The assistant, a mousy woman, stepped back from the cracked door. She spun around to face Jo again, tilted her head and smiled before bidding her a simple farewell. "He's ready to see you now!" Then, with a quick nod she ushered herself back towards her station.

Jo took a moment to prepare herself. Curling and uncurling her hands into fists, the woman attempted to metaphorically cast away her nerves, knowing there was no place for them moving forward. One sign of weakness and the lion's maw would loosen just enough to sink his fangs into her.

Go. Without a single sign of hesitation, the prideful woman answered the calls of the lurking devil inside, entering the office with a slight smile pressed across her face. Immediately upon entering the room, her emerald eyes took a moment to recognize the environment around her. How corporate. Every inch of the room screamed of it's productive use. The monitors, the lack of distractions, the raised desk - it all lived, breath, and embodied the sickly life this devilish man lived.

"It's an honor to be here," Her words were elegant, yet there was a strong weight behind them. Like a thread slipping through a needle. "Not many can say they were lucky enough to meet the man behind Silph Co."

Despite her glorifying words, her features remained still, like a robot programmed to answer with empty flattery. Not that she thought he would mind. He was a robot himself. The sound of Jo's heels clicking against the pristine tile flooring filled the room as she moved towards the desk. Then, without missing a beat, she took a seat in front of him. Crossing her legs, the scientist perched her elbow on the chair's right arm rest, shifting her weight towards the right of the chair.

"Mr Silph," She paused for a moment, eyeing the man as she awaited a reaction, "I don't mean to waste too much time, but... I'm curious. Are you a philosophical man yourself?"

Scientist are never born - they are created. Pulled and batted together, like balls of clay, roughly molded to examine the world at which they are forced to live in. But, before they can be utilized by the people around them, they must be prepped with the basics of all levels of thinking. The scientific method. The same method every scientist derives their greatest theories from.

First step: Ask a question.

The corner of her lips quirked up into a smile. His answer was nothing surprising, and yet, the hidden approval laced between his quick answers was enough to spark a zap of excitement within her. "An open mind is all you need," She agreed, "For both philosophy and other things."

Always commend the other for their response. Make them feel important, heard, and admired. Whether Silph cared for it or not is irrelevant, negative feedback is never warranted until the playing field is even. And right here, in this hellscape of an office, Jo was the definition of disadvantaged.

"You know, whenever I'm lost at work, I often think of this quote by Nietzsche. I'm sure you've heard of it - 'He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.' "

Her fleeting smile dropped. She waits before speaking again, allowing her words enough time to properly hang in the air, adding onto the already thick levels of tension. "What cost do you associate with that of truth?"

Step two: Gather information.

Corporate and cold, he responded to her question as any proper businessman would. Without a clear answer. And yet, it still served as one, granting her just enough information to smudge by the cracks and reach closer towards her ultimate goal. Whether it be through casual words or blood dripping battle, Jo was here to fight for her life. Because, again, every scientist is created by those around her. And Joan Barnister's blueprint specially designed a life so unsatisfying that it's forever entangled with their own insatiable hunger for information. For the hidden truth behind this veil of ignorance plaguing her mind. Without it, she is nothing. A woman without purpose is a woman better left forgotten.

"Is it theft," She inquired, eyebrow cocked upward, "Maybe to an observer I suppose. Costs do fluctuate to one's demand, though. If one's demand is high enough..."

She paused. For a moment, her emerald eyes gazed down at his emptied desk, eying the severe lack of distraction. The sight screamed more of Fernado's personality than his own features. Jo looked back up at Silph. "Well, for them, price is irrelevant."

Joan smiled. Fernando Silph definitely lived up to the stories.

"I fear we may be one of the few people who agree with that sentiment."

A tinge of laughter fluttered in her response. As villainous as he was, there were no denying the similarities between them. To be willing to forgo one's humanity in order to reach closer to the truth - well, that was reserved for a certain breed of men.

Just as he returned her quote, the Professor returned her own spin on the hypothetical he presented. "I sign the contract, assuming what isn't obscured fits with what I require to further my own personal goals and desires. I put in my time, effort, and work into the responsibilities. Then, as you said, extra statures are revealed. Situations change for the worse." As she talks, her chin naturally rises, and her eyes continued to intently stare back at him. Both unfaltering and unrelenting.

"For most, I would agree with you. There is no denying the blatant theft. But - and I would say those promising individuals would agree - discoveries, progress, change...everything requires some level of risk and sacrifice. No level of knowledge will ever change that fact of life. It's this difference in resolution to discover the truth in spite of the risk associated that separates those who produce change and those who stand in the way of it. "

She paused, took a quick breath, then leaned back into her chair. Her body seeped into it's crinkled leather.

"At least that's my belief."

---

Sorry for the late reply! Should be able to post more often now <3

Fernando's cool words were as reliving as they were daunting. The battled had been won, but the cost remained unclear for now--though, none of that mattered. Joan was satisfied for now.

"No further questions." A spark ignited in her eyes. Their conversation had already revealed what she wanted to know. All that was left was to dive in. "I'd rather cut to the chase."