Action/dialogue;

[gazeintothesun]

So why don't you end such an existence?

It's not a terribly difficult thing. Not even for you.

Comments

[inyourmidst]

Talking to yourself, sir? They say that's the first sign of madness.

[gazeintothesun]

Or a scarcity of conversation. But no; merely another stage in certain negotiations.

[inyourmidst]

Ohh? You're actually bothering to negotiate? I thought you'd just state your terms and then kindly convince your opponent to give in.

[gazeintothesun]

Of course. I've recently acquired a fondness for the willing offering of tribute on bended knee.

[inyourmidst]

I'm sure you're hardly short of volunteers, but...

If they need any convincing, I'm always happy to assist. ♥

[gazeintothesun]

[Quiet laughter.]

As always, I'm sure.

[inyourmidst]

Barring excessive and completely uncalled-for punishment, of course.

[Arches eyebrow at]

[gazeintothesun]

[Completely immune to whatever arching you may perform, of course.]

Certainly. An excess of punishment would be little more than torture.

[inyourmidst]

[Are you so sure of that? I'm pretty flexible~]

And isn't that what it was? Oh, sure, you put a nice name on it, but...

[Have a sharpening smile]

[gazeintothesun]

[The mun says no, which is as always terribly amusing.]

Was it?

An empty exercise, if you found nothing in it aside from that.

[The corner of one lip curls into a smirk.]

[inyourmidst]

[She seems to forget that she was won over with an act of flexibility...or several, depending on when you stopped counting]

Funny, that exactly what I thought it was. A whole lot of nothing.

[The pain you see here is thoroughly non-existent. Why don't you focus on the slight uplift of lashes instead.]

Maybe you should try it out for yourself and you'll see what I mean.

[gazeintothesun]

[Smirkity smirk smirk, what eyelashes. I find potential for further education much more fascinating.]

Ah, then. [Mock sigh.] Disappointing as it is, I'll need to rerun the tests.

[inyourmidst]

With another test subject? Maybe I'll find it more educational if I get to see it from the outside.

[Ignoring your smirk, sir. And keeping in mind where the exits are, even though outwardly there's nothing but (some very fake) smiles.]

I'm sure you'll find your work more gratifying with an enlightened witness.

[gazeintothesun]

I dislike repetition, but to isolate the problem requires an identical setup.

[Beatific smile.]

No need to downplay your own importance, Gin.

[inyourmidst]

[With just a hint of sourness this time. We are not appreciating this bad joke.]

If it's all the same to you, I think I'll decline. Unless you want me to be feeling decidedly unhelpful for the next decade, sir.

[gazeintothesun]

[We appreciate your not-appreciating.

Tsks and leans forward juuuust a little, his presence subtly asserting itself.]

Ah, but it isn't.

All the same to me, that is.