He wishes he could say that the rest of the night flew very quickly, but it's not the case. Instead, every bone in his body is filled with anticipation which stretches the seconds, and minutes, to unimaginable lengths.

They have been talking for 2+ hours now, and he realizes that it's his new drug. The keyboard feels like placid dough under his fingers. In fact, it's so ridiculously pliable that he considers scolding it for deceiving him all this time and making him think that his ability to type and simultaneously feel happy about it had dried out completely. Apparently, now he can rest assured it's not the case. Even though rest is as far from his mind as possible.

He thinks of making himself yet another cup of coffee but his body lodges a loud protest. He feels enough high as it is.

It'd all started with his apparently ill-advised suggestion to fulfill any promise thrown his way. What he didn't anticipate were the heights one's imagination could reach. And his newfound buddy definitely didn't lack in imagination.

Kili genuinely has no idea how to clarify the word 'promise' and the fact that he's the one who is offering to fulfill one, not the other way around. He wonders if he should just repeat that sentence, in case if his buddy's 'drunk style of writing' hasn't yet left his system entirely, but that seems too boring. And, this night, Kili wants to be anything but.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: Do you want to make your own promise? I think we could arrange that. How about something like 'sticking to your drunk writing style', at least for the night? In the last hour, you've made me smile more than I've been smiling for weeks, and I think that you should consider that a success, and a *hint*. What I actually meant, though, was me making a promise for you. A promise of your own hopefully-not-too-extreme choice. But take you pick :)

The reply is almost instant and suspiciously detailed, which makes Kili wonder if he's just been toyed with. One doesn't just come up with a suggestion like this in… 5 seconds?

hewhodespisesart: Yes, you've discovered my secret: I was indeed drunk. And I'm a bit drunk still. If you want to determine the drunkenness of my messages, pay attention to their length. The longer they are, the drunker I am. I think they should turn it into a math formula or something. For future generations. Anyway, what could I ask of you? I'm torn between going for a question and a dare. What would be a safer choice? I think your first pick would be a question. But since we're online and I couldn't ask you to do anything really daring… hmm, this way question would probably be even more of a risk. In fact, I feel it's unfair to thrust this choice on you when I can't decide between the two myself. So my solution is for you to do both: question AND dare.

Kili feels his mouth opening of its own accord and refusing to close. "Someone clearly knows how to break rules," his mind supplies helpfully, and, by the look of things, this is to be his last rational thought for a while.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: As far as I remember, this game is called 'truth and dare', not 'question or dare'. But, to answer your non-existing question, yes, hit me with it – but not too hard :P

hewhodespisesart: My version is called 'question or dare'. I don't need truth. I just need to hear you answer the question. The lack of question must have been a little bold of me, but then again, it was you who made the offer. And you didn't specify the number of things I'm allowed to ask for, did you?

temporarilyoutofinspiration: I didn't, but 'a promise' implies one thing the last time I checked.

hewhodespisesart: Uh-oh. Someone is competitive :)

temporarilyoutofinspiration: See? You can't justify your reasoning. I will do it anyway, though, you don't have to worry.

hewhodespisesart: 'Promise' means 'saying you will do something and do it'. 'Something' isn't necessarily one thing.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: I think you're sobering up nicely.

hewhodespisesart: Getting there :)

temporarilyoutofinspiration: So? Do you want me to die from anticipation?

The seconds click by, producing no answer, and Kili can feel his palms getting sweaty. It might potentially be an absolute mess, but the tickling somewhere in his chest area is surprisingly pleasant. He likes it. He likes the unknown. He likes being acutely aware of time as it trickles away in a rhythmic pattern that matches the beating of his heart. His likes his total disinterest in the abandoned half-filled coffee cup waiting dejectedly on the counter.

When first signs of annoyance begin to creep in, the answer finally comes. Leaving him interchangeably amused and confused with the slight dominance of the former.

hewhodespisesart: What do you think about collaboration?

temporarilyoutofinspiration: What kind?

Kili knows he's treading a slippery ground, but a smile on his face doesn't coincide with any concern he might have.

hewhodespisesart: Well, creative collaboration would be a nice start.

