The Birth of the Black Mask Part 1 [Ivy]

[Roman Sionis]

Once there was a prince who dreamed of being a king. The prince possessed many qualities…ambition, passion, obsession…those traits did not serve Commodus, the Roman Emperor very well as Marcus Aurelius chose the Senate and Maximus to succeed him. Janus Cosmetics was the Roman Empire and Roman Sionis took matters into his own hands much like Commodus did.

Tears from the sky were falling down upon Gotham on this Wednesday morning. The rain pelted the windows of the giant office that was once held by his father. Roman stood up from his seat and walked over to the window. Down below, Gotham was a chaotic mess. Taxi cabs, bicyclists, public transports all vied for the same space on the road. Profanities, threats, and anger permeated from the people below instead of mercy, kindness, and compassion. Roman Sionis basked in all of the turbulence. He sniffed the artificial air of his office as if he was smelling the freshness of an ocean while standing on the beach.

Janus Cosmetics was now his! Only a week after the death of his parents at the hands of a fire, Roman had already taken most of this father’s old personal belongings out of the office and was in the process of moving some of his own in. The only thing left was an old plant. There was no time to mourn. In fact, Roman will probably never mourn the death of mommy and daddy.

“This jezebel better not cause any problems.” Sionis grinned, speaking to himself. “Janus Cosmetics shall become a dynasty under my leadership, and Wayne Enterprises shall crumble into the ground like those who dwelled in Jericho.”

It all begins this week. A gathering of assets and allies. The other task would be deflecting the fiery arrows and protecting the fortress. Which one should come first? Which one would arrive before the other? The police from the GCPD were planning to visit the office this week. Apparently, they believed that Roman had something to do with the death of his parents. His parents deserved it. His parents had coming, didn’t the police know? If the GCPD had an inkling of who his parents really were, they would commend Roman for burning them alive.

Roman Sionis turned to look at the old black mahogany desk once owned by his father. In the top drawer is a .45 caliber handgun. A Colt M1911 pistol with laser sight and custom grip. If push came to shove, whomever the GCPD sent would be unwillingly thrown into the dump. After all once you kill, it is hard not to kill again.

The other scheduled appointment was with a talented botanist named Pamela Isley.  Someone who could be a great asset for Janus Cosmetics. They needed fresh talent within the corporation, someone who could develop a new product that could make the company millions. Roman had the ideas. He needed someone who could execute. Isley was a potential and perfect candidate for this. Isley also had the reputation for being drop dead gorgeous. Having the creator of the product model and market it as well? What a great advertising campaign! Finding out the motivations for this woman would be key.


“Heh. This should be a fun day. The third chapter of the book of Sionis.” Roman made a fist with his gloved left hand while smiling.  His imagination was limitless.

There was a buzz on his telephone intercom. It was the receptionist.

“Mr. Sionis. Your first appointment has arrived.” There was a pause on the other end. “Pamela Isley.” There was some disdain in the receptionist’s voice, a tone that said, ‘I don’t see what is so special with her?”

Roman Sionis walked over to the telephone and pushed the respond button. “Excellent. Send her in right away.”

He looked around his father’s old office. It was a small office that had been kept rather simple. Roman was of course in the process of some changes, but at this present moment the simplicity was still there.

From the entrance door, the office was a vertically shaped rectangle. The east and west walls were long in length, while the north and south walls were the shorter ends of the shape. The entire west wall was comprised of an office window with open blinds. That was the window Sionis was looking out of as he was examining the chaos of Gotham City.

The front door to the office was the only thing of note along the south wall. 

There were three giant easels along the east wall. Each easel held a giant poster that was covered with a black cloth. Keeping the secrets of the masterpieces a mystery, for now.

At the wall of the north end of the office was a large white board with a hand drawn line graph that depicted previous and future earnings for the company. If one were to examine the graph, they would notice Janus Cosmetics had an erratic financial history. It resembled a monthly journal of someone diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. The old mahogany desk with the pistol was along the north wall too. Roman went to stand right behind it.

Also, on the north end of the office was a large fiddle leaf fig tree in a simple basket that had seen better days. The leaves were turning dark brown and the plant had been huddled away in the northwest corner where it received no sun.  The plant had been purposely placed there to make way for the line graph.

On the black mahogany desk was a covered item. The item was round in shape with a small neck. It was covered with a black cloth, very much like the posters on the easels. It was placed in the middle of the desk.

Sionis was dressed in a black suit over a tie-less black dress shirt with matching pants and shoes. He of course wore his weighted black gloves. The attire was not for this meeting, more so the next one.

When Pamela Isley walked into the room, Roman gestured towards her with open arms in bravado, “Dr. Isley! Welcome to Janus Cosmetics! Where we desire to create new faces by shedding off our previous incarnations. I hope you’ll have a seat and stay in order to hear what I have to say.”

