[attr="class","spiral"]The security system doesn’t catch her at first. Whether it be intentional or sheer coincidence, no one knows. Not that it matters. Fernando’s living spaces are seldom used for more much than a place to crash after drinking or to bring someone over. It shows in the way it lacks any personality beyond the stock image-esque nature of its furnishings.

What gives her away is accepting his package. The doorbell camera notifies him upon the delivery’s arrival. Before he can interject to provide the worker instructions, he’s caught off-guard by Katherine receiving it in his stead. The rest of his workday is cut short by an abrupt ‘emergency’ when Fernando leaves the office early.

He comes home to his front door, knocking twice on the off-chance she’s still there, before scanning his thumb on the keypad. When it accepts his print, he keys in his PIN and opens the door to the sound of it unlocking.

What he sees betrays any expectations he had forthcoming. It’s almost acceptable.

Almost.

He relieves his sports jacket onto a coat hanger at the foyer. “I’m home,” he announces as he kicks off his shoes. Enraptured by the deviation to his schedule, he foregoes placing in the wooden shoe trees, instead, working his way into the main living room.

“To what do I owe the occasion?”

His tone is pleasant, amicable, but his expression is anything but. It meanders between curious and suspicious, toying between the shadows casted by the candlelight and the silhouette of their perpetrator.

[attr="class","spiral"]“Okay.” He leans more toward confused now as he come across the charcuterie spread she’s so deliberately planned out. The way he approaches, wavering, is more akin to a guest than the condo’s owner, but even that is intentional. Old habits are hard to break; eating food that’s been prepared beforehand, by another, reeks of poison. His hesitance is well earned.

“I’m smarter, richer, and soon to be stronger than anyone in Rocket and you’re smarter, stronger, and easier to work with than anyone the League has to offer.” He picks a sandwhich closest to the one she herself had taken. He edges that one’s the most likely to be safe but that’s hardly a concern anymore. Application of his Avatar powers have proven more than befitting when it comes to status ailments, poison being no exception.

She has a better chance of strangling him than anything else. Surely, she must know this, so he samples it without remorse.

“Not to discount the fact that you’re beautiful, keep me on my feet, and if you made these, an amazing cook. The rest writes itself.”

Fernando softens up a bit, seemingly earnest with the way he speaks, although secretly patronizing her with the last string of compliments.

When he swallows he stares back at her. “Unless, you mean something else?”

He passes to her, hoping she’ll take the shot.

[attr="class","spiral"]“…”

Fucking bitch. Fernando can feel his mood twist, organically, the second it hits him, mentally trying to analyze the would-be spies. She strings him around her finger and they both know it. That’s what he despises the most. But, as important as knowing who and how, having her reveal it now would only cheapen the discovery. It never supersedes the significance of preventing something irreparable but the satisfaction that comes from outing of an imposter is second to none.

He accepts the glass. Watching her open it live in front of him is more reassuring than not. Not that he discounts the fact he’s sure she’s still able to tamper with it. He’s yet to curate a file on her abilities and their extent.

“Off the books then,” he raises the glass to meet hers in a toast, “a solemn creed between mutual accomplices.”

A sip is made but cut short with a stark realization.

“But you’re going to have to work on your alibi. Witch hunting season is out in full force. Every one who isn’t nice is pretty much considered Team Rocket.”

[attr="class","spiral"]“Become friends with important people. Especially the reasonable ones.” That step is always the easiest. “Then paint those that dislike you in a bad light. Make them believe that any grievances between the two of you are because you can’t tolerate their stupidity.” A trademark play from the Silph guidebook. It’s served him well enough during his career. Why not pass it on to someone still affiliated with the upper League?

However, any intention he has of helping her circumvent the politics within the League go flat at her revelation.

In terms of strength, he already knew this. The fact that they lied low up until now shows that they’ve learned from their mistake. Patience shows a willingness to postpone an emotional need to conquest for the sake of success. This proves the smarter choice and therefore the stronger one. That, he anticipated, and is more than willing to confront in the battles to come.

It’s the last part that bites him.

His eyes drop to his glass and he finishes it like cheap beer. “Please tell me your Legendary owners are just as stupid as ours.”

[attr="class","spiral"]That’s what he was afraid of hearing. But that’s no longer his concern. His affiliation with the League wanes with each passing day. If he cannot change them from the inside then he’ll make them anew, pilfering those he deems deserving of such recognition.

“I fucking hate it here.”

He considers asking for another glass but refrains. He’ll stomach through it like every other annoyance that finds its way onto his plate. His appetitive for self-loathing is unsatable.

“So what’s the end-goal? What do they want?”

[attr="class","spiral"]“Tch. Always world domination.”

Fernando cocks his head to the side. Just the thought brings contempt. Perhaps he’s the odd one out. With all the power in his hands he wishes for nothing more than to live out his life in absolute lavishness. A modest wish all things considered but her wish still remains imprinted on him, no matter how many years pass by.

“To be honest, League or Rocket doesn’t really matter much to me. As long as life remains stable.” He slips that in for another purpose, to give her a glimpse of his own objectives. “But I doubt Rocket will settle into anything close to that.”

His eyes close before a begrudging smile surfaces.

“I suppose it’s time to replace the League. It’s about time we unite under one banner, no?”

[attr="class","spiral"]“Depends.”

He doesn’t miss a beat as the conversation switches subjects. Her own fascination behind these plates only spike his own intrigue. However, progress is slow.

“If you plan on stealing the rest in broad daylight, be my guest. But I’ll have no part in it, for obvious reasons.”

He doesn’t continue eating.

“However, I have gotten a few people to lend me their plates for analysis. They’ll want it back and I don’t think I can afford to screw over that many people at once, even if the time line for acquiring them lines up.”

“We’ll perform a scan and see if we can replicate them. If we can recreate them then the rest should be simple.”