lifetothefullest | [IC Inbox]

[Lance stares evenly back, but he's mentally trying to decide if it's worth the risk to continue. He feels this is important, but at the same time he's only willing to take so much of a chance in dealing with her especially after last time.

But he's well out of arm's reach at the moment, at least, so he decides to try at least a little, carefully choosing his words as he does so.]

I'm not saying you do, but I don't think you're really as interested in retaining this Empire ideology as you're suddenly claiming. Especially not when what we're usually arguing about is where the line of what's acceptable for the greater good lies.

[And, although he doesn't say it directly, not when she'd been so clear during their first and only real counseling session that she didn't want to be an Imperial. But her sudden change in wording in regards to herself--corrupting the guard, being the one to go too far--is showing a completely different view of herself, and he thinks there's probably something in specific going on that's caused it.]

[Maketh stares at him for a long moment. Then she laughs, shaking her head.]

Stars, you are a frustrating man. Either you are slow, or annoying me on purpose.

[She's not sure which is worse.]

It does not matter what I believe. Only how it looks.

[Somewhere down the road, a sacrifice will be required. Someone to take the blame.]

[Okay, now he's vaguely insulted, even with it being Maketh.]

There's only so much mind-reading I can do.

[And he's rapidly losing any desire to see if he can help in any way.]

Even if that's true, which I doubt, you're not doing a very good job. People here seem oblivious to your more questionable methods, or possibly they just don't care about them. Or both.

[Which is a whole different, annoying issue.]

Are you going to make a point anytime soon, Doctor Sweets?

[She's rapidly losing patience with this conversation regardless.]

No. I've decided I don't care.

[The words are out before he bothers thinking about them, and somehow he can't find it in himself to regret that. He knew better than to get into a conversation with her anyway, and now he's just a combination of confused and annoyed, although at least that's a pretty mild reaction to dealing with her especially considering how things went last time.

But rather than just completely leave things there he still has some professional comments to make, although they might partially be with the purpose of ending the conversation.]

Eat something and stay hydrated and your condition will improve quickly, as long as you limit your alcohol and caffeine intake until you've recovered. Rest will also help.

[It's all recited very neutrally and professionally, in contrast to his previous comment.]

How strange, I don't recall asking you.

[She's tempted to throw something at him, just to see if he'd flinch. See how close she could get to his skull before he finally gave ground. But that's cruel and childish and hardly the point.

Control yourself, soldier.

Maketh tightens her jaw and moves to the door. She always feels like she loses ground whenever she talks to Sweets. Perhaps she should refrain from that in the future.]

Try not to die, will you? Doctor Brennan would be disappointed.

[He ignores the first response entirely, because the only thing he would have to say is petty and not at all useful, but he doesn't appreciate her last comment much at all. This is the second time in this conversation she's mentioned Brennan, and considering he'd just spoken with Brennan about the subject of dying--a conversation brought on by this event--it feels like a pointed remark even if he knows there's no logical way Maketh would have any idea about that.

So although he stiffens a little in annoyance, he just offers a shrug in return.]

I'll be sure to tell her you're concerned for her feelings.

[Only not in those terms.]

Hmm, of course you will.

[She tips her head to the side. There's nothing else to say.]

Good day, Doctor Sweets.

[He's relieved when she leaves, even if this entire conversation has just left him utterly unsure of what just happened; that's an unusual feeling for him, and he doesn't like it.

But he likes it better than how he felt last encounter with Maketh, so he'll file everything away to think about further at a later time. For now, he'll just return to where he'd been before she arrived, and see if he can concentrate on what he was writing once again.

Somehow he thinks that'll be easier said than done.]

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