Sadde doesn't seem quite able to focus on homework at the moment. He's fidgeting, and sometimes stares off into space for long periods of time before James has to snap him out of it.
Shrug. "It was just another way of saying 'anything goes.' Or, more generally, if you surprise me, it is very unlikely that will be a negative experience."
"Quite unlikely. I'm not sure how to exemplify it. Erm. If the surprise is telling everyone about my power, maybe don't? But I think you have revealed considerable accuracy in tickling me that way. I trust in your judgment."
What she is going to do, apparently, is roll on top of him and hold his arms down.
And that is when she says, "Hold still," and does her level best to get him to squirm.
This. Is a game he enjoys very much. He makes that nonverbally clear. And he tries, how he tries, but he fails at holding still.
Well. Any voluntary way. He is quite still, considering.
"Not moving doesn't mean not talking, incidentally," she says, trailing her fingertips up his ribcage. "If I want you quiet I'll be unambiguous about that."
He can't suppress the shiver that her fingertips cause. "Noted," he says, and swallows.
"What do you suppose I should do about your having moved when I told you not to? What is the point of telling you not to move, after all, if you then," she pinches him, "move."
Also, there in the corner of Lorica's field of view, there are a few objects that hadn't been there before. Unobtrusive, not exactly necessary, but, you know. If she'd like to use them, perhaps, they're there.
"Is that a suggestion?" she asks.
"It's... an option." He doesn't look that way, he can't tear his eyes from her face.
He gets a kiss. And concerted attempts at inducing squirming.
Well.
And he succumbs to squirming earlier than the previous time. He looks taut like a violin string.
"Hmm. Your performance is deteriorating. I may lack all those leadership skills they thought I had when they promoted me."