Stark Industries, Saturday

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

Sometime in the middle of the night Howard's totally awesome mustache disappeared, only to be replaced by a 5 o'clock shadow that George Michael would be jealous of. And he'd somehow managed to get eyeliner on that was so perfect, women might be jealous of his skills. So, he had that going for him today.

That and his illicit alcohol smuggling business that kept the Starks in power on this island. Screw the rules, he had money! And a large selection of fine alcohol saved up from when he moved in!

He looked out the window of the show at his domain, thinking of his future wedding that would once and for all bring those damned Skywalkers under his heel. Where they belonged.

[[Open speakeasy is open!]]

Comments

[solo_sword]

The way Jaina figured, it never hurt to check up on things. If you didn't, things often got out of control, like they had with that explosion at the rival diamond mine in Puerto Rico that she still would claim no responsibility for. Damn mobsters.

"I thought I would find you here," she said when she arrived.

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"You and half the world." What did that even mean? "How is my stunning fiance?"

The one firmly in his grip and not at all plotting behind his back. Because who could plot against that eyeliner? Who?

[solo_sword]

Jaina would never plot against him like that, just like she'd never plotted against any of her other fiances!

"Better, now that you're around," she replied. She might have tossed her hair a little, because it was really fantastic hair. "I came to see how things were going."

And maybe to spy.

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

It was pretty fantastic hair...

"The Winchesters won't even know what hit them when our wedding happens." Their surprise wedding. "I can just see their faces now..."

[solo_sword]

Howard wouldn't know what hit him, either.

"Sometimes I think that's half the reason you proposed," she said seriously teasingly.

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"Only half," Howard replied, circling around her so he could put his hands on her shoulders and look off at some spot on the wall so the audience could see both their faces without him seeing her look evil. "That dress you wore was the other half."

[solo_sword]

That was totally why she'd worn that dress.

"Maybe I should wear it more often," she decided. Though probably not around him, because she was fickle like that.

[capt-maxfactor.livejournal.com]

"Hey, boss," Jack called, slinging a suspiciously clinking bag back over his shoulder as he came in. "We got shipment of diet soda today."

Or rum.

It was probably rum.

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

It better be rum or Howard would have to pay some brooding loner to break Jack's knees. But the loner would have a change of heart and fall in love with Jack instead.

Like the last time. Ugh.

"We'll need extra for tomorrow," Howard said, taking a swig of 'Diet Coke' even though it was way too early for drinking. "We have a... celebration."

[capt-maxfactor.livejournal.com]

"Do we? I love celebrations! Drinks all around!" Jack replied happily.

"Like...fruit juice!" he tacked on unconvincingly.

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"Yes, plenty of fruit juice," Howard said, looking out a window at Jaina. Or nothing. It was possibly nothing.

[capt-maxfactor.livejournal.com]

"What are you looking at, boss?" Jack asked, tilting his head to look too.

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

...crap. Why did someone have to ask that?

"The island. It will soon belong to the Starks and the Starks alone," Howard said, pulling that out of nowhere. "The Winchesters, the Luthors, the Skywalkers... they don't even stand a chance."

[shagthis.livejournal.com]

Jake had been busy today. Very busy. And he had news. News for the boss.

"By the Jesus!" he crowed, a stack of black and white photographs in his hand, which he laid out on the counter. "Take a gock at that, will ye b'y?"

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"You know I can't understand you when you talk like this, Jake!" Howard snapped, clutching his stash of nigiri close.

[shagthis.livejournal.com]

"Quit bein' such a friggin' sook and listen, b'y! I got's some news 'bout that duckie ye been seein'."

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"I'm seeing Jaina," Howard corrected. "Not a duck--wait. Is that... Charles?"

It couldn't be!

[shagthis.livejournal.com]

"Narn other," Jake said with a slow, confirming nod. "She's some lop on the pond, buddy, what?"

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"I thought he was dead." It couldn't be! "Find out what you can about him. I need to know it all."

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall stormed into the den of Starks, clutching his royal birth certificate. Ever since he found out this morning that he was really Squallington Whitney Horace Aloysius Thaddeus Eustace Vivian Ewain Raphael Loire, crown prince of Esthar, he'd had plans. The Starks and the Skywalkers also had plans, and had probably even spent more than a few minutes thinking about them. But what did that matter? He was royalty now, with his own country, which meant he had his own army.

"STAAAAARK!!!" he demanded. "I have a deal for you!"

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"Is that so... Squall?" Howard demanded, taking a sip of his juice. "I thought I told you to never come back here. Not after the last time."

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

"That was the last time," Squall insisted. "This is this time. And this time... is different." He straightened his shoulders proudly. "I'm different. You may have known me as Squall Leonhart, wealthy Mixed Martial Arts champion, or before that as Squall Leonhart, destitute orphan, but it turns out that I am really Squallington Whitney Horace Aloysius Thaddeus Eustace Vivian Ewain Raphael Loire, crown prince of Esthar!!!"

He pointed a demanding finger at Stark's nose. "Swear fealty to the Kingdom of Esthar, and I will make it worth your while."

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"What proof do you have for this?" And how could he use it to crush the Skywalkers?

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall displayed his royal birth certificate, which had official seals and signatures on it, and everything. "When my father's army arrives" -- assuming, of course, that the King agreed to Squall's poorly-thought-out invasion plan -- "fight alongside us, and you and yours will be spared. I may even see fit to grant you part interest in the Skywalkers' diamond mine."

[doyoufondue.livejournal.com]

"Grant me?" Howard would sooner agree to marry Zoe Winchester! Wait... there was a plan.

"Give me time to think this over. I have to discuss it with... my son."