Even billionaire shitheads who think the sun shines out of their ass — [ the limo, the scare tactics — she's been here, done this. lex luthor is the furthest thing from intimidating; if he really wants straightforward, he's strong-armed the wrong member of fsociety.
she smiles, lips pursed, shoulders hunched. it's far from friendly. ] Sir.
[ He laughs. (There's no kindness to the sound despite how bright his voice is. Tit for tat.) ]
Hey, look, I'm not arguing. Cut me and I'll bleed, same as you, but— come on, that's old news. Everybody knows that, even the— [ his air quotes are practically visible in his tone, though he never raises his hands ] —billionaire shithead.
Well, according to the rest of the world — you already know everything there is to know. [ she sounds bored; her expression mute. her arms are folded against her stomach and for a moment, she even appears small.
with a quirk of her brow, she drags her bottom lip a moment in thought. ] But if that were the case, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
[ a shoulder shrugs — she'll play. ] I hear most laymen just use Google.
[ He leans forward, the gesture abrupt. Though he doesn't reach out, doesn't try anything, the change in space is still palpable. (Politesse is a thin veneer; the height of obsession makes him ugly, underneath.) ]
[ she watches him, unfazed. a moment of silence passes between them, stretching itself and filling every inch of the limousine. then, she laughs. it slices through the tangible tick of the clock. ( elliot would hate him; elliot does hate him. this, though, he would loathe. ) regaining her composure, she shakes her head. ]
So, you went for me, why, because I'm one of two females in a boys' club with actual capability, and threatening the other one looks like stereotyping? Forget it, man. I'm not the droid you're looking for.
[ Frustration flickers across his face — a snap, there and then gone as he keeps his gaze upon her. ]
Because— [ he stretches out the word, like he's explaining it to a child (he doesn't have to play nice and so he doesn't) ] —I figured you'd be a better choice than your brother.
[ The implication isn't that he could bend Elliot to his will (he already knows that's not the case) but that, if he can abduct her in broad daylight without suffering any serious consequence, there's no saying as to what he could do to someone (who in some aspects doesn't exist) for the sake of his own ends. It's a form of strongarming, too, but one that he's banking on having a better effect, or at least provoking a stronger reaction. ]
her stomach lurches, her eyes narrow. there's only disdain in her as she looks through lex luthor. he's like elliot, if her brother were a shark. blood thirsty and out for the sole purpose of quenching his needs. he reads people, can, and will, exploit those worth the time. lex is everything she doesn't want for her brother.
her hands are in her lap, fingers in tight fists. ]
[ He couldn't hide the satisfaction in his expression even if he wanted to. (There it is.) Disdain (contempt), he doesn't like, but he can stomach it so long as all of the cards remain in his hand. There's no game to be played if he controls the deck.
The smile on his features says as much. His question is pointed, slow, gloating more than it is anything else. ]
You've already backed me into a corner here, dude. Cut the frickin' Mystery Tour bullshit and just tell me what it is you're actually after. [ it's clear she's getting impatient now. she slaps her thigh to emphasize her words — darlene isn't violent by nature, but she's a survivor. lex luthor has his tactics; she has hers.
[ Well, fine. That's what his expression seems to say, anyway. (The roll of his eyes is enough.) ]
E Corp.
[ He spreads his hands before dropping them back onto his lap, fingers threading through each other. ]
I'll be honest with you, it's less about information and more about— well, let's put it this way: it's about having a horse in the race. I've got a vested interest in keeping them in business, just for a little while longer than fsociety wants them to be, and I need someone to make sure that happens.
darlene folds her arms across her chest, raising her chin in an almost defiant gesture. ] I understand what you're capable of. Seriously. Really feeling it. Ten-out-of-ten.
[ she pauses, meeting him somewhere in the middle as she leans forward now. ]
Is it a Stock Thing? You want to throw Terry Colby a jazzed up going away shindig? — Tell me what you want with Evil Corp and I will give you my full attention. [ she wrinkles her nose. ] Scout's honor or whatever the hell.
