Or We Can Try To Make Things Better (Magneto)

[Victor von Doom]

Location: The Bergen-Belsen Documentation Centre, Germany
Date: August 9, 2012
Time of Day: Afternoon

The House of Silence was not a chapel, per se. It was not dedicated to any one God or another. No priest tended to a flock or ministered to the faithful, here. But, if one were to measure a church by the number of prayers that had been offered within it and by the number of tears that were shed afterwards, it was one of the holiest of holy places.

Even a von Doom was not immune to such a place.

Victor von Doom stood before the table, arms folded, listening to the wind beyond the walls. He stood, and listened, and remembered his grandparents and his parents. None of his own had perished in the camps, but his grandfather had been killed by the Wehrmacht. After several minutes, he withdrew a card of cream-colored parchment from the coat of his hunter-green suit, and laid on the table with the other messages.

"Nu din nou," the card read, "Deci jură Victor, monarh de Latveria."

With a sigh, he squared his shoulders and turned to walk to a bench at the rear of the House. Now he would wait. Wait, and see if his invitation had been accepted.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

The beech trees surrounding the small structure created a very picturesque and pretty environment. They made it seem like this was any normal part of the world, like nothing bad had ever happened here. Thankfully, the world knew it wasn't so. If they hadn't, if people had been ignorant or prejudiced or stupid enough to pretend nothing had ever happened, Magneto would never have forgiven them.

He had never been at Bergen-Belsen. Of course, he hadn't been born during the war at all. But he still shared their pain. He had suffered at the hands of remnants of the dead dictator's followers. Sometimes, when he closed his eyes, he could still remember the searing pain that they had tortured him with. Whether he had been born at the time or after, he had still shared in their suffering.

The house was clean and nice. A simulating environment. Magneto made note of the man sitting at the back, knowing full well who he was, but did not do anything other than notice for now. Instead he walked up to the table and withdrew a piece of paper and pen. After he had written his message, he dropped the paper on the table.

"Ich wünschte, ich hätte dabei sein können, um einige von euch zu retten, wenn nicht sogar alle. Ich schwöre, dass diejenigen, die bleiben müssen leiden, und du wirst gerächt werden. Wir sind Partner im Leiden."

And now to business. This was a place of silence, so he would not speak inside it. Instead, he turned around and headed outside. He motioned with his hand for the man to follow him out. He waited at the doorway.

"I suppose you've been expecting me."

[Victor von Doom]

Victor joined the older man at the doorway, then walked beside him as they left the House of Silence. After a dozen or so meters, the older man broke the silence.

"I suppose you've been expecting me."

"Let us say, I had hoped you would accept my invitation," Von Doom corrected. "Herr Lehnsherr. Or, do you prefer Magneto these days? The online 'Mutant Manifesto' - the one purported to be your work - certainly advocates dispensing with one's 'human' name."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

"Let us say, I had hoped you would accept my invitation, Herr Lehnsherr. Or, do you prefer Magneto these days?"

Magneto bristled slightly when he heard his old, human name, but managed to contain his anger. Everyone would soon learn what to call him.

"Yes, I would rather you would refer to me by what I have accepted as my real name," he said to the Latverian monarch. "I am no longer Erik Lehnsherr."

"The online 'Mutant Manifesto' - the one purported to be your work - certainly advocates dispensing with one's 'human' name."

He smiled. "I see you've been following me. Yes, we take pride in our true names. We are the next stage of human evolution, after all. Our names describe our power." He stopped to look at the leaves on one of the trees, then back to Doom.

"So. You obviously invited me here for a reason. What is it?" Pleasantries were all very well and good, but Magneto could feel a sense of purpose around this man, and he wanted to know what it was.

[Victor von Doom]

Von Doom watched with some interest as Magneto bristled at the name 'Erik Lehnsherr'. Something to be aware of, there.

"Yes, I would rather you would refer to me by what I have accepted as my real name," he said to the Latverian monarch. "I am no longer Erik Lehnsherr."

