tfln

[trashtalker]

wayback machine tfln or tfln if it's up

Comments

[boyofprogress]

Oh definitely! ☺️
But if your brain is focusing on me being ridiculous, it's harder to panic.

[modification]

Then it is a wonder I ever panic at all, because you are ALWAYS ridiculous.

[boyofprogress]

Oh shoot, you caught on to my secret plan 😔

Can I ask why we're panicking? You don't have to tell me, but if I can help, I will.

[modification]

I was not aware that WE were panicking. My apprehension does not need to be a group activity.

[boyofprogress]

All right, all right. What are you specifically apprehensive about.
(I tried to say "apprehending" but that's entirely the wrong word.)

[modification]

House Shoola has requested a public demonstration from the both of us at their next party in exchange for further funding.

I am not apprehensive. [ He just said he was. ] I was going to say that I fell sick.

[boyofprogress]

... okay now it IS a group activity. But no, this is fine? This is fine!

And you know I'll cover for you, if you don't feel up to going. You can be sick, if you need to be.

[modification]

I don't see why you should feel apprehensive about it. You are as at home on a stage as you are in a forge.

[boyofprogress]

Yes and no? I'm okay once I get up there, the lights are usually bright enough that I can't actually see anyone.
But I almost always throw up beforehand.

[modification]

As I said: ridiculous. You worry yourself for no reason. You could walk on stage and do nothing but smile and the crowd would cheer you on.

[boyofprogress]

I'm keeping a tally in my notebook of how many times you've called me "ridiculous" today.

Honestly, I like that even less. That means they don't care about what we have to say.

[modification]

Ridiculous. [ :-) ]

And of course they don't care. They do not even understand half of what you have to say. An audience of the general public is hardly full of your intellectual equals.

[boyofprogress]

[... that's adorable, and it does get a smile from him]

Four.

OUR intellectual equals. Stop discounting yourself. It's our work, Viktor. Yours and mine. I'm just delivering it.

[modification]

I know. We are both geniuses, of course. It is not intellect where I am lacking.

[boyofprogress]

I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm just saying that you should give yourself more credit. You deserve it.
This project wouldn't still be going, if it weren't for you.

[modification]

And it would not have started, if not for you. Are we to compliment each other's brilliance eternally? I think that will cut into our demonstration planning time.

[boyofprogress]

Our? So you're coming to the demonstration?

[modification]

[ ... ]

Someone will have to hold the bucket for you to throw up in.

[boyofprogress]

Well, I'll be happy to have you there, in whatever capacity you want to be there.
You can make sure I don't say something stupid, like "burnt umber".

[modification]

I never said stupid. I said ridiculous.

[ "Ridiculous (affectionate)". Very different!! ]

I will stand in the back. We should put our best face first.

[boyofprogress]

Five.

You have a nice face too, you know. When your bitch face is less vigilant.

[modification]

It is not my face I worry about.

[boyofprogress]

I know.

[As much as he tries to reassure Viktor that it doesn't matter, there aren't many others in The Academy who seem to feel the same.]

I do feel better when you're there, though. Even if you're not up on the stage with me.

[modification]

Mm, yes. I will say ridiculous things so that you don't panic.

[boyofprogress]

I don't know, can you?
Maybe you're too uptight to be ridiculous.

(Six, indirectly.)

[He's teasing, but Viktor's fun to poke at.]