Hope (Abbott) & Namor | Consultation
Feb. 28th, 2024 02:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsNamor meets with Hope Abbott to discuss his plans to combat corporate greed and pollution. There’s tension on both sides.
The Atlantean had already commandeered a booth before she entered. Sharply dressed and sitting in the appointed coffee shop in District X, the King of Atlantis was carefully fashionable in a pair of pressed slacks and a mandarin collared blazer. Namor's summons had been brief, polite, and entirely business-like in its formality: "A consultation on strategic matters."
There was, appropriately enough, an annotated file folder sitting on the table that spoke to some prep work having been accomplished.
"Namor of Atlantis... I received your summons." Hope paused at the table, sharply pressed charcoal pencil skirt and suit jacket and an amethyst silk blouse firmly in place. "You spoke about an 'consultation'?" Just a hint of mockery rang in her voice.
The cold smile she got in return didn't rise to the bait, exactly, but the once King's answering tone held a note of long practiced lecture. "Hope Abbott. We are pleased you accepted our invitation."
Namor did not rise to meet her. "You may address Us as Your Majesty," and his tone pricked in irritation, "And to remember that We are not 'of Atlantis.'" Each use of the plural was over exaggerated, underscoring the point. He leaned forward then, crossing his hands. "We are Atlantis."
"Hmm, I believe Namor will do just fine here and now..." Hope slipped into the booth across from him and smoothed down her skirt, a small smile playing around her lips. Reaching into her tote, she pulled out her laptop, notebook and pen. "What is it you believe I may be able to help you with?"
"I see," Namor said in the tone of a disapproving professor. "You came highly recommended, Ms. Abbott, but you must understand that I do not need you." Still, he slid the prepared folder her way. "I want to purchase a company. I have already secured funding, but here is where your expertise was promised to be invaluable. My belief in your capacity has yet to be proven."
Letting the comments about her unproved capacity slide off her easily, Hope pulled over the folder and opened it. Quickly she took in the first few pages, recognizing the names immediately. "You are interested in purchasing one or more clean energy companies." She simply stated as she took in the secondary information on each company. "And I am assuming you wish to verify there are no skeletons hidden in any closets?"
Namor actually shrugged. "Capitalism is a system built on the graves, and there will always be those sacrificed for human greed. Endless skeletons. What I need is a company inscrutable enough to push for change, but hungry enough to devour those I plan to destroy." He folded his hands, patiently waiting to gauge her reaction.
Hope pulled over her own notebook, writing down a few remarks. "I would say that much depends on the leader and the path they choose to walk. Depending on the path chosen, different assets of the company could qualify for ' inscrutable enough for change, but hungry enough to devour'. So more concretely, what assets and qualities are you looking?"
"I could lie and say nobility and honor. Or a willingness to martyr themselves for a cause." Namor raised an eyebrow at this, but his tone was light. He folded his hands. "Ms. Abbott, what I want is to know if I can trust you with this before we continue. I value loyalty."
"I meant the crucial assets and qualities in the company you are hoping to acquire..." Hope looked up from where she was taking down notes at a high speed, eyeing him drolly. "... your Madjesty."
The man across the table for her only frowned. "Tell me, Ms. Abbott. Why did you agree to this meeting?"
"Because a potentially interesting business opportunity was being offered." Hope replied simply. "And I wished to investigate. Now, I do have a question of my own. If you harbour such doubts in regards to my loyalty and your ability to trust me, why even make inquiries?"
"I trust Emma Frost," was Namor's immediate response. "There is no reason to question her impeccable judgment, but I do have access to your Google. Worthington Industries and I do not share goals." He waved a hand. "I support a strong woman playing a wide game, but I promise you I will react poorly to being treated like a pawn. I keep my promises."
"Abbott Consulting works for Warren Worthington, not Worthington Industries." Hope corrected him, one eyebrow sharply raised. "Just like it works for a number of other organisations. Your contract will be treated with the same confidentiality and care as every other of my clients."
He didn't flinch at the criticism. "Capitalism. I am aware. My goal is to weaponize humanity's greed toward real change, or to at least encourage the sharks to feast on themselves. I require allies who can work within this modern age's challenges. That is what I hope you still can offer me." This was, notably, not in the past tense.
Hope offered a simple nod before reopening up the folder and studying the information again. "My proposal would be to start with a preliminary assessment. I will conduct a basic background investigation on two of these companies and from there we will discuss if the type of information I deliver is what you need." And they could figure out if they could work together without biting each other's head off, but that would remain unspoken for now. "I can give you a quote for the preliminary assessment tomorrow."
"Very well," he allowed. "You can be paid in pirate gold, or something more legal after one of my trusted few translates it into something more socially dull. I may be unsure of you, Ms. Abbott, but you will be compensated for your time."
"Let us go with the more legal tender for now." Hope quickly made another note before glancing over the folder. "Are there two companies in particular you would like me to start out with? Or should I select two at random?"
"This is your area of expertise," Namor said. "Let it never be said that I am too proud to admit when I am out of my depth." If only because saying that would involve an unhealthy level of Imperius Rex.
"Very well. Are there any other requirements I need to be aware of?" Hope asked, just to make sure.
"You should have everything you need," Namor said. A dismissal. "Be discreet. I look forward to seeing your first pass." There was a beat of silence, and the Atlantean's stare indicated that he was not planning to be the first to leave.
Yet as soon as Hope moved to gather her things, he pounced. As if Namor was waiting for the chance. "Also, it would be Your Wrathesty. My anger transcends mere madness."
Hope didn't reply till she had neatly tucked away her supplies and risen from her seat. "Honestly, I believe Your Pettiness fits here better." Just a hint of glee shimmered in her eyes as she smiled and nodded at him politely before heading for the door.
