inbox.

[nightmarist]

Comments

[nightmarist]

You don't have to. Are you trying to say you wouldn't? If these little chats failed and all the concern in the world wasn't enough to talk me down.

Don't lie to me. It's a waste of time.

[timestones]

To be interested in honesty, you'd have to not already have all the answers.

What I'm saying is that if it went that way, I'd have some difficult choices to make, but I haven't had occasion to put anyone in a box that I wasn't willing to lock myself inside of as well. And if that were to ever change, I certainly wouldn't start the trend with you. Not by a long shot.

[nightmarist]

Why not?

[timestones]

You're starting to sound like you want me to put you in a box.

[nightmarist]

I wanna know why you wouldn't.

[timestones]

Have you ever known a problem that was ever solved by boxing it up and shoving it into the back of a closet?

[nightmarist]

How do you solve a problem like me, then?

[timestones]

Honestly? I don't. Not right now.

[nightmarist]

You're slippery, magician.

[timestones]

Am I?

[nightmarist]

I don't regret it, by the way.

[timestones]

If you did, we'd be having a very different kind of conversation right now.

[nightmarist]

About the precious value of human life?

[timestones]

No, because it's quite clear that you do actually know a little something about the value of human life already.

There are some things you really don't need a guy in a big red cloak to tell you about.

[nightmarist]

Most things, I think.

[timestones]

And if I were where you are, I'd say the same thing.

[nightmarist]

I still would like you to tell me how you'd stop me.

[timestones]

I’m sure you would. But if you were in my shoes, would you tell you what you’d do to stop you?

[nightmarist]

Yes.

[timestones]

Is that because you’re seeking out for security from it? Reassurance someone will stop you?

[nightmarist]

Maybe you already know this, but I'm dangerous whether or not I'm trying to be. Obviously it's not hard to put a bullet in my head, and Kylo's pretty good at fixing my mistakes, but I like to know all my options. Especially any nonlethal ones.

[timestones]

That, I do already know. At least in the abstract.

You wanted me not to lie, and I’m not going to, but I also can’t give you the answer you’re asking for right now, or the options and possibilities.

[There’s a small sound of Stephen clicking his teeth, then the sound of his weight shifting, followed by footsteps.]

And the simplest, most practical reason I can’t do that right now is that I’m on cool-down. We both have to wait.

[nightmarist]

You overheated?

[timestones]

Sure, something like that.

You realise I looked at more than a couple of possible outcomes here, right?

[nightmarist]

For all I know, that's what you do for fun.