Now this is just getting old. Stephen really and truly didn’t bother hiding the fact that he rolled his eyes, given anyone who thought it wasn’t a natural response either wasn’t thinking about it or hadn’t been fucking paying attention. “How about we cut the “read my mind,” bullshit and get on with this conversation. You have information I need, that will help me decide whether to let you in the door. Do you see how this works, or do I have to spell it out?” Regardless of the fact that it was something Stephen could technically do, he didn’t have any interest or professional comfort with poking around in other peoples’ heads. And there was a utility to levity that he appreciated more and more as he got older and crankier.

“Because if you’re going to try to keep verbally dancing around me in order to make me less suspicious of you, you’re failing miserably,” he continued flatly, his arms crossed over his chest but his hands kept open in the folds of his arms should he need them. “And you’re also failing at accomplishing whatever goal you actually came here fore at the same time, unless your sole inclination was to irritate the crap out of me and get a door closed in your face in about five seconds.”

_{He had attempted to handle things delicately and in turn ended up making things worse for himself. A reason to why he decided ( along with Stephen’s own irritation ) it was time to just get to the point. No more dancing along the lines of safety – it was time to admit everything. Maybe then he could get in the door or get it shut in his face ( at this rate it was more looking towards shut in his face than anything else ) it was a fifty fifty chance on what way it would go.}

_{“I was trying to –,” he was about to go into an apology, but then, half-way through he grunted. “I’m the grandson of Mephisto and I need your help – shut the door on me. I don’t care… i’m going to be dragged back either way. I just…I just want to postpone it for a bit longer.” He could have gone on to explain everything about his situation, but even Ky knew it wasn’t worth it. Not if he was just going to more than likely be thrown out.}