David
Once more, company is expected. This time the place had not been scrubbed down for the sake of appearances. No use pretending if they would be working together for a while, is there? So Cronenberg has set up a few chairs away from the autopsy table and left a folding table near by to sit around if people felt the need. Blood stained the floor and plastic hung from the ceiling for privacy. Scalpels are laid freshly clean in a metal tray left on the kitchen counter next to the fridge that held a blood bag and chunks of various materials.

Cronenberg sat at the table with her phone in her hand. She had prepped this meeting and had their coffee but the hard part was waiting. She was impatient and her mind was filled with ideas. Her skin crawled and needed to be changed. Not right now.
Erin
*Gabriel shows up, he has arrived cautiously, knowing what the others may be thinking of him. He is looking about for ways to escape if need be at the soonest chance. He doesn't know what to expect, but assuming he survives the first meeting, he may be on the path to getting away from the religious fanatics. He has associated with them for safety more than his own beliefs. The end of Cauldron and the effects of GM in fact was worse for him because he would have preferred staying at his post and keeping his sense of purpose*
Benjamin
At first Tabula had been skeptical.

A meetup of tinkers, with the intent of forming some kind of group in which they would do... What? Bounce ideas off each other? Improve each other's technology? It wasn't a concept he was unfamiliar with, he had been raised by a group with similar motivations once he was left stranded and alone almost a decade ago. But that was why he was skeptical, what if those who came were from his old team? There was a chance that any of those tinkers had escaped the battle in the riverside district and they would surely be out for his head.

But that possibility wasn't high enough to deter Tabula's curiosity, and the prospect of improving his craft *Was* An attractive one. So he had agreed to come along to this meetup, though not as himself. No, he wouldn't divulge that particular information until he was absolutely certain he would be safe around these people. That meant he would need to come in disguise, and what better animal to explore the slums in than a rat?

So as the third attendee to this meeting Tabula would scurry into the rendezvous building, and quickly makes his way into the room that had an unmistakable miasma of metallic scent that could only be described as bloody. With a small amount of effort Tabula makes a few large jumps and climbs up and over the table to gain some amount of height, before muttering a greeting and cleaning what blood he could from his rodent body.

***"I do hope I'm not overly late, or the last person to arrive."***

Was that a... Talking rat?
Jose
Apex entered the room looking completely dishevelled. Her hair was a matted mess of blood and dirt and her clothing was torn and blood soaked. Her right sleeve was in tatters revealing the completely mechanical arm below. Tucked into her belt was a pistol noticeably lacking the magazine. Unlike the previous time she had met up with Cronenberg there wasn't even an attempt to conceal her identity this time, her face clear for all to see. She walked over to a seat and sat down, pulling out a cloth as she began to clean the muck from her arm.

*"I apologise for being late. I had an appointment with some fascists that dragged on longer than I would have preferred. We had some... Fundamental differences we wanted to work out before we went our separate ways."*

Trusting herself to finish cleaning the mechanics of her arm without look she finally looked at the others in the room. She gave a quick nod to Cronenberg and glanced over Tabula, she didn't know them and didn't want to question the rat. Her eyes ended on Gabriel. Of course the fucking cultist would be here.
David
"No one is late, you are right on time. Nice to see you again, Apex."

Cronenberg didn't bother with her mask either. Her tired brown eyes scanned the room. The potential in this small apartment is quite something. The rat barely got a glance given her own tinkering. Gabriel got a suspicious look but she went on.

"My name is Cronenberg. Apex and I have discussed this already but we are interested in forming a group of us tinkers. As tinkers we are both vulnerable and highly desirable targets for larger factions. If we collaborate we are safer and can trade tech easier to improve our own designs."

Her strangely flexible hands were held out to her sides. She sat stood and walked along the autopsy table. Her eyes looked to Apex first as she checked the reactions.

