Everybody wants to rule the world

[maskormods]

WHO: YOU.
WHERE: Downtown Cape Canaveral
WHEN: Wednesday January 15th, around 5 PM EST
WHAT: Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; let us know if this should be edited.

Cape Canaveral. It's no longer the heat of the day and in January the temperatures will be livable; not too hot and not too cold, either. A pleasant change from the City, perhaps. The sun is on its way to setting but the last light of the day still fills the sky, bursting the city into color. The air smells like ocean.

The locals are friendly and smile and wave, looking on at you in awe. They'll approach if you ask for help, or a question, but they don't want to interfere, either; if you want to be left alone you probably will be. American flags can be seen in many windows and restaurants are rolling out their dinner menus. There's no parade, no big banners, but many storefronts have handmade signs and posters that read:

Welcome, imPorts! We love you!

The woman at the Porter told you what to expect: You know what your tattoo means, you've been given your file, and you know in a few hours they're going to be here to answer more of your questions and see if you'll stand with them or if you'll go off on your own. "It's your decision," one of them had said, but you were already told what you get if you agree and what you don't if you don't. After that's done, she told you, you'll be driven to your new homes.

In the meantime, enjoy the area, or try to. It may not be what you're used to, but after the apocalypse even Florida might seem like an improvement.

Comments

[osreborn]

Stepping back as Eddie turned, Norman let his smirk cut more sharply across his face now that it had an audience. He didn't anticipate seeing intimidation or fear in Eddie's expression -- always a weak point not everyone kept in mind -- but he looked anyway, trying to drink in as much observation as he could.

"I told you I wasn't going to die," Norman said, too smug for any indignation. He rested one hand on his hip, the other still gripping his water bottle. "Wouldn't you say that's a good idea, Nygma? Perhaps even the most logical starting point, coming in to a new world with effectively nothing. Unlike all the other times, we clearly aren't headed back to where we just came from any time soon. We need resources."

He drank from his water again.

[enigmaestro]

"It's a bit short of waterboarding," he responded, dryly, to Norman's use of the prop. The snark was a distraction -- a bluster of attitude buying Eddie a few moments to think the proposition over. On one hand, working with Norman was the equivalent of entertaining the company of the devil; on the other, Osborn was an undeniably resourceful man.

And two resourceful men were more efficient than merely one.

"I'm not averse to your offer," Eddie said. "Provided that you pitch to me whatever resources you might have already attained. Consider it a starting point."

[osreborn]

Norman's eyes narrowed, grin extending to allow his teeth to appear in partial evidence. There was some laxness to the lilt of the corners, but it remained firmly -- defiantly -- in place. He stood perfectly straight, suit as ordered as he could make it and shoulders entirely unslouched and unintimidated.

"Like you, most of my resources are on me as we speak. Strictly speaking of physical resources," he said, voice lowering in tone. There was always, of course, the mental to consider. The kind of resource that would always be and remained limitless. "Just what is it that you're looking for?"

[enigmaestro]

Desperate times. Norman could easily provide a necessity, and it would be outright stupid to deny the value of his assistance -- and Eddie considered himself many things, but never stupid. He bought another moment, swallowing, his mind inventing dozens of scenarios in which sly manipulation would restrain Norman Osborn for additional agendas undermining his own.

But no doubt Norman Osborn was simultaneously conceiving his own multiple manipulative battle plans. It was a variable that couldn't go unnoticed.

"It would do well to have our own meeting, don't you think? With individuals who are interested in the overall motives here. We need people who can analyze and understand and, potentially, hack into the communication systems here."

[osreborn]

As the silence drew on, Norman let his tongue graze his lips, dampening them in a a familiarly predatory motion. His eyes weren't wide with mania, but wide enough to take in all details that offered themselves to be seen.

Eddie was debating the pros and cons of an arrangement, obviously -- something Norman anticipated if only because it went without saying. Norman himself had done so as well before he'd opened his mouth to speak to Eddie. It did well to plan ahead.

"Individuals," he repeated, a little dryly. "I assume you must have someone in mind."

[enigmaestro]

Edward gave pause before looking Norman right back in the eyes. The words riding his sneer came nearly unwillingly, but necessity overcame the obstacle of minor vanity; after all, they both already knew it, didn't they?

"You might be among them," he said. "Of the people I've in mind."

Norman Osborn might be essential, he said. Not in so many words, valid, but his coded confession wore bright like firework at night. He had to admit that much, as Norman would always prove someone keen to initiate.

And there might be more issues, greater or more organized monsters, than simply one person at the moment. Even if it was Norman Osborn.

[osreborn]

"Among them," Norman said. "Of course I would be. I wondered if there were others."

The curl to his lip spoke smug volumes, though in a sense it didn't matter to him who else. He had been considered probably first, because Norman knew he must be the most valuable person here to have as an asset. Even to Nygma. Or perhaps especially so.

They could work well together. Norman imagined he could foresee trouble before it happened, this time.

"Why not start with just us two? Then if we need more," he continued. "Then we can determine who might qualify."