that none of it awakened her hunger at all, except for the stomach lining whose colour came from the not-terribly-rich blood flowing through Ororo's stomach wall. "Finished yet?" said Kitty, slightly disappointed that Ororo was a handle-ender. Ororo shook her head, and went to work with the toothbrush again. This time, not too much came up that was recognizable, save strands of green bile. "That's it," said Kitty. "Once more," said Ororo. Kitty snatched the toothbrush away. "Hey!" said Ororo. "Thought you were my friend." "Want to tear your stomach?" said Kitty. "You're down to bile. That's when you stop." "But I have to look my best tonight," said Ororo. "I still look like shit." "You'll look better than me," said Kitty. "You'll look better than Frost." "22+," said Ororo. "Bloated," Kitty agreed. "Tyra Banks'll be there," said Ororo. "14.6," said Kitty. "Yeah," said Ororo wistfully. There was a knock at the door. "You got mouthwash?" whispered Ororo. "Alcohol," said Kitty. "Over the sink. Don't swallow. Makes you go blind." "Like you have to tell me not to swallow," said Ororo, as the pounding came again. "Pryde!" said Summers from the corridor. "Coming," she said, as she flushed again to cover the sound of Ororo's gargling. Ororo spat out the last of it as Summers opened the door to Kitty's room with a pass key. "Come out," said Summers, as Ororo put half a roll of diet wintergreen Life Savers in her mouth and started crunching. Kitty opened the bathroom door. "You want to tell me what you were doing in there?" said Summers to Ororo. "Girl stuff," said Ororo. Somehow, Ororo had managed not to get anything incriminating on her t-shirt, or her jeans. "You gave your word that you would stick to our agreement," said Summers. "I've kept it," said Ororo. "Just talking," said Kitty. "Sure," said Summers. "Ro, I need you to come with me now. Kitty, the plumbers will be coming later to make some repairs. I've authorized them to come in and do them whether you're here or not. Stay out of their way." "Sure," said Kitty. The plumbers didn't come until Doug arrived to take her up for the party. They showed up with a plastic cart that contained several steel boxes, but nothing that looked remotely like a pipe tool. They spoke Spanish. She suspected that they were Cuban. Smart move, signed Doug. We need to talk. I'll have to arrange something. Sure, signed Kitty. Doug left her at Ororo's door. He didn't accompany them into the public areas. "It's the smell," said Ororo. "He can't do anything to hide it." She never paid attention to it, but Doug wasn't a potential meal. They walked down the long corridor past the office where she had met the professor for the first time. At the end, a huge pair of doors failed to open for them. Ororo held her invitation up to a burnished steel panel. The door remained closed. Kitty held up her own invitation. The door opened. The room was the size of a competition rink, except that competition rinks were bare concrete, not marble. Chandeliers the size of minivans hung from the ceiling and illuminated some of the most powerful figures in the War on Terror, dancing to the waltz played by the New York Symphony Orchestra. It appeared that almost none of the most powerful had the first clue about how to dance. Instead, they seemed to be following the cues of their much younger partners. "Look," said Ororo. Yasmine Bleeth (19.5) was talking with the head of the Federal Reserve, who was following her every word. Callista Flockhart (15.6) was chatting away with Chief Justice Bork, while Tyra Banks (14.6!) was listening to Senator Duke while staring fixedly at the 25 foot long table loaded with over 100 Chicago deep-dish pizzas. She could almost taste the tired old blood forced by straining hearts through constricting vessels, ready to hose her down with rich, hot blood if just the smallest cut was made... "Hi," said someone young, fit, and possessed of a blood-rich bruise under the makeup plastered on around her right eye. "Uh," said Kitty. "Huh?" said Ororo. "I think we're in the same line of work," said the girl. She was at least a 25. She was wearing a designer dress, but looked 100% trailer park. "Oh come on," said her companion. "We don't need to maintain cover here. I'm sure they know who we are." The other