"Obviously I'm going to have to reassess my communication habits with the other lieutenants if that's what you thought I was getting at." Which wasn't necessarily true; most of the new recruits (and even some of the old) were outright terrified of him even when they were sucking up. For good reason, he supposed, but it did make things a hell of a lot less fun for him.

Noel was just as scared, but she was different. Different in the whole "not being human" sort of thing, which was a really, really important thing to remember when he was trying to decided how to torment her. Like now, for example.

He didn't doubt he couldn't get anyone in her place to do the same thing he would ask her, but that wasn't the point here.

"Hm... Well, you are one of my --" His lip curled around the word. "-- best workers, and it would be an utter shame to see you kicked out. Think of how bad it would be for your family." There was a threat hidden in those words, but with the way he said it it was almost hard to tell.

"Tell you what. I'll make you a deal. I won't tell the board what it is you just did, and I'll also speak to your superiors about your... extenuating circumstances. However," he held up another finger. "I'll only do that in exchange for a kiss. A real one. And try not to suck so bad this time, okay?"