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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2013 20:42:02 GMT -5
More and more the subtext of the confrontation shifted to a sharper and more extreme view than when a statement was made by Lex. She would not move or relent easily, but he was expecting her to understand the ramifications of her injuries. Of course though she would never be timid in this moment or the next. He knows that she is afraid; everyone is. People hide it, bury it, morph it into different shapes, yet they cannot completely shut it out. There is nothing stopping Edward from bursting into the room and maiming Nina or Lex. A bodyguard cannot stop that, just as they cannot stop a sniper from shooting their target. In that sense, security is just a pretense to ease the brain and relax about the daily fears that plague us. When she rebuffs him about understand her, he cocks his eyebrows slightly, a mixture of counterpoint and logic in his reply, “The same would also apply to me as well, Ms. Stenet. This doesn’t have to be a one way or another type ordeal. “
The woman begins going off on her tangent about death and questioning him. This isn’t a police station and this isn’t the courtroom, yet why in God’s name is she still furious over this. Does she think that she can goad him into submission and making an apology? That would be worth the amount of anger and annoyance that she is pouring into this statement. He stares at her taking all of that emotion and keeping it contained, cutting it piece by piece. He interjects as the silence from her statement ends, “I think that because you are “traumatized” you have created a more protective buffer for yourself.” He licks his lips and continues, continually staring at her while he speaks, “This was no ordinary accident and despite what you tell me or yourself, we both know that you wouldn’t be in this position. You aren’t someone to order another person’s death, you’re a doctor, a messenger and healer of sorts.. One whose altruistic nature can be manipulated but not destroyed.” He takes a brief pause, and taps his feet making a slight creaking sound on the white tile floor. She should know better. She should understand that vulnerability can be a sign of strength just as it can be a sign of weakness. He cannot get over such an statement and he continues to counterattack with a much more convincing tone, “Yet, I believe that you are one of the few individuals who is capable of doing something unlike your personality.
He takes Nina’s hand and moves closer to the bed, her hand is petite, flexible but weakened- much like the woman herself, “You would earn my respect if you didn’t overcompensate for the process of shielding oneself, as opposed to letting things go.” His hands trace her fingers for a few seconds, such intelligence and weight on these small connections of power. Her last statement makes his ears chirp, that was unnecessary, and whatever the purpose of saying that… it has the direct opposite effect. “ Delusion and confidence do not go hand in hand, especially with your instincts. You should have saved that phrase for the the true villain in this..” He squeezes her hand gently but a bit rougher.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Post by Nina Stenet on Aug 29, 2013 2:32:26 GMT -5
Though Nina is obviously listening to him, she doesn't feel much of a need to respond to him. They're very different people, and the logic he tries to apply to this and probably any other situation doesn't apply in her eyes. And she also doesn't really care about the comments he's making about her - both the positive ones and the negative ones - since they're only his opinions and she hardly respects his ability to form a valid opinion about anything at this point.
Though when he takes her hand, she frowns at it. He's one of the last people in the world that she wants to be talking to, really, so it's not difficult to imagine how she feels about being touched by him. Nevertheless, she doesn't resist - she doesn't have much strength to do so anyway - and instead lets only her expression tell him how she feels about him taking that liberty. "I don't care to earn your respect, Mr. Luthor," she responds to him quite bluntly, her eyes staring right back at his, "I would be perfectly content to spend the rest of my life despising you. You're the one who wants that to change, so you're the one who needs to change his tune if you want any hope that I'll change mine."
Having said that, her eyes suddenly shift over to her assistant, and she only has to say, "Shawty..." And the young woman, having been watching this exchange very closely and knowing exactly what her boss wants, immediately takes a step away from the wall while pulling her gun out of her waistband. Less than a dozen feet away, aiming it at his head is beyond easy. "Let go of her hand," she says impatiently, as if she thinks that he really should know better and suspects that he's doing it anyway just to spite her.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2013 22:40:59 GMT -5
The energy in the room turned from a dead coldness to sticky, intoxicating murkyness. Bringing a gun to a fist-fight meant that he would have to be extra careful at this moment, for if he wasn’t he would be the victim in a patient turned killer spree. That in which, she would be caught, she would go to trial, and she would go to jail for the rest of her life. All while leaving LexCorp to the board of directors who would rather see it become something that strayed from Lex’s motto of “build yourself to be the best”.
