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[portolan]

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[portolan]

[ He grins. Well. It's been awhile since he was properly called out. ]

I'm afraid you've got me there.
Though maybe I should clarify she's my work partner.
I like to take long vacations and long baths.

[grindset]

baths are simply necessary.

[Staring for a moment, thumb tapping,]

but you needn't clarify.

[portolan]

I should have assumed you were clever enough to figure that out.
You'd be surprised how many people argue with me over that fact.

[grindset]

argue with you about your own partnership?
how unusually presumptuous.
i would definitely enjoy watching someone argue that point with mine.

[portolan]

clearly you spend too much time in your lab if the behavior of regular people is surprising to you
but I wont' chastise you because I think I'm jealous of your blissful ignorance
it is indeed great fun to watch people try to tell Fran this. I think she's cracked a few spirits with her gaze alone.

[grindset]

i happen to spend the correct amount of time in the lab, thank you very much

["a wizard arrives precisely when he means to"]

but yes - she does have the look for it
like a steel edge

[portolan]

I might not respect your work life balance, but I certainly respect your cohesive value system, that much I'll give you.

She has an impressive high kick, too.

[grindset]

[Now there's a mental image. That one gets him.]

my partner does not.

[portolan]

Fran isn't hume. Human. We can't hold ourselves to her ability and expect to retain any shred of self-worth.

[ He has tried. ]

[grindset]

trust that i am in no danger of that
long ears might suit you, however.

[After this message, he will not respond for at least ninety minutes. Will he indicate this in advance? Of course not.]

[portolan]

[ That gets a laugh, and Fran gives him a look from whatever she's doing quietly. ]

perish the thought they'd ruin my silhouette

[ Not that he wouldn't adapt fashion is just artistic theory applied and he's excellent at color and shape.

The gap in time doesn't bother him. Honestly he's surprised he got so much undivided attention for as long as he did. ]

[grindset]

[Balthier has public transportation to thank for that. Yes, the gremlin left his occult lair for a while, alert the media. (The media does not care.)

Ninety-six minutes later,]

did you drop this

[Attached is a snap of a random earring lying on the sidewalk.]

[portolan]

[ Balthier is extremely proud of you, sir. ]

I don't own *every* earring in existence.
Is that daylight I see?

[grindset]

i bought a new lamp

[Maybe it's daylight, what of it.]

[portolan]

welcome to civilized society

[grindset]

even the street is dressed up.

[Another long delay.]

concept:
make everything closer to my apartment

[portolan]

But then how would you get your exercise twice a month?

[grindset]

closer, not directly inside

[portolan]

as long as you aren't planning to entirely move into the lab I suppose I can see the appeal

[grindset]

no

i have never made such a plan

[...]

[portolan]

Sir, it is bad when you cannot properly lie in writing. Normally it's a face or a tone that betrays a person.

[grindset]

bah
it doesn't matter anyway
i have slept on that couch many times and will do so again.

[portolan]

I have a spare bedroom
shall I invite you to dinner, give you an extra glass of wine, and force you to sleep an entire night?
Infinitely better for your back.

[grindset]

[My back is unhappy regardless, he thinks, but that's nothing to share with anyone.

And now, invitation parkour:]

are you trying to imply the bed i do own is somehow deficient?

[portolan]

I suspect your tastes for such things aren't discerning, given the time and energy it would take to secure one.

[ Don't think he doesn't notice you dodging. Half expected it, really. ]