[Pamela Isley]

When she received the unexpected invitation from Roman Sionis, Pamela had quickly accepted. Though she hadn't the slightest idea what the man wanted with her, she knew of the caliber of his family and that alone made his desire to meet with her most intriguing. She certainly had a few guesses and each of them was more interesting than the last.

She'd heard of the tragic accident involving the man's parents and knew of the troubled state of the company he'd inherited from them. Not because she'd been keeping an eye on him, but because she was in the thick of the gossip chain among the socialites of Gotham and they know nearly everything about anyone important. And beyond that, she had more than a passing interest in the fashion industry and liked to be in the know about whatever was new and popular. True, she was less connected to the cosmetics industry specifically because she preferred to make her own - a simple task for someone with as much knowledge of chemistry as herself - but she did know that none of her friends used Janus products and that was a terrible sign for how well the company was doing.

But all of that had left her mind by the time she'd arrived at the receptionist's desk. It had started with a nearly undefinable feeling of discomfort, even while she was quite a distance away. She'd always had a certain connection with plants, but it had grown stronger after a certain incident. And the feeling gradually coalesced as she approached the office until she knew for certain that there was a plant in deep distress.

It wasn't an unusual thing for her to sense in an office building - people are absolutely horrible to their office plants. In fact, it was so bad that she was actually in favor of those completely tasteless facsimiles of life known as plastic plants, purely because anyone who would buy such a thing should probably not own an actual plant. Of course, even the most incompetent at plant care usually only provides a poor environment instead of neglecting it outright like the one she was sensing. She hoped that it wouldn't be in the same office as the man she was meeting with - that would have given her more options. But as she approached her destination, she could tell that it was the case.

Still, even if she found that rather upsetting, just because she was a passionate person didn't mean that she was controlled by her emotions - at least not while she was preparing to have a conversation with someone of some importance. So when she entered the office she betrayed no sign of her inward emotions, she instead smiled when she was greeted. "Thank you, Mr. Sionis - it's lovely to finally meet you!" she said, offering her hand when she came close. "And of course, darling, it would be most impolite of me to refuse to at least hear you out if there is any way I could be of help to you," she added as she took a seat, not sparing on the social graces. Time would tell if he deserved them.

She was dressed quite a bit more conservatively than would be her usual style, not that the well-fitted skirt suit she was wearing did anything to hide her beauty. The blazer was white and simply served to emphasize the perfection of her skin and the auburn shade of her hair, while the dark green pencil skirt did little to hide her legs. What did hide her legs more were the knee-high black boots she was wearing thanks to the weather, but sacrifices must be made when it's simply too wet out.

Though even as she sat she hardly forgot the plant, but she made an effort to avoid looking at it - that was a matter that could wait for the proper moment. To her, it was a bit like seeing a starving child, as it was horrific and she wanted to fix it immediately but, on the other hand, it wasn't exactly an emergency and she knew that it might pay off for her to be patient and get a better feel for the disposition of the man she was talking to before deciding the best way to go about rescuing the poor thing.

[Roman Sionis]

Even in the conservative attire, Roman Sionis took a moment to admire this woman's beauty.  If she wasn't a toxicologist, Isley could easily pass for a successful actress.  His eyes only strayed for a moment.  Like Jerry Seinfeld said in one episode, admiring a woman should be like looking into the sun.  Turn away before you get caught leering. 

Roman made his way around the desk to shake her hand.  His weighted glove was hard and cold to the touch. The handshake was like squeezing a brick that had been left in the cold rain.  The woman was polite. Was it natural or was she wearing a mask? Any person who wore a mask was much more interesting.

After Pamela took a seat, Roman slightly retraced his steps to reach out and grab a withered leaf from the old plant.  He tore it off from what was left of one of the stems.  It was like picking at an old piece of dead skin.  A nervous habit Roman displayed once in awhile. 

"Heeeee.  Oh let me show you."  Roman made his way over to the east wall to stand by one of the giant easels.  "Here at Janus Cosmetics we believe the 'invisible' approach to cosmetics is old hat.  If we're selling something it should be tangible! It should be visible!" Caught up in the euphoria, he continued and began making a circular shape around his face.  "You see, it's the mask that is important! Not the face.  Not our gestures.  Not the smile.  Not the frown!  Not the scowl!  Not the silliness!  Not the expression.  The mask!  That's all that matters." 

Sionis made each of the expressions on his face as he a spoke.  A scowl.  A smile.  A front.  A silly face.  He took a deep breath and continued. 

"We are going to go where no one has gone before with cosmetics!  I'm planning to make millions with our new product.  Out with the old.  In with the new!  Drum roll please!  DuuuuuuuuDuuuuuuuuDuuuuuuuDuuuuuuu.  Voila!  The new face of makeup!  Janus Cosmetic's new product......'EXTREME FACE-PAINT COSMETIC!'"

Roman Sionis ripped off the black cloth from the easel to reveal the poster of this image...

