[The Wounded Look transitions into the Disapproving Look - a slight variation of the Disappointed Look, with a bit less sorrow and a bit more firmness. An exact copy, if he was not mistaken, of his rabbi's look when he admitted that he wasn't going to go in for Talmudic studies at university.]
Never mind, of course, that it'll take you no more than an hour and a half to read it. That's time much better spent catching yet another replay of The Runaway Bride on the telly. Julia Roberts would absolutely be missing you otherwise.
[And that look would be absolutely effective, if it wasn't met with one of absolute incredulity in return.]
I can't read a book in an hour and a half! And--and!-- I don't even like Runaway Bride all that much, you know I'm a Pretty Woman sort of man. Mystic Pizza. Early Julia Roberts--honestly, it's like maybe you don't know me at all.
[He holds up thumb and forefinger to demonstrate.]
This long. And come off it, you'll still stop and watch if they're showing it, so don't act like you're using your time judiciously. I promise, an hour and a half, no more.
[STILL NOT SURE IF THIS IS WORTH IT so... there's a short silence, where he stares at George, as if trying to either work out how much he trusts that claim of honor, or perhaps suss out if the promised peace to come is going to be worth reading this book...]
I can't believe I'm saying this, but-- [A resigned sigh!] Oh, fine, yeah, whatever, get me a copy of the bloody book and I'll read it. Only so that you shut up and keep your lists and your talking animals to yourself.
[He sits up, hastily, all but jumping to his feet to grab George's arm--]
No, that's-- that's all right. I wouldn't start on it now anyways, I've-- [thinking quickly--!] --because we-- we're planning Annie's party now. Don't tell me you're trying t' get out of that!
[Mitchell, damn him, does manage to urge George back down into his seat. He grumbles:]
At least I'm a bit more subtle than you avoiding this topic.
[But still - ]
Well, that's a partial guest list, at least. Any suggestions on what we should do? Movies? Cluedo? [A moment later - ] No, if we're inviting ghosts, that'd set them off, wouldn't it.
[Subtlety doesn't matter, all that matters is that he did avoid it. Well done, Mitchell. He relaxes back onto the sofa, momentarily too pleased with himself to really listen to George.
But, right, if he's going to avoid the topic of books, he has to keep the conversation going--]
Sorry-- I thought this was Annie's party, but clearly you're planning a party for a seven-year-old. Do people actually plan activities for parties? I thought you just sort of put out crisps and cakes and little pizzas and things and said, hey, it's a party, and everyone-- you know-- mingled.
That's not a party. That's a - a - get-together. Completely different.
[But that's said mostly to save face, because, yeah, that's generally what parties consist of. George never really was much of one for throwing parties; he was more the one attending. Or...not attending, as the case might have been. But not attending for a good cause, without question.
(The "good cause" was, generally speaking, the Doctor Who Christmas special.)]
But if parties are so straightforward, then it seems like we don't have to plan at all. And we can get back to talking about literature.
[Mitchell sits up again, sharply, and oh my God, that is exactly the turn that this conversation should not take, didn't he just escape that conversation]
Nooo, no, you know-- I think you're right, I think planning is an excellent idea. Cluedo! We just have t' take care to invite the goth-y ghosts, the ones who like talking about their gory details, and, uh-- well, there's wink murder, and the one with the clues on the cards on your forehead, blind man's bluff--
It's not death-related, it's not as if we're making little grave cakes or anything morbid like that-- anyway, most ghosts aren't so sensitive about it, it's just a fact of life for them. Er, unlife. Whatever.
Anyway, we are limited in our options, we only own Cluedo. And Monopoly, but you know my feelings on Monopoly.
I don't hate the game because of financial planning, I hate it because the game itself is shit. Hungry capitalism at its finest, all bourgeoisie-- and because someone always buys up all of the decent property and constructs fifteen hotels on every space and gets smug and makes unhelpful comments whenever he gets half the chance.
