How dared she use sad puppy-eyes at him as a way to break down his defenses, and to crank it up in such a way! It was frankly offensive, Looker huffed quietly to himself, around equally as offensive as the maneuver happened to be effective. Had she kept on going along that particular tactic then he would’ve been done, capitulating in mere moments to welcome the idea of his office suddenly being filled with as many creepy dolls as the Chief wanted. He should have been counting his lucky stars that her expression quickly changed, mirroring his rather smug smirk perfectly – while effective in its own way, at least he could manage. That sad puppy-eyed stare was a powerful weapon on its own; perhaps it would be for the best if the Chief never found out just how effective it actually was.
The sudden boop on his nose broke him out of his rambling inner monologue. Blinking in sheer surprise, once, twice, three times, he did his best to regain his composure as quickly as he possibly could. His grin had only faltered for a brief (but yet most likely noticeable) moment, before it returned, growing even stronger than before. If this was the game she wanted to play, he was on board with it.
❝It feels rude to call you out like this, Chief, but— I see exactly what threads you are attempting to pull at, yes!❞ he replied, the grin ever so present across his features as he looked up at her intensively, not yet backing down. With a eyebrow raised, it was almost as if he was challenging her. ❝Why would I fear a doll? It simply seems unnecessary, seeing how such a thing do not exist. Still! If you are so terribly set on it, I would be willing to negotiate shared custody with you of such an artifact.❞
Of course something like that didn’t exist, not unless some poor soul was attempting to pawn off a banette through an ad in the paper. In any case, it wouldn’t live up to the horror film-level of a scenario.
❝Do you even think i would notice, say, a hypothetical poltergeist roaming around my
office, chief? No, the supernatural is not something that I happen to fear, pfwah! Tell me
the truth, Chief— are you attempting to give me such a thing, simply so you can
watch the possible spectacle from a safe distance, without having to bite the sour apple? Just know, you should not be embarrassed if you are afraid of having such a thing for yourself.❞
Stunned. All she could do was be stunned. (Flinch? Paralysis?)
Was she expecting him to give in that easily to her teasing? Had she truly forgotten at that moment that he could match up to the same level as herself? No-- No, of course he could, of course he’s not going down without a fight, why on Earth did it still leave her agape and blinking dumbly back at the man before her.
A noise. That must have been an attempt at human communication, to form a sentence. “I’m. Uhp-- Hm--” Take your time. If this was hot potato, it’s practically searing her hands at this moment. All the thoughts rumbled in her brain like a thunderstorm: so many ‘How dare him’s and ‘Think clearly’s.
“Are you suggesting that I’m frightened? Over a doll?” Her finger prodded his chest with the emphasized words. The hand was brought back, laid on her own chest now in a haughty pose, staring back with a prideful glare. “I’m just giving a hypothetical gift-- You seem to be the one who doesn’t want it! And you--”
She looked sooooooooooooooo hurt.
“--Are throwing accusations at your superior.” Defensive. So defensive. She crossed her arms and her cheeks were flushing slightly. But slowly, a devilish grin swept crawled up her face as Nasty Plot took into effect. Oh hohoh yes. She will win for sure.
“... Tell you what.” Almost sing-song in tone, “We could settle who’s truly afraid of ghosts during this month in the most perfect way.”
“Do you like haunted houses, my dear Mr. Looker?”