Roman simply looked at the picture of his beloved Circe.  Now, this was something he could admire for hours.  Roman crossed his arms and placed one hand underneath his chin in order to contemplate the beauty of the picture.  Roman simply stood there, looking like someone who would be admiring Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of Mona Lisa, and in this case, Roman Sionis's office was the Louvre.

Without even looking at Pamela Isley to see her reaction, Roman stated.  "Like it don't ya?  Yes you do.  Beautiful.  Magnificent.  This will recreate fashion.  This will recreate society.  Dr. Isley, I would like to hire you as a part-time toxicologist for our company. You'll be testing the safety of the chemicals in our products in addition to making an alterations to the properties of the ingredients in order to minimize costs and maximize profit.  In time, after the success of EXTREME, you'll be asked to begin R&D of our next global world changer.  What do y'say?  What do y'say?"

[Pamela Isley]

The advice to avoid a lingering gaze on a beautiful woman was meant to keep a man in the good graces of a woman who would be offended by it. Pamela was the exact opposite - a woman who very purposefully means to attract such looks. Not that she didn't think poorly of grown men who gawk at her like a teenage boy just discovering his hormones, but she wasn't offended - instead she took it as a sign that the man would be very easy to manipulate. That Mr. Sionis's gaze lingered only for a moment meant that he was not one of those, but that didn't necessarily mean that he wasn't easy to manipulate - just that it wouldn't be as easy as winking.

She let her expression linger on a soft smile as he shook her hand, her own handshake soft and delicate - she's a lady, after all. One who, though he wouldn't know it, was being rubbed in all the wrong ways by his words and actions. Either his parents never taught him how to behave or the lessons never sunk in and, either way, it was rather off-putting. Not that she wasn't accustomed to dealing with people like him, but it did mean that she certainly wouldn't be adding him to the list of people she actually didn't mind talking to.

And that was before he touched the plant. Though she could sense that the damage was the least of its problems, the casual way he tormented it nearly caused her to scowl. As it was, her expression shifted into a more neutral expression - she would remember that.

It was just as well that her expression was nearly blank as he began to quite obviously start to present some sort of a business proposition. Otherwise, she might have found it difficult to keep a straight face at the nonsense that he was spouting. Masks are beautiful? Ridiculous! Natural beauty was the only beauty. When he revealed the poster she felt herself laughing on the inside, though her only outward reaction was a raised eyebrow - which would probably be mistaken for her being surprised and intrigued. Her first thought, after critiquing the specific design, was actually that she'd met a number of unfortunate people whose appearance would be improved by full face paint. It wouldn't make them beautiful, but it would at least hide some of their ugliness.

But facepaint was exactly what it was, not makeup - she could have instantly told him that he wasn't proposing a new idea at all, but one that went back to the dawn of humanity. An idea that in modern times had been turned into a booth at a street fair as if it were a toy, not high fashion - the idea was out there and if nobody had picked it up already then it would never happen. The man was clearly out of his mind.

Yet she didn't tell him that. Partly because he was so enthusiastic about the idea that she thought that he wouldn't believe her anyway. But that still meant she could simply find some excuse as to why she couldn't help him - she was simply too busy for such a big project, or something along those lines. However, that was only what she would have done if she didn't have her own agenda, and she certainly did. So instead she said, "Color me intrigued! That is certainly a bold departure from the current trends - nobody would see it coming." She paused, as that was probably the limit to the number of things she could say that would be mistaken for compliments with a straight face.

"And what kind of benefits would I enjoy under your employ?" she asked, as that was the real selling point for her on whether or not she wanted a piece of this disastrous venture. Just because she knew already that the idea was terrible and that the company, already in a delicate position, would probably crumble if this was his plan for saving it didn't mean that she couldn't benefit from its downfall, after all. A part of her already wanted to do it merely so that she could personally give the whole disaster a little push after seeing how terrible the man treated an innocent plant, but the number of people who did such things was legion and she needed to focus her attention on what was most important. But if she stood to actually benefit from it then why not?

[Roman Sionis]

Roman Sionis kept his hand underneath his chin as he thought about Isley's question. She has the credentials, but not the experience, at least according to what he knew. "I know talent when I see it. I am willing to offer you a six-figure salary along with access to all types of resources. Chemicals, plants, pharmaceuticals, equipment, and a shared laboratory with some of our researchers. You'll come here directly to Janus Cosmetics, and you'll report directly to me."

Sionis paused and scratched his chin, thinking about the answer more deeply. "You seem passionate enough about EXTREME FACE-PAINT. The current head research and development team are from my father's regime. May he rest in peace."

Roman made a cross sign over his heart. In addition to Isley's abilities as a toxicologist, her beauty would be a great asset to Janus Cosmetics. What woman wouldn't want to purchase the make up knowing that someone who was on the R&D team looked like Pamela? She also appealed to the male demographic of Gotham. Sex sells. Not all the time. But more than enough to make a profit. The only person Isley's beauty paled to was his beloved Circe.

