593/Nourishing a Snake in One's Bosom

Nourishing a Snake in One's Bosom
Date of Scene:	24 May 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Nick Fury, 257

---

Nick Fury has posed:
On the ground floor of a burned-out building in the midst of a run-down housing project in New Lots, Nick Fury stands in the middle of a large room (although it may have been two separate rooms at some point in the past) furnished only by a table.

The man's uniform is replaced by an all-black ensemble, complete with long duster. He looks at something on his wristwatch, his other hand on his hip.

Two days ago, a message had been left with a particular butcher. It noted this time and place and signed with "Cho's Friend."

Copperhead (257) has posed:
Not the brightest man in the world, Copperhead is a careful, experienced criminal so he checks the place out before he enters it looking for ambushes or traps. No taste of explosives in the air or groups of heavily armed men so it seems relatively safe.

Never one to do the expected, he enters through a hole in the roof of the building and slithers down the darkest part of the building so that he can seem to just step out of the shadow. He likes his dramatic entrances. Of course Fury won't be impressed or surprised, spoil sport that he is. "Matrixss convention in town?" he asks.

Copperhead is wearing just a pair of jeans but he has natural armor. He doesn't seem hostile but he also doesn't approach. He stays a good ten feet from the man who decided to meet him alone. It could still be a trap.

Nick Fury has posed:
"What if I told you," Fury begins, seemingly nonplussed, "that this look was en vogue well before The Matrix? Hell, some people say I look like a modern-day John Shaft in this outfit." He smoothes one breast of the jacket.

"At any rate," he continues, "welcome. We have some business to discuss."

Fury looks about the empty room. "If you're wondering how you're about to get screwed...wait until the pitch comes. We have approximately eight minutes, now, of off-the-record conversation to get through. What we're going to discuss might best be classified as needing 'vantablack' levels of secrecy."

Copperhead (257) has posed:
The snake man steps over to a collapsed chunk of wall and has a seat so he seems less threatening. Not that Fury would be threatened by him but, you know, it's the thought that counts, right? He knows Fury is either with S.H.I.E.L.D. or WayneTech so the snake man sits and listens attentively not interrupting him, letting him do his pitch while the golden eyed killer listens.

Nick Fury has posed:
The SHIELD director clasps his hands behind his back and nods curtly. "It is my understanding that you're looking to make a name for yourself. Or a fortune. Or, most likely, both. I also know you've approached at least one of my agents looking to cut a deal."

He inhales deeply and shakes his head. "There's no way that SHIELD is going to agree to establish such a relationship. If it were to emerge that SHIELD funded a criminal organization--for any reason--then that could cause serious problems."

Fury leans his head back just slightly, not quite looking down his nose at Copperhead. "So what I'm going to do is keep that relationship from occurring formally. Traceably. You and I are going to have a connection--one that does not go through SHIELD. You follow me so far?"

Copperhead (257) has posed:
The large head of the snake rises and falls in acknowledgment. This was expected. That's why he has been hiding out and keeping his contact with people at a minimum. He's already working that plan.

Nick Fury has posed:
"As SHIELD will know nothing, my agents cannot be expected to treat you any differently than they would any other potential enemy." Nick Fury clears his throat. "I'm assuming you knew this much was a necessity, too. Still, it's worth saying."

He glances at his watch again. "Six minutes still," he adds idly.

"You'll get resources--money and equipment--to get established. In return, you'll give me the information I need to point SHIELD toward more lucrative targets." Fury frowns slightly. "If there aren't any, then the terms of the agreement may have to change."

Copperhead (257) has posed:
"And we can hit your enemiesss. I know there are terrorisssts out there that are a threat to America that you can't hit because of politicsss but I'm a thief. If I hit them and sssteal their sstuff no one will blink twicsse." Copperhead says as he leans back on the debris and brings up one leg to cross into his lap.

Nick Fury has posed:
Fury shrugs. "If you can make that happen, and we can't stand in your way, we won't."

He takes a step toward the seated figure.

"It also probably goes without saying that literally any word of this spoken...ever...will end very messily. Probably for both of us."

The SHIELD director slowly moves one hand to reach into his jacket, from which he retrieves a simple cell phone.

"This burner will receive a call within 24 hours. It will offer information about a cash pickup. You'll probably have two hours, tops, from the time of the call to the cash no longer being available. For reasons." Fury offers a thin, cold smile.

"Four minutes. Any complaints about the offer?"

Copperhead (257) has posed:
Accepting the phone the snake man slides it into his pocket, "Quite the opossite. Thiss went too sssmothly. Why are you trussting me? You ssshouldn't trusst me. I'm a ssself cssentered narssissitic assshole. Jusst assk my therapisst. I half exsspected you to want to put a bomb in my sskull or sssomthing. " the offer does seem to good to be true. "Ssso where'ss the sstring?"

Nick Fury has posed:
Fury flashes a toothy grin and chuckles. "You're right. I shouldn't trust you. In fact, I don't. Not at all."

He shakes his head, still grinning. "Sometimes to protect your assets, you've got to diversify your portfolio. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that sometimes it takes working outside the system to keep things running."

Fury nods, as if to himself. "You're a huge liability. I'm betting on the prospect of you wanting to hit it big WITH my help rather than WITHOUT it. Besides," he adds, taking a step back, "do you think you're the first person I've ever had this conversation with?"

He glances quickly to his watch again. "We've got about ninety seconds. It's a yes or no--I'm gone either way."

Copperhead (257) has posed:
"Oh, I'm in. I know it'ss hard to believe but I wasss actually trying to get my life on track before thisss. I didn't want to be a monssster forever but I guesss I don't have a choicsse any more. At leasst I don't have to feel ssshitty about myssself if I'm doing thisss for a good reasson. I can't sstop but at leasst I can try and do better." the snake man says and from the reports of his therapist there is a 50/50 chance he's telling the truth. He left out bi-polar. He lies like snake but also seeks redemption. He's the thing Fury dislikes most, an enigma. Is he a monster trying to be a good man? A good man trapped inside a monster? A monster trying to pull the wool over Fury's eyes? Only time will tell. "Thankss for giving me thiss chancsse."

Nick Fury has posed:
"Yeah," Nick Fury replies, his tone a bit dismissive. "We'll see how it goes. In the meantime...don't lose that phone." He points toward the burner and then turns to begin toward one of the building's exits.

"You've got about thirty seconds before SHIELD is aware of both of our real locations. I'd recommend running back toward the direction you'd likely be found in," he calls as he leaves.

Copperhead (257) has posed:
Like a good asset the snake man goes wide eyed in surprise but does exactly what he's told. He takes off leaping over things, out a window and bolts like a guy who just got caught in another man's bed and all he can think to himself is, I'm the new James Bond, bitches!! as he laughs and darts between the buildings.