Made in collaboration with [@Estylwen]

Earlier…

Florian would receive a voicemail on his phone.

[code]Poison Oak! I got a proposal for ya. You, me, the Nova City Skyline. Let's talk about the collective thorn in our side, yeah? How we can help each other, ya know, ya know? See ya at the 75th floor of Arakana Tower, 218 Gold Conference Room, tomorrow, 1:00 PM.[/code]

[i]Click[/i]

Dr. Florian Pine listened to the voicemail with a frown, clutching the phone tightly in his hands. The voice was unfamiliar, and the proposition vague, but the mention of “the collective thorn in our side” piqued his interest.

He took some time to think it over. The plants in his lab came to life, moving and responding to his emotions. Pine didn’t trust anyone, but his curiosity often got the better of him. What did this person know? What did they want? And, more importantly, what could they offer him in return?


[hr]

The mysterious gentleman who left the voicemail yesterday now sat in the well-lit conference room in the Arakana Tower, swiveling a little in his leather seat, eyes on the clock. It was 12:55 PM, and Ethan, dressed well in a dress shirt, tie and slacks, sat patiently for his guest.

They'd be coming through that door any minute.

At exactly 12:59 PM, the doors flung open. There stood Poison Oak, in his full green skinned plant covered glory. He wasn’t interested in pleasantries or concealing his true nature for anyone. [color=green]“I hope you have something worth my time,”[/color] Poison Oak said coolly. He raised hIs arm, and produced a throne of leaves, vines, and flowers for him to sit in. [color=green]“Because I don’t make deals with you corporate types lightly.”[/color]

Ethan smirked, standing and moving to one of the cabinets in the room. [color=6666ff][b]”My dear Poison Oak, I consider myself more of a [i]gangster scum[/i] than any corpo, but I do consider myself trustworthy. “Now, I'd offer you a drink, but I'd rather not be insensitive. Do you eat sunlight, or do you still have space for a glass of scotch?”[/b][/color] He said, pulling out two crystal glasses and a bottle of amber liquid, setting them on the table. He proceeded to pour two glasses, moving around the conference table to offer one to Florian.

[color=6666ff][b]”There's been… news. The cops are on the move. And on top of that, the ‘heroes’ of the city want to gain their fame by collaring the villains. No one is safe. No you, not me. Now, they could ‘divide and conquer’, but that doesn't sit well with me, ya know? Not when we could help each other.”[/b][/color] Ethan said, a glimmer in his violet eyes as he spoke.

[color=green]“I don’t have much use for liquor…”[/color] Pine said dryly. [color=green]“But I’ll take the gesture as you trying to play nice.”[/color] He didn’t reach for the glass, instead folding his arms across his chest. 

Ethan's lip quirked at that, and he humorously poured Pine's share into his own cup, [color=6666ff][b]”Cheers, then.”[/b][/color] And he took a sip, resting his back against the table.

[color=green]“I’m not intimidated by the cops, but those so-called heroes are like pests in my garden.”[/color] He scoffed and rolled his eyes. [color=green]“They don’t understand what I’m doing here. What I’m protecting.”[/color] Pine sighed. [color=green]“You’ve piqued my interest. Keep talking. What exactly are you proposing? And what’s in it for me?”[/color]

Ethan nodded, before taking another sip of the scotch. [color=6666ff][b]”Mm. An alliance.”[/b][/color] He set the glass on the table, his focus entirely on Pine.
[color=6666ff][b]”Your enemies become my enemies. Your problems become my problems. And my ventures… become your ventures. Like a certain… bank heist I’m planning.
“What do you say? Are you down for making some good money with me?”[/b][/color]

Pine let out a chuckle. [color=green]“Money? Do you think I’m just some common criminal out to line their pockets?”[/color] His vines coiled tighter around his arms, rustling faintly as if reacting to his tension. [color=green]“Every day, the planet suffers while humans squabble over pieces of paper. I’m not interested in human greed or profit!”[/color]

Pine sighed. [color=green]“Now, if this ‘bank’ happens to fund projects destroying rainforests, or if this heist would hurt those who harm the natural world, then you have my attention. But if this is some petty grab for cash? Then you’re wasting my time.”[/color]

Ethan raised a hand, [color=6666ff][b]”You're absolutely right. Money is a construct that corpos use as an excuse to kill the earth, it's true! But my friend, how will you expand your influence? You can only do so much as one person. Imagine having people working for you, exercising your will?”[/b][/color]
He slapped his palms together, drawing together his thoughts, before he leveled at Pine. [color=6666ff][b]”Nova City Bank launders money from all types of criminal organizations. Some of those poach rhinos. Some of those unethically mine diamonds. Some of those use precious fresh water to process bitumen, leaving it toxic afterward. “So, hitting this bank where it hurts takes funds away from those assholes and puts it in your pockets, where it should rightfully belong, mm?”[/b][/color]

Pine’s eyes narrowed as Ethan spoke. [color=green]“A bank laundering money for poachers, miners, and water-wasting parasites…”[/color] he murmured, seriously considering the thought. [color=green]“Now that’s a target worthy of my time. Now it’s more than just a simple heist, it’s justice. And I have to admit, the idea of stripping those monsters of their ill-gotten gains has its appeal.”[/color] Pine nodded his head the more he thought about it. [color=green]“If I agree to this, it’s because I will ensure that the stolen funds are directed toward something meaningful—restoration projects, sanctuaries, resources for protecting the Earth.”[/color] His green eyes lit up with intensity. [color=green]“Not your personal ambitions.”[/color] Poison Oak extended a hand, [color=green]“Alright, you’ve got yourself an ally, for now. But if you betray me, just remember, plants don’t forget, and neither do I.”[/color]

Ethan smirked, giving Poison Oak a firm handshake. [color=6666ff][b]”You're a wise man, my friend. I wouldn't dream of betraying your trust.”[/b][/color]