"Let's not go back to being tied to a chair with it."

"I wasn't planning on it, no. Just - it's odd. Most people are less nice in that sort of situation."

"When they can get away with it."

"And this implies that you are, what, a font of altruism bursting to get free? Somehow I don't think so."

"No," he agrees.

"Are we psychoanalyzing Mark? Is this not likely to be hazardous to one's mental health?"

"I'm not contagious."

"Which you know because of your doctorate in psychology."

"I practically have a fucking doctorate in Miles."

"Which, to return to the topic at hand, you've been using to irritate and unsettle me since you stepped into this cave. Sort of a change from the last time we met. I'd really rather you stopped."

Ivan has no comment on this one.

"But it's so much fun."

"...You are in an absolutely foul mood in there, aren't you? It's hard to tell, you're so cheerful about it."

"Bar makes really good drinks if you want to take the edge off. First one's free. There's these pink things, they're delicious."

"Thanks," he says, grinning. There is definitely an edge to it. "I can always count on you to make me feel better, Ivan."

"Sorry."

"Why are you sorry to him but not to me?"

"Because I don't know him as well."

"Now I am also confused."

"I'm not upsetting you on purpose," Mark explains. If that qualifies as an explanation.

"Oh...kay."

"Was that unclear or am I just generally mystifying?"

"Yeah, more or less."