elnysa | TEXT; UN: J.SHEPPARD

I've warned you about the quality of my company before.

[ And there aren't any actual chairs, the beds basically double as things to sit on. They are at least neatly made? John fills two glasses with water and brings one over, holds it out to Prior then moves to settle down beside him.

The puppy, on seeing John is now at her level again, comes dashing back and begins to climb on him with her new toy -- tail wagging. ]

So.

[ He takes a sip of his drink then sets it aside, picking up the puppy and gently re-positioning her to be on the ground rather than in his lap. ]

Are you still angry at me? Because I'm not great at grovelling. Personal thing. Too many evil villain speeches ended in asking me to kneel and now it gets my back up.

Does that mean I should look for other minions to carry out my wicked plans? [Prior clasps his tumbler between both hands, peering at John over the surface of the water, like a cut-price diviner. Which isn't so far from the truth.]

I wouldn't be here if I was angry. Stung, maybe, but no permanent injury.

Good. I'm not...

[ The puppy makes for Prior's legs and John reaches out to grab her, picks her up to hold still so he can talk without having to chide or manage her for a moment. ]

I'm not good at... talking, but... it's been easier with you. Maybe because of your thing, maybe just because.

But.

I want you to know... that I appreciate it, and that... I can be here for you, too. That I'm... trying to be. So if you want to just come hang out, you can hang out. If you want to talk, you can. You want a distraction, I'll juggle. And if you do need me to ease up on the innuendo, I can do that too.

Look. [Prior says to the puppy, putting his glass aside to stretch a hand out and press his fingertips in a light circle over John's chest. The puppy watches, then licks his wrist.] For a moment there I thought I saw a stone bleed.

[The effort that took. Prior smiles, small but quite helpless, catching his other hand over his mouth for a second as he nods. Then pauses, and shakes his head quickly instead.]

Oh but please, don't stop the innuendo. I wouldn't know how to converse without it. Though, perhaps you should be careful how you use it. Some people might start to think it means something.

[ 'Some people'.

John studies Prior's expression thoughtfully, loft's an eyebrow in silent question. Does it really mean nothing? He's not sure about that. ]

I've never been good at careful.

[ A statement which is true on multiple levels, honestly. ]

No? Your pre-flight passenger announcements must have been a blast.

[Prior doesn't flinch away from the scrutiny, just makes his expression a little more inscrutable, raising his own eyebrows in response to that singular arched query on John's face. Yes?]

I never had any complaints.

[ ... Well. Any complaints beyond Rodney, who always complains about something.

He drops his eyes to the hand lingering on his chest, to the puppy who is squirming in his arms, and scratches under her chin. ]

But I didn't fly much in the way of domestic.

[ He did a few transfers for a while, sure, but most of the flying John has done hadn't been careful to begin with. ]

When someone tells me that, it usually means they fall asleep too quickly to hear them. Though I'll admit, they're not often mid air at the time.

[Prior reclaims his hand, finally, tucking both arms around himself and leaning back a little in an effort to make the floor more comfortable.]

You're not angry with me?

[ Is he angry at Prior?

John looks up sharply in surprise at that, confusion painting over his features. Why would --

Oh, well, he supposes it was... weird that Prior was actually in his dreams. He'd said he... hadn't done it on purpose though, right? Hesitation plays over his features for a moment, then John gives a half shrug. ]

Don't get me wrong, having people walk around in my nightmares isn't exactly my idea of a good time... but, if you didn't do it on purpose then...

[ Then it's not your fault, he gets that. ]

[It's not that Prior thinks anger would be justified. Understandable, however. And he'd sounded that way before.]

I can't do it on purpose. [Yet, anyway. Things seem to be in flux. There was a time when it all came as a shock to him: every flash of someone's secret personal movie reels. Each time something came to him he shouldn't have been able to know. Now he's used to the sensation, and finds he can push it from his end. Just a little. Only sometimes. Still.]

But it seems it can be a side effect of getting too close. I don't know if I'd seek that out, if I had the choice.

[ A side-effect of getting too close.

John leans back against the wall a little more, cradling the dog against his chest. She wriggles and he gives in and lets go, sets her down and sends the toy skittering across the floor for her. ]

Does that make us too close?

[Prior tips his head back, tilted enough to watch John's face.]

You're one of... maybe four people here who even knows about this - about me. So. Close enough.

I could say the same about you.

[ Blood from a stone, getting information from John Sheppard. Not a lot of people put in the effort. ]

And that's where the danger is.

