TEXT; UN: J.SHEPPARD

[impavid]

Alright, new pop quiz. When you think of home, what do you think of?

[ Open question, which he's not going to expand on unless prompted -- though really he's curious about something specific. Do people consider Olympia or Wyver their home now? Maybe the Natha station? Or do they think of home worlds they've been told no longer exist? ]

Comments

[impavid]

[ ... Hang on.

...

... Hang... On... ]

Is this one of those things you just know because you know everything?

[priorly]

Yes. Everything. Including what you're thinking right now, so you might want to be a little more careful with that.

[impavid]

[ John can't even tell if that's a serious reply or not, because Prior is a prophet.

So he tries really hard to stop thinking about all the weird thoughts and dreams he variously has had about Prior. STOP, BLANK MIND, WIDE OPEN OCEAN. ]

I can't be held responsible for my dreams!

[priorly]

Now you really are stealing my lines.

Although I take it back, you can be held responsible for this.

[impavid]

But it was a dream! It was private! How was I supposed to know you'd end up knowing what happened in my dreams?

private.

[priorly]

I was there, didn't you think that was some kind of clue? Or are the guest appearances only memorable when I'm naked?

private from here on;

[impavid]

[ ... ]

I didn't think it was actually you! It was a dream! I thought I was just dreaming you!

[priorly]

If a tree insults someone in a forest when nobody's there to hear it, has it really insulted anyone at all?

[impavid]

I thought I was talking to myself!

[ ... Okay but, also, Prior kinda. Come on, John. ]

Listen, I'm sorry. Okay? Obviously I like shitty platitudes.

[priorly]

And yet somehow that fails to sweeten the pill.

[impavid]

Well what do you want me to say? I thought we were avoiding the lying thing where possible

[priorly]

Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.

Well it's been wonderful speaking with you, but I really have to powder my nose.

[impavid]

Oh, come on! You know when something hurts bad enough no words makes it hurt less. That's all I meant. Listen, I know it was a stupid thing to say and you didn't deserve it. You were trying, I was lashing out. I've said I'm sorry, and I am. But you know what? I also didn't expect you to go dancing around in my head. Usually I prefer at least a little wine and buttering up before that kind of thing.

[priorly]

Really, you wouldn't believe how quickly the shine can accrue if one doesn't keep on top of it.

[impavid]

[ What does that even mean?! ]

What do you want from me?

[priorly]

I'm talking about my nose, Jonathan. Which I need to powder or anyone talking to me will think they're speaking to a mirror, I'll be so reflective.


Though, for the record, I do know that when something hurts badly enough words don't soothe much. Though standing there in bitter silence watching you repeatedly shoot someone strikes me as even less likely to be of use. Platitudes often become platitudes because there's something in them useful enough to bear repeating. And I didn't dance a single step. I'm not Jiminy Cricket, I don't get to choose whose subconscious to hop into next. Maybe yours was getting weary of being stuck in that loop.

[impavid]

Maybe.

[ He still feels a little cranky about it, but he can accept that Prior didn't mean to do it on purpose. The same way it happened way back on that first month he was here, unintentionally jumping through memories. John gets irritable when pushed but his anger rarely flares up hot, and the irritation fades easily. He's not interested in nursing it, he's more interested in something else. ]

You didn't answer my question.

[ Don't think he didn't notice. ]

[priorly]

[He still feels cranky? Prior still hasn't gotten an apology without a 'but', which everybody knows is no apology at all.]

Which one? I seem to have lost track.

[impavid]

[ The first one didn't have a but!! It just also still called his platitudes shitty. ]

I'm serious.

[priorly]

You know what's home to me.

[impavid]

That's not what I meant.

[ Which he's pretty sure you know, but still. ]

[priorly]

Did nobody ever say to you it's not the same if they tell you what they want?

I don't want anything. You haven't called in a while.

[impavid]

Neither have you.

[ He's just saying. ]

[priorly]

Maybe I was nursing the bruises from not being able to say anything to you without getting it shot back.

[impavid]

I learned from the best.