[attr="class","spiral"] "Thank you."

Fernando's come a long way from the office of @bean2. His quarterly examination comes on his own accord to better understand his body and the affliction that has proven benign with time. His scar has retreated to the far recesses of his forearm, no bigger than a mere scratch, a long lost memory of trying times that seem fleeting with each passing day.

He takes his time with leaving, shuffling a few steps while enrapturing his doctor in some more small talk before settling back in the waiting room. There are some tests he wants to see and Fernando's insistent on being here to get the news as soon as possible. The results will be no different than last time but he's stubborn when it comes to his own health and safety. It borders a selfish obsession to extend his life for as long as possible, a greed that pits him straight into the hands of a chance encounter with the only other person present.

Teetering between checking his phone and striking up more small talk just for the sake of shooting the shit, Fernando takes a seat with an empty spot between him. Proximity should announce his intention and he doesn't look up from his phone as he goes over his endless stream of e-mails. "Waiting for your turn or here for somebody else?"

[attr="class","spiral"] There is a game to be played. Fernando, well aware of his standing and reputation, socializes with random strangers he comes across in a portrayal that he deems polite but down to earth. Anything to better solidify his carefully crafted image to cater to his appeal. Politics is a ploy and from it comes the need to maintain an appearance that can remain in power. kim cole-essam falls into line with ease but Fernando has to purposely keep up the act.

This should've been no different bur Iris' answer hooks him with an unconventional draw. Looking up from his screen, Fernando stares back at her, his right eyebrow raised as he tries to scrutinize any sort of tell from her expression. "On who's accord?"

[attr="class","spiral"] Oh. Okay then. Fernando had expected a different turn of events but from the way Iris phrases her answer he discards his earlier assumption and simply laughs. To have someone turn the tables on him on a question of authority and clearance is unheard of outside of a select few that prove more testy than absentmindedly genuine.

"Do you know who I am?"

Fernando is careful with the way he enunciates his tone. It comes out equally genuine in an effort to combat the condescending nature of the question. For now, he is curious, and asks until she can abate his hunger to know.

[attr="class","spiral"] Deflection is a sign of weakness and Fernando preys upon it. A click of his power button locks his phone and he pockets it to give her his full attention. "Why do you think I'm here." A proposition that comes with an equally implicative smile. There is power in the unknown and while he doesn't understand how much she knows, in return, leaving both parties in the dark can be a easy game of chicken.

[attr="class","spiral"]How witty. Fernando laughs again with a little less of a forced posh and a genuine amusement at the quick snap back. "You wouldn't be far off." He leans back into the plain chair, adjusting his back to curve alongside its support. "The second one, actually."

He sits there expectantly, willing to suffer a moment of silence before prodding further should she refuse to play.

[attr="class","spiral"] Fernando feigns looking around the room, using the motion to gesture to just how alone the two were. There's a bit of sarcasm to his ploy but he plays along with the act to emphasize his point. "If I had to hazard a guess, that'd be you."

[attr="class","spiral"] His initial draw had been to pry at the enigmatic response she had lead him with. Now he tries to enrapt her in all the same. Funny how bait works both ways when dangled off a reeling hook. Fernando goes a step further and keeps up the allusion, if only to try and tiptoe around getting her to reveal more. Even the most subtle movement gives off small details. Some go unnoticed and Fernando keeps tugging, looking to find a slip up by presenting more and more opportunities.

"They didn't tell you?"