They're not unhelpful. [But though his tone is outraged, his grin is absolutely self-satisfied.] You only think they're unhelpful because you're too busy channeling Engels to play.
But really, it's all right. It's not shameful, not to be as good as I am. Not many people are, after all.
In what world is bet you're sorry you landed there now a helpful comment? Or slum lord, remember the slum lord incident?
[Mildly disgusted, he shakes his head.]
This is why no one wants t' play games with you, George. Just so you know. This, right here, and then you reveal you've some sort of-- junior Monopoly championship title to your name. Like that's at all normal or enviable.
Look, you didn't ask about Scrabble, Mitchell, so not telling you about that wasn't a lie. And it's quite enviable, you know, I had my picture in the paper and everything.
[George again tries to seem perfectly restrained and proper, but it's easy enough to tell that he's quite pleased about this line of conversation. Not that he's a braggart - All right, perhaps he's a bit of a braggart.]
Anyway, you oughtn't be so bitter. Annie and I acknowledged the fact that you don't enjoy playing the perfectly necessary role of slum lord, so we don't make you play any longer, do we?
[A bit of a braggart actually goes right to the top of the list of George Traits, but really only a braggart on things that most people--normal people--could care less about, Scrabble being one of those things. The title makes George good for crossword help, provided he's kept from taking over the whole thing and trying to do it in ink. The title is bad for just about every other reason, but it would be a low blow to say something about achievements to date and how photos in the papers from when you were fifteen years of age doesn't count for very much when you've aged significantly beyond that--and so Mitchell keeps that comment to himself, because he really is a good friend (who doesn't want to deal with an irritable George calling him out for that low blow).]
No, yeah, you don't, and it's really easy to ignore the two of you when you set up the board and sigh about how you wish there were just one other person t' play, wouldn't that be nice-- yeah, that's not manipulative or distracting at all.
Perhaps Nina will be your slum lord for you. Let's ask her when she comes round.
You're joking, of course. Have you met Nina? Do you think for a moment she would lose at Monopoly? She's got a killer instinct.
[That, though, is said with fondness rather than with any sort of disapproval or even with fear. He's disgustingly, foully, sugary proud of his Nina, and even loves her taunts when they're playing strip poker and he's down to his boxers and she's still got just about anything.
He considers telling Mitchell about that one...but no, best not to make him madly jealous. As he would be.]
Well, all right, what about charades? At the party. We could be on the same team and clean up.
[Yes, jealous is the word for what Mitchell would be. And while it might actually be worth it to watch George get beaten at Monopoly (with sort of the same satisfaction you might get from watching an evil king get beheaded or something along those lines), it would still involve Monopoly. The farther he is from that game, the better.
And besides, he really does quite like charades.]
Us being on the same team, you think everyone would go for that? Resign themselves to the slaughter? [He grins a little, scratching at his cheek as he considers that.] Ah, well, if they're too stupid t' know better, that's not our fault.
We'll slaughter them. [And he grins at George, finally pleased with that one. They do make a good team.]
I bet we could pretend to be bollocks at first, complete shit, don't you think? And then we could talk about putting money down on it, like hustlers do with billiards or some such thing.
[George's eyes light up just a little bit. It's not the actual benefit of getting one over on other people so much as the act of doing so that he's keen on. He would never actually steal anyone's money, but there's an undeniable romanticism in pulling some of the tricks he's seen on The Real Hustle.]
Then, round three, we manage to pull off communicating The Importance of Being Earnest or As I Lay Dying or something else like that.
[There is some questionable morality involved with swindling money out of your party guests, but at the same time... the chance to do, on some small scale, some real hustling of their own is not lost on Mitchell either. It would be cool--just to say they'd done it. Mitchell has done big time stuff. This is more about the experience.
He sits up a little, interest clearly piqued.]
