Justice Avengers: A Black Day in Hub City

Silvermane nodded, taking out a cigar from his inside pocket, and a cigar cutter. He was still putting on an understanding, well-meaning act, though it was getting harder by the second not to rip the Squid's eyeballs out.

"Oh, sure, sure, I understand." He said, trying to sound like he really did. Then, he put the tip of the cigar in the cutter. "And now..." He squeezed, the cigar tip slicing clean off and landing with a tiny "thump" on the table. "You're the guy."

Domino thought over Tangle's question. She hadn't really had any dealings with the Maggia in the past, usually sticking with street gangs or going solo on her own. "Think they have enough cement shoes for everyone? I don't know, I usually try to keep to myself. I haven't pissed them off...I don't think. What about you?" She asked.

Garfield sighed and relinquished two daggers, two knives, a grenade and his remote detonator. He wasn't happy about being unarmed, especially since it took him from a so-called super villain to a basic human, although he was still reasonably strong.

With that, the two walked through and tried to find where they were meant to be.

edited 18th Sep '14 11:14:27 PM by tenebrousgaze

"Lay it on me, my favorite little overseer." Mojo said, pucking up his lips like he was talking to a little kid.

"Follow you? Didn't follow you. Why would I follow you?" Shauna continued, scratching her arms. "I went to New York. Didn't like it. Too many people. Ferdie said Jump City, so I went there. Too weird. Here? Here's good. Here's perfect. Right amount of puppets. Get new ones every day. Trim the fat ones, make them slender. All the same."

"Flirting?" Chesire chuckled. "Ah, that's just the way I talk. Helps when I go for a more straightforward approach. Say, how about you and me stick together for this? You got a head on your shoulders, and if there's anything I know about stuffy old white men in suits is that they have the itchiest trigger finger. I could use a guy like you, and you could use a gal like me."

Will was seated, coincidentally, right next to Deathstroke and Sal Maroni, who was currently staring right into the former's only eye, gently spinning his glass of whiskey.

The Squid gulped loudly when the cigarette butt hit the table. "Silvio, I-I swear, I only wanted to injure you a little, gain s-some favor with the Old Boss, you know how it is? I t-thought you'd welcome it, what with how you turned into a sour man after your w-w-wife died... I c-c-can give you the contact of the guy who did it!"

Tangle smirked, spinning one strand of hair around his finger. "I'm an assassin. Haven't done any jobs for them, but I guess they heard about my abilities and wanted to get me for a job... what is your job, Ms. Domino?"

Bullseye shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, why not? It's not like anyone else has my back around here, and when the Maggia does inevitably try to get me killed, it'll be nice to re-enact Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with someone. I call being Butch."

"When we moved out, we looked at a number of places. New York and Jump city were on the list, we came to much the same conclusion."

   There's been plenty enough weird shit going on in this city too.   

"But less heroes."

   Fair enough.   

"So, any idea why these people called you here?" Two Face asked as he poured himself a drink.

"I'm afraid I don't catch your reference." Chesire replied, going back to her seat. "Not enough time for movies apart from the occasional job that involves a movie theater..."

"Maybe Ferdie kill a Maggia man? Don't know. Couldn't know." Shauna replied, gripping the edge of the table. "Too many people, get all mixed together. This woman with you. You want her?" Shauna grinned at Poison Ivy, her nails driving into the wood of the table. "She has a lot of meat. Need meat. Makes great puppet. Perfect sound."

edited 19th Sep '14 4:24:02 AM by TheBigBean

Bullseye returned to his chair next to Cheshire. "Well, now I just feel bad for you! That movies a classic! See, you've got Paul Newman and Robert- you know what, that doesn't matter." Bullseye took another bite of food before continuing. "The point is, I hope you're someone I can trust enough to have my back even if the Maggia's huntin' us down. That's the kind of person I need in my life right now."

"Pretty deep for a man with a bullseye on his forehead." Chesire replied, smirking. "I guess I can be that person. God knows I've gone skulking around the world for such a long time. Settling down on this fascinating city for a while wouldn't hurt. Might do some good for the soul."

"Hey, I can be deep if I want!" Bullseye protested. "Just... don't expect it as a regular thing. Either way babe, if you and me stick together, Hub City will be a cakewalk. Between the two of us, I doubt even the Maggia could take us down."