"Of course," he said, sketching a very shallow bow. "I apologize for my rudeness, Magneto. The online 'Mutant Manifesto' - the one purported to be your work - certainly advocates dispensing with one's 'human' name."

He smiled. "I see you've been following me. Yes, we take pride in our true names. We are the next stage of human evolution, after all. Our names describe our power."

The Manifesto had said as much. Von Doom nodded. "I see. But, does that not open you to risk? Putting forward hints about the nature of your powers?"

Magneto stopped to look at the leaves on one of the trees, then back to Doom. "So. You obviously invited me here for a reason. What is it?"

"Direct. I believed you would be." Victor smiled a thin smile. "I seek an alliance, Magneto. We are each, in our ways, men of power and of vision. Our goals are... unwelcome to the established powers of our age and, as such, we have many enemies in common."

He paused, eying the older man in front of him. "And if we have enemies in common, then we have common cause."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Magneto nodded in acceptance at the apology. At least he had been either mannerly or intelligent enough to correct himself, he thought as he listened to Doom continue talking.

"I see. But, does that not open you to risk? Putting forward hints about the nature of your powers?"

"On the contrary," the mutant said. "We believe that our names will cause those who support us to tremble with awe and amazement, and those who oppose us to tremble with fear at what we can do."

"Direct. I believed you would be. I seek an alliance, Magneto. We are each, in our ways, men of power and of vision. Our goals are...unwelcome to the established powers of our age and, as such, we have many enemies in common. And if we have enemies in common, then we have common cause."

Raising his chin up and breathing deeply, Magneto considered the statement. It was certainly a very true statement. "Hm...I do see where you are coming from," he spoke as he stroked his chin. "We both want the same thing: a perfect world with our principles at its core. A utopia, a place where people can live and thrive forever. I don't doubt that you've wondered why people can't see that our sort of ideas are the way forward. I have often done it myself. And as for enemies...other than the standards of today's world, there are those who strongly oppose us. Am I correct in thinking that you've had an encounter with the Avengers? Or is that just a rumour?"

He paused before continuing on. "It sounds like an alliance could prove extremely beneficial for the both of us. But what exactly will it entail? And with you being a man of such great position, I wouldn't be surprised if you were dealing with others who could offer us aid." If there were other powerful individuals who would assist them, he knew that they would both try and convince them to join with this idea.

[Victor von Doom]

"Hm...I do see where you are coming from," he spoke as he stroked his chin. "We both want the same thing: a perfect world with our principles at its core. A utopia, a place where people can live and thrive forever."

Von Doom held his tongue, allowing Magneto to speak. This was good. This was very good.

"I don't doubt that you've wondered why people can't see that our sort of ideas are the way forward."

He nodded his agreement.

"I have often done it myself. And as for enemies...other than the standards of today's world, there are those who strongly oppose us. Am I correct in thinking that you've had an encounter with the Avengers? Or is that just a rumour?"

"I have met a few of them, under circumstances less friendly than I would have chosen." A pause, as he considered his words. "Anthony Stark, in particular. A visionary, blinded by his culture." A grim, sad smile. "He still believes that the status quo, with a few adjustments, is ideal."

"It sounds like an alliance could prove extremely beneficial for the both of us. But what exactly will it entail? And with you being a man of such great position, I wouldn't be surprised if you were dealing with others who could offer us aid."

Von Doom kept his face still. "I would not presume to dictate the terms, Magneto. We are to be allies. I have ideas, though."

He walked a few paces in silence, enjoying the breeze and the quiet of the day. "I propose a mutual aid and defense pact. If I, or my nation, were to be threatened, you would defend us. If you or your people were threatened, we would defend you."

Another few steps of silence. "And yes, I have negotiated and will continue to negotiate with others. The pact I propose would extend to all members of our alliance. But I further propose..."

