8968/Making Waves

Making Waves
Date of Scene:	27 August 2019
Location:	Lex Luthor's Office - LexCorp Tower
Synopsis:	Hammerhead meets with Lex Luthor about setting up a business. Hammerhead becomes one of the mafia bosses allowed to operate in Metropolis.
Cast of Characters:	Lex Luthor, Hammerhead

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Lex Luthor has posed:
It had been a long time coming, to be fair. Hammerhead was very ambitious in New York, and now Gotham. His recent moves into Metropolis had been watched /very/ closely by Lex... but given that Hammerhead had an appointment with Lex himself in advance of those movements, no overt action had been taken against his people; Hammerhead had shown proper respect making a meeting with the Kingpin of Metropolis, and that respect was shown in kind with Hammerheads people being left alone. For now.

Now... Hammerhead was walking into LexCorp Tower. Anyone in the know knew this was where the actual decisions of Metropolis came from. Luthor had his talons deep in Metropolis, and it showed; even MD12, notorious for being ruthless and their own people, gave tribute to the Man of Tomorrow on his turf.... and his turf was quite possibly some of the more luxurious Hammerhead has likely ever seen. From the lobby, all the way up to the office, the Tower was almost decadent with how much money was on display.

It was very easy to see why Lex Luthor was the top dog in the city, with all of this at his disposal.

Upon coming up to the office, Team Luthor had Hammerhead scanned for weapons, along with anyone with him, before he was let into the office proper. Itself a technological marvel, the smart apartment was tasteful, yet just as luxurious as the lobby.

In the back of the office, Lex Luthor sat behind his desk, the large smartglass pane behind him clear as day and giving a skyline view of Metropolis. Next to his desk on either side are Mercy and Hope, silent bodyguards who watch the newcomers.

"Welcome to Metropolis, Hammerhead." Lex greets him, before gesturing to the seating in front of the massive desk, "have a seat, if you'd like."

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead was very impressed upon walking into LexCorp Tower. He had known since he arrived in Metropolis that he would have to pay a visit to The Big Cheese of Metropolis, Mr. Lex Luthor himself. To this end, he had scheduled an appointment days in advance to his little trip. Today, he was wearing his best formal tuxedo and a fedora hat, ditching his usual blue pin-stripped suit. In his hands he clutched a box of cuban cigars, a little "gift" he decided to give Luthor as a sign of friendship.
    
     In the elevator, he turned and looked at his the bodyguards that came with him. One of them was a man wearing blue jeans with a few "fashionable" holes torn into them, a red t-shirt and a leather jacket with a snarling wolf head on it, the symbol of The Pack of Fenrir, one of Metroplis' many gangs. His other bodygyard was a Haitian man wearing a tank-top and blue jeans with a pair of sunglasees nestled on his face. On his arms and face were many tatoos that gave away his alignemnt with The Loa Boys, a gang situated in The Suicide Slums and The PoF's arch-rivals. Hameerhead rolled into both of their turfs on his second day here and managed to "convice" them to wortk together under his banner.
    
     Hammer and his two goons walked out of the elevator and submitted to the search. After that, they entered Lex's suit and were greeted. Hammerhead smiled and said in his now familiar gruff voice,
    
     "It's great ta finally meet da Big Cheeses of Metropolis' undaworld. I figured dat it is only honorable to introduce myself to someone like ya before i did "business". Hammerhead then sat down at the seat the opposite of Lex and slid the box of cigars to him while saying," A gift from me to ya. Got em from Cuba."

Lex Luthor has posed:
As Lex listens to Hammerhead, there's a small nod. When the cigars are slid over, Lex gives a glance to Mercy; an unspoken command to take them for later. Mercy grabs the cigars as Lex looks back to Hammerhead, "I'll be happy to try them later. For now, you've made some interesting moves... and I'd like to discuss those before anything else."

Lex steeples his fingers in his lap as he leans back against his chair, showing off his impeccable black business suit. "What are your intentions in my city, Hammerhead?"