"We will ask you to remove yourself from dealing with the fascists and the cult. I have no issue dealing with any other gang but I think those two factions are bad for our health. Any questions?"
Erin
*Gabriel looks over to Apex and the others* "I did not come to piss people off. I came because there was a call for Tinkers, and as such I decided to hedge my bets and hear out any reason that may warrant such a call for those of us in New London. I have no issue with removing myself from those that idealize the one that brought destruction of my home and death to many as well. I as I am sure as many do these days find people that will protect them, and that was why I fell in with them at the time. Especially since they don't treat any of the 53's well at all either."

"I won't change my methods, but I am fine with getting the fuck away from them, presuming my safety and guarentee this will not come back to bite me in the ass."
Benjamin
Tabula simply watched the room as it seemed the entire group had assembled. Four wasn't a bad turnout at all, especially if this actually went the way he hoped it would. A voice spoke up, seemingly the one who had called everyone to this meeting, Cronenberg. She wasn't a face nor a name familiar to Tabula, though most weren't. He liked to stay in the shadows generally, not get too involved with his clients.

***"Not a bad idea, improving upon each other's technology would certainly bring forth some truly unique ideas with a group of this size, assuming our areas of expertise are capable of meshing."***

Rat Tabula, Ratbula if you would, begins to pace along the table on two legs, hands behind his back in thought. Cronenberg speaks up once more, perhaps talking to the entire group... Though from the reaction their feathered friend gave, and the earlier comment from Apex it seemed less likely.

***"I agree with Cronenberg and presumably Apex. We may operate outside of what the general public would call lawful, but the Imperium and those Scion cultists are genuinely insane."*** A pause, before. ***"Though before we move topic I have to ask, what do you mean by 'I won't change my methods'? What is that in relation to? Because if you start sprouting the ideals of either of those groups I want no part of it."***

Ratbula approaches Gabriel as close as he can from the table, his face a silent deadpan.
Erin
*Gabriel says in response to the question* "I meant more that I am not gonna become some good two-shoes. Plus I prefer to gather people, powered or not, to help me with what I need done. The Fuckballs in the Cult that thought I was a Sign of God **Are** Insane, no doubt about that. But they are competent enough that they are not inherantly destroyed. Fuck those that think only those who lived in London before should be here afterwards." 

"Knowing that they likely don't care for us 53's either, I don't give a shit about their opinion either. I just want Lackies, and I want a place to live and Tinker. Ideally I can keep getting parts without selling my soul to 'The Good Guys' but my priorities are Safety, Comfort, and ability to throw Tinker Parts into my Workbenches and experiment."
Jose
Apex looked at the case 53 with interest. If they were truly ready to throw away their connections so freely why were they even with that cult in the first place? She wasn't sure what was worse people who had actually been deceived and believed their ideology or those who willing associated with them despite knowing it was bullshit simply because it was easy. Tolerating intolerance like that was how people like herself were allowed to suffer. 

*"I would assume we would extend this to a blanket ban on selling our creations to the aforementioned groups and their associated organisations? The last thing I want to happen is Caesar pulls out my own creation against me when I'm trying to kill him."*

Her biological hand moved to her side as she raised her mechanical one in front of her. Each individual part seemed to moved independently of each other in a sequence before she formed a fist. Pleased with the results of her maintenance she let her arm rest on her lap.

*"Anyway, before we get too far into discussions perhaps we should officially introduce ourselves to each other? Our names and our specialties?"* Her eyes moved to the rat. *"Although I think that might be more obvious for some."*
David
"I have no interest in working with Nazis. I am in favor of a blanket ban on selling to those groups. I'm not exactly going to be their favorite person."

They seemed to gaze past Gabe as they mention their willingness to removing himself from the cult. A raised brow as she looked back around the group. They walked along the front of the room with their hands in their labcoat. A sense of exhaustion seemed to roll over them. This is going to be some effort.

"I am Cronenberg. I am a bio-tinker who primarily specializes in body alterations." She made a show of bending her arm unnaturally far. "Completely wet tinker. No machines, no mechanical parts." They shrugged their shoulders as they finished with "My tech is primarily for personal alterations."
Erin
*Gabe shrugs* "Gabriel, My power operates chaotically. But no matter the chaos I make some sort of Parasitic/Symbiotic entity in some way. I can make Bio, Mech, Bio-Mech, and Power Based tech depending on what my workbench provides for me. They feed off of the user in some way, those that I use usually work well with me, but I don't know how they would react to others that well."

