something I find I keep coming back to is like. a character trying to beg and bargain and slowly realizing that they have nothing. to bargain with. grasping for anything they can give in exchange for avoiding some fate that's just too much. "I'll do anything you want," "I'll be good," "anything but that," etc, none of those work because like. 'anything' is already on the table. I could do this to you, and you'd still do anything I want, because there are plenty of things I could do that you'd do anything to avoid.
the moment they realize this, and really comprehend that they don't even have the power to offer obedience. what they want fundamentally cannot mean anything. especially if it's a character that's used to having control, or used to striking deals, it's just SO fun.
the whumper just watching them flounder for any kind of leverage, watching it dawn on them that they're not an actor in this exchange, they're an object.













