19105/It's Always Sunny in Latveria

It's Always Sunny in Latveria
Date of Scene:	17 September 2024
Location:	Latverian Embassy
Synopsis:	Doctor Doom and Scarlet Witch meet to discuss Wanda's impending visit to Latveria as the guest of Doom. Expectations are established and after their acceptance, the journey to Latveria is made.
Cast of Characters:	Victor Von Doom, Wanda Maximoff

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Victor Von Doom has posed:
After quite some time and rather exhaustive background checks, personal investigations, information submissions, and plenty more bureaucratic redtape the Scarlet Witch has finally been permitted her visit to Latveria. Why yes, of course, Doctor Victor von Doom could have simply made a gesture and all would have been permitted. Naturally, Doctor Doom could have done nothing more than establish his expectation and all would bend to his will. Undoubtedly Doctor Doom could have spoken his permission and his eminent guest would have long ago been visiting the countryside of Latveria on the back of his decree.

There is power in control.

The Latverian embassy seems to expect the arrival of the Wanda Maximoff. What's more is that the monarch of Latveria itself seems to have expected her arrival. When she suddenly appears before the front entrance of Latveria's embassy in New York City; Doom is there to greet her.

He stands with his hands clasped at his back and his regal, unyielding bearing present in his properly upright posture and a titanium covered chin raised imperiously high. The wind, whether natural or from her arrival, sends the green of his cloak billowing and fluttering.

"Miss Maximoff," Doom intones as though beginning the invocation of some lofty ritual, "you've arrived at the appointed date and time. Your punctuality is to be commended". Doom's mask shifts and his gaze lowers to regard the arrival of his shorter guest. "Join me," he says as he turns and begins to walk away, toward the main entrance of the embassy proper.

One might expect the wardrobe that Doom wears to be of considerable weight and make considerable noise with his steps. Despite this notion, his steps are soft and without a doubt a design feature of the Regalia of State which he wears. The first step that he takes is, for the moment, the last which he takes. Upon halting Doom's mask turns aside so that he may cast his gaze toward his shoulder when his left arm rises up. There it hovers aside and is likely intended for Wanda to rest a hand should she wish it. Ever the gentleman, Doom.

"Today you will visit the kingdom of Doom and there you will encounter its people," Doom speaks with great weight applied to his words and a tone heavy enough to burden even Superman. "Be mindful of the land you will visit, how you treat its people, and remember that in Latveria it is the word of Doom that is the law," Doctor Doom imparts as though it were simply a helpful reminder.

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
The bureaucratic redtape is o so disappointing for someone like the Scarlet Witch who favors chaos and freedom and yet she indulges Victor in all of this. She knows what this is about after all. Power and control. And as the host those are his rights. His destiny. And perhaps even his allure.

Glass shards form out of thin air upon the entrance of the Embassy, creating a picture and tale of dark red mixed with green eyes, a puzzle that is built piece by piece until the last one makes a swirl of scarlet wrap around that 'mirror' and Wanda is stepping out from it, chin up, dressed in a blend of her more traditional outfit, with the long dark red jacket and corset, and a long, flared skirt that goes all the way down, covering even her feet. A more traditional dressing seen in Wundagore and the surrounding regions.

"Doctor von Doom." She greets him in return, her voice a soft caress in the air, long red hair flowing freely and untamed in the same manner his cloak does. She dips her head at the invitation to join him, "You honor me with your invitation."

She walks by his side even if always one step behind him so as to respect that Victor *is* the Master of this House. As with most things the Witch understands the value of hierarchy. Of structure.

Hand comes to rest upon his forearm, her fingers feather like upon him, "I thank you for introducing me to the ways of your people and the expectations upon me, Victor." Now that they are closer she using his first name.

Victor Von Doom has posed:
"Doctor," Victor answers with the mildest of corrections, yet that doesn't seem to be the entirety of the correction, "Doom," he concludes with only a resolute nod of his head presented as though in dismissal of the breach of etiquette. "You may refer to me as Doctor Doom, Miss Maximoff," Doom offers more clearly and nearly as equally concisely.

The feather soft touch of fingers to the cool metal that encases his arm doesn't garner a glance, regard, or consideration. It is as it should be and Doom begins to move forward. The large doors leading into the embassy swing open, seemingly of their own accord and without the hands of either man nor machine to clear the pathway into the embassy.

"In Latveria you will be expected not to present bothers to the people of Doom," Victor begins, seemingly offering some further insights into the expectations to be balanced on the shoulders of the Scarlet Witch. Doom's glance is sent toward Wanda, his attention lingers for but a moment, before he's soon looking ahead once again. "You are there as my guest and to observe my lands and people, not to trifle with their lives. They enjoy their lives and do not need the stress of an interloper trying to root evidence of some suspicion or another."

It is then that Doom halts and turns, now shifting himself so that he may stare down upon the Scarlet Witch openly and without reservation as his strong voice issues with the slight mechanical filtering from behind his mask, "It is often that foreign governments and agencies seek to infiltrate spies and provocateurs within the borders of my lands. It is often that they seek to kindle the spark of sedition within the hearts of Doom's people". He pauses for a moment, creating an impactful point of dramatic silence. Then his voice returns, the faintest hint of humor tinging his powerfully spoken words, "Each time those agents suffer the wrath of Doom. My people are loyal, Miss Maximoff. As I am loyal to them".