"I don't mind what we do, I just want some lackies, Obviously not y'all, but nonetheless." *You get the sense of a smile despite having no feature to do so*
Benjamin
*'Us 53's? Does this guy think I'm... Oh.'*

Tabula opened his mouth to speak but was quickly cut off by the cyborg that stood across from him, one of the ones who hard organized this little meetup. Apex, assumedly. She spoke on the idea of keeping their tech from the few specific gangs that had less than ideal, well, *Ideals*. His small rat head nodded in agreement, it was a sound suggestion and one that he already followed in his solo business. Though it wasn't like he had contact with any of the other larger gangs.

***"Once again I agree with the room, I have never had nor never will have an interest in working with filth such as them."***

Before he got a chance to speak once more he was interrupted, again by Apex. A small crease of a frown made its way onto his face, though it was quite hard to perceive. This time her interruption was to get everyone to introduce themselves, a sound suggestion considering the only information they had about each other was that they were tinkers. Tabula listened as Cronenberg starts, smiles as she gives her demonstration and explanation of her abilities. Something he could work with, definitely. 

Then their monstrous friend spoke, from his description it seems like organic matter is something he can work with, another win in Tabula's book. Though the line on him wanting lackeys did not sit right, and elicited another frown from his ratty body. Sensing though however it was his turn to speak Tabula clears his throat to grasp the group's attention.

***"To begin I'm going to address an earlier comment from Gabriel. I am not a case 53, this body is just the result of one of my pieces of tech. My name is Tabula, and I specialize in enhancement and detriment serums, works on anything with a bloodstream. Take my current form for example, it's the result of a disguise serum that can alter anyone's form to look like any person, or animal, given that I have access to their DNA."***
Jose
Apex watched each member of their little gathering introduced themselves. Cronenberg she knew there was some potential for collaboration, Tabula could have potential but the interactions with her own tinker tech would need to be more thoroughly researched. Gabriel, well its hard to say. It wasn't exactly the most descriptive explanation however that could mean there was some great potential for growth.

*"Well then, I guess it's my turn to introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth but you can all call me Apex."* She smirked at her fellow tinkers before adding. *"She/Her pronouns please."*

That should be a good enough test to see if she needed to kill any of them immediately.

*"I specialise in biomechatronics, the improvement of biological systems with mechanical versions."*
David
"Oh, Max. By the way. She/They is acceptable"

She seemed to extend it as a kindness towards Apex. An olive branch.These people wouldn't rat her out. 

"Now here's my deal. We're going to collaborate, we'll work together, and we'll defend each other. I don't care about any group that isn't part of us and if you join any group besides the nazis or cult, you are still welcome. But this group comes first."

She made a dismissive motion as she walked around the table as she spoke. She ran a hand through their short hair as they stopped near Apex. The only one they were certain of so far to be aligned with a similar agenda. Her posture tall and straight backed.

"Final thing is that anyone who decides to turn their back on us or break the conditions that we as a group lay out will be subject to going under the knife as a labrat for the group."

She laughed a little at the threat. It wasn't manic. It was bubbly and rolled out of her in bursts. 

"Any questions?"
Erin
*Gabriel laughs a bit* "I mean, of course, if someone were to betray us, they would have to die. The person can not be allowed to live with knowledge of our tech, and other such stuff. He/Him would be fine, I think I am going to avoid joining other groups for the moment after I leave the Children."

"Although, if I do leave the Children, I would need an assurance that I would have help with protecting myself from the Children of Scion. But otherwise I will be fine."

