NIETZSCHE; DEAD PHILOSOPHERS' INBOX

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT; LOCKED TO doitrockapella]

The offer for conversation is always open, should you desire to take me up on it; I can't guarantee that I'll respond immediately, nor will it necessarily be the response you want, but I'll always respond in some way.

In the name of enlightened discourse.

Comments

[doitrockapella]

I occasionally wonder if you think I'm pretty.

[explosivecombat]

Of course I do.

What else?

[doitrockapella]

You really think I'm going to tell you, don't you?

[explosivecombat]

Oh, not at all. I'm just in a particularly good mood and perfectly willing to flatter you for the time being.

[doitrockapella]

Now who's the master interrogator here? Your ways of making me talk are terribly effective.

He'd provide you with an accurate count of how many times a day I talk myself out of messaging you.

[explosivecombat]

Is it a high number?

[doitrockapella]

That's confidential information.

My powers of self-restraint do get a workout, though.

[explosivecombat]

Consider me flattered, then.

[doitrockapella]

I like it better when you're the one flattering me. It's a much rarer event.

[explosivecombat]

Come now. It's not that rare.

[doitrockapella]

It's rare when it happens despite my not actively soliciting it.

[explosivecombat]

Unfortunately, that's how it is for everyone.

You're an exception in that you get it after you solicit it.

[doitrockapella]

So you think I'm exceptional.

What keeps you from doing it of your own volition?

[explosivecombat]

I'm just not in the practice of offering compliments, I suppose. Praise is a different matter and I'll give credit where it's due, but flattery isn't anything I really do much of.

[doitrockapella]

Is that because praise is duly earned and worthy of acknowledgement, so there's a basis for offering it, but flattery and compliments don't really provide you with any personal benefit from offering them?

[explosivecombat]

Something like that, actually.

[doitrockapella]

You see? I can be taught.

You can praise me now.

[explosivecombat]

And how is it any different from flattery, if you're just going to solicit it?

[doitrockapella]

Because if you're willing to call it praise, then that tells me something about your position. Flattery only tells me something about mine.

[explosivecombat]

Either way, you're going to have to try harder; you know I've never made it that easy for you.

[doitrockapella]

Praising me also comes with the notable side effect of making me slightly more inclined to kiss you again.

Whether or not you consider that a benefit worth exploring is up to you.

[explosivecombat]

Let's say I'll keep that in mind and leave it at that.

[doitrockapella]

You're no fun.

[explosivecombat]

Plenty of people would beg to differ, you know.

[doitrockapella]

And yet you're not nearly so interested in them as you are in me. I wonder why.