There's a dance of shadows and light in his words, a delicate balance between the persona he projects and the gears turning behind the façade. And in that balance, I find a sliver of common ground. He’s offering a partnership of sorts, one with an endgame that serves us both. And though I don't trust him, there's an honesty in his plan that resonates with the part of me that wants answers. “I understand your plan,” I say slowly, going over all the angles and curves of it in my mind. “So you’ll do it?” His voice ticks up with hopefulness as he practically bounces on the balls of his feet.
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