He pauses in the midst of getting Little Thunder settled, glancing at Ducky with an unreadable expression. It's only for a second, barely anything as he tries to decide how he's going to play this interaction. He could simply be charming, deferential; it would be easier in many ways to simply listen to what she wants and agree to it since he's unlikely to object anyway. But...something's stuck with him, a sort of gravity to these agreements that he's only slowly begun to appreciate in lieu of his earlier approach of simply agreeing to whatever seemed convenient.
He doesn't turn cold or businesslike, but his smile loses some of its goofiness as he turns to face her properly and rests his hands folded on the table.
"Both our preferences will," he points out. "Anyone who'll tell you the Dominant's opinion matters more, you shouldn't contract with. But yes, I do hold a certain level of power, whether or not I want it...and it's only fair to tell you my side of things if I'm going to ask for yours."
He drums his fingers on the table, gathering his thoughts, and adds, "I must confess I'm not quite certain what it is I want. My first partner and I were...it began more or less as a contract of convenience, but by the time he disappeared from the city we were very close. My second, he and I both needed a contract to avoid jail time; we were...not close.
"I suppose what I'd really like is a friend, though I know that's a great deal to ask of someone I've only just met."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-10-07 04:27 pm (UTC)He doesn't turn cold or businesslike, but his smile loses some of its goofiness as he turns to face her properly and rests his hands folded on the table.
"Both our preferences will," he points out. "Anyone who'll tell you the Dominant's opinion matters more, you shouldn't contract with. But yes, I do hold a certain level of power, whether or not I want it...and it's only fair to tell you my side of things if I'm going to ask for yours."
He drums his fingers on the table, gathering his thoughts, and adds, "I must confess I'm not quite certain what it is I want. My first partner and I were...it began more or less as a contract of convenience, but by the time he disappeared from the city we were very close. My second, he and I both needed a contract to avoid jail time; we were...not close.
"I suppose what I'd really like is a friend, though I know that's a great deal to ask of someone I've only just met."