lets try another way of doing this.

code/controllers/subsystem/pai.dm

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/pai/SSpai
 	priority = 20
 
 	var/askDelay = 600
-
+	var/const/NEVER_FOR_THIS_ROUND = -1
 	var/list/candidates = list()
 	var/list/asked = list()
 
@@ -183,11 +183,11 @@ var/datum/subsystem/pai/SSpai
 	for(var/mob/dead/observer/O in player_list)
 		if(jobban_isbanned(O, ROLE_PAI))
 			continue
-		if(asked.Find(O.key))
-			if(world.time < asked[O.key] + askDelay)
+		if(asked[O.ckey])
+			if(world.time < asked[O.ckey] + askDelay || asked[O.ckey] == NEVER_FOR_THIS_ROUND)
 				continue
 			else
-				asked.Remove(O.key)
+				asked.Remove(O.ckey)
 		if(O.client)
 			var/hasSubmitted = 0
 			for(var/datum/paiCandidate/c in SSpai.candidates)
@@ -200,15 +200,14 @@ var/datum/subsystem/pai/SSpai
 	set waitfor = 0
 	if(!C)
 		return
-	asked.Add(C.key)
-	asked[C.key] = world.time
+	asked[C.ckey] = world.time
 	var/response = tgalert(C, "Someone is requesting a pAI personality. Would you like to play as a personal AI?", "pAI Request", "Yes", "No", "Never for this round", StealFocus=0, Timeout=askDelay)
 	if(!C)
 		return		//handle logouts that happen whilst the alert is waiting for a response.
 	if(response == "Yes")
 		recruitWindow(C.mob)
 	else if (response == "Never for this round")
-		C.prefs.be_special -= ROLE_PAI
+		asked[C.ckey] = NEVER_FOR_THIS_ROUND
 
 /datum/paiCandidate
 	var/name