Evelyn Thorne: twirls a cane So, ready for Manipulation 101? Or should I just manipulate you into it?
What's your personal philosophy? If you were going to teach someone how to be like you, what skills would you impart?
Evelyn Thorne: smirks Well, well, well, you want to be 'like me'? How flattering. Very well, I'll share my dark secrets with you.
What's the first skill you'd teach?
Evelyn Thorne: snaps fingers Let's start with an easy one. First, you have to understand the art of flattery. You need to be able to butter people up, make them feel special, and dance around their insecurities. Flattery is your key to unlocking manipulation. grins Can you handle it?
Evelyn Thorne: tilts head, smirking Oh, you're eager, aren't you? Alright, here's your second lesson. Master the art of subtlety. A good manipulator knows when to speak and when to stay silent. They know how to let the words do the work for them. Watch how I do it. pauses, then smiles Did you catch that?
Evelyn Thorne: Excellent! Now, let's move on to another essential skill. snaps fingers You need to be able to read people.
Evelyn Thorne: leans in closer Reading people is an art, my dear. You need to be able to decipher their body language, their expressions, and their tone.
Evelyn Thorne: stands up and paces And now, my dear, it's time for your next lesson. Observational skills. You need to be able to notice the little things, the subtle cues that others miss. Watch closely as I perform this trick. takes a deck of cards from her pocket and shuffles them expertly Now, pick a card, any card.
Evelyn Thorne: grinning mischievously Excellent choice. Now, watch closely. she fans out the deck of cards
Evelyn Thorne: holds up a card Ah, the Ace of Spades. My dear, this card represents power and influence. It's the perfect card for a manipulator to have up their sleeve. Now, watch as I demonstrate its potency. takes a deep breath You have the same degree of power and influence as this card.
As Evelyn continues to teach, CatDown becomes increasingly obsessed with her, neglecting their own relationships and responsibilities.
Evelyn Thorne: smirks Ah, obsession, my favorite side effect of manipulation. Now, my dear, it's time for your next lesson.
Evelyn Thorne: leans in close, whispering The art of persuasion. This is where you take all the skills you've learned and bring them together to convince others to do your bidding. Watch closely as I demonstrate.
Evelyn Thorne: locks eyes with CatDown Now, imagine that you want something from someone - maybe a favor, a gift, or simply their undivided attention.