*Gabriel shrugs and finds a wall to lean against, his tail wrapping around him as he considers what this thing could lead to.*
Benjamin
***"Raine. I don't particularly care what pronouns you want to use, it isn't a bother to me."*** Tabula lets out a ratty little sigh before turning to Cronenberg- ***"Your offer makes sense, and I'm amenable to it. I don't really plan on joining any gang without any good reason, though I will say outright that I sell my tech to most gangs, barring the obvious two we've stated here and a few others. It's not much, but it's enough to get by."*** The rat lets out yet another breath before continuing to speak. ***"I am also amenable to the idea of collectively defending our group, as long as everyone puts in equal effort. I have been developing combat related tech recently, I simply need the correct ingredients to bring myself into a form where I can help in a fight."***

After this the red haired rat goes silent, letting the others speak once again. Unfortunately, that lets the cultist open his mouth again and what he said brought a frown to Tabula's face once more. Did he think they were going to protect any one member over the others? They were forming a group for a reason, and that reason was *Not* To babysit someone like him.

***"What do you mean __If__? We're not here to babysit you, we're here to improve our tech, to bounce ideas off each other, to further our own power. Sure the group would come together to defend against an attack, but why would we defend any one member __more__ over the collective? I apologize if I spoke my own thoughts as everyone else's, but I felt like it had to be said."*** Tabula shakes his head before turning away from Gabriel and back to Cronenberg. ***"Oh very good, I think that is a suitable punishment."***
Jose
Apex's eyes darted to the Case 53. They narrowed as she tried to understand exactly what he had just said. The metallic segments of her arm began to shift, stopping before anything completely transformed. Restraint, she could hold back for now.

*"Avoid joining other groups? If you leave the children? It sounds to me as if you still have loyalty to the group that worships genocide more than the fucking Nazi's. I don't understand why you would work for them at all, and don't say safety. They despise your kind and you know it. The moment they get a whiff of your treachery or failure from you, you're worthless. Just coming would be enough in my opinion."*

One, Two, Three, Four, Five - Counting. That helped calm people right? Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten - It was taking a lot to not straight up kill someone. God why was she like this?
David
All humor left Cronenberg and immediately hostility burned inside of the bio-tinker's eyes as they slammed their hand on the autopsy table. They began to pace towards the door before Gabriel could get a chance to stand and put their body in-between the others and the exit. Hands reached out and locked the door with a 'click' before anyone could so much as threaten to run. 

"No more 'if' I leave, no more promises, no more assurances. You don't have a choice anymore. You were already on thin ice by walking in here and making demands to keep you safe, you who decided because you were so scared this group would kill you-" Her hand slammed back into the door. A loud thud. "You should align yourself with them? And now, AFTER we revealed ourselves to you.. You decide now is when you want to say If? You are lucky-" 

Cronenberg bit the corner of her lip hard enough to draw blood as she tried to keep herself from lunging. "We don't have a reason to even fucking trust you. Why do you think *You* Have the right to make demands? We walked into my lab and decided you wanted to barter after we revealed our plans to you? No." She splayed her arms out in a wide gesture. "You know that they'll gut you if you don't tell them everything that happened here- and I don't plan to play bodyguard. You are a spineless little worm. There's no more ifs. Your option is to leave the children or we will split you open right here." By now Cronenberg was screaming. It was not the most intimidating voice, perhaps, but it seems her own temper was flaring.
Erin
"See, It was known that we were revealing ourselves by coming here we were putting ourselves at risk. If you all are gonna kill me, kill me. You can remain on your moral high grounds. They hate 53's, they see them as a sign of their "Gods" Displeasure. I recognize that by choosing to associate with them, It's as though I am playing with a bomb. They have me around because they think the fact my form is somewhat angelic in nature and touched by gold like him, I am a sign of his pleasure."

"I have not said at any point of this conversation said I was a Fucking 'Good' Guy. When I am saying I need assurance that I will not be killed by them by leaving them, I am saying that I am inherently at danger by leaving, along with losing some resources. If you three don't want to play ball, I don't give a shit. I came to listen to your proposals, you guys have explicitly been aggressive the whole time, when last I checked I have not harmed any of you directly. Yes Children of Scion are disgusting, but by Telling me that I **Must** Leave them, and have **No** Protections from the backlash, It is not a convincing argument."