woman might have been a natural Asian 18 once, but then had inflated herself with silicone. Kitty could never even begin to understand why anyone would even dream of doing that. The sacs could burst and contaminate the blood. "Uh," said Kitty. "This is, uh-" said Ororo. "Janet Van Dyne, Avenger," said the one with the sacs. "This is Angelica. She's our newest member." "Hi," said Angelica. "Hi," said Ororo. Kitty stared. Both so fat, but able to fly and never once having to think about not falling. "Uh-," said Angelica. Ororo elbowed Kitty in the back. Kitty returned her gaze to the floor. "So, I, uh, guess you're new too?" said Angelica. "Uh, yeah," said Kitty. "She's new," said Ororo. "Yeah," said Kitty. "So, like, you want to get some pizza?" said Angelica. "649 calories per slice," said Kitty. "32 grams of fat," said Ororo. "11.7 grams saturated," said Kitty. "That's OK," said Angelica. "I'm on Atkins." "68.9 grams carbs per slice," said Ororo. "Too much for Atkins," said Kitty, unable to keep from sneering. "Oh," said Angelica. "I don't worry about that any more," said Jan. "Not since I found Jesus." "Oh," said Ororo. "We work to save the nation given to us by Jesus," said Jan. "It's the only thing worth living for." "I never saw nothing in the Bible about that," said Angelica. "I have," said a deep male voice. "I think it's in Revelations. Something about the Belly of the Beast?" The man was enormous, in prime physical condition, with rich healthy blood surging through his veins, but she barely noticed him. "You're-" said Angelica. "Wayne!" said Jan. The man had two companions, both clad from head to foot in black leather. One was male, and queer as a three dollar bill. The other was a girl, maybe Asian, maybe African, maybe not. Whatever she was, neither her age nor her BMI could have exceeded 12. "I'm sorry to interrupt such brilliant conversation, but there's someone here I'd like to meet, and here he comes now," said Wayne. Kitty glanced over and saw Professor Frost approaching, dressed in a man's black pin-stripe Armani suit. "Come on," said Jan. "Let the contractor clean up the mess." "Sure," said Angelica, slipping something into Kitty's hand. Kitty secreted whatever it was in her sleeve. "What in the name of God are you doing here?" hissed Frost. Wayne's little girl was staring at her, and so was his fag. She couldn't sense a drop of blood in either of them. "I'm a member of the club in good standing," said Wayne. "We even have invitations, all three of us. Why shouldn't we be here?" "Perhaps because Frank Castle's spotted you and is on his way over?" Wayne and the girl exchanged a glance. "Emma, Emma, Emma," said Wayne. "You don't mind if I call you Emma, do you?" "No," snapped the Professor. "I don't think that you're telling the truth," said Wayne. "As if you have any way of knowing," said Frost. "There are too many secrets in this world, don't you think?" said Bruce. "You wouldn't have any if you hadn't had all that shit put in your head," said the Professor. "My competitors are so unscrupulous," said Wayne. "Seems everyone has their pet mind reader these days." "I'm no-one's pet," said Frost. The queer smirked. The girl was staring at Kitty. "It seems I've been quite rude," said Wayne. "I haven't introduced myself to your protege. My name is Bruce Wayne, and these are my wards Dick and Cassandra." "Charmed," said Dick, taking her hand and kissing it. She could feel his grip. She looked into his eyes and knew that he was of her kind. She stared at Wayne, feeling the blood surging through him as he watched, flooding his groin. "Hey," said Cassandra. "Not nice to stare at other people's dinner." Cassandra sounded like a dog barking when she spoke. Her eyes had a reddish glow, like Logan's. "You're taking a big risk, bringing them here," hissed Frost. "You may run the club," said Wayne. "That doesn't mean that you represent the views of a majority of the members." "No," said the professor. "Then again, I'm sure the majority don't share your predlications." "Or yours," said Dick. "My intentions are purely honorable, as your own once were," said Wayne, stiffly. "I'm sure," said the professor. "How much longer do you think you're going to be allowed to get away with that little operation of yours in Gotham? You think