2055/Effect & Cause

Effect & Cause
Date of Scene:	18 August 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Mystique, Magneto

---

Mystique has posed:
    Mystique had been away for a long while, from Genosha. There had been some very interesting activity in Asia recently, involving the Brotherhood. And, Africa. All of which, of course, Raven was likely responsible for orchestrating. As well as some manuevers in Madripoor. But, she had come back. Brought back, no doubt, by Graydon's broadcasts and public outcry's for mutant collars, and the like.
    She'd also not been idle, since returning. There had been the gathering of information, and, the gathering of persons for the escapade in Mexico. The careful orchestration of setting all the pawns and players up, properly.
    And now? Now it was time to fill in Erik on the entire, sordid affair. And catch him up with Shaw's intentions.
    Thus, the shapeshifter, in her natural form, waited for Magnus in his own home, sitting, one legged elegantly crossed over the other in her preferred shapeshifted white boots, loincloth, skull belt, and sensual sleeveless top. A bottle of uncorked wine, and two bottles lay between her chair, and the other atop the artfully simplistic glass table.

Magneto has posed:
"Mystique. Lovely as ever." The tone is informal, even playful when Erik comes upon one of his oldest and closest allies awaiting him in his home. It's an unusual first reaction for Mystique and Magneto both, one would safely wager. There's a vaguely amused smile on his features, both warmth and frankly, entertained by his own wit. The flattery is both unusually true, and exceedingly literal. One thing is easy to read: Magnus is plainly pleased to see her.

Their politics may not always mesh these last few years-- but they're a testament to bipartisan accord in common cause nonetheless, with such marked accomplishments as innumerable freed slaves and the obliteration of the military forces supporting the practice. Home, at this juncture in the Master of Magnetism's life, is an expansive suite in the highest reaches of the sleekly formidable citadel overlooking Hammer Bay and the jungles beyond; a place forged of the master mutant's very will.

The benevolent ruler of all one surveys out the open, breezy vista plucks a wineglass of his own from the bar adorning the room and joins Raven on the couch closest to her seat, pouring himself a glass before lounging back to regard her. His own garb is similarly simple and breezy, loose fabrics favored by the climate, but crafted of finely woven, dark purples, reds, and blacks, the colors almost shifting in the subtle lighting, which are more singularly purposed towards relaxation.

Mystique has posed:
    "Your home has significantly improved, since I was last here," Raven murmurs, if possible relaxing more as Erik greets her thus, a genuine smile - not something contrived or geared to gain a particular reaction in her counterpart is given. "You're doing quite well for yourself."
    She turns, her hands moving to the corkscrew, where she uncorks the rather old and exceptionally valuable bottle of wine that she'd either been storing in a safehouse or impersonated someone to get. A portion is poured into the crystal glass for both herself, and Erik.
    "We did not have much time to speak, during our return to Genosha with those freed. I thought it was long overdue that we caught up, Magnus."

Magneto has posed:
"It's been some time since you paid a social call." Magnus agrees with a sly smile, and segues, "Surely you would not expect one such as I to rest upon laurels." Whereas a certain amount of august bluster is requisite of his station, in this context Magneto's musings are almost self-depricating. The roles we play.

"Things have grown.. considerably better for everyone here since you last relaxed on our fine island." There's something vaguely conspiratorial in the way he says it; and who would be shocked? Certainly not Raven. "Perhaps I can interest you in something of a tour."

Erik sips his wine, intent gaze considering Mystique from over the rim of the fine crystal, "After we've discussed business, and taken our rest, of course. One such as you, I've come to discern, rarely rests at -all-." The insinuation is accompanied by an affable, brief chortle.

Mystique has posed:
    "I have found that resting merely softens you, Magnus. As you're aware." He is, perhaps, one of the few that Mystique has actually told the story of how Kurt came to be, and the trouble that arose from his birth when she'd assumed a life. A hard lesson for Raven, that. And that certainly wasn't the only time.
    "In the contents of our claim from the trove in Mexico were several prestine collars that I have - liberated. I will be investigating these to, shall we say, take that which was supposed to defeat us to be a weapon against those who would continue to propogate fear."
    She sips her wine, casually, savoring both the wine, her company, and, her grandiose plan. "If, Magnus, the collars can megate our abilities, one could argue they also have the potential to be turned on their ear. To enhance our abilities. Perhaps immensely so. When this labor proves fruitful, I will arrange to have the blueprints altered in the United States Patent Office to show that this was the true intent. All backed by the manufacturer, who, will be shown to be backed by the Friends of Humanity. Collars will be replaced, intermittenly, at various law enforcement agencies. And, Brotherhood agents knowing the risks shall ensure their capture."
    She flicks a speck of invisible dust off her thigh, and her solid yellow orbs focus to Magneto's, then. "The end result will be it will seem that the Friends of Humanity, along with the manufacturer, are trying to murder mutants - and make them seem a greater risk than we are. The market will not support this, and - we will be in position to buy the manufacturing rights to those very same collars, the inhibiting technology behind them, and - bury it."