He hardly expects her to take him seriously- after all how could someone actively be interested in listening to the man that ordered one’s execution. Yet, he releases his grip on Stenet, he did not mean for it to be rude or prudish… he thought he was describing a feeling of comfort. He wanted her to feel about it that way. His hand is on the blanket as he chimes in but in a much softer and vulnerable point, “Dr. Stenet, I truly do empathize with you. I understand what you’re going through. I understand the tossing and turning at night… I understand the sweating in the morning… I understand the silvery feeling that one gets while they are reading a paper- when one thinks about the situation over and over and over again. Thinking about what they could have done differently. I may not have been stabbed, but I was drugged and I had multiple bones broken and bruised. I was subjected to psychological and physical torture.” He paused, linking the emotion that he felt to that business trip gone wrong.
“I know what it’s like to have comfort and to have pleasure and then to be shattered and mutilated.” He remembers every inch, he was set into a trap… never again would be go somewhere so eagerly and so open. He looks at her and he feels something-as if looking at a niece that he had shunned for so many years – or a daughter that he hasn’t seen in ten years or a parent that he emotionally scarred.
Yes, in this way Alexander Luthor regrettably feels remorse. The multicolored taste of the truth, no matter what way you spin it. And he genuinely feels bad about it, he feels that he handled the situation impulsively, without the proper amount of sleep, and without the skills of an objective businessman. She does deserve respect, and as painful as it is to say it, he says it this time with honesty and self-introspection… he means it…. he knows that… but he needs her to accept it, even if he cannot truly accept that himself… “I’m Sorry” He gets up and moves back, looking at Shawty and her gun, and then back at Dr. Stenet.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Post by Nina Stenet on Sept 2, 2013 5:49:08 GMT -5
The intensity in the room that Lex feels is completely lost on Nina. Probably because she's in almost complete control of the situation. She knows that while Shawty would quite happy to shoot him if he does anything to deserve it, she also suspects that he has the good sense not to do that. So while there's a gun involved, the actual danger level is really quite low so long as everyone does what they're most likely to do.
When he lets go of her hand, she pulls it slightly away from him as if to emphasize that he'd never had her consent to be touched. He should have expected that, really - she has no desire to connect with him or take that as a sign of comfort. Though when he speaks she's very attentive to his words and her expression even shifts into a somewhat sympathetic frown. What he's describing is rather unpleasant after all, and in spite of her dislike of him she wouldn't have wished such a thing upon him. "I'm sorry that happened to you," she offers quietly, her words very sincere.
"But I'm afraid that you do not understand how I feel," she adds a bit more strongly, "I suppose you might think so, because the situation seems similar to you, but that's not how I feel at all. I'm not living in fear - I sleep like a baby. I remember the choices that I made that day and kick myself for many of them, but I see no reason to dwell on that - it's in the past and I can't fix it. And I lost my feeling of comfort and pleasure a long time ago, yet strangely enough this incident has restored it. Why, I'm not sure - perhaps a psychologist could tell me if I cared to find out."
"We are very different people, Mr. Luthor - I find it very presumptuous of you to assume that you know how it feels to be me right now," she finishes. Contrary to what he seems to believe, she's not really been emotionally scarred by what happened with Edward. Not that it didn't affect her on a very deep, emotional level, but just because one got badly hurt by someone that they trusted doesn't mean that they need to be haunted by that memory. If anything, it helped her see the older memories of the man in a newer and more productive light. She's emerged from this emotionally stronger than she was before, not weaker as Lex seems to suppose. Only her body has been weakened, but that will heal with sufficient time.