Rogers doesn't know?" "Rogers doesn't dare move against me," said Wayne. "I'd advise you not to, either." "You should know the fate of turncoats," said the Professor. "So should you," said Wayne. "And speaking of guests," said the Professor. She nodded her head towards the buffet table, where Captain America was talking to a thin man with peroxide-white hair. "Shit," whispered Wayne. "Scatter!" Wayne and his companions vanished into the crowd. Kitty lost track of Dick and Cassandra almost immediately, but she could track Wayne easily. Somehow, he was now even more excited than he'd been before. "The fucking nerve," said the Professor. "Here he comes. Don't do anything stupid." Castle was approaching them, carrying a plate full of food. He didn't look well. "Good evening, sir," said the Professor. "Wayne," said Castle. "Did I just see Wayne here?" Kitty could hear no heartbeat. The Captain was as dry as Wayne's companions. "He is a member of the club," said Frost. Castle was mechanically stuffing raw broccoli into his mouth and forcing it down. Kitty knew full well how she could barely hold water down for more than a few seconds. "Need to have a talk with him," said Castle, a mouthful of half-chewed broccoli dribbling down his chin. "I think you should look after yourself, first," said Frost. "Yes," said Castle, dazedly. "I should look after myself." He dropped the plate down onto the carpet, and staggered off. "Watch him," said Frost. "He's dangerous. What the hell are you doing up here?" "Had an invitation," said Kitty. Frost frowned and reached for her mobile. "Yes?" said Frost. "Shit." Frost looked over towards the pizza table, where a small knot of people had gathered. "Bloody idiot," said Frost, hanging up. "Is that-" said Kitty. "I'll deal with you after I take care of Monroe," said Frost. Kitty was left alone. There was no-one to talk to. She looked over towards the washroom in the corner, where she saw Castle closing the door behind him. Frost had said she should watch him. It was a phrase that could have so many meanings. The Captain was of her kind. She hadn't noticed it, when she'd been in Kansas. She made her way over to the washroom door. The door had been locked, so she couldn't simply follow him in, as if by mistake. She could hear him inside. It was a very familiar sound, from before tournaments and especially in the clinics. It was the sound of someone trying hard not to be heard throwing up. She heard the toilet flush, and the sink being used. The door opened, and Castle stood for a moment in the doorway, still slightly dazed. "Uh-" said Kitty. "Wha' you want?" he said. "I-" she said. "You-" "Come on, spit it out," said Castle. "Like me," she said. He was fast, so fast that she didn't even see him move. Holding her by the throat, he dragged her into the bathroom and imbedded her three inches into the wall. She felt many things break, then begin to reform. "Like you?" said Castle. "Like you? A demon, like you?" He released his hold, just a little. "Vampire," she said. "Nothing like you!" he hissed. "I'm saved! Saved! Not some heathen who drank children's blood since the cradle! Not of the sex that damned all mankind and drove Adam from Eden!" "Nuh-," she said. "I am saved by Jesus, and when my life's work is through, none of you will live to pollute God's world, and I will my join my beloved wife and children in Heaven, while you roast in the flames of HELL!" She could feel the vertebrae in her neck being ground to powder. "That's enough," said Logan. The Captain let go of her. She sank to the floor, her head flopping way too far to one side. "You're no better," said Castle. "Wouldn't want to be," said Logan. Castle gave Logan a sharp look, then turned and left the room. "You able to fix yourself?" said Logan. She repositioned her head to where it ought to be as she felt her vertebrae reforming. "Yeah," she said. "You ever start thinking you're a monster, think of that," said Logan. He vanished into the shadows. She reached into her sleeve and took out the folded piece of paper that Angelica had slipped into her hand. JESUS LOVES YOU TOO was written there, in the handwriting used by people who could barely read. "Yeah," said Kitty. "Sure." She tore it up and flushed it down the toilet. [Next: Charles Xavier]