After Vicki Vale's departure, Arias was once again alone. He leaned back in his chair and slowly spun it to face the wide, panoramic windows of his office.
The skyline stretched out before him. He sat in silence, his mind wandering, lost in thought. Soon a familiar voice resonated in his mind
[Ari?]
Arias didn't flinch. Instead, he showed a small, knowing smile. 'Yes?' he answered in the sa quiet space of his mind.
The voice of Apeiro seed to carry a subtle concern. [You seem like you have a lot on your mind] Apeiro observed gently.
Arias tilted his head slightly, still gazing out at the view. 'In a way, I do.'
There was a brief pause before Apeiro spoke again. [You know you can always confide in if sothing troubles you] she said, her voice as soothing as a whisper.
Arias didn't respond imdiately. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon as if contemplating sothing just beyond it.
When he finally spoke, his tone was reflective, almost distant. 'It's strange. Not too long ago, I was staying in rundown hotels, taking on petty contracts. Now, I stand at the apex of humanity. And the funny thing is... this is only the beginning]
[The world already fears you, and no one can touch you. What more is there to do?]
Arias leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. 'An empire built on fear is destined for chaos' he explained, his voice thoughtful. 'This is only the beginning because now is the critical mont when I need to build alliances and relationships. Humans are social creatures—this can't be avoided. But with my reputation, it's both easier and harder.'
[Among the countless races across existence, humans are so of the most chaotic. They never keep peace for long, especially not with each other]
Arias chuckled softly, a brief smile appearing on his face. 'I know,' he replied. 'That's why I plan on giving them an enemy to unite against. But not bef—.'
**Knock knock.**
Arias paused upon hearing the knock, feeling Apeiro's presence shift slightly as if acknowledging the interruption.
[It seems we'll have to save this chat for later, Ari] she said, her voice fading like a distant breeze.
Arias let out a quiet sigh. 'I look forward to it,' he replied, feeling her presence disappear from his mind as swiftly as it had arrived.
He turned his chair back to face the room, taking a breath before calling out, "Co in."
The door opened, and once again, Cheshire's lithe figure walked in first.
She wore the sa teasing smile as before, her movents still provocative. Behind her, Lois Lane entered, her sharp eyes darting around the office as she quickly assessed her surroundings.
There was a brief stiffness in her posture before she settled her gaze on Arias.
Cheshire stopped in the middle of the room again, her hand resting on her hip. "You have another guest, boss," she said with a playful lilt in her voice. "You're quite busy today, it almost makes sad," she added, pouting slightly.
Arias glanced at her, his expression neutral. "I wasn't under the impression I had to keep you happy."
Cheshire smirked, her eyes flashing with amusent. "You break my heart, boss~" she replied in a singsong voice before turning to leave.
As she walked out, she swayed her hips provocatively again, as if she knew exactly how to draw attention.
Lois watched her leave, narrowing her eyes slightly as she observed the exaggerated movents. A thought crossed her mind, 'He's powerful, but at the end of the day, he's still a man with needs.'
Once Cheshire had left and the door closed softly behind her, Lois turned her full attention to Arias.
She approached one of the chairs across from his desk and sat down, crossing her legs. "Good afternoon, Mr. Markovich," she greeted, her voice sounding professional.
Arias inclined his head slightly. "Good afternoon to you as well, Miss Lane."
Without wasting any ti, Lois leaned forward slightly, her eyes focused. "So then, what are the requirents to interview you? I'm very flexible when it cos to negotiations, but please understand I have professional limitations."
Arias couldn't help but let out a short laugh at her phrasing. It wasn't the statent itself that amused him, but rather the way she frad it.
"Did I say sothing wrong?" Lois asked, frowning a little, clearly thrown off by his reaction.
Arias shook his head, his smile lingering. "No, not at all," he replied, still amused. "I just find it... amusing." He paused briefly before continuing, "Anyway, I won't waste your ti, Miss Lane. My requirent is quite simple."
Lois raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I'm listening."
Arias leaned back in his chair. "Fairness."
Lois blinked, her expression shifting slightly as she considered his response. "Fairness?" she repeated, unsure of whether he was being serious or setting her up for sothing more complex.
Arias nodded, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "Yes, fairness," he confird. "I expect you to present things as they are, without the lens of bias or manipulation. I don't need a mouthpiece, Miss Lane. I need soone who's willing to report the truth—whatever it may be. No more, no less."
Lois sat back in her chair, her arms crossing slightly as she took in his words. She was known for being a tough journalist, soone who chased the truth no matter where it led. But dealing with soone like Arias ant navigating a minefield of influence and power.
'He's smart' she thought, studying him closely. 'He knows how to play this ga, but at least he's upfront about it.'
After a mont, she nodded slowly. "I can do that," she said, keeping her voice steady. "But fairness goes both ways, Mr. Markovich. You give the truth, and I'll give you a fair shot."
Arias nodded with approval. "Good. That's all I ask."
For Arias, it was another step toward expanding his reach beyond Gotham. For Lois, it was a chance to prove herself in a world where she often had to fight twice as hard to maintain her integrity.
"We'll be in touch," Arias said finally, his voice signaling the end of the conversation.
Lois gave a slight nod, her eyes lingering on him for a mont longer before she stood, smoothing her skirt as she did. "I'll look forward to it," she replied, turning toward the door.
As she left the room, she couldn't help but think, 'Fairness? We'll see about that.'
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