Lucien’s penthouse — top of a skyscraper, walls of glass showing the midnight city skyline. Black marble floors. Gold-rimmed decanters. The kind of silence that means danger.
[11:58 PM – Lucien’s Penthouse]
Adrian Vale(MC)
(dropping onto the couch, kicking off shoes) You broke a five-thousand-dollar champagne glass tonight.
Lucien Vortega(ML)
I broke a man’s nerve. The glass was incidental.
Adrian Vale(MC)
All because he talked to me?
Lucien Vortega(ML)
All because he thought he could keep talking to you.
Adrian Vale(MC)
You get this… thing in your voice.
Lucien Vortega(ML)
What thing?
Adrian Vale(MC)
Like you’re two seconds away from committing homicide but you’re wearing cufflinks.
Lucien Vortega(ML)
I usually am.
(Lucien pours two glasses of whiskey, sets one in front of Adrian.)
Adrian Vale(MC)
You’re making it too easy to think you care.
Lucien Vortega(ML)
I care more than you can handle.
Adrian Vale(MC)
Is that a threat or a confession?
Lucien Vortega(ML)
Both
Adrian Vale(MC)
Not answering the real question. Why not chase Rin?
Lucien Vortega(ML)
Because they aren’t the threat right now.
Adrian Vale(MC)
How do you know?
Lucien Vortega(ML)
Because I decide who’s a threat.
(Lucien sits beside him, close. Too close.)
Adrian Vale(MC)
You’re in my space.
Lucien Vortega(ML)
You are my space.
Adrian Vale(MC)
Creepy
Lucien Vortega(ML)
Accurate
Adrian Vale(MC)
You can’t keep doing this, Lucien. Pretending you’re my jailer for my own good.
Lucien Vortega(ML)
I’m not pretending.
Adrian Vale(MC)
Then at least admit you enjoy it.
(Lucien’s gaze holds him — dangerous, unblinking.)
Lucien Vortega(ML)
I enjoy keeping what’s mine.
(Silence. Only city lights flicker across the glass walls.)
Adrian Vale(MC)
I’m not yours.
Lucien Vortega(ML)
You’ve been mine since the day I decided you were.
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