12388/Setting the Stage

Setting the Stage
Date of Scene:	27 October 2020
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	Magneto and Shredder meet about setting the stage for an altercation to benefit the mutant cause.
Cast of Characters:	Magneto, Shredder

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Magneto has posed:
    It is a lovely autumn day in Mutant Town. The sun is out and the sky is blue. As October is giving way to November, the air is turning crisp and a light breeze makes its way through the streets. There are shoppers and business people moving along the streets, but also the occasional tourist that hopes to see mutants that they only read about in places like Topeka.

    It is around 3pm so it is tea time for the Master of Magnetism. He seated at an outdoor cafe but in the sunlight so not as chilly. Even so, he wears a long overcoat, gray in color, with leather gloves. He wears a fadora on his head pulled slightly forward to cast a shadow over his face. Unless someone takes a hard look at him, it is doubtful they will recognize Erik Lehnsherr. He has a cup of tea in front of him with a curl of steam visible clearly in the cool air. He appears, at first glance, to be alone, but more careful study will see a man and a woman, dressed in brown overcoats, seated at neighboring tables with their attention on Magneto while trying to not look too obvious about it.

Shredder has posed:
    Tea. While from a different background, the Japanese businessman also has a respect for tea. Oroku Saki enters the cafe. He's not known for an abundance of warmth wherever he travels, but for a someone intimidating level of professionalism. Polite, friendly in a way, but not someone usually regarded as a close friend. Very few would say that. He is alone as he walks into the coffee shop.

    He approaches Erik's table, and sits down without a hesitation in his movement. "Mr. Lehnsherr," he says, a slight nod of his dark haired head, the stray silver streaks available to show he's not as remarkably young as he appears. Of course, those who know him know he's not young at all, an immortal with several hundred years of conquest behind him. There is even metal on him, a kunai. Certainly not for protection from someone who controls metal, but also a certain statement that he's not afraid of that power, either.

    As for his protection, they aren't seen, though no doubt they are somewhere nearby. Identities of ninjas are difficult to discern, whether they hide in shadows or in tea shop uniforms. He doesn't take the cup to pour his own tea, but instead folds his hands politely before him.

Magneto has posed:
    Erik nods to Oroku Saki as the other man takes a seat. "Good afternoon. Thank you for meeting with me." He reaches over and turns the teacup upward in front of Saki. He uses his other hand to pick up the teapot and pour tea for his guest. He sets the pot back down and settles back into his chair. There is a quick glance towards the man seated near by who gives a very slight nod. Erik looks back to Saki. "I want to say first," he says with still that slightest European accent in his voice, "that I do appreciate the work you do in this area. I cannot be here each and everyday, but your presence here on a regular basis allows me to relax at some ways."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki takes the cup with both hands before smelling it and drinking it, a sign of respect. "Your appreciation is noted, and I am happy to be able to give that protection," he says. His voice has a firm power to it, and a hint of that Japanese accent colors his tone. "Many do fear your kind, which is unnecessary, and ultimately futile. Change is a part of the natural order of the world, and the mutants are the change that is before our world today." Somewhat paradoxical, considering most of his followers bear weapons of rather archaic nature.

Magneto has posed:
    "Most fear change especially when it comes at their expense." Erik takes his own teacup and takes a sip. His has cream and sugar in it keeeping with the European style. He flicks his eyes towards the cream and sugar and then back to Saki as if to offer without a word. "I do have to admit that I would to if it were mutants who were the normal, and we were being replaced. Still, that is not the way of things, and I will not abide mutants being mistreated or becoming second class citizens." He folds his hands together on the table as he makes eye contact. "Which is why I asked you to be here today. I have a plan I wish to set in motion, and could use your assisstance in this matter."

Shredder has posed:
    "I, too, once fought a battle not unlike your own, though in a different land and a different time." Saki sits back, his sharp and pressed business suit's navy contrasting the colors of the concrete and buildings behind him. "Tell me, what is it that you need?" he asks.