"My father's old regime. Yes. Much like that crusty old plant in the corner of the room, shall be thrown out onto the streets of Gotham." Roman continued to pointing to the dying fiddle leaf fig tree, "I intend to replace the current R&D director with someone who shares the same vision as I do. It will take time to find and develop a new R&D team. If you listen to me, execute my grand visions, you can fill that role my dear. Now tell me. How does that sound? Hmmm?"

Circe on one arm. Isley on the other. He would be the envy of everyone man in Gotham City. Including Bruce Wayne. No longer would he be in the shadow of the CEO of Wayne Enterprises. Maybe Roman should have kept his mother and father around so they could finally see the day he was victorious over Bruce. Maybe burning them in a fire was to much? Maybe he should have found a way to induce early dementia, then place them in a group home instead.

Back to Isley. She would be a fool to refuse his offer. Sionis was willing to slightly overpay for her services. It would be good for her resume and there was room for advancement within the company. Yes, she would be good, and Roman was glad he reached out to her when he did. Of course, he was expecting some type of negotiation. Some type of counter offer. Roman already had an idea of what it would be, and he was ready. Sionis slid his hands into his pants pockets as he waited for her response.

[Pamela Isley]

Pamela listened carefully as he explained more of the details of his offer. The money was near-immaterial to her - not that she would give her talents away for free, but her inheritance was large enough that she definitely didn't need the paycheck. The rest of the things he was listing, safe for the lab space and coworkers, were all things that would be lovely for her to have more of in her own private laboratory. And if she was correct, and she was quite certain that she was, she would have plenty of opportunities to abscond with however much of it she wanted among the mess of everyone fleeing the sinking ship without being caught. Yes, this would be a beneficial venture to her!

She gave a respectful nod of her head when he mentioned his father. She was quite accustomed to pretending to mourn the dead - she'd become quite expert at it when her own parents died nearly two years before. Though just as fake were the words that she said next. "If I may say so, Mr. Sionis, I would make an excellent R&D director. I know that I've only begun my career, but I was the top student of a very exclusive and elite graduate program - I am well prepared for a venture of this kind. And toxicology is only a specialty - my knowledge of chemistry, in general, is excellent and I already create my own new cosmetics as a hobby. I would be happy to prove myself to you - this opportunity sounds like an excellent fit for me," she stated, ending with a smile.

Among the spinning wheels in her head, she noted that it would be a very good idea to appear ambitious in this situation. She was still somewhat on the fence about whether she would watch the company go belly up from the sidelines or actively participate in its downfall, but if she were to choose the latter she would certainly need something to cover her tracks. If she could prove that she'd been actively working toward getting a lucrative promotion then that would contradict anyone trying to accuse her of sabotage - why would she ruin a company on purpose if she stood to gain so much if it succeeded? She should get something in writing - perhaps start an email chain with him. It would be so easy to get away with!

"But before I accept, I do have one condition," she continued, allowing for a dramatic pause. It was almost tradition in negotiations of this type for there to be at least one catch, so she didn't want to disappoint. "A small favor - a trifle, really," she added, not minimizing the nature of what she was about to request, "As I'm sure you're aware, I'm not only a toxicologist but also a botanist. And I am quite fond of Ficus lyrata." Only now did she allow her gaze to shift in an obvious way over to the suffering plant. "Obviously you don't care for it, and if you're in the process of clearing away the aura of your dearly departed father to make room for your own, then I don't blame you. But if you plan to throw it out anyway then I would be very happy to take it off your hands. It would make a lovely addition to my garden once restored," she said, keeping her tone carefully light and pleasant. Allowing a large but demure smile spread across her face, she said, "If I may take it home with me, then you have a deal."

[Roman Sionis]

In another universe. In another time. In another dimension Roman Sionis would use good willed ambition on the behalf of Stephanie Brown, the Spoiler, to become the most powerful crime lord Gotham City has ever seen. He would become more powerful than Carmine Falcone, Sal Maronie, and Roland Daggat combined. The Russians, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Whites would bend the knee and kiss his hand pledging loyalty. You didn't get that far without being smart.  You didn't get there without being a politician.  You didn't get there without being strategic in how to approach each individual. For his uncouth behavior and abrasive personality, Roman Sionis knew when to hear. He knew when to listen.

Roman hand an inkling Pamela Isley would succeed in the role of project manager for the Janus Cosmetics R&D department. Her academic credentials spoke for itself, and upon hearing that she was already creating her own cosmetics made Roman grin ear to ear. Although the grin was through the gustatory area only. Roman's eyes continued to have that dull look to them. A raccoon and rabies were to thank for that.

Roman's gaze followed hers over to the plant. This was an odd request. Something he wasn't expecting. With his gloved hands still in his pockets, Roman Sionis took a step closer to her. His Kenneth Cole shoes resonating off the tile floor.

Isley is indeed wearing a mask. She's just peeled back a part of it.  Everyone wore one.  A psychiatrist might even deem it normal. 

If one were to observe the plant, the mere mention of Isley potentially taking it home caused the plant to come to life for a moment.