Kili expects something like that, but that fact doesn't make it any less exciting. His fingers find the keyboard and he makes a conscious effort to ignore a sudden and very much untimely feeling of bashfulness.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: I don't know? I don't suppose I never had one. Need the right people for that kind of thing, don't you? :)

When he hits 'send' , uncertainty settles on trepidation. He could easily lie. His so-called challenge didn't require honesty. But, for some reason, the mere thought of giving a different answer leaves a sour taste in his mouth.

hewhodespisesart: Did you just answer my question or had a chat with your nickname? :)

Kili grins at the mirrored smiley face and realizes that his doubts are only too eager to melt away.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: Both, I suppose :) Although you're the one to talk, considering YOUR nickname!

hewhodespisesart: Mine doesn't match the reality. It used to, but not now. Does yours?

For a second, he wants to reply with something snappy, but honesty feels too effortless to pretend that he's bothered by these questions.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: No, it stopped to, a short while ago.

He considers all the possible answers that could bring and realizes that a less confident part of him is reluctant to hear them. So he hurries to add yet another message.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: And what about the dare?

The answer lingers and Kili catches himself tapping the table with his fingers. "It's fast, too fast," he thinks and yet at the same time, it cannot be fast enough. He craves the fastness, and yet wonders if he can bear it when it comes. Kili gives the thought an internal scoff and blinks at the screen. His eyes are beginning to hurt, but it's still not enough of a distraction to stop the anxiousness within him.

hewhodespisesart: Well, essentially, it kind of equals the question. But I won't push if you don't want to. If you don't want to, we can just… talk about something else. If you're up for that?

Kili is half-afraid that his face will get stuck in a grin after that night. So, that 'question and dare' game was simply a low-key way to get a taste of his opinion before going ahead and offering the actual challenge. Why not ask for the truth, though? Wouldn't that be a logical thing to do?

Kili squeezes his temples in a futile, but suddenly urgent attempt to work out that reasoning, and, having come short, settles on a direct question.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: I could be :) But you have to answer this first: why not just ask me to tell the truth? Why that stuff with only caring about hearing my opinion? I could as well lie, couldn't I? :P

hewhodespisesart: Didn't want to put you under additional pressure, I guess? When people are asked for truth, they are more tempted to lie. It's like a defense mechanism going off. But also? I didn't really think you would lie.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: Bold of you to assume that :) So, what you're saying is that the actual dare is enough of a pressure? Did I get that right?

The lightness of the tone helps him keep himself grounded despite the intensifying tension in his chest.

hewhodespisesart: Well, that's for you to decide. No pressure on my part.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: Don't be so sure about that. I'm a very demanding… what are we going to call it, by the way? A collaboration? A partnership?

hewhodespisesart: No, these are all boring. How about… a quest for inspiration? :)

temporarilyoutofinspiration: I suppose I should now come up with an alternative option based on YOUR version of nickname?

hewhodespisesart: ?

hewhodespisesart: Well, I should probably admit… my problem kind of coincides with yours. Hence the nickname and other unfortunate consequences.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: Something even MORE unfortunate than that nickname?

hewhodespisesart: I'd say 'shut up', but you're not talking anyway, so I will just answer with this…

temporarilyoutofinspiration: yeah?

hewhodespisesart: …

temporarilyoutofinspiration: What's that supposed to mean?

hewhodespisesart: …

temporarilyoutofinspiration: Stop that! It's even more annoying than being told to shut up.

hewhodespisesart: These are blank messages, obviously. And you're supposed to fill the blanks.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: If I liked talking to myself, would I even be here?

hewhodespisesart: So who DO you like talking to?

temporarilyoutofinspiration: …

hewhodespisesart: Don't pick up my bad habit.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: Yeah, I think we got seriously distracted. A quest for inspiration, was it? Should we draw a memo?

hewhodespisesart: Yeah, rule one: don't call it a memo. Takes all creativity out of it.

temporarilyoutofinspiration: So? I'm waiting for your genius ideas. hewhodespisesart: Rule two: no sarcasm. temporarilyoutofinspiration: I thought we were done with the memo idea. hewhodespisesart: We are, but we still need some rules, don't we? temporarilyoutofinspiration: Well, seeing as I'm the one being challenged, I think it's only fair that I come up with the rules. hewhodespisesart: Hm, I think you kind of lost a bit of reasoning on the way to that conclusion. Seeing as it's ME who provides the challenge...

Kili doesn't really want to come up with these rules on his own. But it's been a long time since he was able to bicker with someone in sport, with no underlying tension and hidden agendas, so the mere thought of missing that opportunity feels like a crime. He has no idea where this is going or what the end result will be, but the sound of clinking keyboard under his fingers is a definition of relaxation and no question can be more important than that.