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[poisoninmypocket]

1086 Rocky Road

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[poisoninmypocket]

It inconvenienced you without harming you in any extended way, save perhaps your pride. I had hoped you might learn something of what it was to have a fox's instincts, as well. That is all.

[devoutish]

Yeah - yeah, I did. It taught me that a fox's instincts are far more difficult to overcome than I'd assumed, and that I had even more reason than I thought I did to be wary of people who've got them.

[He raises his eyebrows.]

You're not as stupid as you look, Navarro; surely you could have predicted that. Why didn't you?

[poisoninmypocket]

I fear I have a greater hope in the capacity for human empathy than I should, Mr. Solomons.

[devoutish]

No, I want you to work through the logic here. This isn't a question of empathy. Renart tells me she's dangerous, which causes me to worry about what danger she may pose to Emily, and in response you give me all the more reason to believe she might be dangerous. And you truly expected that to make me see her as less dangerous?

[poisoninmypocket]

Did you bite Ms. Emily, Mr. Solomons?

[devoutish]

I didn't see her. But if I had, I would have held myself accountable.

[poisoninmypocket]

And how would you hold yourself accountable?

[devoutish]

[He spreads his hands, palms up.]

I don't know what you're asking, mate. I'd take responsibility. Accept that I had done it.

[poisoninmypocket]

I am asking what you would do after that, sir. What would be your recourse? Had I, miraculously, been able to turn you into a fox forever, would you separate yourself from Ms. Emily permanently for such a transgression?

[devoutish]

I believe I've made it clear that I don't intend to lock Emily in the house away from danger.

[poisoninmypocket]

That is not what I asked, Mr. Solomons. You seem to be allergic to responding to the questions asked of you. Has redirection always been your favored defensive tactic?

[devoutish]

And this after I very nicely didn't point out when you ignored my question. That's not very charitable at all.

[poisoninmypocket]

Well, the rich and charity. You know how they are.

[He crosses his legs and reclines in his chair, exuding the air of a bored, well-to-do young fop.]

[devoutish]

Yeah. I, at least, answered the question behind your question, and it's a shame you--

[And then he lunges, very suddenly. His hands immediately go for Monty's wrist, trying to pin them and keep him from getting at that knife that he still thinks might be in one of his pockets.]

[poisoninmypocket]

[Alfie pins them easily, although, he's going to have to either let go pretty quickly, use his weight to steady things, or go down with Monty. The gentleman's surprised enough that he jolts back into his chair, eyes wide with alarm, and it tips backward.]

What are you doing!?

[devoutish]

[Oh fuck, he hadn't been expecting the chair to tip. But he's in this and he's going to stay in this. He makes a good attempt to balance things out weight-wise, but he only has a second or two and he doesn't have good leverage for it, so down they go. He's going to do his best to keep a tight grip on his wrists, though.]

[poisoninmypocket]

[Monty grunts as the chair slams into the ground. He doesn't struggle with Alfie to get the man off on the way down, just to try to brace himself as best he can. The older man will find himself halfway on top of the younger. Rather than being fearful, Monty's expression is confusion mixed with indignation.]

What in god's name was that meant to accomplish, sir?

[devoutish]

You shouldn't have trusted me, Navarro.

[He says softly, leaning in with a dangerous glint in his eye. He doesn't actually plan on hurting him, sure, but he doesn't want Monty to know that.]

I can be far more dangerous than a fox - and it's all choice, not instinct.

[poisoninmypocket]

[Monty has started squirming to get the man off, but stills at the words and Alfie's expression. There's a cold curl of dread around his stomach as his mind casts back to other encounters. Sol Badguy, Accelerator, Xion, Malcolm, the Nogitsune, Bucky... Dio. He swallows and marshals his courage to put on a front of indifference.]

You are not a man of your word, Mr. Solomons. That is good to know.

[devoutish]

Mm.

[He tightens his grip around Monty's wrists.]

Be careful who you wrong, mate.

[poisoninmypocket]

I believe the same may be said to you, sir.

[As he says this, Monty closes his eyes. After a moment, Alfie will find the chair and both of them are sinking into the floor. If he looks down, he'll see that the ground beneath them seems to have turned to quicksand. Monty isn't particularly bothered. He's controlling it... to an extent, after all.]

[devoutish]

[Oh, fuck.

Alfie isn't entirely unfamiliar with Monty's illusionary powers, and so if he took a moment to think about this logically, it would be pretty obvious what's going on. Unfortunately for him, it's pretty hard to take a moment to think logically when you're suddenly sinking through the floor. He lets go of Monty's wrists on instinct, letting out a yell and trying to scramble up.]

[poisoninmypocket]

[It stops as soon as he's let go, the quicksand turning just to a shallow pit that they're now sunk into. This sort of thing is going to cost him. Monty's well aware that if they were in Between he'd probably be in danger of fading out for that little display. Now, he just feels immensely tired as he jerks himself out of the sand and rolls to the side.]

Stop panicking, Mr. Solomons. You are Royce's friend. I will not kill you, nor even hurt you, particularly, unless it is by accident.

[devoutish]

Fucking hell, I do hate fucking magic powers.

[Recovering quickly, he shoots a hand out for Monty again.]

Come on, don't walk away yet.

[poisoninmypocket]

[Monty's reflexes are slow now and Alfie manages to grab his forearm before he can pull away.]

Enough! Mr. Solomons, I would like for you to leave my house. Now, please.