As Mr. Luthor steps away from Dr. Stenet, Shawty once again returns her gun to her waistband and steps back to rest against the wall once more - as if she'd never moved from that spot to begin with.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2013 17:11:43 GMT -5
He takes what little solace he can in her reply. Her sympathetic and graceful comment does go a long way. Luthor is surprised at himself for even admitting such a personal fact to a person that has no interest in listening. But the way she answered reminded him that she still is a caring person, despite everything that has happened to her. In that way, he is surprised and proud of her. Will he admit that fully? No, at this point in his life he doesn’t like to apologize for things committed. He has broken that method of dealing with people in this specific case.
In this case he feels- remorse. Though obviously that isn’t enough to get a new friendship. But he isn’t looking for that and neither is Doctor Stenet. He looks at his watch after she finishes speaking. He has been here for atleast two hours and made only minor progress in mending what he can of a destroyed bridge. From he has learned is that Nina is unlike many doctors her age. She views the world on a cellular level and her emotion, while reacting as normal people do, aren’t analyzed like normal people. She doesn’t feel alone or dissolved. She feels stronger, mentally.
"I said that because I thought you might find it interesting that I have had similar experiences, psychologically speaking or not. I agree that we are different people with different mindsets. And in the long run I should have known that this event, this tragedy in my mind, is not a trajedy in yours. I see this as an enlightenment, and you might as well. Is there anything that you particularly need, be it an object, a picture that you don’t have at the moment, any item of material worth (physically or not) that would make your stay… easier here?” he says in a calm voice that extends to his throught. Lex Luthor has never been this gentle. Except, maybe when talking to his mother when she was in the hospital for cancer. She survived the cancer, but he felt more vulnerable than she did. Alexander Luthor never admits that, this marks a change in thought- or better yet a change in emotion.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Post by Nina Stenet on Sept 4, 2013 2:18:17 GMT -5
His question causes Nina's eyebrow to raise somewhat suspiciously. Even now she doesn't trust him to have not have an ulterior motive. "I am being well taken care of by my friends and this hospital," she replies at first, but before she can conclude that she doesn't need anything she pauses because of a sudden thought. Her expression becomes very thoughtful for a moment before she adds, "But perhaps there is something..."
Looking more directly at Lex, her expression becomes very serious as she says, "Money." Knowing that he probably didn't expect that from her, she immediately starts to explain. "What bothers me most about this whole... situation with you is that I know what you did to me and here, in private, you'll even admit it. And yet if I were to drag you out in front of a jury, the only proof I have is the word of a madman that nobody will believe. But you have committed a terrible crime against me, and have received no punishment. That isn't just - it isn't right. But if your freedom and your reputation are too precious of a price to pay for that - so be it. You have more than enough money to make amends, and if you truly want to wipe that slate clean then you may compensate me for your crime," she states, before commenting, "That would make my stay... easier."
Not that something like money can make her believe that he's not a terrible person, but it could change him from being a terrible person who got away with harming her to one who she's even with - and that's a vast improvement. Honestly, she doesn't know what she'd do with the money if he agrees - she already makes a lot more than she needs to in order to live at a standard that she's happy with. Perhaps she'll donate it to a worthy charity? But the money isn't really the point of it to her anyway - the point is that he pays the price for what he did. "Of course, the question is - what is a fair price for what you've done?" she asks, directing the question at him rather than trying to answer that herself.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2013 16:12:42 GMT -5
Her mentioning of her friends, her connection of people taking care of her, and her “confidence” being sustained, brings a crisp smile to his face. The smile is one of those actions that has no reason, no motive, it simply exists and plays itself because the situation calls for it. Her threats were growing in nature and in steam. This he expected from the woman that he was arguing, pleading, communicating with over an incident over a year or two ago. He found it authentic that she was still lingering on the whole idea. Likely, because Luthor’s entering brought back the memory of almost being killed. In any situation, such entrances aren’t expected and almost certifiabley, “Holy entertaining”. In this situation, however Lex wasn’t guaranteed the hand at all. There was no invisible hand to guide Nina to purchasing the right product: I.e. accepting his apology and showing an amount of remorse and empathy. In this economic situation, Luthor had failed, but as she mentions the idea of paying her the damages that he has cost her.
