I'm bleeding out, so if the last thing that I do

[osreborn]

WHO: NORMAN OSBORN and EDWARD NYGMA
WHERE: De Chima, Virgina
WHEN: Monday 17th, afternoon
WHAT: Norman and Eddie make a deal.
WARNINGS: Probable references to torture and violence.


[ What sort of circumstances could lead to Norman Osborn and Edward Nygma working together once again? The end of the world was a good start. The two of them had agreed already that it was only logical that resources get pooled now that they were all stranded here with nothing. Or nearly nothing. However their disagreements might otherwise unfold, Norman and Eddie both knew the other man was intelligent and better friend than foe in desperate times.

Such as now.

Norman was in De Chima particularly for another purpose, one that would be realized later in the evening. Why not kill two birds with one stone? He directed Eddie to meet him at De Chima's landmark observatory, one of the many scientific prides the city had to hold. It was complete with a downstairs gallery, decorated with sprawling murals of their star maps that glowed when it became dark. ]

Comments

[enigmaestro]

[The observatory.

Eddie had searched for symbolism inherent to the spot, ironic or otherwise, but not even puzzling out Norman's motivation could soothe his restless spine. It posed an undeniable peril, meeting Norman in a foreign city (by technicality) born from a different universe. Virginia had never engaged Eddie on a personal level, not back home. But then again, neither had Florida.

He was out of orbit.]

All right.

[Eddie called out into the atmospherically dim halls of the downstairs gallery, as he carefully descended the stairs.]

You and your proclivity towards darkness, Norman, really.

[osreborn]

[ The location was barely engaging to Norman as well, but only thus far. He was intrigued by what it had to offer, what it promised, but it was too soon yet to explore in any depth. Norman had priorities he must first attend to before he began on side-projects. However tempting impulsive little thrills could be.

The stars lit up around them. ]

Nygma. Glad you could make it.

[ He turned his head in acknowledgement before he regarded the maps with interest to how they worked but not enough that he intended to pursue the question. ]

We should sit down. I'd hate to be overheard.

[enigmaestro]

Glad I could make it? First time I think you've ever uttered such words.

[Eddie wasn't sure if such merited even a self-congratulatory sneer -- the circumstance captured a haunting air. He walked closer, gingerly stepping, keeping one eye on the exit and his expression quite neutral.]

You clearly have a battleplan, Norman. I could do with fewer frills, if you're keen to get talks rolling.

[osreborn]

Quite keen. No sense in wasting time, is there? Come along.

[ Smirking idly, Norman gestured with his hand for Eddie to follow as he strolled toward one of the more isolated research rooms, empty at this hour because he'd reserved the time slot. But as a precaution; the observatory was mostly empty anyway. ]

I doubt you came unarmed yourself. Am I right in that assumption?

[enigmaestro]

[Come along.

Eddie sneered at the words, disdain sparking between the discs in his spine. Nevertheless, he refused to put up a fuss -- far be it for him to appear like the spoiled child tagging after his caretaker.]

Norman, you know damn well I can't be in a room with you lacking something that fires bullets. [A sidelong glance. The black market was easier to get at before he declared Unsettled, and lie-detection enabled a safe route.] Aside from those of my own tongue, of course.

Or were you speaking solely of plans?

[He offered a cautiously innocent grin.]

Now. [He didn't ignore the "yourself" -- solid implication that Norman was also armed.] What is it?

[osreborn]

Very funny. You know exactly what I meant.

[ Norman gave Eddie a look that was tinged with a scowl then, impatience seeping in. He threw the door shut -- it made a noise as the door locked itself -- and took a seat at the table in the center of the room.

Watching Eddie, he began slowly: ]

You remember what we spoke of. The first day. [ Up went his eyebrow. ] About resources. You do, don't you?

[enigmaestro]

In great detail.

[He spoke with enunciated syllables, careful and sound, like a man treading over swamp land. The angle Norman was playing crystallized, but that didn't mean his strings were brittle. It suited Eddie, to consider the implication with great caution. His arms stiffened at his side, his pulse beating half a note quicker.]

You're interested in collecting them, then? Our resources? Gathering individuals who agree to a singular focus?

[Eddie leaned the side of his left cheek towards his shoulder, making a coy triangle with his face.]

You want to create a team.

[osreborn]

[ The look Norman gave Eddie in return was not quite a smile, although it had the pretense of one, wide and all teeth. The word team made him want to flinch, perhaps grind his teeth, but he did not give Eddie the satisfaction of a reaction so visible.

Instead, he tented his fingers together, forming a triangle of his own. ]

Not a team so much as a group. I don't think we need to advertise our efforts. In fact, better we keep it just amongst ourselves lest resources get stretched too thin.

[ There was a contemplative beat before he said anything further. ]

Do you know of Emma Frost?

[enigmaestro]

The name might be elusive.

[Playing coy had always irritated Norman, and Eddie had made no plans to ease their tumultuous truce. But the fact was, he had met with her, danced with her briefly, and Emma Frost had thoroughly impressed the former Deputy Mayor. She was an individual who was aware. It was curious, though unsurprising, that Norman would be interested in her potential as well.]

We made acquaintance, at the swear-in. Charming woman.

[A sidelong glance threw off the geniality of his smile.]

I never got around to inquiring her powers.

[osreborn]

[ Norman's strange grin spread a bit wider, his eyebrow arching curiously. Not that he hadn't expected that the two of them would have met; quite to the contrary, men like Edward Nygma and women like Emma Frost always found one another.

It was the sliver of advantage that he hadn't been counting on. ]

Charming indeed. It isn't many woman can boast a resume that includes teacher and part-time burlesque performer. I'm not surprised the two of you made acquaintance already.

[ Okay, that last part might be exaggeration. ]

She can turn herself into a diamond.

[enigmaestro]

A diamond? That's rich.

[He continually thought himself amusing. Perhaps because of that, because of the electrical excitement tingling, the anticipation, Eddie did a curious thing: he didn't question further. What Norman said hadn't rung false, after all.]

Though if I didn't know better, Norman, I might mistake your infusion of subtle judgment as something of a warning. [Eddie folded his arms, his back leaning against the wall behind him -- feet out, spine curved only enough to provide a cavalier angle. In fact, Eddie understood Norman attempting to entice him. The man wanted this.]

How would you know about the burlesque bit?

[osreborn]

A diamond. I'm sure a woman like her finds some use out of it.

[ It's collected, a little patronizing -- trademarks of Norman, so hardly suggestive. If anything, being complementary of Emma would be more suspicious than not from him, if is all is really as it seems. Diamonds might be expensive, but not -- to men like them -- impressive.

Norman ignored the burlesque comment, though the smirk he offered instead communicated acknowledgement. He said, instead: ]

We have history, you and I. [ And what history he has with Emma she comes from before the particulars of, it seems. ] ... Complicated, as you know. An arrangement such as ours may be best balanced with a third party to keep us all honest.

[ That part is of course, facetious. ]