Magneto has posed:
"Mm. Perhaps." Magneto listens carefully, and pauses to assess just long enough before making his uncertain noises to suggest he's thought about just this potentiality. At least, one specific part of it-- perhaps the piece -least- relevant to Mystique's endgame and angle, but certainly most important to -his-.

"The collars work by shutting down an activation signal within the subject's nervous system, as nearly as I can tell. Amplifying that conduit could prove chaotic in surprising or even parallel directions rather than actually exponentially or linearly improving the power or mastery of evolved humanity. I have theoretical models to provide ample external power source to feed the increased charge that may be required in the event there is a net boon." Naturally, Lensherr is focused on the long-term advancement of their evolutionary imperative above all else.

That does not, however, mean he misses the larger picture drawn. "It's still an excellent play. Legal difficulties at best for the FoH and Creed will be almost certainly ousted. I can provide information that, with the right timing and audience, should strip him of much support from his own party."

One hand gestures almost lazily an a small handheld recorder and speaker floats to Magneto's grasp, "Don't lie to yourself however, my dear. We won't control the proliferation of the technology; at best some of the profits. That genie will be out of the bottle.." The Master of Magnetism presses a button. Graydon Creed speaks; Magneto is already chuckling softly. The whole thing is the best part.

Mystique has posed:
    Raven listen's as Graydon's voice comes over the recorder: ""Well, congratufunkinlations, you win. Enjoy your mutant war! I know your planning it! Well you win! These <line of explatives for three solid minutes> are too spineless to fight. I quit! I hope the mutant who kills you makes it slow when they betray you, you sick bastard! You know they will! Betrayal and all your kind EVER do!"

    Raven sighs, shaking her head. "A waste. Kurt. And Rogue. They at least have - something to salvage, each."
    She leans forward, "Well, we will address that in the end game, then. For now, I have someone working on the collars. Also, at some point, I'll want you to meet my new student. Deadlights. Maria. She has a very - useful ability. She has unlimited sight. I am going to work with her. Very closely. The girl is quite beauitfully prepared already to an ends we can use. She could, perhaps, be the daughter I should have always had. But I shall not hold my breath."
    Still, Raven nods, "I'll let you look over the collars, when they're complete. I've already arranged for a girl who can phase through walls to work for me. She shall replace the equipment in the precincts. And, Clarice will be aiding me in getting in and out of the patent office without so much as a dust particle out of place for them to notice."

Magneto has posed:
"Perhaps more than you like to think." There is little pretense between the two, at least for Magneto's part; he has a habit Raven is familiar with by now of telling her exactly what he thinks, even when it is perhaps, in a word, argumentative.

"The young lady in particular has potential she has only begun to realize. It's a shame she spends frivolously time better used to better her amateurish grasp of her abilities, but she does likely have more time left." Convenient, youth. Until it's gone. "But the Senator... yes. A man worthy of a bad death if only such an end would not do so much to further his terrible dream.""

There's a pensive cant to Magnus' head, a faraway look on his face as he studies the swirling wine in his glass. "I don't suppose targeting us in such a way will sway many of their following. So difficult to get through to even a reasonable man. God save us from reasonable men. I suppose in the end we'll let them grow old and die, and ensure we do not cut away too much healthy tissue with the ones who are expunged." The Master of Magnetism murmurs morosely.

Mystique has posed:
    "I suspect with training, given what she has told me of her capabilities, she will be able to see through both past, and future." The latter, of "course, Mystique has always been obsessed with; at least, since her partnering with Irene, if not before - but Irene certainly intensified it tenfold. "I will train her well." And that is something that Erik can absolutely count on. She has a way, afterall, of pushing people to their extremes. For good, or ill. It merely depends on which side of the game she is playing at that time. Luckily for Maria, it's on her side presently.
    She finishes off her glass of wine, setting it down casually, and she runs her finger around the outer rim, "They can see the end coming. The end of the homo sapien. It terrifies them. As it should. The feeble minded have no place with us," she says, rather reasonably.
    "But there are even less matters I need make you aware of than Graydon. Shaw is looking to create a war between the land, and the sea. To what end, I do not know. But he has suggested there will be chaos, and has asked me to assume the identity of a rather prestigious politician and make a statement after the affair has started. And wanted me to tell you that - there is opporutnity if you wish to take advantage of it, to act. He did not elaborate. However. We should prepare Genosha against any - retribution, or fallout."

