[center][i]When guests were over[/i][/center]

[i]Whoops,[/i] Graft thought. Had he said 'benefit to himself'? A slip of the tongue, of course, since his [i]modus operandi[/i] was all for the benefit of Chateau Gothika and its residents. If Salem harbored any real understanding of his position, that implication would be crystal clear. Still, it was a minor gaffe, since getting the wrong idea was understandable and a good leader took total responsibility for clear communication. As such Graft consented to hearing Salem out, folding his arms over his planted cane to listen, despite his embarrassing misuse of irrelevant words like 'tantrum'. He did not expect to profit in this exchange of his time for the puppet's 'advice', but given the status of his fellow Chapter Keeper and creation of the Bandersnatch Lords, he could not discard the possibility of something worthwhile slipping out. 

The two of them examined the Nightgaunt, readying herself to leave and train. When Salem spoke, he used hushed, serious tones. When he implied [i]her[/i] to be Brushen Penn's favorite, however, Graft knew that his very young ally could not possibly be speaking in earnest. As if adults cared about silly things like favorites. There was successful and unsuccessful, useful and useless, debit and credit. Affection did not factor into the equation. Besides, what did Tabula have that he did not? By definition she had no ability, talent, experience, or even personality. All she had were her scars and her sex. Now, judging by the vastly-skewed ratio of female to male creations in the Chateau, the Sable Lords did seem to prefer females, but none of them played the essential role that he did. That just left Tabula's all-but-confirmed abuse at Penn's hands, and surely Salem couldn't mean that.

Graft stroked his enormous mustache, looking at Salem in a new light as the kid made senseless recommendations about Tabula's fate. [i]Or could he?[/i] The director ran over his stockpiled information in his head. Alone, abandoned, unliving, unimportant, an item that had been thrown away, and not by circumstance, but by design Maybe any kind of attention, especially physical, counted as love in his eyes. 

Graft smiled. Everyone had a weakness, be it a physical spot, a type of damage, a special spell, or even painful figments of the past. Those were fine, but they could be covered up and accounted for. Graft preferred to exploit Want. Want was a straight shot to the heart. With one's wants revealed, they could be exploited in full.

A few moments later the director watched Salem go. The mannequin had left a bomb behind, its payload far more dangerous than the secret it oh-so-kindly agreed to keep. Even Light seemed amazed by the kid's behavior. “Such curious thoughts. He thinks he knows me so well, yet he does not comprehend how utterly irreplaceable my Factory and I are.” A sinister light filled his eyes from within as he raised one hand. “Nor the depths of my control.”

He snapped his fingers, and the nearby Guards seized up. In a matter seconds they fell to pieces, their flesh neatly detaching and unraveling to leave behind neat piles of biomatter. Graft scooped one up and worked it with his claws, molding it like clay. “Nanoflesh is the ultimate asset,” he told Light. “It can create, it can consume, and it can destroy. Nothing that has partaken may defy me.” The glow faded, and he gave a chuckle. “Pardon me, you were saying something about a spin?”

Brevity was the soul of wit, and Light managed to say more in fewer words than her fellow guest had. He did feel a sense of freedom, an increased license to choose for himself how best to carry out his work. Investing in Tabula was just the start. “Corporate overlord, hm?” An amusing notion. Though a boss in his own right, Graft ultimately served the interests of the Board. Even if only one member remained, he intended to perform his duty, the very purpose for his existence. Anything else would be inexcusable. Light offered an alternative, her manner playful and alluring. Smiling, he played along. “You flatter me, dearie. To think that I, a mere inventor and businessman, would receive the attentions of such a mighty and exquisite creature.”

Of course, she got straight to business afterward, and Graft was more than happy to accompany her. “As a temporary solution I can sell you Guards or technoorganic homunculi that you may do whatever you want with. If you do not have the money now, I trust you sufficiently to allow you to pay later, albeit with slight interest.” He turned his head away, grinning in an almost bashful manner, as if the interest were some sort of inevitability that he couldn't do anything to stop and was embarrassed about. “As for something that could permit you contact with your fellows, I may be able to think of something. Like a perfect ledger, the world's balance exists so long as there are countermeasures for every measure, so just as you have an aura, there must be an effect that annuls it.”

Light's mention of gold piqued his interest, as money so often did. “So, you want to be eld-rich, do you? Well, gold must be found, earned, or taken. Deep below the earth it forms, occasionally winding up in mountainous riverbeds, at least in the old world. It can be exchanged for goods and services, or simply stolen from the less powerful. However, I despise petty theft and do not condone it.” He flashed a scowl, metal teeth locked together, as he mentioned theft. However, his earnest personality returned quickly. “If you don't want to dig in the ground, I suggest finding something that people want and giving it to them. Naturally, until we know the lay of the land, such options are off the table.”

[hr]

[center][i]Later on[/i][/center]

Graft gave an amused chuckle at Kath's reaction. As knowledgeable as she was, she must have known about his Open Line skill, and that plus her typically unflappable bearing made the act of startling her fairly significant. “Pardon me, I must have taken you by surprise. Is everything going well on your expedition? I wanted to ask your help to complete the task given to me by Rodias, for which I will gladly reimburse you.” With an appeal to authority given and an offer of recompense affirmed, thereby creating a formal contract, Graft took for granted the aid of his previous coworker and continued. “I require as much information as can be gathered on the inconspicuous fauna of this world. Equivalent to the old one's rats and birds. Visual and behavioral details are the primary concern. If you and Ashara could keep an eye out and report back, I would be most appreciative.” Leaning back in his chair, he listened for Kath's reply. If today was really his lucky day, she could at least give some details right now about creatures she'd spotted to get him started, but the promise of a full report later was good enough.