19527/Shine a Little Light

Shine a Little Light
Date of Scene:	18 November 2024
Location:	Inner Sanctum
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Erik Lensherr, St. John Allerdyce

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Erik Lensherr has posed:
The inner sanctum of Asteroid M is not quite a command center, not precisely a luxury suite, not your typical fortress, and not the norm for a briefing room; yet the space serves more than adequately as all of the above, and more; ask Magneto about his private labs, sometime.

Suspended within a seemingly seamless sphere at the heart of the station, this sanctum is an array of movable platforms and building blocks, of electronics and furniture. This evening, it opens onto a deceptively Old World sitting space; finely finished Cherry wood, intricately upholstered couches and chairs, a well appointed bar. The last is 'manned' by a robotic barkeep; one with no optical or aural sensors, responding exclusively to the Master of Magnetism's commands through his mutant gift.

Rather than traditional 'walls' or a 'ceiling' the space is surrounded with holographic projections of the sensors outside the citadel, leaving the illusion of a lounge floating through the void of space, featuring an alignment of Luna against the Earth as Asteroid M passes within (relative to distances in space) close proximity to the former. That, and the endless expanse of stars, and the diversity of cosmic clouds-- alongside detritus. It's within this uncanny space that Magneto awaits Pyro, greeting him with a life of a fine crystalline vessel bearing finer liquor.

"What's your vice of choice tonight, my fine fiery friend?" Magnus inquires inscrutably, the half-smile on freshly shaven, austerely hewn features that of a man who knows a secret; smart money is on more than a few.

St. John Allerdyce has posed:
    "It's all lighter fluid to me, mate."

Pyro is in his full, well, PYRO get up and looking as though he's on the verge of becoming an even more insane person. Something about being within the halls of Asteroid M really kind of brings out the insanity in a person like him. Or, at the very least, the mutant superiority. It's one of those moments that comes with the deal of being one of the soldiers of the Brotherhood. Maybe he could be a little less anti-human but where's the fun in that, right?

Pyro is almost into a cackle as he flops down into a seat with a grin. "Whatever's the most expensive. It's not everyday I'm up in here at the top of the food chain." Which he looks eternally grateful for, by the way. He really is happy to be here. Almost a little too happy. There's a such thing as being too excited, right? Stop vibrating, Pyro. It's weird.

Erik Lensherr has posed:
"Past a certain pricepoint, the quality of the spirit is more about possessing what others cannot than its pleasure upon one's palate." Of course, there's lessons-- perhaps even egotistical pleasures-- to be taken in that, as well. It doesn't even take a gesture for Magneto's robotic servitor to whirr into motion, smoothly retrieving and pouring Pyro a glass much like the Master of Magnetism's own.

The red-gold liquor selected is a Bowmore single malt Scotch, subtly sweet like cherries to the nose but spicy on the tongue, and a finish like the finest of bitterly rich, midnight chocolates. Magnus delays long enough to lift his glass in toast to Pyro's own, offering up, "To a brighter future." Because no one is beyond low-hanging fire jokes.

"I've identified several meeting places, safehouses, and front businesses associated with Fiends of Humanity channels of funding. We are going to set them to the torch." This is likely unqualified good news, among current company. It's punctuated with a savoring, easy sip; as relaxed in this company as the Master of Magnetism ever is. And with the task before them.

St. John Allerdyce has posed:
Pyro's eyes might as well be lit up and wide with the way he's paying attention to the glass that's been offered in his direction. He almost doesn't know how to handle such a mindful and demure selection. He grins and raises the glass to meet Magneto's own movements. "To a brighter future!" He's a little more excited about that. Especially since he gets to be a part of making it that way. In fact, he feels the need to add on: "The brightest!"

His sip is more like a bit of a gulp because that scotch is gone with the quickness. For all of his showboating and bluster as St. John Allerdyce, he can be a bit of a simple cad when in the presence of those that actually are what he often pretends to be.

"Oooooooh." Pyro sets his glass down so that he can rub his hands together excitedly. "You've definitely got the right man for the job! I'll burn the whole city down if that's what it takes." Pyro's eyes are leaning more towards his insane side. "It's almost winter anyway. These people could do with a bit of warming up."

Erik Lensherr has posed:
Magneto doesn't advise Pyro on the finer points of savoring top shelf spirits-- even if Magnus does perhaps quietly /judge/.

"The point is not a late season grill, I fear." Much as many of the associated parties might indeed deserve it. "You're going to stage a series of... unfortunate accidents. Untraceable, as lacking in suspect elements as possible." No firebug has the capacity for spontaneous arson that Pyro does, really. All it takes is that natural spark.

"You'll take drones and other surveillence equipment, and use it to trace and identify everyone the fires bring out-- and in. Meanwhile, the cyberpaths will also track the flow of insurance, rebuilding-- everything we can find. Those who partake of these venues to network their hate shall in turn draw its web's outline for us. One by one they will be discovered, delved, and /dealt/ with." It might be more accurate to say the planned barbecue comes /later/-- rather than not at all.

"As you isolate the capital and ties to authority exploited by these cells of the Fiends, we will sever the hydra's heads in swift succession." It's a deceptively simple proposition for some fairly complex and risky spycraft; but neither of the men in this room is new to either. "As other operatives become necessary, you'll have whatever is required." It's a weighty promise, commensurate with the ask.

St. John Allerdyce has posed:
There's a frown on the features of Pyro in the middle of making him happy about being chosen for this particular mission. "Stealth. I'm not really the biggest fan of stealth. But you're the boss." Pyro almost seems like he's upset about the fact that he can't make a big deal out of this but he's definitely going to follow orders. There's always a method to the madness that is the Master of Magnetism and far be it for Pyro to question those ways.

Pyro shoves himself up to his feet and offers a bow to the Magneto. "Consider it done. I'll get started right away. The faster I get this done, the brighter the future will burn." He's got that same wild smile on his face even though he still does look like he wants to write his name in fire across every single one of those buildings on the list.

"For Mutantkind." Pyro holds a fist over his heart as if he's being his most genuine and sincere in this moment. And he is too! His own weighty promise in return!