ALTER EGO AU

[enigmaster]

Comments

[enigmaster]

Of course. I will get right on that... [AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--]

[agoodname]

Good. [and Oswald leans over the desk, pressing the intercom button] Mr. Penn, draw up Mr. Nygma's contract and have it brought in, please.

[enigmaster]

[...Edward's just nervously typing on his phone. Somehow, actually getting offered the job has made him MORE anxious. Maybe just because he's expecting it to be a prank or something.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald pushes to his feet, then, moving over to the bookcase and opening up the middle cupboard...which turns out to, of course, be a small bar]

Do you drink, Mr. Nygma?

[enigmaster]

[...Of course. Because rich people.] Ah... Sometimes, yes.

[agoodname]

Would you care to indulge in a little celebratory drink with me, then? [Oswald glances over his shoulder, the corner of his mouth curled up in a smirk]

[enigmaster]

...Sure. [..."Sure", is that the best you've got?] I mean, of course.

[he's bad at

talking]

[agoodname]

[asldkfhds he's so awkward. It's almost charming. But he'll pour them both a drink, setting Edward's down on the edge of the desk so he can reach it before moving to light himself a cigarette, inhaling slowly and savoring the burn of the smoke while he taps the ash into the tray, watching Edward put together that list.] I won't spare any expense, Mr. Nygma, so whatever quality of equipment you need, don't hesitate to request it.

[enigmaster]

[He pauses his typing, at that. Is he undercutting a little...? Well, for some of these, there isn't a lot required... you can do a lot with just a little extra money, if you're clever. Which he is. In a weird way, he almost sees the comment as a challenge. It's not, he knows it, but all the same he has to struggle against the instinct to go as cheap as possible without losing quality. ...But then, that might look odd. And maybe an easier fix is better, even if it costs a little more. He overthinks it. But he manages to get a list he's satisfied with.] ...Of course. [He'll pause his typing for a moment, just to take a sip of that drink.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald settles himself at the edge of the desk, then, sipping at his own drink, just as the door slides open and Penn enters, bearing the paperwork for Edward's contract, which he hands off to Oswald with little fanfare]

Thank you, Mr. Penn. [he flips through it one last time, humming to himself thoughtfully--before reaching for a pen to make a small change]

[enigmaster]

[Edward's kind of... nervously eyeing Oswald making that change, whatever it is. And then quickly looks down at his phone.] Ah, well, um. The list should be good, I think. I mean, it's... all done.

[agoodname]

Excellent. How about I trade you, then? [he offers Edward the contract]

[enigmaster]

Oh, um. Yes, of course. [he'll just hand over his phone, so oswald can note all this down, as he doesn't really have a number to send this to ...and just take that contract to look over]

[agoodname]

[great, Oswald is going to write down everything on that list while Edward looks over the contract which is...well. Fairly generous. It won't take him too long to find out what Oswald has changed, either. There's a bit of dark blue ink that's crossed out his monthly salary, and raised it by at least 30%.]

[enigmaster]

[He's reading over the contract carefully, of course, because he's not an idiot. And then the salary. And that edit. ...His eyes are maybe visibly widening by a lot.]

[agoodname]

[he does glance up, briefly--and the corner of his mouth quirks at Edward's reaction, before he turns his attention back to the list that he's copying. When he's finished, he'll hold Edward's phone out to him] Here you are, Mr. Nygma. I'll have Mr. Penn order these for you this evening.

[enigmaster]

[He'll... take back his phone. Almost a little numbly.] Ah... um... R-Right...

[agoodname]

Everything alright with the contract? Any adjustments you'd like to make?

[enigmaster]

Ah... N-No, no adjustments necessary, this is... very good.

[agoodname]

Excellent. I'm glad to hear it. [he takes a sip of his drink, setting a pen down at the edge of his desk] Whenever you're ready.

[enigmaster]

[Moment of truth, huh? There's many reasons why he'd be foolish not to take this job. First and foremost being, well, saying no to Oswald Cobblepot. But also, it's so much money. It's stable employment. It's just ethically... dubious. ...But so is working for any corporation and Gotham's full of those. This is just... more honest about it. Looking at it that way, it's fine, right? ... He really needs the money. So, Edward reaches for the pen, after that brief hesitation, and... signs.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald doesn't begrudge the hesitation. He gets that a lot. But then Edward leans forward and signs--because really, they always do.] Lovely. [he lifts his glass, then, slightly] Congratulations, Mr. Nygma, on your new position as a security supervisor.

[enigmaster]

[This... sure is a thing that is happening, isn't it? It feels like all of this just sort of happened at once. But this is... good. It's good, right...? He'll reach for his own glass again, so he can take a celebratory? sip???] Ah... Thank you, Mr. Cobblepot.

[agoodname]

[Oswald will take a sip at the same time.] Thank you as well, Mr. Nygma. The pleasure, I assure you, is also mine. [he moves to sit back down in his chair, taking the weight off of his ankle as he leans back]

[enigmaster]

Ah... Mhm. [hhhh is this the real life???] I'm... glad to have a position with some intellectual stimulation. [...just taking another sip, which Oswald probably realizes quickly is mostly an attempt at hiding his face. More awkwardness.]