Who are you?
What do you want?
What do you want… from me?
What are you after?
Even as Itvasme felt her strength returning from the hot meal(s) 🫢✨, the questions from earlier resurfaced.
And it was at this time that Darken glanced up.
How to make the World… Better?
What did 'Better' look like?
And was it really possible to work together with the Dark Rizzards to achieve this goal?
Whilst Bob was aiming for Success, in the form of a Win-Win World Domination, the attainment of Peak Genetic Quality, and Immortality and Legacy in his own way, his [True Multiple Projections] were exploring the same problem and goals from different perspectives.
For example, Valentine Richést focused on the more outward-facing, political and social positioning that allowed for influence.
At the same time, Darken Mysterius was considering the idea of Success from the other side of the coin - how effective were strategies and influence that were separate from the current establishment, and was there any potential or opportunity for Integration?
Darken needed to learn more, and as always, he would not make hasty generalizations or judgements, rather instead considering everything on a case-by-case basis.
For example, getting to know the Grand Dark Rizzard Itvasme better might allow him to learn more about other possible ways to achieve Success, how to better maximize his Genetic Quality, gain new perspectives on how to make the World Better, and to gain more information on how to best establish a Legacy and attain Immortality - through collaboration with people that didn't necessarily operate via 'officially sanctioned' channels.
Darken of course would not condone maliciousness or anti-life beliefs - which existed even in people regardless of them being Rizzmasters, Dark Rizzards, or another affiliation, but he wouldn't simply dismiss or lump certain groups into preconceived categories without first gaining some experience or evidence about them. People were people, knowledge was knowledge, resources were resources, and maintaining options and good relations with others - unless they crossed a line that devolved into harming or negatively affecting others - was Darken's main [Intention]. Everyone and every situation had something to teach you, so long as you let them.
For all the ideology. In the end, People were People. And The "Art of Rizz" aimed to meet people at this fundamental level.
As a result… the first thing Darken did, even as he continued plotting his plans for World Domination… was not grandiose, nor was it transactional, or probing.
He simply….
enjoyed and appreciated Itvasme's company, the moments they shared, with the [Intention] of just wanting to get to know her better as a Human being.
"How are you feeling? ✨"
"… I'm good." Itvasme replied cautiously. Experience had told her that nothing in life was free. Everything had a cost right…? and so the less she owed this person, the better…?
At the same time… he didn't seem like he was [only] after her body. They had already done that. There was no reason for him to be so… nice, right?! Maybe he was after her influence as a Grand Dark Rizzard?! Yes, that was logical, and he had even told her that was one of his aims earlier. But strangely, her [Sense] ability was registering something strange.
Right now, yes, maybe there was some interest in the Dark Rizzards and what she offered as a leader of that influential group… but overwhelmingly, it seemed that… this masked guy was genuinely just enjoying her company, and wanting to know more about her because he liked her… not just for her body, not her status as a Grand Dark Rizzard… but… just… her.
She found herself mildly annoyed and confused. It was… puzzling. Perversely, she almost would prefer it if he was after her body, or looking for what the Dark Rizzards could do for him - it would be easier to understand and respond… but as it was, it was a new… experience… an anomaly.