"My apologies Dr. Isley. I did not know you were a botanist. A failure on the behalf of my HR department. Yes, of course you may have the plant," Roman began with a small smile.  He motioned to the plant with a nod as he continued, "The placement of the ficus layrata is rather hideous isn't it?  A dark corner where it is receiving no sun.  I'm not sure where my father purchased it.  I just remember it being by his desk in this office." 

Roman made his way over to the plant, and this time instead of pulling one of the leaves off, he cupped a leaf in his hand and gently perked it up.  "Hmmmmmm.  The fact that I mentioned tossing it out into the streets added insult to injury.  Take it.  Please take it.  I'll tell you what.  Provide my secretary with your address, and I'll have it delivered to you in addition to any supplies, equipment, and chemicals you need to begin working immediately.  I can have you on our payroll by the end of the week." 

[Pamela Isley]

If Roman believed that Pamela was wearing one, singular mask, then he didn't know anything about the woman he was dealing with. She wore many masks, sometimes pretending to peel one back but only revealing another mask. Her concern for the plant was true, but she used the truth as a weapon more often than she used lies. She revealed it without revealing the depth, which was far more interesting than the mere fact that she liked plants.

Did he have any idea what she would have done if he didn't agree? She lacked the strength that she would certainly have in the future but, for certain, she would either end up with the plant or make a very solid attempt to kill him - and there was the possibility that she would try to kill him anyway. In fact, she hadn't entirely ruled out attempting to kill him as it was for how he'd so overtly treated the plant already - even an idiot could see that it was doing very poorly, yet he clearly hadn't cared to rectify the situation.

She gave a polite nod to accept his apology, though she was quick to note the oddity it was that he knew more about her background in toxicology than botany. She was extremely well-educated in both, but she'd certainly had more of a botany emphasis. Then again, a certain infamous professor of hers was more interested in toxins - perhaps they had for some reason found her when looking into his students? Which wasn't implausible if they were specifically looking for a toxicologist, but was an interesting direction to have gone to find her if so.

But those thoughts she kept internal - on the exterior she gave a small, grateful smile at her request being approved. "I'm sure that it will do quite well in my greenhouse with a little TLC. And don't worry, Mr. Sionis - you didn't offend me. It's just a plant, after all," she said lightly, betraying none of the venom that boiled beneath the surface of those words. At the moment she was thinking about raphides, which Ficus lyrata has in abundance...

As it sounded like they were reaching a conclusion to their business, she stood as she added, "And of course, I can make up a list - I would love to be able to begin as soon as possible. I will go do that now... Unless you need anything else from me?" Really, she was more eager to get the plant out of here than anything else at that moment, but being able to get started on the work she was being asked to do. Well, not exactly what she was asked to do - she already had some ideas about how to 'accidentally' make a few mistakes.

[Roman Sionis]

Sionis turned away from the plant.  He began to thumb his fingers, nodding in approval.  "Excellent.  Excellent.  Glad you have decided to work for Janus Cosmetics.  We really are an up and coming company.  Your stay with us shall be quite profitable for both parties.  Do not forget to leave your address and a list of what you will require to begin working.  Cynthia, the secretary shall take your information."  

Initial impression, Pamela Isley was certainly wearing a mask. Not surprising, given her place in society. The phoniest people were those from high society.  Roman Sionis, son of Janus Sionis should know.  Isley had been cordial enough during the brief meeting.  Part of him believed she was sincerely enthusiastic about the company.  The other part of him was wary.  The games people played.  The request to take the plant with her was an odd one.  Something Roman filed in his memory banks for later in case this Dr. Isley decided to cross him.  

Outside, the rain started to lighten.  People were lowering their umbrellas and now were enjoying the light drizzle instead of finding it as a annoyance.   Roman walked over to her just as she was standing to leave.  Reaching out his hand, "Tis a pleasure Dr.  Isley, expect to hear from me next week.  The marketing for EXTREME Face-Paint shall be taking up most of my time until then.  I have already begun formulating notes for our next product line.  An idea that will build off the success of ExTREME."  Roman laughed.  It was a piercing awkward laugh, one where only he would find the humor or joy in.

Sionis walked her out, opening the door open for her to walk through.  "Cynthia, give Dr. Isley whatever she needs and requests.  Tell HR to contact her by the end of business tomorrow with the necessary paperwork.  Send Harold from environmental to my office on the double.  Tell him, I need my father's plant carefully exported to wherever Dr. Isley requests.  Oh and please order Chinese for lunch today. Wonton Mein.  I've been building up an appetite."  

Roman grinned and walked back into his office.  One meeting down, and one more to go.  Walking over to the desk, Roman opened the top drawer and admired the .45 colt.  He reached down and fingered the handle.  Depending on who GCPD sends, this might come in handy.  Taking the pistol, Roman Sionis's holstered it underneath the black suit jacket.  

