multiversallogs | green eggs and ham

Entry tags:

green eggs and ham

Who: Club Luthor
What: a breakfast meeting, because family bonding is best when it's put in your day planner
Where: Brock Marsh
When: Sukkardi morning
Notes: they've already had their first breakfast meeting in person, now it's kind of a routine
Warnings: Luthors are playing nice holy shit (for now)

The current restaurant is a far cry from the inn. Though they had their reunion at the inn, Luthors aren't the kind to indulge in such frivolous sentimentality that would cause them to make a tradition of it. The cafe is small but neat, perfectly nestled in the neighborhood that has rebuilt itself to its former splendor since the creature attacks several months prior.

It's a weekend and for now Lex has all the time in the world. At least until Lionel gets to be too much and he can make up a convenient excuse.

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The coffee is watered down and the cream much too fatty for his particular taste. He drinks it anyway-- slowly but surely. It is adaptation after all. So far he hasn't complained about much, not even the commute that he had expressed some reservations towards prior to their meeting. It was all part of a proper learning curve that he has acquired some enthusiasm for.

As the waitress deposits the lukewarm omelet and small bowl of fruit in front of him, Lionel makes careful work of the flimsy paper ringlet that secures the wrapped silverware, rolling his index finger and thumb together to be rid of the sticky residue.

"You must be relieved to not have to rush off quite so soon today."

He places the napkin on his lap but doesn't move much else in terms of utensils.

Brock Marsh is one of the nicer neighborhoods in Baedal and one that Lex is normally proud to reside in. Of course with a personal butler who doubles as a chef, when he goes out it's usually because he has reason and the reason is never a simple cafe.

So it serves him right that the restaurant he chooses to show off his neighborhood is far below Luthor standards.

"There's always work to do," he says in reply, giving himself an early out. "If I'm needed I'll go in, you know that long hours aren't exactly a deterrent."

Just for a moment he regards Lex as evenly as the mediocre coffee before him. The glance is tempered when he picks up his fork and knife and delicately carves the flesh of the omelet into bite-sized portions, but he doesn't eat them just yet.

"You don't have to try so hard to impress, Lex. You've certainly demonstrated some merit in the community from what I've seen, and I know better than to expect all work and no play from you."

One bite.

"I think it's about time that we established a more...forthright approach."

Lex doesn't realize he's trying as hard as he does until after it happens. It doesn't deter him, but it does make him more determined to have a bit more finesse about it. He isn't going to stop reminding Lionel of the good he's done. While his father doesn't need to know everything he's been up to, he does need to understand that Lex is doing a lot of good on his own and can thrive without Lionel's backing.

He doesn't cower under the declaration and instead pushes away his own plate to fold his hands above the table. "So be forthright. What do you mean?"

The presence of interest is all he needs. His tone is notably lower now, keeping the conversation exclusive to their table only.

"What are the odds that the two of us would end up in a place like this? There's a reason to this all, Lex, and no one seems to have gathered the proper answers to that reason yet."

He doesn't give Lex the luxury of much time for input.

"I'm sure these invaluable contacts of yours have their own contributions, but there are still priorities here."

There's a brief pause on his part. This part of the conversation doesn't seem as well articulated or preconceived at the rest.

"You're...my son, and it would be foolish for either of us not to keep that in perspective."

"I do have a priority. It's to do some good here and have it reach such a capacity that there's no hope but for it to spill over into the world we know."

He leans in a little, food forgotten and discarded. "You don't think I know there's a reason behind this? I want to know about this just as much as you, but what I'm doing is what I can control. I don't see you coming up with any theories."

Or putting anything into action. Lex is instinctively wary any time Lionel pulls the "you're my son" card, but every part of him wants to believe that this time is sincere.

"But if you have I'm willing to listen."

Lionel makes no move to join in the closer conversation. Briefly his attention drifts from the table to catch any wandering eyes around the diner.

"Theories take time to formulate, you know that."

Thoughtfully he runs his knuckles along the underside of his chin. The stubble is not as tailored as it usually is.

"I've looked into a job with the University. Their research department seems to be expanding quite rapidly."