The Atlantean had already commandeered a booth before she entered. Sharply dressed and sitting in the appointed coffee shop in District X, the King of Atlantis was carefully fashionable in a pair of pressed slacks and a mandarin collared blazer. Namor's summons had been brief, polite, and entirely business-like in its formality: "A consultation on strategic matters."
There was, appropriately enough, an annotated file folder sitting on the table that spoke to some prep work having been accomplished.
"Namor of Atlantis... I received your summons." Hope paused at the table, sharply pressed charcoal pencil skirt and suit jacket and an amethyst silk blouse firmly in place. "You spoke about an 'consultation'?" Just a hint of mockery rang in her voice.
The cold smile she got in return didn't rise to the bait, exactly, but the once King's answering tone held a note of long practiced lecture. "Hope Abbott. We are pleased you accepted our invitation."
Namor did not rise to meet her. "You may address Us as Your Majesty," and his tone pricked in irritation, "And to remember that We are not 'of Atlantis.'" Each use of the plural was over exaggerated, underscoring the point. He leaned forward then, crossing his hands. "We are Atlantis."
"Hmm, I believe Namor will do just fine here and now..." Hope slipped into the booth across from him and smoothed down her skirt, a small smile playing around her lips. Reaching into her tote, she pulled out her laptop, notebook and pen. "What is it you believe I may be able to help you with?"
"I see," Namor said in the tone of a disapproving professor. "You came highly recommended, Ms. Abbott, but you must understand that I do not need you." Still, he slid the prepared folder her way. "I want to purchase a company. I have already secured funding, but here is where your expertise was promised to be invaluable. My belief in your capacity has yet to be proven."
Letting the comments about her unproved capacity slide off her easily, Hope pulled over the folder and opened it. Quickly she took in the first few pages, recognizing the names immediately. "You are interested in purchasing one or more clean energy companies." She simply stated as she took in the secondary information on each company. "And I am assuming you wish to verify there are no skeletons hidden in any closets?"
Namor actually shrugged. "Capitalism is a system built on the graves, and there will always be those sacrificed for human greed. Endless skeletons. What I need is a company inscrutable enough to push for change, but hungry enough to devour those I plan to destroy." He folded his hands, patiently waiting to gauge her reaction.
Hope pulled over her own notebook, writing down a few remarks. "I would say that much depends on the leader and the path they choose to walk. Depending on the path chosen, different assets of the company could qualify for ' inscrutable enough for change, but hungry enough to devour'. So more concretely, what assets and qualities are you looking?"
"I could lie and say nobility and honor. Or a willingness to martyr themselves for a cause." Namor raised an eyebrow at this, but his tone was light. He folded his hands. "Ms. Abbott, what I want is to know if I can trust you with this before we continue. I value loyalty."
"I meant the crucial assets and qualities in the company you are hoping to acquire..." Hope looked up from where she was taking down notes at a high speed, eyeing him drolly. "... your Madjesty."
The man across the table for her only frowned. "Tell me, Ms. Abbott. Why did you agree to this meeting?"
"Because a potentially interesting business opportunity was being offered." Hope replied simply. "And I wished to investigate. Now, I do have a question of my own. If you harbour such doubts in regards to my loyalty and your ability to trust me, why even make inquiries?"
"I trust Emma Frost," was Namor's immediate response. "There is no reason to question her impeccable judgment, but I do have access to your Google. Worthington Industries and I do not share goals." He waved a hand. "I support a strong woman playing a wide game, but I promise you I will react poorly to being treated like a pawn. I keep my promises."
"Abbott Consulting works for Warren Worthington, not Worthington Industries." Hope corrected him, one eyebrow sharply raised. "Just like it works for a number of other organisations. Your contract will be treated with the same confidentiality and care as every other of my clients."
He didn't flinch at the criticism. "Capitalism. I am aware. My goal is to weaponize humanity's greed toward real change, or to at least encourage the sharks to feast on themselves. I require allies who can work within this modern age's challenges. That is what I hope you still can offer me." This was, notably, not in the past tense.
Hope offered a simple nod before reopening up the folder and studying the information again. "My proposal would be to start with a preliminary assessment. I will conduct a basic background investigation on two of these companies and from there we will discuss if the type of information I deliver is what you need." And they could figure out if they could work together without biting each other's head off, but that would remain unspoken for now. "I can give you a quote for the preliminary assessment tomorrow."
"Very well," he allowed. "You can be paid in pirate gold, or something more legal after one of my trusted few translates it into something more socially dull. I may be unsure of you, Ms. Abbott, but you will be compensated for your time."
"Let us go with the more legal tender for now." Hope quickly made another note before glancing over the folder. "Are there two companies in particular you would like me to start out with? Or should I select two at random?"
"This is your area of expertise," Namor said. "Let it never be said that I am too proud to admit when I am out of my depth." If only because saying that would involve an unhealthy level of Imperius Rex.
"Very well. Are there any other requirements I need to be aware of?" Hope asked, just to make sure.
"You should have everything you need," Namor said. A dismissal. "Be discreet. I look forward to seeing your first pass." There was a beat of silence, and the Atlantean's stare indicated that he was not planning to be the first to leave.
Yet as soon as Hope moved to gather her things, he pounced. As if Namor was waiting for the chance. "Also, it would be Your Wrathesty. My anger transcends mere madness."
Hope didn't reply till she had neatly tucked away her supplies and risen from her seat. "Honestly, I believe Your Pettiness fits here better." Just a hint of glee shimmered in her eyes as she smiled and nodded at him politely before heading for the door.