[Pamela Isley]

Pamela nodded once again and said, "Of course! And thank you for extending this wonderful opportunity to me - I won't forget it." She always went through the proper social graces with the ease of someone who was born to do it - because, in a sense, she was. Even though mommy and daddy never paid very much attention to her, they still insisted that she be taught how one of her position behaves. At the time she loathed the lessons, but now she knew them for what they were - directions on how to manipulate people. Not that they weren't so commonplace that the person on the receiving end didn't know it for what it was as well, but it worked anyway. Everyone liked to be flattered, after all.

She returned the offered handshake, her grip delicate once again. "I look forward to it - and also to hearing about your next idea. If this is but the first example of your genius," she made a gesture toward the poster, "You already have me curious about what is to come next." If he even managed to get it written up before his empire fell, that is. It really did depend on how quickly the ship sank - that it would sink seemed inevitable in her eyes, but whether it would do so quickly or slowly really did depend. She would prefer that it go sooner rather than later, but she would appreciate having something else to laugh at as well, even if she kept it on the inside once again.

Following him out, as he gave directions to his secretary, she quietly pulled a little notebook from her purse and started to write - her address went at the top, then she began listing what she needed, starting with the plant. She actually didn't need very much besides the samples that she was to test, but they didn't know that. And it would be nice to have spare or replacement equipment for many things simply by claiming that she didn't have it already - getting far more out of this than simply her paycheck was already too easy. When he turned to go back into his office, she was still writing but looked up from it to smile and say "Thank you again!" before he was out of view.

When she was finished she left the paper with the secretary and headed to her car. Where she stayed for a while, because though she felt the need to pretend that her interest in the plant was much milder than it actually was, she was really quite concerned about it. But she'd heard that the man that would be moving it was being sent for immediately, so she resolved to wait, just to be sure. Only when she saw it being secured for transportation would she leave to start heading home herself.

[Roman Sionis]

Roman Sionis took a seat at the mahogany desk after Pamela left.  He picked up a piece of paper with scribbled notes on it.  There was a clock hanging on the wall, right above the entrance door.  Roman's gaze shifted from the piece of paper then to the clock.  He began to watch time, and when he watched time, time of course moved very slowly. 

Tick tock....tick..tock....tick..tock. 

A second felt like a minute.  A minute felt like ten.  It was the blasted plant.  The ficus lyrata.  He couldn't stand the sight of it.  Daddy Sionis, found the plant soothing.  Daddy Sionis found it comforting during stressful days.  Most importantly...

"That damn woman is wearing a MASK!!"   

Social masks annoyed him.  Social masks were like cockroaches crawling up his arm.  Nails on a chalkboard.  Sionis pounded the desk with the weighted gloved fist.  The impact caused the other utensils and instruments to leap up off the desk for a brief moment.  Roman Sionios hit the intercom button on his desk phone.  "CYNTHIA.  Cancel Harold.  Send up Julio and Marcus.  Tell them to bring some rope and garden shears!"

Roman smiled when two of Janus Cosmetics employees entered into his office with the rope and garden shears.  He stood from his desk and sharply pointed at the tall fern.  "Tie that @$*&@^ up like a mummy.  Wrap it with the rope and suffocate it."  One of the employees wrapped the thick rope around the branches of the plant, doing exactly what Roman said.  Roman held out his hand towards the other employee, "Shears.  Thank you.  Go get the van bring around back."

Roman grinned, walking towards the plant with the shears, he started cutting....Snip....snip....snip...snatch...snip...clip! 

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Sionis reached the shipping area of the building.  In his hand was a white mask with a blood tear streaming down the cheek.  The two employees from before were waiting at an unloading bay in a running black van. The ficus lyrata was in the back.  Roman put on the blood tear mask and pointed at the two employees.  He handed one of them a small piece of paper with the address that Pamela provided.  "Head to this address."

Roman jumped into the back of the van.  The vehicle pulled out the back alley and got into the main street in front of the Janus Cosmetics corporate HQ building.  When the van got onto the main road, the masked Roman Sionis leaned in towards the plant and began to whisper to it tenderly.   

"Ye ain't gonna be bearing any figs or fruits my friend.  You'll do something important for me.  You'll bring out the true nature of Dr. Pamela Isley.  She'll be pissed.  She'll be infuriated.  She'll still work for me.  Heeeeeee.  She better, or she'll end up like you." 

[Pamela Isley]

When Pamela had woken up in the hospital about two years ago, she was no longer the woman she had been before. She'd had a certain connection to plants before that, but she'd simply assumed that she understood them better than most people. In retrospect, however, she recognized instead that it had been but the first growth of something more - since that moment two years ago it had grown considerably. Not fully as of yet, for she still felt it expanding, but it was enough that she could sense the weakened but still present essence of life in the plant in the office even from the parking lot, now that she knew exactly where it was and its disposition.