We could do that. We could actually do that. [He grins, and leans back again, shaking his head in admiration.] Ah, listen t' you, you're a regular Valfierno under all of it, aren't you. Killer instincts of your own. And on your own party guests!
Killer instincts, nothing. Just - a sense of adventure, that's all, and a keenness to keep people entertained. It's about providing entertainment at the party.
[But he's grinning in return, way too excited for this.]
Bet we could pull a few other things, too. Would Annie go in on it, do you think? I bet we could come up with something really tricky if we had invisibility on our side.
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carisma_sensei
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 04:56 pm (UTC)[The Wounded Look transitions into the Disapproving Look - a slight variation of the Disappointed Look, with a bit less sorrow and a bit more firmness. An exact copy, if he was not mistaken, of his rabbi's look when he admitted that he wasn't going to go in for Talmudic studies at university.]
Never mind, of course, that it'll take you no more than an hour and a half to read it. That's time much better spent catching yet another replay of The Runaway Bride on the telly. Julia Roberts would absolutely be missing you otherwise.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 06:50 pm (UTC)I can't read a book in an hour and a half! And--and!-- I don't even like Runaway Bride all that much, you know I'm a Pretty Woman sort of man. Mystic Pizza. Early Julia Roberts--honestly, it's like maybe you don't know me at all.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 07:22 pm (UTC)[He holds up thumb and forefinger to demonstrate.]
This long. And come off it, you'll still stop and watch if they're showing it, so don't act like you're using your time judiciously. I promise, an hour and a half, no more.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 08:23 pm (UTC)[He pinches at the bridge of his nose with a huge sigh.]
Will you leave off of me reading if I agree to this one single book.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 08:30 pm (UTC)[He raises his hand.]
I give my word of honor.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 08:58 pm (UTC)I can't believe I'm saying this, but-- [A resigned sigh!] Oh, fine, yeah, whatever, get me a copy of the bloody book and I'll read it. Only so that you shut up and keep your lists and your talking animals to yourself.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 09:03 pm (UTC)Brilliant. Might actually have a copy in my room - you're going to love it, I'm sure of that. I can go and get it now -
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 10:10 pm (UTC)[He sits up, hastily, all but jumping to his feet to grab George's arm--]
No, that's-- that's all right. I wouldn't start on it now anyways, I've-- [thinking quickly--!] --because we-- we're planning Annie's party now. Don't tell me you're trying t' get out of that!
no subject
Date: 2013-05-13 11:01 pm (UTC)At least I'm a bit more subtle than you avoiding this topic.
[But still - ]
Well, that's a partial guest list, at least. Any suggestions on what we should do? Movies? Cluedo? [A moment later - ] No, if we're inviting ghosts, that'd set them off, wouldn't it.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-14 12:41 am (UTC)But, right, if he's going to avoid the topic of books, he has to keep the conversation going--]
Sorry-- I thought this was Annie's party, but clearly you're planning a party for a seven-year-old. Do people actually plan activities for parties? I thought you just sort of put out crisps and cakes and little pizzas and things and said, hey, it's a party, and everyone-- you know-- mingled.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-14 02:01 am (UTC)[But that's said mostly to save face, because, yeah, that's generally what parties consist of. George never really was much of one for throwing parties; he was more the one attending. Or...not attending, as the case might have been. But not attending for a good cause, without question.
(The "good cause" was, generally speaking, the Doctor Who Christmas special.)]
But if parties are so straightforward, then it seems like we don't have to plan at all. And we can get back to talking about literature.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-14 05:59 am (UTC)[Mitchell sits up again, sharply, and oh my God, that is exactly the turn that this conversation should not take, didn't he just escape that conversation]
Nooo, no, you know-- I think you're right, I think planning is an excellent idea. Cluedo! We just have t' take care to invite the goth-y ghosts, the ones who like talking about their gory details, and, uh-- well, there's wink murder, and the one with the clues on the cards on your forehead, blind man's bluff--
no subject
Date: 2013-05-14 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-14 03:51 pm (UTC)It's not death-related, it's not as if we're making little grave cakes or anything morbid like that-- anyway, most ghosts aren't so sensitive about it, it's just a fact of life for them. Er, unlife. Whatever.
