poly_chromatic | Video // Mirror, Mirror...

Entry tags:

mad men - michael ginsberg

Video // Mirror, Mirror...

[It's pretty hard to disguise the fact that his hands are shaking when he turns on the video, and even harder to disguise the fact that he's sitting on the floor somewhere, arms wrapped around his knees, steadfastly avoiding looking anywhere except the communicator.]

Has anyone seen...

[He shakes his head, a little too frantically.]

Okay. Let me start over. Has anyone been seeing... things in the mirror? Strange things? Things that shouldn't be there but that're definitely there? I think I might be going crazy. There's something there, and I'm not...

[Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment, he tries his best to get his thoughts together. It's an uphill battle.]

I've never hallucinated like this before. Other hallucinations, maybe, but not like this. Please tell me I'm not the only one, someone. I don't think I can take it much longer.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nice try.

[Nope, he doesn't believe you. He just thinks you have a really innocent face, Chekov. It seems to be working.]

[SIGH.]

None of it was bullshitting.

[He's being honest. See, he needs these bullshitting lessons because he actually is an earnest and scrupulously honest individual (who is prone, occasionally, to joking and exaggeration, but he wouldn't count those as bullshit or lies since the person he's talking to in those situations generally knows he isn't being sincere).]

You're really that nice? Okay, yeah, you definitely need the lessons. You're too nice. It goes from being genuine and sweet to disingenuous just because it's so genuine and sweet. Everyone's gotta have a little edge to them, you know?

[Yes. "Edge." That's what Ginsberg has.]

[To Chekov's credit, he can be incredibly sassy in the right company. He and Ginsberg haven't reached that level. They're still on the polite and adorable level.]

What is edge? Can you define it?

I don't know if I can define it, but I can give you an example.

[He leans forward with his elbows on his knees to stare intently at the communicator, gesturing as he talks.]

I work for this guy, and he's incredibly smart. He's an advertising genius, and I'm not saying that just because he's my boss. He doesn't really like me, and I don't really like him, but he's handsome, intelligent, a great bullshitter, well put together, he's got the whole package. And women love him. But they don't love him just because of all that. They love him because he's also mysterious. Unpredictable. The kind of guy that you can never quite pin down, the kind of guy that, when he calls you into his office, you're never sure if he's going to give you a raise or fire you. He can put a positive spin on anything, or he can completely destroy your hopes and dreams just by making you feel like shit.

That's edge. It's not safe, it's not comfortable, but it's alluring.

[Chekov analyzes all of these characteristics.]

This sounds like my captain, only maybe more frightening. Having edge sounds too difficult if it does not come naturally.

Yeah, I've never quite figured out how to do it. Except that I know you're not supposed to be nice all the time, and I'm pretty good at that.

[In that he tends to say insulting things without necessarily meaning to.]

I think people with a little edge to them usually speak their minds, even if they scare other people with their bluntness.

[Ginsberg seems perfectly nice!]

Ah--so to have edge, you must be rude, unpleasant, and mysterious? No thank you.

Well, not always. Nobody'd like you if you were rude and unpleasant all the time, right? You have to be nice enough that people want to impress you, but not so nice that they walk all over you and take advantage of your kindness. Believe me, I have no idea how it works, either.

That is manipulative. I prefer people who are not manipulative, so please don't try too much to have edge.

Well, sure, I wouldn't know how to do it, anyway. Don't worry. I won't be manipulative around you.

But you may continue bullshitting, if you would like.

Well, good, because I'm not ever gonna stop doing that. It's just who I am.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Video // Mirror, Mirror...

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;

video;

Re: video;