But instead of sensing it being carefully carried from the office, she sensed it being roughly bound. Her fingers tensed but she forced herself to be calm. After all, it could simply be a stupid shipping technique - that alone wouldn't harm the plant much more than it already was, and people were idiots when it came to plant care. She really should have insisted on carrying it out herself but, with the pot and everything, it was simply too large and unwieldy for one woman. ...She should have insisted that they got a cart for her.

But no sooner had those regretful thoughts passed through her mind than she sensed the shears. "You... you... MONSTER!" she screamed in the direction of the office, not that she would be heard outside of the confines of her car - it was a luxury vehicle, so of course the soundproofing was state-of-the-art. She was tempted to jump out of the vehicle and charge up there to try to save it, but logistics stopped her - between the walk and the elevator ride, if he was truly planning on killing it then she'd arrive far too late. That, and it would fully tip a part of her hand, and she couldn't do that - it would risk far more than a single plant, as precious as each one was.

No, the proper response to this would require her to be clever - which wasn't something she was actually capable of with her mind boiling over with rage, and she knew it. But no matter, she could afford to bide her time... She would make him pay when she was ready. Even as she was still calming herself, she could still sense the plant - so weak now, but still alive. Where were they taking it now? Tossing it into the street like he'd said? No, she sensed it being carried down to the back of the building, where there was probably some sort of a service entrance. When it started to move, she pulled her car out of the parking lot and slipped into traffic, following it from a distance for a short while until she recognized the route - they were headed to her estate.

She only had one address to give - the one to her mansion in Gotham Heights. Though she had some side business that she didn't wish to do there, she would meet with those contacts either at their place or some neutral ground. But her employment at Janus Cosmetics was above the table so she felt no need to obscure her address. Besides, she had good reason to feel secure there, and that was also where she'd wanted the plant and equipment delivered.

Knowing the way to her own home as well as she did, when she realized it was their destination she quickly found an alternate route that she knew would be slightly faster - she could arrive before them and also not risk being seen following them the whole way there. When they arrived, she hesitated for a moment before she headed out to greet them, as if she hadn't been standing by the window, waiting. In fact, she even forced a smile onto her features, which only faded when they brought out a pot full of roots and nothing more. "Oh, I see..." she said, only allowing a disappointed frown to reach her face. She shook her head and said, "I didn't realize that I had offended him." When his men reported back, they would only be able to say that she'd looked a bit sad, but nothing more.

In fact, she then forced another smile onto her face and added, "Oh, feel free to leave the rest of the equipment right there - me and my housekeeper can handle the rest." She picked up the pot and headed inside with it, as if nothing were amiss. When she passed her housekeeper, she said, "Make sure they finish their delivery and leave, then bring the equipment into the house." She'd worry about that later. She'd also worry about what to do about Sionis later.

At the moment, she had only one concern, "Look at what that horrible man did to you, you poor baby! But don't worry - I know you're still there. I'm going to save you, and then nothing like that will ever happen to you again, I promise!" She headed into her greenhouse and got to work making good on that promise.

[Roman Sionis]

"WHAT? She reponsded how?!" Roman banged the mahogany desk again with the weighted glove. This time, the wood of the desk splintered. Julio and Marcus were both standing in front of him. They had made the delivery in a professional manner and did not take much delight in dropping of the plant or the supplies. They retold the story of how Pamela was saddened, and not angry about the butchering of the plant.

"Unacceptable. That *&!^!," Despite his frustration and emotional outburst, Roman was not seething. "Thank you gentlemen. You may take the rest of the day off. In fact, take the rest of the week off! All paid. No PTO time will be spent. Heh."

Julio and Marcus nodded in approval. They packed up their bags and left the office.

"Idiots," Roman grumbled as soon as the door shut.

For some reason this woman was upsetting him. He let out a deep sigh and then walked around his desk. The mannequin head that was covered by the black cloth was still sitting there. It ceased to move in spite of the punishment Roman placed on the furniture piece. Drumming it with his hands, Roman continued to think. He'll wait a few weeks before paying her a visit. In between then he'll draft and send her an email regarding the new 'Water Proof' makeup by Janus Cosmetics line he had been formulating in his mind. She had better take the project seriously.

The physical mask from before.  Roman brought it out.  Italian design.  White porcelain.  Constructed in May, 1945.  A month after the death of Benito Mussolini.  Mussolini, the Italian champion of fascism was shot to death by a firing squad in the small village of Giulino.  Roman Sionis purchased the mask a few years ago.  The artist of the mask is unknown.  The antique dealer sold Roman on the history of the mask, and how it was designed by a supporter of Mussolini.  An artist very close to the Italian leader.  Mourning.  Sadness.  Grief.  Sorrow.  All over one of the worst men in history.

If the most evil human beings that ever existed could be mourned over, and have art constructed on their behalf that would echo for a century to come, then Roman Sionis would gladly walk down that path for the glory. 

"Heeee.  Thank you Isley.  It was minor, but you have shown me the part of myself that I had buried within long ago."

Roman Sionis put on the Mussolini death mask and looked into the mirror.  He liked he saw. 

