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"Ugh, must I? Really?"
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Sprawled across the seat in the rear of his limousine, Colin groaned, the magazine falling against his chest as he cast a pleading glance across the space to his Gholdengo, Bullion, who sat placidly in the seat opposite and offered a plaintive 'clink' in response.
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He sighed and corrected his posture, shaking the magazine open again as though the contents might have changed. While his networking in Hoenn had proceeded well enough when he was firmly ensconced in Kalos, his recent expansion made it even more imperative that he not only be seen, but that he was on his game more certainly than ever before.
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Rustboro Historic Preservation? Give him a break. Turning his gaze out the tinted window of his vehicle allowed him to monitor gaudy facade after gaudy facade as they drove past, neon lights clashing garishly in the distance. Rustboro's history was being eroded just like the stones they so valued, and a nonprofit wasn't about to forestall the test of time.
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Still, it made for good press, and he knew a thing or two about gaudy facades.
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"Artega is making the rounds again," he hedged once more, leaning forward to Bullion as though the pokemon would snap its nonexistent fingers and absolve him of this chore. "If I've got to sit in a room with him while centenarians wheeze for three hours, I'm not going to survive."
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He sighed again as the Gholdengo made no move to sympathize, and amended: "I'll kill him. I'll bash his stupid, smug face in with a paperweight and then they'll arrest me, and I'll expire from the shame of it." He sniffed. "He'd like that. We shouldn't give him the satisfaction."
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The limousine pulled to a stop in front of their destination, and Colin clicked open his briefcase. The Gholdengo hopped up from its seat and obligingly dissolved into a shower of golden coins that bounced neatly into the case, which Colin snapped closed and toted alongside him as he exited the vehicle.
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Only a few hours. He could put up with this for the sake of his business.

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Colin smiled broadly in response to Artega's comment, inclining his head in a magnanimous gesture.
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"But of course, thank you, Mister Artega."
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His words were warm enough to lull a snake to sleep.
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"I am committed to the continued success of this society, as I'm certain we all are." He surveyed those seated around the table, many of whom nodded in response. His gaze returned briefly to Artega, and he held his hands palm-up. "I must say I am honored to join a board comprised of so many illustrious members. I quite agree with Mister Artega - I'm a little surprised that sufficient funding hasn't been able to be produced with his involvement, of all people, but at least the will to do right is there, and that's what matters!"
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A few 'hear hear!'s inserted themselves around the conference room, but Colin's eyes didn't leave Artega's. "I will of course be happy to supplement, and in fact move to outline new application requirements for development so that we can have something tangible to fine-tune by the next session."
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The conversation broke into an excited murmur as Colin settled into his seat, his smile sharp enough to cut glass as he regarded the man across from him.
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Dick.

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It really was a shame that Colin hadn't been able to determine who he could pay to alter the flow of time.
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He held numerous fantasies of varying types, but it was this that most often reared its head when he was trapped in official functions that he wanted nothing more than to be rid of. If it were another two hours from now, he could be comfortably ensconced in his hotel room with something or someone interesting, and instead he was fighting to not only stay awake but to stay sharp, because the need for further verbal gymnastics naturally did not stop once he left the conference table.
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Instead he was nodding agreeably to the buzz of conversation that he only half-processed, inserting the right comment at the right time to keep the context angled in the direction he preferred, and offering the occasional knowing smile that didn't once touch his eyes. One of these was directed at Artega as he sat in what was naturally the only empty seat at the table, and he mentally cursed his luck.
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Well, to say it was all bad would be an overgeneralization; Colin could appreciate the occasional eye candy, and Rafael Artega was nothing if not that. As he sipped from his tumbler, he regarded the other man's lips perfectly enunciating his next comment, regarded the dart of his piercing eyes as they flitted from target to target. He granted that the man knew how to carry himself, and Colin fancied he might almost enjoy the other's company were Artega unable to open his mouth.
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Well, perhaps certain reasons might be forgiven.
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With that thought, he drained his glass and set it to the side where it was almost immediately replaced with another. The dinner couldn't finish quickly enough.

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"I agree, he is certainly known for his generosity," Roche agreed as the chairman commented on the notion that the tab had been taken care of entirely. If he'd known that Artega was footing the bill, he'd have gone for the higher-end bottles out of spite. He wore an easy smile as he bid his farewells to the rest of the board, and he idly reflected that it would be exactly the same smile he'd sport if there were a headline stating that Artega had, oh, met a tragic demise mountain-climbing, or falling down a manhole.
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A man had to keep busy somehow.
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Still, he was free, and as he exited the building into the crisp night air of Rustboro City, he tugged his coat about himself a little more tightly, the fur lining soft against his neck. He could not wait to get to his hotel - after the evening he'd had, it would be all he could do to get the door shut and fall into bed. Perhaps he'd even avoid setting his alarm; he deserved a bit of a lie-in.
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As the limousines rounded the corner, he took a step back from the curb, idly slipping his hands into his pockets - he wasn't about to get splashed, but there was no mistaking anyone else on the block for the clientele of a limo service. As they drew near, he moved forward, only to be arrested by a hand at the back of his neck.
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Stilling, he canted his head to one side, meeting Artega's insufferable gaze. "It was a beautiful evening, yes, but something appears to be in my way. Would you care to rectify that?" he inquired sweetly. When the other man tightened his grip, his eyes widened, and he tensed, ready to lay into Artega with any force he could muster for daring to-
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His train of thought shifted immediately as he caught sight of the younger men moving toward them, and, cursing Artega, the delinquents, and God for placing him in this situation, he exhaled a breath before once again sliding on the jovial mask he'd become so used to. "Goodness, feeling generous and thoughtful in one evening? Careful you don't hurt yourself, Artega. It would be my pleasure." The walk, or the hurting? Either, he supposed.
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Briskly tugging at the lapels of his jacket, he began his walk, throwing an illuminated and utterly false smile to his erstwhile companion. He had no intention of being accosted by the roughs, but this - although a way out - was scarcely better. Wincing at the throbbing soreness at the sides of his neck, he pondered returning the favor once they were out of harm's way.
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Well, once he was out of harm's way.

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