His anger, which was tranquil a few moments before, rose from the shadowy depths. It is contained but his face has changed shape to a slight orange red. Nothing completely major, but enough to signify the ridiculousness of her statement. He should have to pay her money to award her damages? As LexCorp CEO he is tempted to say that he has a team of lawyers that don’t take threats lightly and do have a remarkable record for winning in court. But he refrains from speaking and instead listens with his right ear, as his left ear and body turn away to look outside the window. It was still raining and the thunder was subsiding, but the lightning was growing stronger. He wished for a strike on the building, enough to take out the electricity, escape with his dignity, and ensure that Nina knew who she was dealing with. He sighs and realizes that she sees a man without power, a man that doesn’t have everything, he has no protection from this.
His money is his wife, his daughter, his aunt, his grandmother. It’s the people that bring other people to him. With that comes prestige, power, contacts and authority. It builds status and brings down critics, one paycheck or media-slam at a time. Here he was, the strongest man in Metropolis, giving the hubris he has to a woman who doubtfully needs his money. It’s a symbol of a clean slate, one that Lex is ambivalent about doing. He takes out his check-book and begins a new page, “Is twelve thousand dollars enough to bring about a change in your state of mind with this entire dramatic situation.” He stares at her and glances as the blonde bodyguard who continues to stare at him, believing to bring the fear of God into him. It doesn’t work because Lex isn’t affected by such tactics, she should try harder. Yet, he is the only one trying in the room, Nina and….. “Shawty” are the ones that are having the time of their lives. Mocking him, degrading him, feeling powerful. He envied them.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Post by Nina Stenet on Sept 10, 2013 9:06:54 GMT -5
As she watches him, Nina can't help but feel a certain sense of satisfaction when she sees the visible signs of his anger at her request. Good - he should[/b] be angry! If the request didn't upset him then no matter how much he gave her there would be that sense that he wasn't truly punished. It's supposed to sting, which is why she can't help but be pleased that he's as attached to his money as she thought that he was. But she refrains from smiling in his face - that wouldn't be diplomatic at the moment.
Though after he pulls out his checkbook and suggests an amount, she doesn't feel much like smiling anymore. In fact she doesn't stop a frown from coming to her face as she repeats, "Twelve thousand dollars?" Based on the way she says it, she's clearly not pleased with it at all. "That's an insult, Mr. Luthor - pocket change for me, let alone you," she comments. Well, maybe calling it pocket change is a slight exaggeration in her case, but it certainly isn't for him and she's well aware of that. And beyond his sheer ability to pay more, she'd certainly say that the price for the damage done to her was much more.
"Because of you I had to fight for my life against a mentally disturbed man with a pipe; leave, not just my job, but my passion for a entire month; abandon an apartment and most of its contents; attract the attention of vigilantes, rogues, the media, the police, and the government; and you indirectly started me on a path that has seen me face death on multiple occasions - twice nearly fatal. Among other miscellaneous harm - I'm afraid I don't have an itemized list for you," she states rather matter-of-factly, adding, "That's worth far, far more than twelve thousand dollars, Mr. Luthor."