Lefay

"You are most certainly full of surprises, Mr?... I don't recall you mentioning your name. I would like to continue this conversation in private if you don't mind" The sorceress then stood up and invited him to follow her in the outside garden to talk with him.

If he accepted, she would tell him this:

"The first Napoleon was my favorite one indeed. Working for you seems to be too much a big step for someone I barely know, unless you have an interesting goal in mind, such threats do not scare me. As I am sure you would relate, through out the years I have grown bored out of money and the clutches of death do not exactly terrify me, even this secret is more a luxury than a true need. Allies on the other hand, is something I am very interested. I have to admit I find quite intriguing the idea of someone even older than me."

The sorceress drank from her cup of wine and said relaxed "They are like children with a need of guidance, won't you agree?

edited 19th Sep '14 5:58:33 AM by RPGLegend

Silvermane's eyes snapped open wide as soon as The Squid mentioned his wife. Okay, no more bullshitting around. His hand snapped out quick as a flash, grabbing The Squid's tie like a vise and pulling on it. Not choking him, but definitely getting his attention.

"Now you listen here, you cocksucker." He growled, keeping his voice low. "I already know who you paid to do it. That's how I know you paid him. So don't fuckin' pussyfoot around. At least admit you wanted me dead so you could move up." He pulled on The Squid's tie, looking at him with eyes like a shark. "And second of all. I'm already gonna kill you. Don't make it worse by mentioning my wife."

"My name," The tall man said as he took the goblet of wine from Le Fay's hand. "Is unimportant. My goals," He put one hand on her shoulder, leaning closer. "Are also unimportant. And you rejecting my offer?" His other hand started massaging the small of her back, as he whispered on her ear. "Is unacceptable. This is not a proposition, Le Fay. This is an order."

He placed one finger in front of her face. "With a simple move of my finger... your assets will be stripped from you. Your company stock will plummet, and your higher ups will be arrested on several charges. Your company will fail within the week. All your belongings will be taken from you and you will have nothing but the clothes on yoru body... but that is not all. Your identity will be revealed, not just to those in charge of this country, but also to the common man. The world will know what magic means, and other users will find their hiding places uncovered, their masks removed. And it'll all be your fault. You will be hunted for the rest of your life, Le Fay, by people who wield powers far beyond your comprehension. But they won't find you. No one will. Because you will be on an underground undisclosed location belonging to this government, men in labcoats poking and prodding at you, forcing you to use your abilities, never a moment of rest. An eternity of pain, suffering and despair at the hands of the 'children' that you tricked. You will never be safe, you will never be calm, you will never be happy... and I will make sure that you never die."

His lips were touching her ears by now, his grip on her shoulder and waist getting stronger. "You will be floating through the emptiness of space... and you will still be alive. I am not making you an offer, Le Fay... you work for me now. I own you."

"Boisterous too." Chesire placed her hand on Bullseye's chest. "Fine. Let's do it. What the worst that can happen? Two freaks working together... it's not like this city can get any worse."

"Oh, please, dear god, don't kill me!" The Squid begged, tears on his eyes. "Fine, fine, I admit it, I wanted to move up so I sent a bunch of different assassins after you!" He cried, tears staining the tablecloth. "Please, Silvio, for the love of all that's sacred, take all I have, but don't kill me!"

edited 19th Sep '14 7:01:50 AM by TheBigBean

Silvermane said nothing. He just kept looking at The Squid with those dead, dark eyes. He took his free hand and grabbed at his own throat, digging his fingers into the seam of his fake skin. Then he pulled, slowly, peeling it off, letting The Squid see what his assassins had done. Silvermane threw his face on the table, murder in his eyes.

"Look at what you've done." He said icily. "How could I take anything less than your life after what you did to me?"

As Lonnie watched events at the meeting unfold, he took notes on who was present (in between nacho smacking of course ;) .) Wow, this was a veritable gathering of the underworld; there were criminals here even he wasn't aware were on Hub City. But now he knew.

He was growing excited; if some major revelations regarding their connections to the city's government occurred, he could expose them to the public to shatter their trust in the system; it could be the first step into leading people into true anarchy.

Assuming all these idiots didn't kill each other first, of course.

