[attr="class","spiral"]“Ah.” He has him there. In the corporate world, a retirement plan is essential. The moment benefits kick in, the talk about 401Ks come through. How much should you divest from your paycheck? IRA Roth or Traditional Roth? Common place ice breakers for devout suits who lack the trainer’s fortitude of seeking fortune through adventure and uncertainty.

Fernando reminds himself he comes from a different world. Lopez is no college graduate eager to make something of themselves after four years of indentured servitude. Who he talks to is an ex-officer who lives on the streets, laden on an administration who will handle those kind of entitlements later, once he’s paid his dues with years of service.

“In this region? With two wars in the past two years, you’d be silly not to. Work hard, work fast, and get the hell out of danger.” Finger points at him to drive the point home. The council member knows to keep his personal space, unwilling to brush his knuckles against the others jaw, but uses the gesture to reinforce the gravity of his words.

Kyle assumes right.

“Some people aren’t suited for being parents. I know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t prefer it.”

Fernando pauses, reclining, as if deep in thought.

“Why commit to something for eighteen years when I can piggyback off those closest to me? Visits are fine, but staying? Respectfully, no.”

[attr="class","spiral"]“Are you saying we’re close?” His retort is as quickly snapped as is Kyle’s tolerance. By now, Fernando still feels fine, brushing off the warm tingling in his arms as nothing more than a need for another drink.

“I’ll do it, if you work for me.” It comes off jokingly but it’s anything but. Fernando’s adamant about acquiring talent and sometimes he doesn’t know when to let up. For now, passive aggressively mentioning it every seconds will do, so long as Kyle doesn’t put his foot down when Fernando’s jokes cross a certain, unknown boundary.

“Ha, ha,” he joins along drily. “I’d tell you but that’d be considered insider trading. Wouldn’t want you audited now would we? Can’t imagine you to be the type to keep your every receipt.”

[attr="class","spiral"]“Indeed.” Fernando laughs brazenly now that Kyle accepts it and turns the point back on him. “I just never thought I’d hear you admit it. I guess that means it’s everyone but you that hates me,” he teases on their long-ended gag.

The time between sips finally sets in and Fernando looks around, before back at Kyle.

“You good for another or are you done?”

[attr="class","spiral"]"Hm? Already?"

When he had said done, Fernando expected nothing more than a break. At worst, Kyle would taper off and dwell on his buzz. But this exceeds his expectations. Watching the Elite Four give in, causes Fernando to laugh airily before giving him a soft pat on the back. "Tsk, tsk," he taunts for good measure while pulling out his phone.

"Put it together, Lopez. I'll drive you home."

More like his Porygon but that's for another time. Beep boop.

At the end of the night, Kyle makes the second Elite Four to have make him uneasy about barfing in his car. Thankfully, his peak human conditioning lets him keep it in until it's no longer his problem.