Taking a breath, she calms the anger from her tone as she says, "Do you have another offer? A serious one?" Even if her reaction to the figure causes him to change his mind completely, she'd rather take nothing than to pretend that she's satisfied with so small an amount for all the trouble he caused her with his thoughtless order to have her killed.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2013 21:55:43 GMT -5
He doesn't say much of anything. Right now he has very few options. The options that he can consider is to give her a "seious offer"... but what if he has no intention of doing that? What if he wishes to spend his money elsewhere to fix other issues that need to be fixed.... Then his conscious kicked in. This was the bridge that had to be momentarily rebuilt so that his business go go on unhinged and unscathed from any damage that could and would arise. He looks at the tiles on the floor then to Doctor Stenet and then to the white pillow behind her. It wasn't that he was distracted, it wasn't that he was scared. Lex Luthor was a god. A god who took every little detail into account before making a decision. Each of the items here represented some type of comfort for the doctor. But such items didn't comfort him. They made him feel tense, and despite being under a high amount of pressure, he often compartmentalized his stress into chunks that could be eased into. This was not one of those days. His annoyance and anger crushed the thin check paper as he started anew with a new... fresh one.
"One million dollars". He said it without emphasis and devoid of any dramatical pause. He sped through the phrase as if this was the last thing that he had to offer. That was a serious offer, more than what he offered. This was an offer that could fix a school in South Harlem, New York. That money could go to getting the Old Folk's their HD tv's that they've always wanted. That money could go to Cancer Research or it could go to funding a private army. Money allows one to build the dream house. A certain level of money allows one to build megaplex of houses. LexCorp was not the richest company in the world.
It was steadily rising to become a full fledged force of nature, but it was growing, learning, and improving as it trained. He had to groom this company and ensure that it would succeed forever, past Wayne Enterprises or any Enterprise of serious content. He took out a ballpoint pen (crimson and black markings) and twirled it with his large hand. He turned around and looked at Shawty for a good two minutes. His eyes expressed an annoyance and a level of intense disgust with the situation and with how he was being forced to do what he had no interest in doing. Yet, at the same time, he needed this schism to reseal.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Post by Nina Stenet on Oct 9, 2013 2:26:54 GMT -5
If she'd heard it, the comparison of Lex Luthor to a god would have made Nina laugh. He's no god - he's only a man. A rich, powerful man but still just a human being made of flesh and bones just like everyone else. Perhaps he has more intelligence and drive than the average person - that and a bit of luck is how he earned his position. Though he may not be the richest man in the world, he is still the upper crust of the upper crust. But though he's perhaps well above average, he's still just a man.
She, on the other hand is a person who can do something extraordinary. Even so, she doesn't think that her gift elevates her much if at all above anyone. No, like anyone, she feels that her worth as a person is measured by what she does with what she has. Mr. Luthor can be measured on the same scale. Perhaps one could even argue that the combination of talents he has that allows him to make money is extraordinary on the same level as her gift. But neither of them are gods. Though she has in the past compared herself to a dragon - dangerous, overwhelmingly powerful, but not immune to a well-placed spear.
The number he says now causes her to pause for thought. One million dollars is a very large number! Large enough that it would be unwise for her to respond too hastily, so she mulls the figure around in her mind. There are so many things that could be one with one million dollars... And she can't say that wouldn't more than cover the strictly financial cost of his actions against her.
However, such direct compensation is not the point of this - the point is that he wants to make up for what he did so that she no longer holds the past against him. That's an emotional question just as much as it's a logical one, and it takes her some moments to decide if one million dollars is enough to make her honestly able to feel satisfied. But as she ponders, she realizes that it's not. It's close - or at least in the right order of magnitude this time - but it still seems low. It feels to her like he's making that offer under the belief that it's the minimum possible number that she wouldn't walk away from. Minimal figures do not satisfy her feelings!
"Three," she says finally, her tone very neutral. She'll kick herself later if he walks away now, but she knows that her feelings would not feel satisfied if she were to accept and they may never have the opportunity to work this out again. So instead she simply proposes a new number, one that she knows would feel much more satisfactory. She'd rather risk losing it all than to have to pretend that her feelings are eased when they aren't.
