maskormenace | (no subject)

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[On the network is what appears to be a young boy, about 12 or 13 years old. For a moment, he stares quite soulfully at the video output impossibly deep, black eyes, and then pokes at the screen with one fingernail.]

Not even a proper imp in there, how's that for you...?

[He pulls back and mimes clearing his throat. A voice far, far more booming than is fit for the child's face resounds across the feed.]

Right, broadcast. AHEM. This is just a friendly, non-suspicious question, inquiring on when the next coup or violent overthrow of this government is going to be. Not that I'm actually advocating it, I just know you humans really can't resist.

I'm pretty handy with a popcorn machine if anyone can provide good seats.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ That's done it. Miles may not be a magician, but that doesn't mean he can't calculate like one. This djinni is no worse than dealing with a Baron, surely. ]

Leave it up then? If you insist. But the longer it stays, the greater the odds that people find it.

Edited 2017-01-14 04:06 (UTC)

And you want what?

[ What does he want from a djinni? From Bartimaeus specifically? Well - he had genuinely wanted to make nice with one of Kitty's friends. But even manipulative Miles rules asking for that right out. ]

What do your magicians usually call on you for? To grant wishes?

[ Oh yes. His dislike has never been actually higher than right now. ]

Embarrassing enemies, thieving from enemies, thieving from friends, killing enemies, killing friends, kidnapping loved ones, tormenting people with no ability to fight back anyway and occasionally fetching or building status symbols.

[ Bartimaeus gives him an ugly smile. ] Welcome to the ranks, what would you like?

[ Nothing to thieve from his enemies here. Embarrassment unwise, the rest abhorrent ... And no status symbol can bring back Gregor, can it.

Miles goes from cocky to exhausted in the space of a breath. ]

Words for words. Stop calling me short.

[ And here it is, the moment he'd been waiting for. The thing that makes being in THIS world just a little sweeter.

The ability to say no. ]

Suck it, half man.

[ Miles blinks at that, caught off guard. He thought he had something there. ]

I'm sorry, what was that?

Nope. Nada. Not at all. Take it and shove it in sideways and wiggle it about for good measure. [ Bartimaeus makes helpful, educational gestures here. ]

As you prefer. I've far less to lose.

[ Other than his pride, which does tweak him rather badly. ]

There's where you're right.

There's an off chance that because of what you did, I may have this lovely new ability to say no forced away. [ He smiles, showing rows of sharp teeth. ] But I'm not going to give it up at the first threat.

Kitty did say you'd never use my name against me. Good to know I've got your real measure.

[ He ... does regret that a little. But he's also fairly sure this is nowhere near what an actual magician would do with Bartimaeus' name. (He resolves to delete the comment later when it doesn't look like he's backing down. He has too much pride to do it now.) ]

I offered friendship first. It didn't have to come to this.

Isn't that an ominous line. Ah, wouldn't the world be better off in general if Yards Vorkosigan got his way right off?

[ Yards? Huh? Despite having lived in America for a year, Miles doesn't get that reference right off. He frowns in confusion. ]

I've been reasonable. And I still say there's no one here who can actually harm you with your name, myself included.

Even if it's true, do you know what that doesn't change? The fact that I don't get to choose how to handle it. That was you, squeaker.

[ Pride vs. a genuine attempt to be friends ... Ugh, he just hates this. ]

You'd not have given me the slightest bit of attention otherwise.

Oh. Is that how to deal with you?

[ The djinni grins. And from Miles perspective, the claw taps something just beside the screen gently..

From Bartimaeus' side, the mute button blinks a cheerful red. ]

Edited 2017-01-14 14:18 (UTC)

[ Huh? What the heck did he do? Miles frowns a bit. ]

You've not cut the feed, so clearly you're doing a poor job of it.

[ In the mean time, Bartimaeus transforms into the small child again. He settles with his chin on his fist and his expression grows downright pleasant.

There's no answer. ]

[ Rude. ]

Giving me the silent treatment? Quite mature, that. I'm sure Kitty loves that part about you.

[ Takes up batting a wadded up piece of paper back and forth in the air. ]

Are you even listening to me, imp?

[ Again, no more reaction to whatever Miles is saying than a mild delight in his slowly darkening expression. ]

[ That usually gets something ... His expression continues to cloud.

He repeats what he said, but this time in Greek. And then Russian. And then (horribly shitty) Vulcan. ]

[ Did he just pull fingerguns at you? That's a thing that happened. ]

[ Thaaaat's what he thought. There's a pause. And then Miles scribbles on a pad of paper, holding up: ]

"Very clever, imp."