Lex leans back in his chair once again. If Lionel wasn't going to meet him halfway then there was no use in bothering. It's only a little thing, but body language isn't something that either Luthor takes lightly, a fact made very plain only moments earlier.

"You've been here a week. I hear even theories have bootstraps."

At the mention of research Lex lifts his eyebrows. Lionel Luthor working for someone else was going to take some getting used to. He was sure that this wasn't exactly a first choice. "Congratulations on your timing. What field?"

His initial response to the terminology is a curt laugh. In one slow motion he wipes the vexation away from the bridge of his nose and forehead determined to keep the conversation between them as level as possible...for the moment.

"I don't appreciate the poor attempt at a lecture."

Briefly he sips his coffee to corral the conversation.

"Biofuel solutions."

Edited 2011-09-12 11:19 (UTC)

"A few sentences isn't a lecture. Then again, I'm not the expert on giving them." His casual shrug is enough to name names and Lex punctuates his statement by pausing to sip at his coffee. He doesn't realize just how much he looks like his father by mirroring his actions.

Biofuel though, that could be useful. "What do you plan to do with these solutions once you find them?" There is no way Lionel Luthor is working for a university out of the goodness of his heart.

"That's asking for a rather spoon-fed answer, isn't it? Discretion, Lex. You must understand it to reap the full rewards from a potential competitor."

Lionel has no hopes for Lex to turn the conversation around, thus proceeds to carry the conversation. He's either in a very generous mood or he feels that the breakfast may not have much left in terms of longevity.

"I'll rebuild the company, of course. Whether you're on board with that, well, your business partner Mr. Veidt has mentioned that he has some interesting plans in development."

Lionel's words were enough to confirm what he was thinking. Of course the man wasn't content with only working for the university, and now Lex knows to what end. Rebuilding LuthorCorp would be difficult, but Lex has already taken many steps to do something similar - with a few connections of course.

The way Lionel says the phrase business partner makes Lex raise a skeptical eyebrow. He isn't going to dispute this, but whatever Lionel thinks he knows will have to be left alone to stew. He owes Lionel nothing, especially if they are going to be competition.

"We do have quite a bit in the works. Like I said, I've been busy." Lionel has also said that Lex doesn't need to rattle off his accomplishments. Lesson learned, Dad.

Outside business, as any Luthor knows, is never frowned upon but is always taken under the careful consideration. One should never become too comfortable with their bedfellows. He has seen his son come to these realizations agonizingly slow time and time again. Assets were meant to be protected and carefully monitored. Whatever was brewing from the corporate partnership would not be the undoing of so many years of his own blood and sweat. Here LuthorCorp was still a fledgling. Lex would be needed whether he volunteered or not.

After all, he finds nothing wrong with a little competitive spirit.

"From what I've heard, he is quite practical with his business-- maybe a bit bold with his speech, but that trait may serve its purposes."

Casually he waves down the waiter for a glass of water, anticipating his swift return.

"It's served us well so far." Lex doesn't want to give Lionel too much information, but he's not shying away from what has already happened either. Lionel needs to know that his son has forged a strong alliance. Lex has worked hard to be where he is now and any attempts to take any of that away would be met with much resistance. Jumping ship now is not at all a priority.

A waiter sets down two glasses of water for the both of them and after he leaves, Lex resumes speaking. "Is that what you're here to talk about?" As long as they were being forthright, Lex had no qualms with answering any interrogation of his business practices. He knew how to proceed, and deflect if necessary.

He doesn't touch the glass just yet. His posture briefly breaks in a rare moment, tilting his head to study his son and the facade of how much he thinks that he has changed and the true measure where he begins to wonder just how many of the changes, if any, have begun to take effect.

"If you're going to divert the conversation to something more to your liking, I suggest that you start now."

Edited 2011-09-26 10:50 (UTC)

"You said you wanted to try a forthright approach. I don't see why it's appropriate to change topics now." Lex's reaction to decline was immediate. He needs to show Lionel that he isn't intimidated, that he can handle whatever the city throws his way, and if that happens to be an interrogation, then so be it. He would conquer this just like anything else.