Magneto has posed:
"Raven. I was speaking about Rogue." It's likely Mystique is thoroughly aware of this, but Erik makes the point again nonetheless. "We've seen refugees from a half-dozen futures, several that cannot coexist. Prophecy is another tool to rob us of our own agency, the abiity to forge and reforge destiny through will and wiles."

Magneto's tone, and indeed, intensity dials back a notch as he remembers Mystique's affinities in the topic at hand, and he holds up a hand to forestall protest. "I merely mean we must -carefully- consider the source of all vision, and the angle to which it skews."

The Master of Magnetism has nothing but respect for Destiny-- but the prophecied, projected will of god and demon he can do without. "I wil, of course, be glad to help you with any mutant you think worthy of personal efforts." In that, there is no question.

A slow, predatory smile grows on Magneto's face at something in her words, however, draining his own glass and offering her a refill as he notes too nonchalantly, "Genosha is already /well/ prepared for war from land or sea-- and will only become moreso."

Mystique has posed:
    "Rogue," suggests Mystique, quietly, "Will come to realize that softness does not befit her." This, she does not further expound upon to Magneto. Family matters, are, afterall, private affairs. Still, slowly, Mystique nods. "I am certain Maria, in the interim, will desire to meet you."
    Then, she leans forward, to rest her hand on Magneto's knee, and she smiles indulgently. "But, if there is anything I can do for you, you know you need only ask. For Genosha. The Brotherhood. Or, your personal plans, Erik."

Magneto has posed:
"She is running. As children often do at that age." There's a note of reminiscence, perhaps even shared experience to the observation. "Some never seem to grow out of it." At least one of said offspring is astoundingly good at running, it's difficult to argue. Erik sets his free hand atop Raven's and lightly traces the lines thereof with his fingertips, face knit in weighty consideration.

"Shaw says there's opportunity for me, does he? I don't have to ask if you trust him..." Raven isn't the trusting sort, and she has her reasons. They both do. "Do you think he intends more than a powerful tool?" The option to exploit the Black King in turn? Well, Magneto -is- a chess player. The thought may have entered his mind.

Mystique has posed:
    "Shaw is a strategist," Mystique reminds Magneto, unnecessarily, but it provides a reason for her answer. "There is most certainly more to his game than a mere tool. Powerful or not. If he succeeds, he will oust a powerful member of the Justice League out of his seat, and create a rift there. Or, mistrust there. Distraction. He's seeking the thing itself." Power. "A further foothold to his endgame. And this is not one played in shadows, as most of his are. He must seek to gain in spades, else he would not risk this gambit."
    It vexes her, however, to admit, "But, what that game is, or that gain is? I cannot see it. I believe he thinks we -can- benefit from this, and intends to use that as further distraction for what his aims -are-."
    Her eyes narrow, as she slowly leans back, her hand slipping off Magneto's knee, then. She exhales, slowly.
    She considers Magneto, "But he cannot deny the contrbution you would make, in that effort." She shrugs, venturing, "It may be that we have an opening, there. A small one. But, you manpulate nearly as well as I do, Magnus." A small smile of pride, there. For herself. And, her partner in mutancy.

Magneto has posed:
"Perhaps we will have to find out." Magneto wagers, relaxing back into the fine upholstery in turn and breathing deep of the cool air that blows off the sea. "... and then ensure that when the pieces of that endgame fall into place, they are to our liking. You may be playing more than one role before this play has its curtain call."

The Master of Magnetism muses; a masterful partnership indeed. Most were they wise would be intimidated by the power and will of a man such as Sebastian Shaw. Perhaps it is, still, arrogance-- but Magnus clearly considers Raven and himself a match for the Black King.

"The man is a profiteer; a power monger. He sees no greater purpose." Entirely fair or not, its spoken with a degree of distaste. "He seeks to strew chaos." Magneto chuckles monosyllabically. "Indeed."

Mystique has posed:
    "True enough," conceeds Raven to the latter point, before rising. She offers her hand to Magneto, "Come," she tells him, then. "Let us continue, while you show me the changes, since I was last here," her tone inviting, and her mannerism one of complete comfort and her defenses dropped as much as they ever will be for the singular man she has taken as her partner in purpose. "I am certain I will be impressed."