[Pamela Isley]

Just over a week later, Pamela reviewed the email detailing Mr. Sionis's latest idea.

Email was a wonderful form of communication. It enabled her to review it without having to suppress the laugh that instantly came. Did he honestly think that nobody had thought of waterproof makeup before? It was already available everywhere, selling poorly because few women wanted it. Some did, depending on their circumstances, but most didn't want to bother with it because how was one to remove makeup if water didn't wash it off? Especially if he meant to add it to the EXTREME line rather than as a separate product - nobody wanted face paint already and making it more difficult to remove would only make it worse.

The other advantage of email is that she didn't even have to wait until her laughing fit was over before she sent back a very professional email praising his ideas, expressing her eagerness to work on that project as well when it was time to do so, and slipping in a reminder about how much she wanted the R&D director job. She sent it off and set her laptop aside.

She walked over to a particular plant, still within its pot. The pot was too small for the number of roots it had, and she knew that, but then again the number of roots it had far exceeded the number it needed at the moment. It wouldn't need to be moved for a long while yet. But she paused to smile at the small shoot that was growing out of the roots that had been so carelessly given to her. The Ficuse lyrata was beginning its return, just as she'd promised. She gave it a bit of water and said, "Look at you, baby! So strong! He cut you down, but we always grow back, don't we? And don't worry - mommy has figured out how to give him what he deserves. You gave me the idea, actually. But no, I won't need anything from you - you've been through enough, and your stronger siblings will give me everything I need."

It wasn't a new idea, but it was a good idea for her needs now anyways. Ficus lyrata was one of many toxic plants that produced raphides in abundance. Raphides weren't toxic themselves, but they were needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate. On contact with the skin, they penetrated the tissues - causing only a slight tingling sensation, but not actual pain. It would easily be mistaken as 'a sign that it was working' or some other nonsense. Alone they were harmless, but when paired with any toxic substance that normally couldn't pass through the skin, they would carve a path and allow it in.

She only needed to 'accidentally' pair the raphides with something that was toxic but normally harmless on the surface of the skin - an 'innocent' mistake for a 'novice' at cosmetics such as herself. And since they would be covering their entire face with the stuff, it didn't even have to be anything supremely dangerous - more than a few people would probably die from it, though some would only get sick. All of whom she would have no pity for - anyone so ridiculous that they took full face paint seriously probably deserved it, even if she herself was modeling it. Even she could only make it look so good, after all. And she knew that the push to get the new product out into the market left no time for testing besides her go ahead, so the company would get the blame for their negligence far more than she would.

Of course, it did mean that her own reputation may take a bit of damage, but not more than she could weather. And when she questioned whether or not it was worth it, she only needed to turn and look at the newest addition to her garden to be sure. She may have already been thinking about ruining Roman Sionis, but that pushed her completely off the fence.

[Roman Sionis]

Two weeks later and roughly one week after her email response, the same black van from Janus Cosmetics pulled in front of Pamela Isley's estate. It was a post 9PM visit. This time, Roman Sionis was personally making the house call along with the same two men who dropped off the supplies and plant from before. Roman was wearing a blue velvet suit jacket, black wife-beater undershirt, and a pair of gold color framed sunglasses.

A six-foot fence covered in ivy surrounded the three story home. Roman and his men from Janus drove their van up to the front door. Roman stepped out of the passenger seat and ran his hand through his brown hair. Isley owned a nice piece of property. It was then that he realized that she did not necessarily accept the position for the money.

Since their last face to face meeting, Janus Cosmetics was in a tumultuous situation financially. EXTREME face-paint had been a total flop on the market. Stores couldn't give money away in order to rid their shelves of the product. Roman Sionis had been stressed and sleepless the past three nights. His eyes were blood shot-red and his breaths came rapid and deep. Easily over 25 chest rises per minute and a stationary heart rate of 120.

Sionis was depending on Pamela to be his golden goose that would lay the egg that would bring the company back on track. Hopefully she was not taking the destruction of the ficus lyrata to personally.

His two employees from Janus Cosmetics shipping and stocking were apprehensive to be there. This was past their usually scheduled shift, and when their boss asked them to bring 'shovels' along, that was simply strange. However, they needed to put food on the table for their families and this overtime job was earning them time and a half. With the rumors of layoffs coming at Janus Cosmetics due to the financial problems the company was experiencing, the two men needed to take advantage of this opportunity before they found themselves on the unemployment line.

"C'mon boys, Ah'm paying you by the hour," Roman motioned for them with a weighted gloved hand.

Sionis made his way up to the front door of the mansion. Door bell or knock? Ringing the doorbell would be the proper way to approach the situation. A harsh knock would show he meant business.

A knock it was. A loud one at that. A BANG BANG BANG BANG, followed by a shout from the owner of Janus Cosmetics. "Pamela! Open up. This is Roman. Roman Sionis, your boss! I need to check on your progress! You better have something to show me!"