Don't get me wrong: it'd be useful to read through. I'd love to hear what you think about how it's written, what it says, all of that.
[ She turns her hand. ]
But it's not worth doing something that will make you question if I mean what I say. And I'm not really interested in doing this pulling you kicking and screaming anywhere like you're a child.
[ Wry. ]
You aren't. You can make your own decisions. You know what the stakes are here. You want me to read it, fine. It's a great tool. You don't? It's not worth making this something where you just 'don't object'. If you aren't on board, there's no point.
[Iago doesn't operate on fear. But it is disappointing to know that she is already so open. She's not stupid; she knows what she's doing. Iago is not here for it.
He lets her read as he inspects, touching nothing with the mug in his hands.]
[ She finishes her reading soon enough, and she'll close the file to put it on the table for the time being; now that it's read, by both of them, it can be tossed into the fireplace or locked away or he can even take it if he wants it. ]
[ Her own smile is gentle, but unwavering. She has a feeling she's going to find out a lot more than he finds comfortable. And that's right there, in her eyes, still as soft as they started. ]
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[ She shakes her head. ]
I'm not interested if it's the first one.
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Why provide it if you don't need to read it?
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Don't get me wrong: it'd be useful to read through. I'd love to hear what you think about how it's written, what it says, all of that.
[ She turns her hand. ]
But it's not worth doing something that will make you question if I mean what I say. And I'm not really interested in doing this pulling you kicking and screaming anywhere like you're a child.
[ Wry. ]
You aren't. You can make your own decisions. You know what the stakes are here. You want me to read it, fine. It's a great tool. You don't? It's not worth making this something where you just 'don't object'. If you aren't on board, there's no point.
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[He weighs his options here, but decides that he can play the game.]
Read it. I would prefer not to dance around our conversations.
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'Dancing' huh?
[ She smiles before she starts reading through the document. ]
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[He stands just as she takes the file out and wanders back to the machine, fascinated by it though he keeps half his attention on her.]
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[ Focused on the file but clearly unbothered by him getting up. ]
My previous inmate actually lived here for a while. Consider this space as welcome as your own cabin.
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[He hates it. He hates that with every fiber of his being. To be holed up like some actual prisoner...absolutely not.
He pours himself another cup, humming softly to himself as he takes the opportunity to walk the room.]
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Don't worry. That isn't something I expect. Or even something I see coming down the line. David had some specific needs.
I know very well that helping you is going to be different than helping him.
[ Reading now. ]
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He lets her read as he inspects, touching nothing with the mug in his hands.]
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Did you want to talk about it at all?
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[He raises his cup up and shrugs.]
Is there anything you'd like clarification about? Truly, it is a tragic story.
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That depends on what you mean by 'clarification'. What do you find tragic about it?
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From where I ended up.
[He shakes his head.]
So many lives lost for no reason.
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They could have prevented it, after all.
[A flash of a grin.]
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[ No smile, but her eyes aren't harder. She's just curious where he's going with this. ]
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I could have been given the promotion.
[And he laughs. It's not an actual solution, but a deflection is good enough."
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[ She looks over at him curiously. ]
For some reason, I doubt it.
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[A charming, charming grin.]
Was there anything else you'd like to discuss?
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Yes. Why did you lie to me? Earlier?
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I don't recall lying to you.
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You do.
[ Absolute certainty. The kind that doesn't need him to agree out loud. The kind that knows he knows. And now he knows she knows he knows.
Then he gets a wry smile. ]
How about I let you regroup, get a new strategy that isn't 'lie to my face', and we have dinner sometime soon, okay?
[ Then she glances at the file. ]
You want that destroyed or... you want to keep it? We can lock it up? That's all your choice.
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But he also knows that he avoided answering the question directly, which is his temporary solution to a long term problem.
He doesn't acknowledge that she said anything about it.]
Keep it for now. Perhaps it will prove useful.
Dinner would be fine. [He sets the empty mug back on the table.]
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That's exactly what he is.
For now, she'll give a nod. ]
Great. I'll give you a ring and we'll work out a good day.
[ She moves to go put the file back away in the safe. ]
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