LOCKED TO viliorate

[sadisticwarfare]

[Profits have been way down in the last three months, and if things keep going this way, they won't last another three. Archer has the papers out in front of him, scouring everything to see where he can make cuts, yet again. He knows no one's going to be pleased, but they're going to have to remove another act. He's been told that cutting people from the circus is like throwing out a family member, but the fact of the matter is that the money he's making won't support everyone. It's not as though Archer is hoarding all the money for himself - though he's not exactly as generous to the others as he could be - but he's never really felt like part of the circus "family". They're the family members, he's the landlord.

Archer twirls his pen between his fingers as he examines the numbers again, finally selecting a couple of sheets with acts that he could possibly cut. He'll have to get Kimbley to look over them before he makes a final decision. Kimbley isn't his partner or his adviser, but Kimbley is his friend, and he'd rather have a second opinion on all this.]

Comments

[sadisticwarfare]

Why do you ask?

[He glances up at that, raising an eyebrow.]

You've seemed content with your hair for quite some time.

[viliorate]

[He shrugs.]

I don't know. I've worn my hair like this for a long time. Maybe it's time for a change.

[sadisticwarfare]

Do you think so? You could grow it out to one length.

[He sort of likes the ponytail, okay.]

[viliorate]

[Having short hair would be really weird so he's actually okay with this.]

Maybe I'll do that.

[Except then it might be even more obvious that he's starting to go grey.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Already, Kimbley? Even he isn't - though with the amount of stress he puts on himself you'd think he would...]

It would look better than whatever it is you've been doing with your hair.

[It's said affectionately though; he's gotten used to Kimbley's stupid haircut.]

[viliorate]

[You'd better not make fun of him for it!!]

Maybe I should give you a matching haircut.

[Okay, probably not. But the mental image is hilarious.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Absolutely not. I like my hair the way it is, thank you.

[He'd look hideous with a mullet anyway!]

[viliorate]

[He would look pretty bad. But Kimbley is laughing so maybe that's the point.]

So serious!

[sadisticwarfare]

I don't know what you were expecting from me.

[He does lighten up a bit, smirking at Kimbley.]

[viliorate]

I'd hate for you to have to go out in front of crowds with a stupid haircut. The audience might not know why you look so ridiculous, but everyone else would.

[But Archer would have to actually grow his hair out to have a mullet and that's somehow an even more ridiculous mental image.]

[sadisticwarfare]

It's not going to happen, so there's no sense discussing it.

[It's kind of a hilarious mental image, actually.]

[viliorate]

I don't know. Maybe we should get you a wig so we can test it out.

[KIMBLEY]

[sadisticwarfare]

Absolutely not.

[viliorate]

What? It's not like I'm going to make you walk around wearing it.

[sadisticwarfare]

With my luck, you'll like it so much you'll insist I wear it to work. I'm not going to wear a wig to begin with.

[viliorate]

[...It was worth trying! You can't blame him.]

I'd hate to ruin your public image.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Sure he can!]

I'd never forgive you for it.

[Is he joking? It's hard to tell.]

[viliorate]

[...Oh come on, what are you going to do to punish him?]

I haven't ruined it yet, have I?

[But maybe that has to do with the bullshit excuse they have going so they can live together without people getting suspicious.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Not yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if something happened.

[That's obviously teasing, however!]

[viliorate]

Oh come on. How long have I worked for you again?

[As long as it remains teasing, he's pretty happy to tease right back.]

[sadisticwarfare]

It's been what... nearly ten years now?

[He smirks. He's pleased obviously.]

[viliorate]

[And they've probably been together for most of that time...]

See? You have nothing to worry about!

[sadisticwarfare]

Well you'd better not do anything to risk that.

[viliorate]

Come on, do you really think I would?

[Look at that innocent look!]

[sadisticwarfare]

...I wouldn't put it past you, honestly...