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[tongueamok]

Hello, this is Carlisle. I mean, it's not Carlisle as in I'm actually answering you right now, so if you're trying to reply to me at the second, you should probably save your breath because I'm not really here. This is some kind of a recording of my voice, but this is my communicator. I'm going to assume these devices are as common here as they are in other places — not my world, but others, ones more technologically advanced than where I come from— so if you'd like to leave me a message, then you may do so here, or er... Right. Here is fine. So just leave yo— [beep]

Comments

[tongueamok]

Indeed.

[Though relieved Lance doesn't seem too angry with him -- not frothing at the mouth or telling him to leave just yet, at any rate -- Carlisle still fights his own apprehension as it mingles with shame in his gut. It's not an uncommon feeling for him, unfortunately.]

Whenever you are ready, perhaps we could try a d- different approach, if you have any suggestions.

[lifetothefullest]

[Lance is more the simmering, glowering anger type, but if he were very deeply angry he's be being a lot more vicious in what he says. He's still displeased, for sure, but he's doing his best to put that aside and be pragmatic, especially since it's clear Carlisle genuinely didn't mean any harm.

But he hesitates, still, to continue, at least for another several seconds; he's still tense and trying to relax a bit, mentally and physically. Being overly tired isn't helping with that, but after a bit more silence he thinks he's feeling a little more normal again, and considers Carlisle's words.]

I think I have the most difficulty recognizing the compulsion when it's something that seems logical, or...

[He hesitates again, trying to decide how honest to be, before continuing.]

Or if it's something that seems to have an immediate, serious consequence if it isn't done.

[Which had been the case for the event that started all of this, and why the last command Carlisle had tried had been so dangerous.]

[tongueamok]

Fair enough.

[Carlisle ponders to himself, trying to think of something that isn't terribly logical (a feat in itself, given how the dominated mind will seek to justify itself no matter what he commands), but also doesn't have a terribly serious consequence. While not terribly creative, he can be inventive when he needs to be, and as such, finds a new suggestion after mulling it over a few more seconds.]

Let's try this, then. Disrobe.

[lifetothefullest]

[This choice is, perhaps unexpectedly or perhaps not, is also one of those things that goes though several checks in Lance's mind before he ever does it. There's a very specific and unusual reason for that which most people don't have, and the lack of any apparent need to go against that reason causes this particular command to immediately feel out of place; unlike the previous compulsion, where it warped into feeling necessary, this one just stands out as clearly coming from an outside source.

And, once that registers, he suddenly has a much better sense of what the external influence feels like as opposed to fighting what felt like an internal urge. So, although he gets as far as uncrossing his arms before everything clicks into place, that's it and he immediately recrosses them defensively.

Despite the gesture, though, and some faint annoyance at the particular choice of compulsion, Lance is somewhat pleased at this change; it's nice to be getting somewhere.]

I think I actually felt that for what it was.

[And he's not having to fight it so hard either; he'd have to work a lot harder to convince himself to go along with it, actually.]

[tongueamok]

Good. [Carlisle smiles a hair, his nervousness mixed with genuine relief, but maintains his gaze on Lance, as well as the compulsion itself. He holds his influence just a few seconds longer than before, pushing his pupil to keep concentrating. He relinquishes it as he stifles another cough, unable to hold it without his own attention. He could have phenomenal control over individuals, it's true, but his curse wouldn't allow it even if his morals would.]

I was not looking forward to commanding you to put your clothes back on once you got to your drawers, but I felt that was harmless enough. Though, in all fairness, there are some who would shed their clothing without a second thought, you do not strike me as the type to do so.

[lifetothefullest]

[He does have to keep concentrating while Carlisle is continuing to use the compulsion, but it's on a completely different level than before; it's more along the lines of focusing on reading a book while someone is talking in the background, rather than the exhausting and stressful effort required to resist some of the previous commands.

It's also easier to feel the effects fade when Carlisle stops actively using his power, and Lance isn't so distracted as to not catch the hint of some sort of discomfort; he can't tell exactly what it is yet, though, and instead focuses on the response. That actually earns a small laugh, despite his previous mood.]

There are, and I'm not. Although I wish I could say that an eagerness to undress was the biggest problem with the people here.

[The people here suck in general, honestly. A lack of modesty is a very minor problem in comparison.]

[tongueamok]

It isn't, unfortunately.

[Carlisle has a lot of gripes about the people trapped in Hadriel, but their poor fashion choices tend to be lower on the list of priorities when they're all being manipulated and used by hungry, would-be deities.]

How did that feel? What were you thinking of to keep your wits about you?

[lifetothefullest]

[He gives a small shrug at the question, and although his arms are still crossed he finally moves out of the corner a little, closer to the table again.]

I barely had to think about it at all; it was completely different than before.

[Probably because it's so ingrained--he doesn't even go swimming in public so as to avoid taking his shirt off--that it stood out as a completely alien idea. But he doesn't want to explain any of that, so he tries to figure out a way to answer with enough detail while avoiding the topic.]

With making the tea it didn't seem too unusual, so concentrating on not just doing it was really difficult. And the other time, it just... Warped into a sense of needing to act in self-defense.

[And so both of those had been very hard to recognize and then fight the instincts necessary to override them. But--]

This didn't seem normal and I guess wasn't something that could twist around in my head into being imperative to do, so it was easier.