I don't give a shit about Terry Colby, do whatever you want with him.
[ Lex waves a hand to emphasize the point. The line of his jaw is taut, clear as he tilts his chin up to keep her gaze. (LexCorp is corrupt. She already knows that, and he isn't bothering to deny it.) ]
E Corp — Evil Corp — owns 70% of the global consumer credit industry. It's dirty money, but when they go, it's got to go somewhere. And I want the biggest slice of that pie. [ Again, a wave, dismissive, this time. ] People love a good comeback story, especially when it's theirs; all the better if they've suffered a little more to get there.
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no subject
she smiles, lips pursed, shoulders hunched. it's far from friendly. ] Sir.
no subject
Hey, look, I'm not arguing. Cut me and I'll bleed, same as you, but— come on, that's old news. Everybody knows that, even the— [ his air quotes are practically visible in his tone, though he never raises his hands ] —billionaire shithead.
Tell me something I don't already know.
no subject
with a quirk of her brow, she drags her bottom lip a moment in thought. ] But if that were the case, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
[ a shoulder shrugs — she'll play. ] I hear most laymen just use Google.
no subject
[ He leans forward, the gesture abrupt. Though he doesn't reach out, doesn't try anything, the change in space is still palpable. (Politesse is a thin veneer; the height of obsession makes him ugly, underneath.) ]
We can agree on that, can't we?
no subject
So, you went for me, why, because I'm one of two females in a boys' club with actual capability, and threatening the other one looks like stereotyping? Forget it, man. I'm not the droid you're looking for.
no subject
Because— [ he stretches out the word, like he's explaining it to a child (he doesn't have to play nice and so he doesn't) ] —I figured you'd be a better choice than your brother.
[ The implication isn't that he could bend Elliot to his will (he already knows that's not the case) but that, if he can abduct her in broad daylight without suffering any serious consequence, there's no saying as to what he could do to someone (who in some aspects doesn't exist) for the sake of his own ends. It's a form of strongarming, too, but one that he's banking on having a better effect, or at least provoking a stronger reaction. ]
no subject
her stomach lurches, her eyes narrow. there's only disdain in her as she looks through lex luthor. he's like elliot, if her brother were a shark. blood thirsty and out for the sole purpose of quenching his needs. he reads people, can, and will, exploit those worth the time. lex is everything she doesn't want for her brother.
her hands are in her lap, fingers in tight fists. ]
What do you want to know?
no subject
The smile on his features says as much. His question is pointed, slow, gloating more than it is anything else. ]
What can you tell me?
no subject
she's not out of the game, not yet. ]
no subject
E Corp.
[ He spreads his hands before dropping them back onto his lap, fingers threading through each other. ]
I'll be honest with you, it's less about information and more about— well, let's put it this way: it's about having a horse in the race. I've got a vested interest in keeping them in business, just for a little while longer than fsociety wants them to be, and I need someone to make sure that happens.
[ The smile he wears is humorless, cold. ]
Not for too long, mind you, but still.
no subject
[ but she isn't going to make this easy.
darlene folds her arms across her chest, raising her chin in an almost defiant gesture. ] I understand what you're capable of. Seriously. Really feeling it. Ten-out-of-ten.
[ she pauses, meeting him somewhere in the middle as she leans forward now. ]
Is it a Stock Thing? You want to throw Terry Colby a jazzed up going away shindig? — Tell me what you want with Evil Corp and I will give you my full attention. [ she wrinkles her nose. ] Scout's honor or whatever the hell.
no subject
[ Lex waves a hand to emphasize the point. The line of his jaw is taut, clear as he tilts his chin up to keep her gaze. (LexCorp is corrupt. She already knows that, and he isn't bothering to deny it.) ]
E Corp — Evil Corp — owns 70% of the global consumer credit industry. It's dirty money, but when they go, it's got to go somewhere. And I want the biggest slice of that pie. [ Again, a wave, dismissive, this time. ] People love a good comeback story, especially when it's theirs; all the better if they've suffered a little more to get there.