[b][I]Mikhail Chekhov[/i][/b]

Mikhail chuckled at the thought of Alex the Snob and Peppy Ponytail being 'smart', but realized that Merja was right in that they were smarter than her. But, and the young man [i]hated[/i] to admit it, he also selected Merja because she was malleable - He can push her in a way he could not push Alex or Joey. So his next words were, [b]"All right, ask Alex and Joey for me. But if you fail, you're going to help me. Is that a deal?"[/b]

[i]And you will fail,[/i] were Mikhail's thoughts, [i]You will fail to sway them, they might even say something to make you feel guilty, and once that happens, I'll swoop in and push you into helping me.[/i]

[b]"So go on, talk to them,"[/b] Mikhail said, choking down the bile that rose into his throat as he realized he was being manipulative. He couldn't resist blurting out a correction to the phrase he used. [b]"I mean, go to them, if you want. I mean, the snob and the ball of sunshine who has never suffered in any way in his life are [i]so[/i] willing to help a fatherless kid."[/b] [i]No, no, this is even more manipulative![/i], he thought, but continued anyway, [b]"Go on, prove me wrong."[/b]

[i]I dare you.[/i] Merja would recognize this from her own psychology classes as 'reverse psychology', a form of manipulation. But intellectual knowledge was not the same as emotional realization and Mikhail counted on that.

Mikhail felt the pain he was causing Merja, or would cause to Merja in the future. He felt that this was unfair and excessive to someone who was innocent of all this. But he remembered his father - Vasily Chekhov didn't deserve death as well. Thanks to the Russian Government, Mikhail would never see his smile, or hear his affectionate words, or walk with him in London's parks. There was a void in his heart, a yawning rift that can only be filled by revenge. So he pressed on, pain visible on his face and eyes, ready to be used at a moment's notice. But then he looked at Merja's eyes and backed down, turning away.

[b]"I'm sorry,"[/b] he said in a milder, more subdued tone than his previous words. [b]"Just ask them to help - If they refuse, then it's your choice if you want to stay with me."[/b] He then offered a bargain, something to sweeten the deal and lessen his own guilt over trying to be so manipulative without sacrificing any gains he made, [b]"I'm not taking psychology, but I can help you study it - My dad studied it plenty during his line of work. and still has several books on it, all of which are mine now."[/b]  A faint smile. [b]"That... And I know people when I really want something from them."[/b] 

Advertising his own manipulation, and selling it as an advantage that can help Merja ace her Psychology class. Mikhail felt it was a masterstroke.

He regained part of his composure as he said, [b]"So, I think Peppy Ponytail - I mean Joey - ought to be nearby. Although Alex the Snob seems to have more resources at hand."[/b] A revelation of his true feelings and thoughts towards the two, meant to show Merja that he was confiding in her, even in a roundabout way. [b]"I'm revealing my private nicknames for those two as a sign of trust. Trust and reciprocation of trust is part of social behavior, which in turn is part of psychology."[/b]

There was every chance Mikhail might have overplayed his hand, that he might have pushed Merja away with his show of manipulation and his unsubtle implications that said manipulation was directed at her. But it was a calculated risk - Mikhail had seen enough of Merja's personality to know that she would be more likely to be impressed at how Mikhail knew the subject she studied even better than her, despite not taking formal classes in it...