He broke off, examining a device strapped to his wrist that could have been a watch. "I propose, as well, a council. A council of the wise and the great. It is time for such as we to make history, not suffer it."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

"I have met a few of them, under circumstances less friendly than I would have chosen." A pause, as he considered his words. "Anthony Stark, in particular. A visionary, blinded by his culture." A grim, sad smile. "He still believes that the status quo, with a few adjustments, is ideal."

"Ah yes..." Magneto nodded slowly. "I have a score to settle with Stark most of all, out of his little rabble. If we cannot convince him to share our point of view, I would like to have the pleasure of...dealing with him." He was sure that he didn't need to voice the real meaning behind those words.

Von Doom kept his face still. "I would not presume to dictate the terms, Magneto. We are to be allies. I have ideas, though."

He nodded again, inviting his potential ally to continue, listening while they walked.

"I propose a mutual aid and defense pact. If I, or my nation, were to be threatened, you would defend us. If you or your people were threatened, we would defend you."

"A good measure to take as a first agreement," he said. "I can happily agree with that."

Another few steps of silence. "And yes, I have negotiated and will continue to negotiate with others. The pact I propose would extend to all members of our alliance. But I further propose..."

Magneto raised an eyebrow as he waited for him to go on. Whatever it was, he was making it sound promising.

He broke off, examining a device strapped to his wrist that could have been a watch. "I propose, as well, a council. A council of the wise and the great. It is time for such as we to make history, not suffer it."

Well, that was promising. And sounded like an excellent idea. "That sounds...very good," he spoke at length. "It sounds perfect. Those who could rise up to lead this world working together as one body..." He turned to look at Doom, unable to help a subtle glance at his wrist device. "Yes. I will gladly be a part of this, if you will have me."

[Victor von Doom]

Von Doom broke off, examining a device strapped to his wrist that could have been a watch. "I propose, as well, a council. A council of the wise and the great. It is time for such as we to make history, not suffer it."

He watched Magneto's face - his eyes, in particular - as the mutant leader considered his proposal. Finally, after an eternity that was no doubt only a few minutes, he spoke.

"That sounds...very good."

Von Doom didn't quite hold his breath, but the impulse was there.

"It sounds perfect. Those who could rise up to lead this world working together as one body..." He turned to look at Doom, unable to help a subtle glance at his wrist device. "Yes. I will gladly be a part of this, if you will have me."

A small smile warmed von Doom's face, just a little, stretching the scars on his cheek. "Magneto," he said, extending his hand, "if I did not seek you as an ally, I would never have sought you out."

They shook hands. "I have proposed to our other allies that our council have its first meeting on September 11th, and I have offered to host it in Doomstadt. The others have agreed, but if that time or place is not suitable, we may certainly renegotiate."

He paused, glancing at the watch-like device again. "In token of my good faith, Magneto, pass the word to your people. The borders of Latveria are open to any who seek freedom from persecution. All I ask in return is that they respect the laws of my nation."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

"Magneto," he said, extending his hand, "if I did not seek you as an ally, I would never have sought you out."

As they shook hands Magneto returned the small smile. "I just pray that it was not in vain," he said. This looked like the beginning of a great step forwards into the future.

"I have proposed to our other allies that our council have its first meeting on September 11th, and I have offered to host it in Doomstadt. The others have agreed, but if that time or place is not suitable, we may certainly renegotiate."

Magneto pursed his lips as he thought about that date. "No...no, that suits me perfectly fine. I will be there," he promised.

He paused, glancing at the watch-like device again. "In token of my good faith, Magneto, pass the word to your people. The borders of Latveria are open to any who seek freedom from persecution. All I ask in return is that they respect the laws of my nation."

What was that device that seemed to always grab the monarch's attention? But Magneto ignored it when what he heard sunk in. Here he was, in front of a human who was offering his country as a haven for mutantkind. It was more than Magneto could've hoped for. Something told him that he was doing the right thing by siding with this man. "Thank you Victor," he said, nodding in gratitude. "That is a very kind offer, one that I will not forget. My people will be delighted to hear this. We will be indebted to you."