[When it comes to things like accidentally joyriding someone's dreams or memories, is what he means, of course.]

[ The puppy comes skittering back and John picks up the other end of her new toy, has a brief tug of war before sending her chasing it across the room again.

He wants to say something else, but he doesn't know how to word it. He wants to know if it's just him who feels the tension sometimes when Prior sits close and touches him. He wants to know if Prior thinks he's being unfair or leading him on, but he told him he doesn't have to let up on the innuendo so maybe not? ]

I guess it's a good thing I like danger then.

[ Isn't it? ]

I never knew I did.

[Yeah, anyone who met the boy he used to be, determinedly fearless and looking for - whatever - in all the wrong places knows that's not quite true. Besides, the years before he came here had been safe. Stable, domestic. And look how that ended up. Safe doesn't really exist at all.

But here he is now, playing it safe anyway. He's not so fearless anymore, it's too easy to break things. Still. He looks at John for a long minute, and maybe he's about to say something more when the puppy hurls itself across his lap and knocks his water glass spinning across the floor between John and himself.] Shit!

[ Dogs.

Why.

John blinks in surprise then rolls his eyes, reaches over to pick her up. There's water in her fur that she immediately gets onto his t-shirt by squirming, not to mention the water soaking into his grey sweatpants. ]

Sorry, I think she's a little too excited by new things. Come on, I think you need a time out.

[ Is this a game!! She loves games!! John gently keeps his grip on her and carries her across the room to a crate. ]

Listen, we had a deal okay? The deal was, you don't cause me trouble and I don't put you in the crate. You broke the deal.

[ Oh no, this is the worst thing! She doesn't want to be in the crate!

She lets out a yap of protest as he puts her in, but he at least gives her the squeaker before closing it.

She is now in the deepest throes of puppy woe. ]

You watch your mouth young lady. Think about what you've done.

[ This means no barking, theoretically. He sighs, looks down at himself and winces. ]

I'll get some towels.

[ At least he doesn't have carpet? John crosses the small space to the bathroom and begins digging out some large enough to dry off with. ]

[John crosses the small space to the bathroom and...

comes back out to find Prior perched on the end of one bed, his coat slung across the other, and a small wriggly puppy tucked into his arms and apparently washing him from chin to nose.

Look. This doesn't make him a dog person.]

You can't punish her for my mistake. You see, this is the problem with dogs, they're so guilty. You can be as mad at a cat as you want, it won't give a crap but dogs? They'll chew themselves up.

[ He thought he heard the crate click.

Prior, you are already a bad influence!

John flicks an idly amused smile, holding out a towel as he approaches. ]

You're going to end up smelling like wet dog, you know that?

As long as we both do, neither of us will mind. [He blinks at the towel, then takes it and uses it to ruffle the puppy's fur dry.]

It mostly got my coat. Unlike you, for whom this appears to have been a... revealing experience.

[Largely a joke but - gray sweat pants John, really.]

Edited 2018-10-22 22:19 (UTC)

Alright, alright, enjoy the view.

[ They're fine for lounging around on the floor in! He didn't expect someone to throw a glass on him. John inspects the spillage hesitantly, stops to get up the worst of the water then throws the towel he's holding back into the bathroom. ]

I'm beginning to think the two of you are working together.

[ Is this some ploy that you've set up with his dog, Prior? Somehow he wouldn't put it past you. ]

To what end? Compromising your decency?

[The advantage of a worthless leg: not having to feel obliged to get up and help when somebody else is cleaning floors. Prior simply shuffles more comfortably onto the bed and settles in to watch, while the puppy in his arms apparently does the same. Partners in crime? It's always possible.

Prior turns his head to follow the trajectory of the towel.]

Or your laundry skills? Those I fear may be beyond help already. [Don't you have a towel rail?]

Well if you want me to start doing all my laundry now while you watch, I can. It just felt like something that could wait.

[ No, he does not. Have you seen the size of this place? It's budget. John plucks at his damp t-shirt and wrinkles his nose, then plucks at the wet sweatpants. He should probably change. ]

While I'm sure there are people you could charge for the pleasure, domestic voyeurism is not my particular proclivity.

[Done drying a small dog's ears, Prior gives John a look, then crooks a finger his way.]

Come here.

You gonna tell me magical clothes drying is another skill of yours?

[ Please, let the other mortals have a chance Prior. John paces over anyway, though, at least partly so he can reach out and ruffle the damp dog. Motherhood suits you, look at this spoilt child. ]

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