Daniel turned to look at Luthor for several seconds, blue eyes wide and unblinking. The archaeologist looked remarkably like an owl behind the over sized glasses as he sized the man up again. Daniel had taken note of him earlier. Something made him stand out then even before he said a word.It wasn't just his appearance, it went beyond that. There was something about him. It probably had everything to do with the feeling of charisma and sheer authority that he seemed to naturally radiate. It was the way he carried himself and the way he looked at people. Seemed to live and breathe it. Something about him screamed power.
Luthor was a smooth talker, he'd give him that. One of the best Daniel had ever seen. It wasn't outwardly threatening. Actually, Luthor had been perfectly pleasant about it. Amiable. Perfectly diplomatic. Not even remotely as confrontational as Dick or Zetta. Daniel found something about him disconcerting all the same. Maybe it was in how perfect and effortless his maneuvering was. How in control he was, and just how in control he seemed to be of Allin.
It was almost frightening how easily Luthor maneuvered the Councillor. Daniel's mouth pressed into a thin line. Luthor didn't just soothe away the initial tension, he included Allin as if he wasn't a separate party, just with a simple hand clap, turning him into a friend who'd just made a simple mistake and could be forgiven... then Luthor applied a subtle bit of pressure in the same breath, by 'suggesting' that the Councillor hand over data, make amends in apology, without offering a single thing in return. Just the lure of a promise that it would be enough to make the rest of them forget the matter. Daniel could read between the lines well enough to know none of this was a suggestion at all. Luthor backed the Councillor further into a corner. And he had somehow managed to place Allin firmly in a position to practically service them, to owe them too. Maybe even with a smile. Lex manipulated Allin as if he didn't have to think twice about dominating the man. Allin might not even realize it was happening. If you didn't know what to look for, it'd be easy to miss.
Daniel finally blinked, licked his lips, but said nothing to undermine Luthor just yet. As much as the display unsettled him, Luthor was right. They did need this information if they were to move around this society without anymore mishaps.
Sure, they were expected to follow the laws, but when the Galileans were trying to get something out of Stacy's crew, it was also expected that the Galileans show respect for their ways as well. Diplomacy wasn't a one-way street. Anyway it looked like today's negotiations were over for now, and better yet, Dick might be giving him approval to poke around. The archaeologist rose. He wanted to speak with the others and review before he went into more questions. "Thank you for your time, Councillor."
no subject
Luthor was a smooth talker, he'd give him that. One of the best Daniel had ever seen. It wasn't outwardly threatening. Actually, Luthor had been perfectly pleasant about it. Amiable. Perfectly diplomatic. Not even remotely as confrontational as Dick or Zetta. Daniel found something about him disconcerting all the same. Maybe it was in how perfect and effortless his maneuvering was. How in control he was, and just how in control he seemed to be of Allin.
It was almost frightening how easily Luthor maneuvered the Councillor. Daniel's mouth pressed into a thin line. Luthor didn't just soothe away the initial tension, he included Allin as if he wasn't a separate party, just with a simple hand clap, turning him into a friend who'd just made a simple mistake and could be forgiven... then Luthor applied a subtle bit of pressure in the same breath, by 'suggesting' that the Councillor hand over data, make amends in apology, without offering a single thing in return. Just the lure of a promise that it would be enough to make the rest of them forget the matter. Daniel could read between the lines well enough to know none of this was a suggestion at all. Luthor backed the Councillor further into a corner. And he had somehow managed to place Allin firmly in a position to practically service them, to owe them too. Maybe even with a smile. Lex manipulated Allin as if he didn't have to think twice about dominating the man. Allin might not even realize it was happening. If you didn't know what to look for, it'd be easy to miss.
Daniel finally blinked, licked his lips, but said nothing to undermine Luthor just yet. As much as the display unsettled him, Luthor was right. They did need this information if they were to move around this society without anymore mishaps.
Sure, they were expected to follow the laws, but when the Galileans were trying to get something out of Stacy's crew, it was also expected that the Galileans show respect for their ways as well. Diplomacy wasn't a one-way street. Anyway it looked like today's negotiations were over for now, and better yet, Dick might be giving him approval to poke around. The archaeologist rose. He wanted to speak with the others and review before he went into more questions. "Thank you for your time, Councillor."