Meanwhile, Shawty could hardly miss seeing the look that he's giving her. She responds by staring right back at him, her serious expression traded for a smile. It may be wrong to joy in the discomfort of others, but when it's Mr. Luthor she can't say that she's doesn't feel some level of pleasure to see him so upset.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2014 6:44:46 GMT -5
The next look might have surprised her, then. The anger and disgust and distaste on his face, the anxiety and the swallowed pride and the held back tears fell away into an impassive face. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her, and a faint smirk crossed his face." Good. I can't stand a woman who doesn't understand her own worth."
He smiled a bit as he twirled the pen again in his hand. "Three million then. . . " He pulled out the checkbook and started to put together the numbers, before looking up at Nina in the bed "and as an added consideration . . . and at the risk of insulting you again so soon after you were offended by the presumption of my recruitment. . . I'll be covering the total costs of your medical bills."
There was a tear of the check, which he placed on the counter, casually. He moved with a certain predatory ease, as if the gun to his back wasn't a concern anymore. Inscrutable, perhaps. "Don't think that I feel that money alone is adequate compensation for a woman of your talents. I meant it when I said I wanted you . . . " he smiled again with that faint smirk, then his face returned to the pure business it was a moment before, he casually makes his way back towards Shawty, placing his back to the gun again, pressing against it slightly with a subtle certainty, almost as if he's mocking the idea of it " And I hope you don't think that any unpleasantness changed my mind. On the contrary. I have to admit, you've got gumption, intellect and determination. You didn't even blink despite everything I said and despite everything that's happened. No, you're made of something much more impressive. But everyone has needs and wants. Everyone has a price . . . what do you want? Honestly?" He was rolling the pen in his fingertips, looking at her, intense gaze, considering his options.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Post by Nina Stenet on Feb 19, 2014 18:27:40 GMT -5
Does the change of expression on his face surprise her? Perhaps, but only a little. Nina's been around enough overly manipulative men lately that little of what they could do shocks her anymore. She knows that she's playing a bit of a dicey game, interacting with such people, but she doesn't completely have a choice on whether or not to do so now and going with her gut seems to be working decently well.
His statement about covering her medical bills doesn't bother her at all. "Fine," she replies, skeptical that will do anything to help him in any way. She wouldn't have much problem with the bill herself, as expensive as it will be, but better his pocket than hers.
There's a certain easing of tensions in the room as Lex puts the check down on the table. Unless it turns out to be fraudulent for some reason - which would be an odd move after the effort of this conversation - it's a very substantial sign that he does genuinely want better relations, even if his reasons for wanting that are naturally very suspect. Even Shawty looks a little bored now, knowing that it's probably safe to assume that she doesn't have to worry about him trying anything. Not right now, at least.
"You'd be stupid not to want me," Nina states easily, "But I still don't like you." Yes, she can give up the grudge that she has against him, but that doesn't erase her knowledge that he's the type of person who would do such a thing in the first place. To order the death of someone in the first place is bad enough, but for it to be someone you don't know and for such reasons? True, it was because of Edward and she's very well aware of just how infuriating the man can be, but there were plenty of other options available - that he chose that one says a lot.
Given the shift in the conversation, Mr. Luthor's mockery of her gun doesn't exactly win him any points with Shawty, as subtle as it is. Yes, both of them know that she's not going to shoot him right now - he doesn't have to be an ass about it. In fact, in her own sort of mockery, she moves from her position to step around him and head over to the table - she's never seen a check with as many zeros as they were talking about, so she wants to see it, and there's no reason she can't do so now. Just as he knows she won't shoot him, she knows that he's probably not stupid enough to do anything to her, and she also knows what will happen if he is.
Lex's question causes Nina to have quite some pause for thought. Of course, the temptation is there to simply tell him that he has nothing that she wants, but as satisfying of a thing to say as that would be she knows how well it would go over - especially if she said it too quickly and obviously without giving it sufficient thought. What does she want? "I want my medical innovations to be properly tested, produced, and distributed to the people who need them at an affordable price," she states, the almost challenging way that she looks at him when she says that indicating that she's not asking him to be the one to do it. If anything, her expression indicates a slight skepticism that he could do that to her satisfaction.
