Crown Of Thorns [ Michael Langdon ]

21 - unauthorized copulation - 21

{Chapter Twenty One - Unauthorized Copulation}

~ You know just how to be cruel,
When you shake your hips that way,
Paint your lips that way ~

- Michelle

Michael sat at his desk silently, facing Gallant.

"So how's this work?" Gallant asked, shifting awkwardly in his seat. Michael was clearly intimidating him.

"I'm not gonna tell you what criteria I'm using to grade you." Michael frowned, "Things you may feel are helpful may be hurtful. Things you may feel will compel rejection may be exactly what I'm looking for."

"So I can't game the system?" Gallant asked, smiling awkwardly.

"If you hedge, I will know. If you lie, I will know." Michael said slowly, his face stony. "And if you try to trick me, I will know, and this interview will be over, and you will die here painfully. Are we clear?"

Gallant nodded quickly with a frightened look on his face.

"What is your sexual orientation?" Michael began, watching Gallant carefully.

"I'm gay," Gallant began, "but I fucked a girl before in high school, and I finished and everything. She did, too, I think. It's harder to tell with girls." Michael fought off a judgemental look, as Gallant rambled on. "Um... but I'm just saying that I can do that, you know, for procreation if I have to."

"We have techniques for harvesting genetic material. We still need a woman's womb to incubate the fetus, for now, but your ability to impregnate some poor girl isn't needed." Michael told him. Gallant nodded in understanding, regretting what he'd just said. "Tell me about your anger. Tell me about your grandmother." Michael leaned over the table, bringing a hand up to his face to rest his chin.

"Why would you put those two things together?" Gallant asked, with a small laugh. Michael only stared back at him. "Okay. I hate her fucking guts."

"Good." Michael crooned, "Why?"

"Because she wants me to be the perfect gay: married, with a pair of Yorkies and a collection of Wedgwood dishes."

"A eunuch." Michael finished.

"That's not me at all. I'm not that old, but I'm old enough to remember when sucking dick was both a way to get off and an act of political rebellion." Gallant said passionately.

"She's shamed you, in the past." Michael said thoughtfully.

"What do you know?"

"Maybe... I have a file that tells me all your secrets, or maybe I'm sensing something, or maybe I'm just fishing." Michael smirked, standing up. "Tell me who you really are." He walked around the desk and sat on it, looking down at Gallant.

"Are you looking for some kind of confession?" Gallant asked, frowning in confusion up at Michael.

"I'm not a priest. I don't even know if I believe in God. I mean, if there was a God, why would he allow the Armageddon?" Michael said, "The concept of sin does seem a bit antiquated. Rules for keeping the chaos at bay. No need for rules anymore; chaos has won." Gallant stared up at Michael for a moment, before speaking. 

Michael listened to Gallant's story about how his grandmother constantly shamed him for being who he was, before standing up.

"So you like leather?" Michael smirked, he enjoyed teasing this pathetic man.