WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

“COMMENTS LIKE THAT REMIND ME WHY I DON’T.” A quip for a quip; sarcasm entwined like the yin and yang that stems from moonlight and eternal darkness. A flash of teeth parries her for another challenge but she smothers his flames with soft submission.

Love.

This type of love is the one he craves. Not because he needs it. Nor because it’s good for him. It is a love that stems from his own creation, twisted from a doll maker’s craft.

Obedience is not a tool coerced from fear to maintain control. It is bred from a necessary negotiation of assimilation. What he sees is thrown away potential—cast away from their confrontation moons ago—given second life.

He won’t let her waste it this time. No matter how heavy a hand he has to lay.

“You pick. My treat. Unless you want to try somewhere new?”

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

A NEW PLACE THAT COMES TO MIND IS A COZY LITTLE BAR IN THE BACK ALLEYS OF SLATEPORT. He doesn’t bother giving her a name—all for the sake of surprise. What they lack in food and proper ambiance is made up for with a liquor collection that seems as vast as an actual liquor store.

Rituals.

The billiards table almost looks as preen and well kept as the last time he entertained their little tournament. Of course, much has happened since then, but Fernando pays it no mind. Considering his barhopping days from Lilycove, settling down into Slateport seems lax in comparison.

He takes a seat at the lounge, eyes fixed on her.

“Let me know if it meets your approval.”

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

“GOOD EVENING.”

Despite what others may think about him, Fernando knows to keep a cordial air about him. Reputation and first impressions are second to none. The mask he wears is as genuine as the face underneath. Through polish and carefully manicured decorations, he’s earned his way into the hearts of those who voted for him as a Council member several years ago.

To this day, he keeps up appearances. It’s second nature.

It comes as no surprise that she goes for the anejo. Personally, he doesn’t see the appeal, and it takes a conscious effort not to shoot it straight down the throat. Such refined tastes are wasted on a man who can’t see the difference between quality and generic store bought shelf.

“I don’t smoke,” Fernando quips, readjusting the watch that remains naked without the accompanying Comfey.

“But if you partake—”

Then so shall I.

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

“OH?”

Clear signs go amiss. Fernando notices the subtle movements but how much about Lulu does he really know? Not enough to dissect every mannerism she makes. So those go unquestioned but noted all the same.

Her progress into taming him is evident in the way he sips the anejo rather than swallow it whole. It stings, evident in the way he winces, but he shrugs it off with impunity.

“A surprise?”

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

EYES FALTER WHEN HER GESTURE BRINGS ATTENTION TO HER LEGS. It's a moment of weakness but one deep seated in just how much he's relished in them, worshiping their length and the treasure in between them. Caught by instinct, Fernando's shifts to eye contact within the same second, narrowing his eyes where her teeth meets lips.

"Ah."

He stifles a laugh, haughty, before submitting with a reeling shrug of his shoulders to dismiss her point. "You know, I only wanted to know because you seemed so dead set in hiding it. Like there was something more behind it."

He holds out his glass for a sloppy toast.

"Congratulations. Clayton's, right? I like him."

What she doesn't know is the deck is stacked against her. Since that night, since the moment he suspected, the strings have been wired into her joints. Now, he expects her to dance under the duress of his fingers—a puppeteer's performance.

"Smart man. Our work on Infinity Energy will surely shape the future."

He matches her, hushed whispers when he brushes his temple against hers.

"I've been planning on buying him out."

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

FERNANDO CAN FEEL HER TUGGING AT THE BAIT. One line of dialogue is enough to tell Fernando just what he needs to know. What information he's missing is spelt out between the lines of what Lulu refrains from mentioning. Just knowing that she's supposedly worked for Infinity Industries, even just as a contract worker, is enough to pull oscar clayton back into the fold. Slowly, he starts to assemble the pieces to wriggle his way into Rocket's biggest avenue for exploitation.

It really does pay in spades to remain on the good side of Katherine Fairburne.

Fernando parries her question with a curious eyebrow. "What else does that mean, Lulu?"

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

THEY LAUGH IN UNISON, JOKINGLY ON THE SURFACE, BUT UNDERNEATH HE CALCULATES EVERY MEASURE. Spin it with the same guffaw he does in boardroom meetings and social gatherings. A decade of practice makes the facade more real than his actual personality. He ends it with a quick wrinkle of his nose.

"Forget about it. I've probably said too much. Clayton loves his surprises and you'll just have to see what else we've cooked up." He waggles his eyebrows to emphasize the mystery behind the comment. "World changing, really."

He cuts the conversation right there and then with another sip.

"And, more importantly, where's that put you now, Miss Silph?"

Lulu Flint