[ vidar scoffs. ] That's not pride. But I'll excuse you because these aren't ordinary circumstances.

[ so he's able to control himself, somehow, he thinks as he watches him try to be there, be present, sit still. play dead. very well trained. he wonders what his master is like, and makes the decision that actually, he doesn't want to know. there's no benefit in knowing beyond wanting to control, and he's not an asshole. just a horribly enigmatic one, but that's not a reason for being cruel to anyone.

anyway. ]

If you want to preserve your master, you should be better than he is.

[ a sigh. ] There is no sense indulging desires which leave you vulnerable to people more cruel than I can be.