Lucy pursed her lips, glancing at Cobra. Normally, he'd be all for skipping straight to punching this guy's lights out. With how things went last time, coupled with how little they currently knew…maybe stalling for info wasn't the worst idea.
"I don't see how you think you'll convince us," he spoke, crossing his arms. "Why bother if you know we'll just say no to whatever evil scheme you have going on?"
"Ah, you wound me Cobra. It's not evil what I'm proposing. Far from it! I know it's natural for you to be skeptical of others, but surely, you've already seen what I can do, no?" He held up the spool of thread like it was the most expensive jewel in the world. "With this, I started my experiment; to see if I could receive bonds from others. In that respect, it is an astounding success. But then I got curious. If I could hold the very bonds I could only previously see, should I not be able to do more? Could I not…edit a few things about them? Improve them? After last night, I no longer have those questions." He grinned, even wider than before. "Because I know now. I can, I have, and I will."
Lucy blanched. Cobra was sure he was halfway there himself. Percy continued, either taking no notice of their expressions or not caring.
"If you promise to leave me alone, I could do the same for your bonds. The things you wish were stronger? I'll enhance them. The ones you want removed? Say no more. I could even…" Now his voice hesitated, a faint twitch in his grin, "…give back. A few of the ones from before. Just among your friends. But then, you would also have the opportunity to change them in turn, if you wished it. I know that for you in particular, Lucy," the same darkness from before coated his eyes as he stared at her, "would see great benefits in changing some of the ones I already have."
If he didn't already before, he really wanted to remove that obnoxious grin from Percy's face. Via violence if possible.
Lucy's face was stiff, yet her lips trembled. "Whether or not what you said is true, we," she glanced at Cobra and he nodded, "would never want to do something like that to another person. We refuse. This is your last warning."
Percy appeared frozen for a moment, not moving, not even blinking. Then, with surprising fluidity, he shrugged. "You already know my answer. But before you resort to violence, let me just say my offer will still be on the table even when you fail."
"You haven't met her if you think she'll fail," Cobra murmured under his breath, as the two of them began enacting their first plan.