He wouldn't be Doctor Doom though if he wasn't capable of a great deal of words capable of illustrating his seemingly endless lung capacity, "If your intent is anything beyond the stated, Miss Maximoff, then do not pursue your folly. Stay here, stay safe". The words are a warning. A stark warning at that. Though as pointed that warning may be, it's likewise tempered with a metaphorical gauntlet offered in friendship, "If your intent is genuine and pure, then you will be the guest of Doom and woe be unto any who may seek to inflict harm or grievance upon you while beneath the auspice of Doom's protection."

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
"Certainly, Doctor Doom. And you may refer to me as Wanda." The Witch retorts without missing a beat, a dip of her head in the sense that she accepts the correction provided, her voice as clear as his. Not that she seems any bothered though she might as well set her own expectations upon the etiquette on how they call one another.

Her steps are inaudible as they walk into the Embassy, and just as before at the Hellfire Club it's as if she was gliding up in the air so smooth her passage is, an hidden poetry to her motions that leaves her wrapped in mystery.

Her emerald gaze sets upon Doom when he begins to speak of his people and the expectations on what she will find there, "I am neither spy or provocateur. Look upon my eyes and see the truth." she tells the man, chin tilting up so she can be looking up at him, the jade green of her eyes reflecting the light as she stares up at him, unflinching and unmoving. She takes his gauntlet.

And waits for his judgement.

Victor Von Doom has posed:
Doom offers a stern nod of his head, causing the mask to bob down and then up ever so slightly. "Very well, Wanda," Doom answers in return to her own establishment of etiquette and modes of address. The offer to look to her eyes and measure her truth for himself earns a low sound of amusement that barely escapes the confines of his mask and Doom's armored hand twitches, closely slightly in a bid to encompass the hand that soon finds itself within his palm. There's surely the sense that with but a twitch he could crush that hand - and perhaps more - within his grasp, but such a thing does not come.

While unyielding as most metals and alloys may often feel, the touch of Doom's gauntlet is careful. As though he could touch wet clay without leaving an imprint upon it. In that time he considers Wanda and, as she requested, her eyes. He studies her openly from behind the unfeeling mask that covers his face. The slight downturn of the mask's mouth only furthers the severity of the imposing stare and the hardened eyes of the man beneath seem capable of scouring flesh from bone and cleaving soul from body.

Finally he nods, once. The hand opens anew and his other moves in an effort to return Wanda's hand to the offered armored arm and again Doom begins to walk, his voice powerfully carrying ahead of himself as they cross the pair near the threshold of the embassy's main doors. Only a few more steps.

"There is one additional stipulation. Your talents? Are not to be exercised within Latveria without the express permission of Doom. While there you are Wanda Maximoff, not the Scarlet Witch," Doom decrees with a glance aside as the cowl of his cloak shifts with the movement.

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
They stare upon one another. The blue on green, each taking the measure of the other as their wills press together in an unspoken dance, silent but with much to say. Wanda nods just as well when Victor passes his judgement upon her, hand naturally reaching up to rest upon his arm once again, accompanying him towards that threshold of passage.

Her gaze goes back up at those last words, "Magic is part of me, Doctor Doom. It would be the same to say as to leave an arm home." she indicates, "I shall accept this stipulation, yet know that there is no stopping the magic coursing through me." a beat as she dips her head, "Though I shall not directly pursue using my powers."

But can Wanda Maximoff really be separate from the Scarlet Witch. Only time will tell. She steps forward with him.

Victor Von Doom has posed:
"If I felt you incapable of controlling yourself, you would not be given this opportunity," Doom intones solemnly as the pair approach the threshold.

A flicker of magical energy coils to life within the center of the open doorway. Doom does not halt. In fact his hand shifts to the opposite arm, settling one gauntlet across Wanda's own hand which rests perched atop his offered arm. He steadies her, even if such a thing is unnecessary for one as magically potent as herself.

The flicker of magical energy rapidly expands and seems to fill the open space that is the doorway. On the other side a crenellated wall is visible and beyond it clear blue skies with a few puffy, pleasant clouds hang visible within the sea of varying shades of blue, though the higher one looks toward that seemingly magical portrait the colors grow gradually darker as though dusk is settling in on the other side.

Through the portal Doom strides with confidence and resolve. As Doctor Doom and Scarlet Witch step onto the battlements of Castle Doom, the portal behind them rapidly shrinks and winks out of existence. There the ruler of Latveria and his guest are free to take in the gentle breezes washing over the castle walls. There the pair can take in the splendor of the Latveria countryside stretching out in all directions.

Doom begins to move forward with his guest still at his side. Far below, nestled at the foot of the mountain and the shadow of Castle Doom, resides Doomstadt.

"Wanda," Doom speaks with a hint of pride ringing within his unwavering voice, "Miss Maximoff," he says with a touch more formality for such an occasion. One armored hand and arm rises up, sweeping gradually outward in order to showcase Doomstadt and the lands of Doom all around; from the farthest mountain or hilltop, forest, or plain.

He does not look to Wanda with his next words, but instead keeps his steely stare cast out across his lands.

"Welcome to Latveria."