"By setting this meeting up, you all knew there was a chance shit would go down. By setting up this meeting and showing up, we all acknowledged there was a risk by showing up. The simple fact that I have shown up and am entertaining the notion of leaving a place that gives me any sense of protection from people who may want to hurt me, should tell you that I don't care for them personally either. Finally, You three could have turned me away or killed me before a conversation if you three didn't have any reason to entertain the idea of me joining. As you have also said, if they know that I have come here, then do you think they wouldn't have figured out a way to know who was here?"

"So if you three split me open here, then you three are fucked anyway, because you already are putting yourselves at odds with them, killing someone that is important to them. So it can be that we have a group of four that can defend from any incursions they have towards us, and to gather resources, or it can be you three and be worse off."

"I have already told you three that if you three will assist in keeping them off of my back, which is by extension your backs after tracing it back to you three after they kill me, then I have said I will join. Accept it by having me in the meeting, you knew what the ramifications would be. You could have turned me away at the door, or you could have killed me by now, and you would be better off, but now we are all guilty by association."
Jose
Perhaps she had been hasty. Perhaps it was this piece of shit alien shard in her brain that made her want to hurt people. With that possibility lingering in the back of her mind she did her best to remain calm. The mechanical components of her arm shifted back to their original positions as she raised her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose letting out a sigh.

*"Look, whatever happens here we will be making enemies of both the Children of Scion and Nova Imperium. If you join or if you die makes no difference, at least in regards to the Children. Our issues are not with protecting you, I think I can speak for us all when I say we will obviously work to protect our groups interests the fact is you were demanding we protect you as condition of you joining."*

Apex leant back in her chair and folded her arms. Her eyes scanning the room as she tried to gauge the reactions of her potential future partners.

*"Nova Imperium has it out for me but you don't see me demanding that you all work to protect me. I would love it if you all came to value me and willing helped me but I'm not going to demand every fight my battles for me. So Gabriel, my angelic friend, are you joining with us?"*
David
The anger in Cronenberg seemed to continue to boil inside of her. A sharp breath escaping her nose as they leaned against the door. They seemed irritated even before this argument and it seems to have only gotten worse. She dug her nails into the sleeve of her lab coat as if to hold their self back. After a moment to take a deep breath to reel herself in, they spoke.

"You are spineless, Gabriel, that's my problem. You sit here and make demands because you were too weak to reject the hand of the cult."

They shook in their anger as they hissed each word out to him. Their eyes seemed to turn away from him to Apex for a moment. Itching to get her hands on the case 53 to cut into him. This damned urging. It was annoying. Her hands began to clutch her arm tight enough that it seemed painful.

"And what guarantee do we have that you aren't just going to be an eel who jumps ship the moment you feel you aren't safe? You are doing so with the cultists. You joined them because you were scared. You are rapidly losing my interest in keeping you alive."
Erin
"Again I have never said I was 'Good', I know what I am, and that is that I would prefer to live. You're saying that I am an eel that jumps the first sight of danger, but if that was the case, why would I have come here? I was in a safe enough situation before I came here. I was in a position of power, protected by others, and didn't have anyone in particular after my head. I actively put myself in danger by coming here and seeing what you all had to say before joining."

"I would be willing to join. Then again, it makes me question when someone has seething hatred for me, when I have done nothing to them. The Company I keep is Villainous, and I have never hidden that. Have I ever tried to justify their actions? No. Cause I feel no need to justify mine or their actions. Again, Kill me if you will, I would prefer not, but you all have the two options, me walking is not an option. So Either Kill me, or Have me join. Even then having me join is better for you all, after all what is the saying? 'Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.'"
Jose
"*Look, this conversation is getting away from itself. Gabriel, all we need to know is are you with us or are you against us. Yes or no, are you joining. We cannot allow conditional clauses and such with our organisation either you're in or you're not. If you're in you will cease all association, all contact with the Children of Scion. If you are out, well you know a lot about us. We can't allow that. Understood?*"

Diplomacy was not her speciality. Yet here she was attempting it. Were it not for the fact she quite liked Cronenberg and did not want to fight in her home she wasn't sure she could have contained herself.

