05. pacing the room with heavy steps.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β THAAL SINESTRO DOES NOT CARE FOR LEX LUTHOR.Β
Β
That is a fact irrefutable, indisputable, unshakable in its foundations (FIRMLY LAID.) The human, in all his (flaunting,) in all his bald-headed posturing, in all his ATTEMPTS FOR RELEVANCE proves a creature as base as any animal; as fool hearty as any martyr, as defiant & insolent as any child, it was LEX LUTHOR who proved time & time again to be nothing greater than another beast, clawing desperate at the greater WORKINGS OF THE UNIVERSE, crying for a purpose far bigger than theirΒ l i t t l e Β l i v e s. No, no, Sinestro does not LIKE Luthor- & where lesser men had earned even modicum of it, it is the RICH MAN who failed, in spectacular & repeated display (like supernova caving in upon itself,) to earn from him even a hint of RESPECT.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Thaal Sinestro does not care for Lex Luthor,Β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Nor does he respect him, & in this human's pride
& narrow-sighted goals
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β it is the LANTERN who sees only foolishness.Β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β But Lex Luthor managed to succeed where many others could NOT.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Lex Luthor, for all his FAULTS, proved one thing certainly.
Even now, even with his TANTRUMING growing more Β o b v i o u s, it was not LIKABILITY that drew Lex Luthor into the Korugarian's vision, was not LOYALTY that drew the Lantern's return to this BUILDING, this LEGION, this collection of CRIMINALS, THIEVES, & LAWBREAKERS...... but something far more DANGEROUS. Something far more powerful- something, quite frankly, more LUCRATIVE.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Lex Luthor offered INTRIGUE. The promise of GAIN.Β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The chance, to hold the UPPER HAND,
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β & an insight to the nature of a planet that Sinestro was certain
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β would bend below his heel (IN DUE TIME.)
Golden eyes narrow, chin tips UP, as he watches, WATCHES the Β Β g e n i u s Β in his apparent efforts to wear a hole through the very floorboards. Pointed ears, tipped sidelong, (catching stray conversation, the distant sounds of life,) lay back as brows tighten, as lips tug DOWNWARD & draw a firm line across the Lantern's features. Disagreement. Displeasure.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β A hint of BARELY CONTAINED IMPATIENCE. A dripping of cool vitriol.
Behind his spine long fingers fold, tighten & ease, flex tendons (mindful,) controlled. & in the doorway, THAAL SINESTRO REMAINS, ANOTHER LONG MOMENT.... a PARAGON. Self Control, powerful, & undaunted. He speaks.
"Your inability to hide your AGITATION, Luthor, is not a STRENGTH, nor an INTIMIDATION."
Muscles coil, & the alien MOVES.
A long stride, a militaristic gait, the King of Terror stepping INTO THE ROOM with none of the reverence a LESSER GOON OR HENCHMAN might have displayed. He carries himself as a GENERAL OF WAR, a king, a deity that commands (as shadows writhe at his heel,) as unease settles in the air about him. & This, the UNCONTROLLED EMOTION by which Lex Luthor exudesβ¦.- Gleaming, Sinestro's gaze lingers on him for a brief moment, & then departs, pulled away as he PASSES this Β w o u l d-b eΒ Β leader, crosses to the opposite side of a room, to find DISTRACTION (window, perhaps, or screen,) there.
"In fact, it proves only a weakening of threads with which hold your EFFORTS TOGETHER. It loses Β l o y a l t y. It QUELLS determination. One might argue it will be your own LACK OF EMOTIONAL CONTROL that will be your downfall. But I digress-"
Pause. Shoulders, that roll back- a chin that tips, to glance over his shoulder- & shoot the MERE HUMAN a lilted, cold Β s m i r k.
"You requested my PRESENCE."Β