But Stenet Labs is a very small business: two employees - Shawty and her. On her own she can make new discoveries and invent new things, but she can't do all of the steps between that and using it to help patients. She has money, but not the resources or frankly the skills to organize that part of the process. So it's necessary for her to go to someone else for that. Still, that someone doesn't need to be Lex - there are other businesses that could do it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2014 19:49:04 GMT -5
He straightens his tie and then his cufflinks casually, enjoying the expression on Shawty's face immensely. There's something to be said about the wonderful power that money can have over another person. The money itself, however, was secondary, a means to an end. Money for money's sake is rarely worth more than the paper it's printed on, and there were other matters to be more concerned with.
He seemed to ignore Shawty, she wasn't the one he wanted to really focus on in the room, in a lot of way she was, at the moment, more an extension of her employer's will. Maybe she'd shoot him, maybe she wouldn't, but he had ideas. This was again, a gambit. "I don't need you to like me, Doctor Stenet. This is a matter of business, not pleasure, although if that's your requirement, I'd be happy to discuss things over dinner." He smirked sardonically at that "But I think you'd rather keep matters professional. It's never good when personal concerns interfere with business."
He puts his hands together before him, again a casual expression as he said "You want the freedom to investigate your medical wonders. You want the opportunity to push the boundaries into new domains, and to let your discoveries make their mark on the world. That's a worthy ambition. One that's worthy of respect on its own account. Yes, I think I've your mark, Doctor. You want the freedom to change the world" He looked at Shawty for a moment again and then back at Dr. Stenet, the eye contact in intense, the totality of concentration, the total focus of a man thinking of twenty things at once turned to take in the mind and body language of a single human being. What makes Lex Luthor an impressive man, is not the color of his cash or the strength of his resources. In that brief instance of a gaze, it would be clear to anyone with the eyes to see, that there is obsession to the man, drive, intellect. He would be just as powerful a player naked in a prison cell without a cent to his name. "I know the quality of your work doesn't require the support of LexCorp. I'm certain with time and effort and the right application of political will, social and economic capital, you could find the right investors and distributors twenty times over. But why? We both have what the other wants. I want my name associated with your quality. You want resources to develop your vision, and a world to share your gifts to. "
The measure of the woman was clear from how well she handled conflict, the fact that she was negotiating even now, despite all that came before. That was worth it's weight in gold, she could put aside petty emotionality for the sake of shared business ventures. Perhaps she hated him now, but that could change. Even if it didn't, it never hurt to appear magnanimous, and this would be far from the costliest mistake Lex Luthor had ever made.
"I think it's possible to bask in the lights of eachother's expertise and become more than the sum of our parts, Doctor Stenet. I've the groundwork you want already completed, and I'm asking only to let me show you what LexCorp has to offer you, so that you can offer something to the future. No more hard sell, no ultimatums. We both want the same thing, and all you have to do is focus on your own talents. I doubt anyone will make you as comprehensive or open an offer as that" He raised a single eyebrow, Mephistophles himself would have to take notes. The initial offer on the table: It was only the entire world.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
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Post by Nina Stenet on Feb 20, 2014 2:12:49 GMT -5
Nina doesn't bother to comment on whether or not she needs to like him - because it's perfectly true that she doesn't. In fact, if anything she thinks that her dislike of him is an advantage - the more you suspect the motives of someone, the harder it is for them to get anything past you. Not that she suspects that he couldn't if he was tricky enough - but then again, that belief only makes her that much less complacent.
She also doesn't comment as he speaks more broadly about what she wants, letting her silence be her agreement. Because, yes, in a nutshell she wants to change the world. To improve it for everyone through advances in medicine - something she can do so much faster and easier than someone without her gift. It's her life's work, and she's known it since the moment that she truly realized what her gift is capable of.