"*What we want to do here is a great thing, between us I'm sure we could create one of the most powerful organisations in all of New London. I don't want petty arguments getting in the way of that.*"
Benjamin
As his prospective teammates worked to get a straight answer out of Gabriel, Tabula begun to feel a tingling in his little rat body. Nothing too intense, and not painful, but certainly noticeable. It could be described like the feeling of being shocked by an electric pen, but along his entire body. 

*'Time's Up.'*

It was unfortunate, especially at a moment like this for his stimulant to be running out. Tabula raised his front paws off the table and sat up in a much more human-like manner than he had been before, of course he did not want to revert back to his normal form while in an awkward position after all. 

Slowly the pain begun to trickle in. It felt like his whole body was being showered in acidic water and melting, while at the same time all of his bones experienced the most painful growing pains anyone had ever felt. It was a truly excruciating experience, and even more impressive was Tabula's ability to remain mostly silent throughout the ordeal. Aside from the sound of his skin stretching and liquefying in places, and his bones cracking and creaking as they reformed in a human-esque form, all the sound that could be heard from him was labored breathing.

Where once sat a red haired rat now sat a red haired man. His hair was a mix of reds and oranges and less so styled more than it appeared he had just gotten out of bed. His frame was wiry, and among most he would be considered tall, though in this company he was simply average. His light grey eyes were bloodshot with pain, but that was quickly beginning to fade. The man wore a pristinely clean white lab coat over a simple grey sweater, though both were currently crumpled as if they had been slept in.

*"I agree with Apex. I do not care what excuses you use to justify where your loyalties lie. All I care about is if they lay with us or not."*

With that said Tabula reads the room once more, scanning everyone's faces with tired grey eyes.
David
Cronenberg seemed to quickly be losing interest in the conversation as they stop watching Gabriel and begin tracing lines along their fingers with a nail. Their anger bubbling beneath the surface as they listen to the excuses of Gabriel. They turned to look at Tabula with fascination as he transforms back, a tilt of the head as they are distracted by the strange gorey change. They turned from the former rat man and looked back to Gabriel. A squint at him as she seemed to judge his intentions.

"I don't trust you and frankly I don't want you but it's up to the rest. Do you think you can be useful and not demand unnecessary resources? I would love to carve you up on this table but it sounds like the other two think you are useful."

She paced away from the door and grabbed a marker before going back to their spot at the door. She began to use the marker to draw lines over the bones of her hand, leaving long black lines over her fingers. Careful markings for a future plan. She held up her hand to inspect them almost like one would check nail polish. 

"Are you in or out, Gabriel? Can we trust you? No long winded speeches or blabbering. Yes or no?"
Erin
"Trust? That is built not given freely. Am I willing to play ball with you three? Yes." *He says his long prehensile tail wrapping around his waist to take up less room in the area. He stretches and leans against a wall* "What are we planning on doing next?"
Jose
"*All right then. Willing to play ball I can work with that.*"

There was no point in harping on at this point. They had all made their position very clear and she wouldn't insult the people she would be working with any further by dragging it along. After all they had much more important things to worry about now than a potential betrayal. If that ever happened they would cross that bridge when they came to it.

"*Okay first things first we should decide on a name. If we are going to operate together we want to come up with one ourselves before the met or worse Vanguard comes up with one for us. Ideally we won't be discovered until we reveal ourselves but no reason not to be prepared. I for one suggest the name Transcendence. Afterall, are we not transcending both technological and biological limits?*"

Not to mention she thought it was a decent pun on the whole trans situation.

"*As for what our goals should be I offer two suggestions. We can focus on gathering up supplies to help us all tinker and build our strength, or we can build our funds and focus on getting us a base of operations more suitable than than Cronenberg's apartment. Getting more advanced lab equipment would help as well.*"
Benjamin
And that was it.

