As he strode through the CIA base, Erik Lensherr contemplated the future. What he had now was a good start, but he needed more. He needed a base, allies, connections. Unfortunately, he didn't yet have the means to do so. It was all very well to have Azazel gather information, but that wasn't enough. If only Raven hadn't gone back to Charles... her powers would have been invaluable. Absent-mindedly, he flicked a finger towards a cluster of armed men, causing their guns to fly out of their hands and knock their owners unconscious.

With things the way they were, he would have been stuck as a small-time player for at least a few years while he built up the Brotherhood. However, he was soon to correct that. Stopping outside a thick cell door, he ripped it from its hinges with a contemptuous wave of his hand and, checking that his telepathy-blocking helmet was in place, stepped inside to make an offer..

She had been captured, obviously.

Emma Frost had picked the wrong man to get behind, to trust. She wouldn't make that mistake again but luckily he was dead. It served him right. Emma had skills that went beyond the simple parlor trick of reading minds. She could also turn into a formidable diamond which granted her superhuman strength, endurance and stamina. But when she was in this form, she couldn't use her skills as a mind reader, but it also prevented other mutants like Charles from entering her mind. She had lost track of time in her cell but she kept herself entertained with the few guards who dared get close to her.

If there was an offer to join Charles and his band of naive idiots, she wouldn't have thought much about it. Emma wasn't one for large crowds, despite her alluring appearance. She liked to have fun and most people didn't approve of her idea of fun. In her mind, she could have been locked up for days or weeks, she honestly didn't know. The blond could hear something outside and it sounded more interested than the sound of her own breathing. She looked up from her table where she was chained to, to see Erik walk in. That was interesting. The woman didn't think he'd be visiting her. Licking her lips, she sat up in her chair.

From behind the man, Emma could see many guards were on the ground. But she knew he worked quick so she wasn't as surprised as she was amused. "Fancy seeing you here." She smirked and looked back at him, spotting the helmet on his head. It once belonged to Shaw. Evidently, Erik had his own agenda now and it didn't work well with that of Charles. She didn't care much for either side but she figured he was trying to gain support, since many of the childish mutants were nowhere else to be found. "I hear they call you Magneto these days." Emma commented and glanced down at her cuffs. "You're not here just to visit, are you?"

Erik smirked, and made a lazy gesture with his left hand that burst the cuffs open and sent them flying off to the side of the room.

"Hardly. It appears that Charles has swayed most of the young mutants to his pacifistic views. I wish to be more... proactive. I thought perhaps you might be interested?

As he waited for an answer, several small ball-bearings readied themselves inside his sleeves. Not visible from the outside, available in any DIY store you could name, and yet, in his hands, far more effective than a gun. If she wouldn't join him, then he couldn't allow her to be used as a resource for the enemy. Trusting in his helmet to keep his thoughts safe, he moved his hands outward casually in case he had to launch them at speed.

The cuffs coming off were a major improvement to her day, that was for sure. Emma rubbed them tenderly but no harm had befallen her so she was more than happy to get moving. Being contained was not something she enjoyed and there would be hell to pay, that was certain. "I am interested." She told Erik smoothly. "While you nearly killed me, I can at least commend you for your strength and determination. Charles and his posse never stood out to me, just annoyances." She shrugged. She still couldn't penetrate his mind but she knew that trusting him would be foolish. For now, they just had to remain useful to the other person.

Of course Emma couldn't help but bring up his issue of loyalty. She knew what he did to Shaw. She didn't care about Shaw, not anymore. Still, she needed to be aware that if she left him, that it would be on her terms. The last thing she wanted was to make an enemy out of Erik. She just wanted to know that her siding with him was mutual and not at all due to some form of blackmail or threat. "If we join forces, we're equals. Shaw's downfall was his inability to trust in people and while I am sure you have your own demons to deal with, you should know that I don't like to play games with people. I am not your puppet to boss around. I've had enough of that already." She told him.