Over by the table, Shawty picks up the check and her lips purse slightly at it. It's a novelty to her, really - a ridiculously large amount of money! What would she even do with it if it was hers? Eh, she'd probably waste it... Jewelry or some shit. Nah, she'd probably use it to help the girls... except there'd probably be plenty left over even after. Putting it back down with a slightly scoffing sound, she walks past Nina's bed to reach the chair meant for visitors and takes a seat, mostly waiting now for Mr. Luthor to leave so that she can truly relax.
Shawty is only 4'9" so it's clear how she got her nickname. She's in her early twenties, but her height makes it easy to mistake her for younger so she tends to dress a little bit older to balance that out. Right now she's wearing a pair of dark blue skinny jeans with a soft pink blouse and a brown blazer overtop - all of them proving that she's brand conscious and the skate shoes on her feet are worth over $100. Probably not impressive to someone like Mr. Luthor, but she likes her things. Even though she's fairly relaxed right now, there's a certain inherent alertness to her - she's quiet, observant, and prone to thoughtful expressions.
Though it's Nina who is being the most thoughtful at the moment. Though her lips purse at the idea of his name being associated with her work. Not because of some egocentric desire for glory herself but because, again, she doesn't like him and doesn't like the idea of even his name tainting her work in a way. Still, she can't say that the rest of what he's saying doesn't tempt her, because while there are others that could do it for her, she knows that LexCorp is on the list of options and not low on the list either. Because no, she's not going to let her emotions get in the way of that decision - her work is too important for that. She has a man here who is not just able and willing to make her the offer, but appears willing to go to great lengths to convince her - she can't ignore that. Still, the all-important question is whether or not she can trust him with something as precious as her work.
After a long pause, Nina finally says, "I don't think that this is either the time or the place for me to me to be considering such an offer - it's going to be quite some time I can work again, in any event. And I have other projects to take care of." She pauses and sighs to herself as she thinks about all that she needs to do - all the things that she can't do because she's stuck on this hospital bed for awhile, and even when she has the strength to get up and leave this place it will be even longer before she's able to get back to her grueling shifts in the lab. "But if you want to 'show me what LexCorp has to offer me' when I'm back on my feet, I can say that I'd consider it," she adds somewhat tiredly. This conversation is exhausting, and not just physically, and she can feel that starting to catch up with her.
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Deleted Member
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Registered On: Oct 31, 2024 17:52:11 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2014 4:13:02 GMT -5
Lex Luthor noted Shawty's interest in the money with a minor mental note to be revived later, in case bribery might be more effective with her. The majority of that attention, however, was taken up with Dr. Stenet again. He smiled and opened his hands again in a placating gesture "That is only fair, Doctor Stenet. You've been through quite the ordeal, and despite the elan and grace with which you've surpassed any expectations any human might expect to go through. . . you deserve every opportunity to consider my offer and to recover." He smiles as he straightens his tie, standing up straighter.
"I will, however, have someone bring you some of the information to review at your convenience. I know how dull these hospital beds can be, and perhaps you'll find the strength to take a moment to read what we have sent. We'll make arrangements for tours and discussions once you feel you've recovered. . . and should you wish to send anyone to visit" he looks at Shawty for a moment, smiling faintly, then back to Dr. Stenet "to perhaps pick up any equipment or supplies you might need to consider or to make your recovery more comfortable. . . simply contact this number and the arrangements will be made.." A quick flip of a business card from a wallet and then placed on the table again. He stands casually still, a far cry from the man he appeared a few minutes before. Was all this some sort of weird perverted psychological test? Did he come for apology or for an interview? What was going on?
He instead spoke again "Though I know it's premature, I hope that we have the opportunity to work together some time. I think, once you look closer at the goals and mission of LexCorp, and the opportunities it can provide. . . you'll be hard pressed to refuse. If you do, however, refuse . . . I understand and bear no ill will. . . after all" He begins to walk towards the door and chuckles once "I understand it's not personal, just business." He steps out the doorway and then says over his shoulder, almost as an afterthought " I wish you a full recovery with all the comfort you can manage."
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