Magneto has posed:
    "I wish to force the hand of the humans. Wind them up and let their own tendencies run amuck." Erik's voice remains calm and quiet even as his eyes narrow. No one walking by the cafe would notice anything from the tone of voice or posture of the two men. "If a young mutant was attacked and the police intervened, perhaps incorrectly as well, this would cause a massive uproar among my people. Heads would be called for. Figurtively, of course, but perhaps some may want more literally too. Of course, I would take this as a chance to appear in public. Call more to my own cause. A fight is coming eventually, and it would be better to have mutants united rather than divided."

Shredder has posed:
    There is a tapping of the teacup with one finger as Saki listens, holding it casually. "You wish for an inciting incident to justify...war?" he asks. "By and large, peace has been maintained in Mutant Town, naturally with exceptions. A prominent event like that would not be...beneficial to the image of the Foot with the mutants. What gain would it give my cause?" he asks. "I can, of course, put pieces into place so that such a thing would happen. My ability to influence the NYPD easily extends to getting some less savory officers assigned to a location they might have a racial grudge against. So explain to me how I should benefit from this?"

Magneto has posed:
    Erik shakes his head. "Not war. Just an increase in tension. Perhaps a march or two to start with. As I said, I want to unite the mutants around a singular cause. I am under no delusions that one incident would do it. This is merely a step towards that. Give them a face rather than just concepts to fight for." He shifts in his chair slightly as he takes another sip of the tea before continuing. "For the Foot, you would have a more united area of operations here in Mutant Town. You would have less chance of interference from do gooders not on the payroll. I am certain you would find it easier to recruit to your cause, and I would not discourage mutants from doing so. I will not try to peel off mutants to strictly my own. We could easily split Mutant Town into Spheres of Influence rather than rivals which we would eventually become given both our interests in mutants."

Shredder has posed:
    "I see," Saki answers, "And what of support? Would you support them joining the ranks of an organization which values not the race of its member, but the loyalty to it as a family? I will not make pretense to experience all of the woes of the mutant population, nor pretend that individually I am as concerned for them as you are. But those who join the Foot, join a family, and protection of that family IS my chief concern. It is what brought the Foot from a gaggle of peasants to be the most dangerous underworld organization this world knows." Of course, there are some others that might argue that position, but it doesn't look like Shredder has any place for a differing position.

    "The Foot operates in the shadows. We are not the sand castles on the beach. We are the waves beneath. The current." He points casually. "The thought of your joint influence, though, that is another matter. Those who dwell in the depths do not dwell on land. It could be beneficial to have a greater presence than the mere puppets which I have. Self-proclaimed heroes have come close already to unseating my puppets, and it would be advantageous to have those in public power who genuinely have a shared common goal."

Magneto has posed:
    "Indeed. While you feel that the Foot is the current, there are always others. The shadows keep seeming to get crowded each day. To pair within the Light," Erik uses the name of the shared orginization purposefully, "gives both of us power in both arenas." He leans forward and drops his voice slightly. "We all need allies which is why we often meet with Luthor and his ilk."

Shredder has posed:
    "Indeed," Saki agrees with a nod. He takes another sip of his coffee. "I agree to this. I shall see to it that two undiscerning officers are placed in mutant town. Bigots have a way of showing themselves, and usually have the ignorance to create messes on their own given enough time and lack of supervision. However, if they look to mortally wound one of the mutants there, I will still have the Foot intervene," he cautions, acknowledging that there is a degree of unpredictable nature to the set up.

Magneto has posed:
    "Agreed." Erik says with a nod. "As you will provide the police officers, I can provide the mutant. I would not allow one of mine to be killed either so I believe we are on the same page in that regard." The man and woman pair behind Erik begin to stand up and move away from the tables and towards the sidewalks. "Thank you meeting with me, and I look forward to our cooperations."