Okay, so I had another creative writing assignment. This time I had to write about five hundred words and it had to focus on a dialogue that involved negotiation of some kind between two people. Well, the inevitable happened, and that's how I wound up with this. Originally it wasn't just dialogue - in fact it included the beautiful sentence "She walked agitatedly away from him, but was brought up by a full stop." However, my word count couldn't cope, so I cut everything but dialogue and was pleasantly surprised with the result. Reviews would be appreciated. :D


"Where are we?!"

"Nowhere, it seems."

"What do you mean, nowhere? We weren't nowhere a second ago. What is this? Why aren't you worried?"

"Calm down, love, you won't get anywhere pacing like that."

"Don't call me that! Stop being so bloody possessive of me. I don't belong to you."

"Don't you?"

"Oh, shut up, and tell me what the hell is going on."

"We're in… suspended reality."

"Suspended what?"

"We're in somebody else's consciousness. In this space, anything can happen. This isn't real, so to speak. But we're stuck here."

"What? Are you serious? We can't be trapped here, that's crazy – "

"Ouch! There's no need to get violent about it – "

"This is ridiculous! What do you mean, suspended reality? Like the Matrix, or something?"

"…Or something, yes. Why are you looking so suspicious? Don't you trust me?"

"I make it a habit not to. And I wouldn't put it past you to set something up like this so you could play the conquering hero."

"Why, love – "

"I'm not about to act the damsel in distress, so you can cut it out. Just tell me, sensibly, how you know what this is and how the hell we get out."

"I know because I've been in this situation before, and so have you, as a matter of fact – you just don't remember, because you're a mortal. As for how we escape… From past experience, my dear, we'll have to negotiate our way out of here."

"Negotiate? What do you mean? – Stop standing so bloody close to me."

"Why, is it distracting you?"

"No. Answer the question."

"Well, we've been meandering on for several chapters with no resolution in sight – nothing but a few meaningful glances, some accidental contact, and quantities of Unresolved Sexual Tension. I rather suspect that we're expected to give some sign of mutual attraction, and that'll be the end of that."

"What? You can't be serious."

"As the plague."

"Oh, God, please tell me I'm dreaming."

"It is a very similar set-up, yes. But unlike a dream, you have no way of waking yourself – nothing except satisfying the conditions."

"Ugh. Okay. Just hypothetically, what would those conditions be?"

"That would be up to us to… negotiate."

"You're such a pervert."

"I can't help it if you find the most innocent things suggestive, princess."

"I'm not a princess. All right. What do you want from me?"

"Well – "

"Not that."

"But I – "

"No."

"Very well, then. I will settle for… a kiss."

"A kiss? Really? That's not very original of you."

"I could be more… inventive, if you so wished."

"On second thoughts, a kiss will be fine."

"How very co-operative of you, precious."

"Shut it. I have conditions."

"Of course you do."

"I – "

"You do realise that you won't remember any of this?"

"Really? …You promise?"

"Really. This is your chance to do what you've dreamed of doing since you met me, without regrets."

"Don't push your luck, you arrogant idiot. All right. Come here, then, and let's get this over with."

"Of course, I will remember with perfect clarity – "

"What? You cheating – "

"Just shut up and kiss me."