He takes a sip of his own glass and leans back in his chair, assuming the posture of a man who has nothing to hide.

"I'm only inquiring about something that you are so adamantly trying to keep me in the dark about. It's senseless, Lex," he replies with stern civility. The posture isn't so convincing for him, he has seen it before-- sending the car to retrieve his son from a demolished hotel suite at 4 AM, sending an extractor to pluck Lex away from a seedy Metropolis nightclub, the defiant buyout of plant number three...all those glorious occasions of cleaning up a sizable mess.

He had almost started to regard that as the past.

"They say in chess that one must study the endgame before anything else, whether it's from losing or exploring even the most fatal possibilities. How do you really see this partnership with Mr. Veidt working out?"

"How exactly have I kept you in the dark?" Lex allows his annoyance to creep into his voice, losing a just a bit of that poise he works so hard to maintain. "I've told you about people I know, land I've acquired, and the opportunities my current job has afforded me only to have it dismissed. Am I to constantly guess what it is you're looking for?"

He'll answer the question later, it's not that Lex is avoiding it, but the fact that Lionel is already throwing around untrue accusations ruffles Lex in all the wrong ways.

There's a certain pleasure that derives in hitting a nerve-- it's a high that he often feels remains out of his control. Still, he does nothing to put the habit out of practice.

"You bring it upon yourself when you waft at the questions at hand."

He moves his water closer, indulging in a brief sip.

"I've said before that you've done well for yourself," he speaks with a dismissive air. It's no glowing compliment, but a proper assessment of his son's productivity. There is, however, always room for improvement. "And yet I always have to remind you to not become so emotionally invested in your assets. Everything is subject to change."

"I'm not wafting." Lex does his best to bring himself back to his usual even tone but it's obvious that there's a lingering reaction that he hasn't managed to shake just yet.

"I know all about change. I was taken here before you showed up. And I'm not sure if you remember, but my master's degree was interrupted because someone wanted me at a crap factory. I know how to not get attached to what others see as lack of opportunity."

He drinks from his glass of water, never taking his eyes off Lionel. After setting the glass down, his voice is considerably calmer. "As for the partnership, I see it resulting in our names being known with reverent favor throughout the city."

The air is thick and rich with subtleties that Lionel makes no secret of notating. His gaze is sharp, alive, and searching hopefully for an ingrained answer that he has tried to foster since the day his son was born.

A slow nod is offered for acknowledgment once Lex presents his case.

"Don't mistake favor for success. The collective body doesn't know what is best for it without the regulation of the brain. It's not always the favorable choices that keep that body alive."

He places his napkin over the remainder of his food that is by now far too cold for his taste.

Edited 2011-10-24 06:43 (UTC)

If Lionel has no further interest in his food then Lex has no reason to stay. Lex takes his time to fold his napkin into a neat triangle shape before also placing it over his food. He is nothing if not presentable and if that is a quality his father lacks then Lex wouldn't be the one to point the finger of blame.

"Then I'm sure you'll forgive me if I make the unfavorable choice of leaving. Cold eggs was never one of my favorites."

Lex stands, pushing in his seat to the table and offering his father a handshake in departure.

He doesn't rise to meet Lex immediately, chuckling instead in his seat.

"Try to keep what I said in mind."

Taking the the time to rise and adjust his jacket, he finally accepts the handshake. Just before their hands part, his other hand falls over Lex's with an awkward pat that seems hesitant to linger.

"If you don't mind taking care of the bill," he suggests.

"I'll try," Lex says evenly, making no promises. He keeps his hand extended and doesn't waver from his father's show. Their song and dance is familiar by now, and though he's far from happy with it, Lex understands how it works.

At the pat on the back a spark of hope cuts through Lex's stoic features. He recognizes the the show of physical contact is awkward. Maybe they're finally moving forward. The city has a way of bringing out certain attributes one didn't know existed.

"If you don't mind taking care of the bill."

So that was that. Lex nods once before releasing his hand, turning away from Lionel to find the cashier.

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green eggs and ham

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