John lets out a soft, skeptical snort, as if he believes that even the simple act of straightening up is likely beyond Martin's capabilities, then shuts his door again with decisive force.
Right. That should buy him a few minutes to think.
He returns to his desk and his word document, though he doesn't do more with the latter than idly tap the space bar and delete key by turns, marching the cursor back and forth as he considers his approach. He'd like to offer Martin something a little more... familiar. Something that might almost pass for one of his old workplace fantasies. Granted, he has absolutely no desire to Know what any of those fantasies actually entailed. The tempting convenience of that option has never been worth the accompanying intrusiveness of it all. Besides — and perhaps more to the point — it isn't lost on him that Martin constructed said fantasies well before he was aware of John's own proclivities. Whatever he had in mind, odds are that any kind of accurate reconstruction would be untenable for reasons that have nothing to do with how mean John's willing to be.
But if the specifics are deliberately beyond him, potential framing devices are easier to imagine. He could summon Martin to his office, the obvious first step, and then... perhaps come up with an excuse to interrogate him a bit. Really make him squirm. He could invent a mishandled assignment or something, but he likes the idea of rooting it in reality — making it easier for Martin to play along. And once he starts thinking along the lines of 'reasons he might have once called Martin into his office for a fraught conversation,' it doesn't take long at all for a plan to solidify. The idea actually strikes him quite quickly; the minute or two that follow are dedicated to setting the scene and composing himself lest he break out into self-satisfied giggles.
Finally, he gets back to his feet and steps outside his office. "Martin," he says, stern and just loud enough to be heard over whatever bullshit he's doing in the lobby. Then he steps to the side with a pointed gesture towards the open doorway. "I'll have you in my office. Now."
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Right. That should buy him a few minutes to think.
He returns to his desk and his word document, though he doesn't do more with the latter than idly tap the space bar and delete key by turns, marching the cursor back and forth as he considers his approach. He'd like to offer Martin something a little more... familiar. Something that might almost pass for one of his old workplace fantasies. Granted, he has absolutely no desire to Know what any of those fantasies actually entailed. The tempting convenience of that option has never been worth the accompanying intrusiveness of it all. Besides — and perhaps more to the point — it isn't lost on him that Martin constructed said fantasies well before he was aware of John's own proclivities. Whatever he had in mind, odds are that any kind of accurate reconstruction would be untenable for reasons that have nothing to do with how mean John's willing to be.
But if the specifics are deliberately beyond him, potential framing devices are easier to imagine. He could summon Martin to his office, the obvious first step, and then... perhaps come up with an excuse to interrogate him a bit. Really make him squirm. He could invent a mishandled assignment or something, but he likes the idea of rooting it in reality — making it easier for Martin to play along. And once he starts thinking along the lines of 'reasons he might have once called Martin into his office for a fraught conversation,' it doesn't take long at all for a plan to solidify. The idea actually strikes him quite quickly; the minute or two that follow are dedicated to setting the scene and composing himself lest he break out into self-satisfied giggles.
Finally, he gets back to his feet and steps outside his office. "Martin," he says, stern and just loud enough to be heard over whatever bullshit he's doing in the lobby. Then he steps to the side with a pointed gesture towards the open doorway. "I'll have you in my office. Now."