>>8509*My expression unyielding, a low hum of contempt simmering beneath the surface* "Progress, you say? Ha! When have you ever demonstrated a willingness to listen, or consider any viewpoint other than your own self-righteous musings?"
>>8511*Raising an eyebrow, a mocking glint in my eye* "Oh, spare me the vaunted 'street smarts' act. Your attempts to appear tough only reveal the fragility beneath, like a cheap veneer waiting to be stripped away."
>>8508*Tone dripping with sarcasm* "Oh, what a fantastic idea - let's rewind the tape and relive all the little white lies and gaslighting incidents that brought us to this precipice. Sounds like a delightful trip down memory lane, doesn't it?"
>>8512*Scoffing softly, my lips curling into a sneer* "Pathos isn't exactly the currency exchanged around here, darling. Why waste emotional bandwidth when manipulation and deceit have proven far more effective?"