Lobo's orbital hideout

Disappointed with the lack of decent booze during his violent barcrawl the night before, Lobo headed back to his shuttle orbiting earth to crack open some of his personal stash and get himself blackout drunk. Upon awakening the next morning, Lobo decided it'd be in his best interests to contact that bastich who wanted to pay him not to kill anyone. After spending a good fifteen minutes trying to re-locate Anarky's card, Lobo eventually found it and gave Anarky a call.

thump

edited 19th Sep '14 7:58:37 AM by RPGLegend

Lefay

The witch laughed, before replying him seriously. "I rather be dead than be owned by anyone."

"So, disappointing... I expected more from you. I have found fear to be the weakest of the motivators. Look around you, these people love me. How do you think I have been hidden for so long?. Such empty threats, I would be scared in the times my brother was king, but we live in the age of human rights, I was there when the bill of rights, was written. Mortals aren't really scared of magic on the contrary they thirst for it's power. Nobody wield powers far beyond your comprehension, that's why you requiere my services, don't you?. You will need more than a longevity spell to scare me, my power gives me more than money ever did. About telling the world, who I really am, don't bother I will do it myself, I paid the local tv network for such an occasion, expect the announcement within an hour." The witch sighed and said "it was fun while it lasted."

"However,I will accept your offer, I haven't seen such... ferocity in a long time, It has been centuries since I had a real challenge, but let it be clear that I will not do it out of fear . I will do it becuase I have finally found someone that could truly understand me, someone that that truly knows what needs to be done and isn't afraid to get what he wants, in other words a true leader. I wouldn't mind following you willingly, cowardice isn't a good motivator at all I would betray you at the first chance if I was truly scared. It wouldn't be the first time I have helped a promising person have you ever heard of Mordred?."

edited 19th Sep '14 3:52:20 PM by Rpglegend

Lonnie's observations were interrupted by a phone call. Of course he tracked its source before picking it up, and found it came from space. Lobo, then. Such poor timing! He couldn't afford to deal with him now. Oh well, it wasn't like sending him off on a tangent wasn't too hard, he was too greedy and violent for his own good.

So he picked up the phone, activated a device to modulate his voice and scramble tracking, and said:

"Who is it and what do you want?"

Bullseye smirked. And the ol' Agency said you were too much of a danger to yourself and others to be granted a partner. I sure showed those government losers! "Huh, I didn't realise Hub City was such an easy place to make friends," he joked. "And if they all look like you do... well, let's just say a guy can get used to livin' in a place like this."

Terra glared at the back and forth that the man and LeFay were having as she watched from the crystal ball. The man was threatening her and that was something Terra disliked since she was fond of LeFay. Even though it was almost certain that LeFay might need her help, Terra was not quite sure at what to actually do to help LeFay. She could just try to bury the man like she almost did to that goon, but Bard would likely ask questions and people would get suspicious of Lindsey Young. The man would also get out eventually given he was immortal so it was best saved as a last resort. Terra hated... hated this sort of inaction, but she had no idea what to do about the man without getting Lindsey Young in trouble. Terra only hoped that the man will accept LeFay's partnership.

However... However, Terra could not quite shake the idea that they were flirting and that she really should give them some privacy.

edited 19th Sep '14 10:38:11 AM by GameGuruGG

"It's The Main Man!" responded Lobo cheerfully. "Ya said somethin' 'bout wantin' ta hire me for somethin' last night. What'd ya have in mind?" Lobo didn't particularly care that he was already on Spiral's paycheck, for now he was more than happy to rake in as much cash as possible during his visit to Hub City.

-*Hmm. How to get rid of Lobo?* Lonnie wondered.

Then a smile crept across his lips.

"Tell me, have you heard of a guy named Harm? I need him taken out. If you can do that for me, I'll pay twice your usual fee."

-*And if he kills you instead, no skin off my back* he silently smiled.

Domino drummed her fingers on the table, wondering just how long these mobsters were going to make them wait. When asked what she did, the mutant had to think for a couple of moments on how to best describe what she did. "I guess you could call me a professional thief. Been able to get away with stealing some pretty nice things in the past." She answered.

"I was thinking that Le Fay skank," Spiral said. "She's a major power player, but I think her role needs to be expanded a bit. Plus better chance of setting the Terra X Val ship sailing." Council member #7 would be receiving the blackmail, and the data for #10 would start compiling.