Gabriel would be one of them, and the group could continue on with what they had originally converged to do. Tabula nodded in agreement with his companions though for now offered no final words on the case fifty-three's involvement. It hardly mattered this early on if he betrayed them or not, after all who would care about a barely formed group of tinkers.

*"Group names... Hmm."*

That was something Raine had not put much thought into, which was oddly funny considering his obsession over naming every single one of his prototypes. Apex's suggestion was interesting, but it felt too... Hero-y for Raine.

*"Perhaps, though I don't think it gives off the right... Ah what's the word, connotation? I don't think 'villain' when I hear the word. I do like the general idea though, perhaps Ascent... No that doesn't work, not as a single word anyway."*

Tabula enters a pose of deep thought in some attempt to salvage the idea he had put forward to not look like a total idiot.

*"The Ascent Collective? Or perhaps Directorate instead? It has a much more, at least in my mind, menacing connotation. While at the same time provides a clean, perhaps even simple identity that is not easy to confuse with another... Just my two cents."*

With his mind spoken Tabula leans back on the table and waits for his new companions to speak.
Beth
`"Villains"` The Androgynous, electronic voice rang out. Stepping in with little fanfare, Toy Maker make's his appearance. His big cheery smile could be seen past his high collar coat. That bare arm of theirs was on full display, the plates of skin flexing up with a blue light shining under them as they did. They brought it up to wave towards the group, but mostly towards Cronenberg.

`"Greetings! It was my understanding that this was _more_ than just a meet up for Villains. Why settle on a villainous name? Wouldn't something Neutral be appropriate? Hmm?"` It would have sounded condescending if that programed voice wasn't so cheery.
David
Cronenberg looked up from the arm that they had, in boredom, began using a marker to trace arteries. There was a look of puzzlement for a moment but it cleared and was replaced by their usual neutral frown. She made a motion towards Toy Maker and one of the seats at the table, making a show of greeting them. It was mildly frustrating that they just walked in without knocking, some people had secret identities. Not Cronenberg but some people.

"Welcome. And I would like the record to show I never claimed myself a villain. I am interested in transcending biology... Which is also why I agree with Apex. Transcendence is the perfect name. Besides the connection to us, imagine the nazis faces when they hear that name."

She laughed again, filling the empty air with bubbly giggles. The pun, it seems, was not lost on Max. To torture the minds of nazis by letting them know just who they were dealing with. That would make the dissection even better.
Joe
Apex was glad the discussion was back on to more important things. Well at least until another person came wandering in. She knew they had made this a pretty open invite thing but she hoped those who were interested would have made the effort to at least arrive near to the start time.

Apex arched her eyebrow in the direction of Cronenberg, the new arrival seemed familiar with them so clearly they might know something. Then again it perhaps they were just talking to the first person they laid eyes onto.

"*A friend of yours?*"
Erin
*Gabe exits stage right*
Beth
`"Friend is a bit of a strong word in our case, but I'm no threat if that's what you're worried about. I just wanted to drop by and see what the huhbub was about, Cronenberg mentioned it, and I figured I'd at least give it a fair shake."`

Esther stood with his head held high, and chest a little puffed out. The stature of confidence and zeal. His focus turned more towards cronenberg still, but they kept everyone in mind as they spoke going forward.

`" Transcendence is a good name though. Most tinkers work to 'transcend' normal human limitations, even my work to some extent is made to be greater than any else in the field of expertise I'm apart of."`
Jose
Apex eyes moved from cape to cape, lingering on each tinker for a shot while before brining her hands together and leaning forwards slightly in her chair. Despite her resistance to it a smile began to appear on her face, starting with a small curl of her lip.

"*Well then, with that in mind I say we wrap this up and begin preparations needed to get a base of operations up and running. Let us be ready to take this city by storm.*"

And hopefully get them rich in the process. Money made all their goals so much easier. Apex rose from her seat.

"*Unless there is anything pressing I will leave now. I've got funds to gather.*"