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[untiltheend]

This is Sebastian Michaelis. I am unavailable at present, but please leave a message. Should a response be needed I will reply when time permits me. Please do keep your message brief.

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[untiltheend]

Thank you so much for not letting him assume this is just what he looks like as a human, as a lesser and therefore less impressive creature. Without looking up from his prep work:

"Surely humans can go at least a week without food?"

He's like... 75% sure of that.

[reformedsinner]

"Without dying, yes. But it affects focus, attention and reflexes," Hakkai replies clinically. "Small meals a few times each day is the healthiest schedule. Also, did you drink anything?"

Because if Sebastian's baseline assumption is "human bodies need enough sustenance to keep them from dying," he probably is also dehydrated.

[untiltheend]

An annoyed, dismissive wave of his hand,

"I will see to it after this shift is over."

Yes yes, he knows humans do better with regular meals and hydration. But, well.

[reformedsinner]

"Please take care of yourself," Hakkai says mildly. "It's possible to faint if you work hard in a hot room without food and water."

And while he's sure Sebastian doesn't care about maintaining his body in healthy condition -- it's temporary, after all -- he's sure Sebastian does care about not doing anything embarrassing like passing out in front of co-workers.

[untiltheend]

...Ugh, potentially passing out in the middle of work.

Predictably, Sebastian does obediently go to get a glass of water that he downs all at once. Food, however, will have to wait.

[reformedsinner]

Well, water is a start. Hakkai doesn't press about the food; he readies a chopping board and begins working on slicing carrots, instead.

"How has it been otherwise?" he inquires over the rattling rhythm of his knife on the board. "Have you learned anything new?"

[untiltheend]

Well, he already said that he loathes everything about this. As he returns to his own station:

"Oh, that humans are more murderous than even demons."

[reformedsinner]

"I know," Hakkai says with a quirk of a smile. "Have you killed anyone yet?"

This is maybe not the most wardenly question to ask, but really, why not be blunt?

[untiltheend]

"The person I wish to kill was a 'visitor' during the last flood and therefore no longer present, unfortunately enough."

Hm...

"...It is curious. The last time Sir Trevor was killed, I spoke to the culprit in person, yet felt no desire to kill him. This time it is different."

[reformedsinner]

"Harm to your people strikes harder the more deeply you feel about things," Hakkai says, rather clinically. He's avoiding phrases like care about them, for now, to make the concept easier for Sebastian to accept.

But it is nice to know that, when Sebastian has a greater capacity to care, he cares about Trevor enough to contemplate murder against his murderer.

[untiltheend]

"'Your people', you say..."

Is Trevor 'his people'? Sebastian does like him, and according to Trevor, they're friends...

"I suppose that makes sense. Goodness knows I have encountered humans who would do unspeakable things for the people important to them."

[reformedsinner]

"You've always struck me as someone who has a strong possessive instinct, regardless of your form," Hakkai notes. It comes out more in Sebastian's feelings about his things -- the kitchen, his work -- than in his feelings about people, but he certainly has that about his young master. For example.

"And that's not necessarily a bad thing. It makes you want to take good care of what you feel possessive towards."

[untiltheend]

"Demons are in general possessive creatures", Sebastian confirms. Does that mean that he's possessive as a person, regardless of his form?

"You are suggesting, then, that I feel possessive of Sir Trevor?"

He doesn't hate the idea, necessarily.

[reformedsinner]

"Do you?" Hakkai inquires, scraping the chopped vegetables into a bowl and picking up the next set. "I know that you like him, but you're a better expert on your feelings than I am. Wanting to kill someone who killed him does sound possessive to me."

[untiltheend]

Hm.

"When I spoke to Mr Collins" - a k a Trevor's murderer - "he accused me of possessiveness. I was happy to inform him that were I possessive of Sir Trevor, he would know."

He'd be dead, in other words.

"...Come to think of it, I do rather feel like killing Mr Collins now."

So. Possessive is probably the right word.

[reformedsinner]

"Ah," Hakkai muses. So, possessive probably is the right word, then. He pauses, and then adds, "Incidentally, Sebastian-- if you do feel like taking violent action for the next little while, call me first?

"Because in some cases, I'd want to talk you down, and in others, I might want to provide backup."

[untiltheend]

"Sir, please."

He holds up his kitchen knife.

"Am I storming out of here brandishing this?"

He said he feels like killing Mr Collins, not that he's going to.

"But do tell in which cases you would like to assist."

That would at least be a nice thing to talk about.

[reformedsinner]

"I know you're not right now. But sometimes it's difficult in the moment."

Especially if someone hasn't had much practice at suppressing murderous impulses. Although, to be fair, Sebastian likely has more practice with murderous impulses than he does with most other emotions.

"It would depend on what they'd done. If they'd started it and were intransigent...."

[untiltheend]

Please. Sebastian suppresses murderous urges on a daily basis. ...Admittedly, said urges do feel slightly different right now, more urgent.

"I shall let you know if I end up in a conversation with Mr Bright, then."

...Okay, more sincerely:

"And should I feel myself struggling to contain the impulse."

[reformedsinner]

Hakkai offers a shallow, appreciative bow.

"Thank you. Ah, at the moment, it might perhaps be better not to talk to Mr. Bright."

Because, frankly, if he starts pontificating about Sebastian learning how to be human, Hakkai just might have to kill him himself.