COURT CONTINUATIONS

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Captcha is the eternal enemy.

Comments

[thinkoutsidethebox]

[she hmms a little as it starts to become recognizable]

That objective only refers to physical harm. I do prefer to be the one dealing out harm generally, but shallow brutality isn't my preference. And I'm not so opposed to receiving it that I'll refuse if it has other advantages... physical pain is simple to deal with.

[rusemaster]

Smiple, huh...? D'you get that used to being harmed as a detective?

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Something like that...

[rusemaster]

Close, but not quite? I see...

[thinkoutsidethebox]

I got used to it, but not due to my role as the detective, precisely.

[rusemaster]

Rough home life? Bad working conditions? Am I warm?

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Not precisely... Mm, you see, I used to have a master myself.

[rusemaster]

[glances up from her work for a moment, before focusing on it again]

A bad one, I take it.

[thinkoutsidethebox]

I adored her at the time. But it certainly involved significant amounts of physical torture and humiliation.

[rusemaster]

It's even harder for me to understand why you'd be so okay with it, then... Even after you managed to turn your role around?

[thinkoutsidethebox]

It's different when it's in a different situation... and it's not as if it's that part of it I wasn't able to tolerate.

[rusemaster]

Hmm... Well, it's your call. Not like I'm gonna object.

[finally putting on the finishing touches, then pulling back with a slow exhale, slightly flushed]

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Hmm...

[she raises her hand, turning it to look the pattern over absently]

[rusemaster]

[soundly putting a cap back on the marker]

Is that satisfactory?

[thinkoutsidethebox]

It's acceptable. Is there some meaning to the pattern?

[rusemaster]

Ever heard of the bird called the little grebe? The old name for it was "nio."

[in a tone of relative indifference]

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Do you have a lot of personal similarities with a small diving bird?

[rusemaster]

A name, to start with.

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Is that all?

[rusemaster]

[shrug...]

There's a lot of 'em where I was born. Nothin' that interesting.

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Is that so...? Well, I'd say that the fact that you have a tattoo referencing it makes it interesting enough.

[rusemaster]

No, no. If y'build up too much of a mystery in your head, you'll be disappointed.

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Hm. Then, did you just want to match?

[rusemaster]

Think of it like a fancy signature.

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Very well.