"I don't know in advance! I mean, I'd probably obey, but I mmmmight get thirsty for a quickie afterward, especially if it was 'and then' instead of 'or else.'"

"Carrots not sticks?"

"...weeellll, so to speak. Hopefully not taking the metaphor too literally," he says, glancing at her cane.

She giggles.

"An example of an 'or else' that would definitely help would be threatening to, uh, remove the stick, so to speak."

She giggles harder. "Like, pay attention to the teacher and do well on your tests or I will not thwack you with my cane."

"Yyyyep, there's a terrifying thought, no more thwacking."

"I mean, I'd have to put a time limit on it. No more thwacking for a week. Otherwise the threat loses all power the first time you slip."

"Of course. Wouldn't want to eventually run out of things to threaten me with, otherwise I might," he smirks a bit, "be bad."

"And that would be terrible and make me insecure in my aura of unquestionable command."

He giggles. "I'm not sure that's actually possible."

"Me being insecure?"

"Yup."

"But I'm very realistic! If I issue a command and my lovely does not obey me how can I justify believing my orders unquestionable?"

"It follows then that that event is impossible, Q.E.D."

"So it hardly matters 'or else what', then, the only way the consequence ever comes into play is if it's a reward."

"Prrretty much."

"Good boy."

"Hence my preference for 'and then.'"

"Very clever of you."

"I know. It's why you love me," he says, smugly.

Well, she does, he has work and his first class is only in two hours, but then yep.