Hammerhead has posed:
"Right, straight ta business then." Hammerhead nods as he hears Lex statement. Once Lex's asked what exactly Hammerhead was planning on doing in his city, Hammerhead remained motionless for a moment, as if in deep thought. He then looked at Lex and said,
    
     As ya probably already know, i am wantin to expand my business ventures outside of NYC. Ya know, open some new rackets, hire some new blood like these palookas I have with men, things like dat." He then places his hands on the shoulders of his bodyguards and says to Lex," I am sure you are famiuliar with da Pack of Fenrir and da Loa Boys and their feud."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"I am. Their tribute is twenty percent, like everyone else. So far, they haven't crossed any lines without permission." Lex informs Hammerhead. "Manhatten is very chaotic in comparison to Metropolis, so there are certainly activities that require permission before I allow them. There's a very good reason for this, but so far, you've consolidated some manpower. As for business ventures... are we talking legitimate?"

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead grins and syas to Lex," Some are, some aren't. Ya see, one of mah lieutenants, Sardone, is about ta open up a club up in Manhatten, which of course, is actually owend by me. I was thinking about oening up a clun here if da NYC one is sucessfull. As fer "not-so-legal" ventures, i am plannin on doing da ususl gamblin and drugs rackets, no Hook i assure ya. Also, i got a more, what ya call "esoteric" idea in mind. Ya ever heard of Artifact smugglin?"

Lex Luthor has posed:
"Good. After the chaos Hook created around the country, I've got no desire to see it return." Lex grumps, just slightly, before he nods, "Sounds like standard fare. Open a club, get a front going, then expand from there if people buy what you're selling. Keep your activities to that, and we can have good business."

Then Lex narrows his eyes slightly, "That has numerous potential implications, you'll have to be more specific."

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead nods and says," Ya see, i know people that would spend big money to acquire "historical artifacts", ya know, things like Egyptian gold, Chinese pottery, stuff like dat. I am tryin to find contact abroad that specilaize in "tomb exploration" to find me "archelogical artifacts" and ship em to me ta sell in auctions. I figured that Metropolis would be a good shippin hub.

Lex Luthor has posed:
"Historical discoveries and so forth." Lex clarifies. "I've heard of the trade. Lots of collectors out there, including myself. You're in the market, then?"

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead nods and says to Lex," Once i find someone dat i can buy from i will be. I will make sure ya get da first pick when it comes to dat." Hammerhead then lets out a chuckle. He then turns to Lex and says," Don't worry about tribute, me, and da crews unda my control will pay ya yer due every month. I am also supposin ya want a list of da gangs unda my control now."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"I do at that. I need to keep track of organization so I know if a gang needs to be disciplined. I can only keep the MPD under control to a certain point before questions are asked by the public, if any gangs get out of control. If they do, their bosses need to be held accountable for the time and effort that went into covering their messes." Lex explains.

"I trust that won't be necessary with you, if your methods in Manhatten are any indication." Lex notes.

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead nods and says," Alright, ya already know dat i have da Pack of Fenrir and da Loa Boys under my control. I also control da Wailing Banshess MC, The Onis down in Chinatown, The Westside Corsairs, and The Lords down at Metropolis University."

Lex Luthor has posed:
Lex files away those names for later. "I'll keep that in mind." Lex nods, before he brings up a remote on his desk, and clicks at above the desk. A holographic representation of Metropolis pops up between them. It's small scale, but very finely detailed. It's obvious Lex spent time on making it accurate. Then, he draws circles... and soon, blue dots pop up in the area Hammerhead indicated. "Those areas have been consolidated?"

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead takes a close look at the map. He then looks at Lex and nods curtly with a grunt. He then says to Lex," Yep, dat looksl ike da turf mah boys have."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"Then I think we have an accord. If you move any moves to consolidate anymore gangs, keep me updated. As long as you keep me up to date on your activities, we should have a mutually beneficial relationship." Lex stands then, moves around the table, and offers a hand for a handshake. "Welcome to Metropolis. Hammerhead."

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead grins his biggest grin and stands up to meet Lex. He then grips Lex's hand in a surprisingly tight grip and says to Lex," Thanks, Mr. Luthor. I am lookin forword ta doin business with ya.