Anyway, we are limited in our options, we only own Cluedo. And Monopoly, but you know my feelings on Monopoly.
fuck monopoly
Date: 2013-05-14 03:58 pm (UTC)Monopoly is not to blame for your inability to plan financially, you know.
I put that in there just for you c:
Date: 2013-05-14 04:25 pm (UTC)[And just who could that be....]
I knew it
Date: 2013-05-14 04:39 pm (UTC)But really, it's all right. It's not shameful, not to be as good as I am. Not many people are, after all.
someday we'll play monopoly and you'll have a good time
Date: 2013-05-14 06:08 pm (UTC)[Mildly disgusted, he shakes his head.]
This is why no one wants t' play games with you, George. Just so you know. This, right here, and then you reveal you've some sort of-- junior Monopoly championship title to your name. Like that's at all normal or enviable.
Girl I don't like spending money in REAL LIFE on REAL THINGS why would I do it for fun
Date: 2013-05-14 06:22 pm (UTC)[George again tries to seem perfectly restrained and proper, but it's easy enough to tell that he's quite pleased about this line of conversation. Not that he's a braggart - All right, perhaps he's a bit of a braggart.]
Anyway, you oughtn't be so bitter. Annie and I acknowledged the fact that you don't enjoy playing the perfectly necessary role of slum lord, so we don't make you play any longer, do we?
because it isn't real money and at the end everyone throws it in the air and cheers like it's 1999!
Date: 2013-05-14 06:48 pm (UTC)No, yeah, you don't, and it's really easy to ignore the two of you when you set up the board and sigh about how you wish there were just one other person t' play, wouldn't that be nice-- yeah, that's not manipulative or distracting at all.
Perhaps Nina will be your slum lord for you. Let's ask her when she comes round.
I hated 1999
Date: 2013-05-14 09:46 pm (UTC)[That, though, is said with fondness rather than with any sort of disapproval or even with fear. He's disgustingly, foully, sugary proud of his Nina, and even loves her taunts when they're playing strip poker and he's down to his boxers and she's still got just about anything.
He considers telling Mitchell about that one...but no, best not to make him madly jealous. As he would be.]
Well, all right, what about charades? At the party. We could be on the same team and clean up.
you are such a downer.......
Date: 2013-05-15 09:38 am (UTC)And besides, he really does quite like charades.]
Us being on the same team, you think everyone would go for that? Resign themselves to the slaughter? [He grins a little, scratching at his cheek as he considers that.] Ah, well, if they're too stupid t' know better, that's not our fault.
We'll slaughter them. [And he grins at George, finally pleased with that one. They do make a good team.]
I hate downers
Date: 2013-05-15 03:17 pm (UTC)[George's eyes light up just a little bit. It's not the actual benefit of getting one over on other people so much as the act of doing so that he's keen on. He would never actually steal anyone's money, but there's an undeniable romanticism in pulling some of the tricks he's seen on The Real Hustle.]
Then, round three, we manage to pull off communicating The Importance of Being Earnest or As I Lay Dying or something else like that.
I hate you.
Date: 2013-05-15 04:21 pm (UTC)He sits up a little, interest clearly piqued.]
We could do that. We could actually do that. [He grins, and leans back again, shaking his head in admiration.] Ah, listen t' you, you're a regular Valfierno under all of it, aren't you. Killer instincts of your own. And on your own party guests!
You're the only thing I love
Date: 2013-05-15 04:40 pm (UTC)[But he's grinning in return, way too excited for this.]
Bet we could pull a few other things, too. Would Annie go in on it, do you think? I bet we could come up with something really tricky if we had invisibility on our side.
.......awwwww well okay :>
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