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

[priorly]

[You can't lift your arms properly but sure, not serious.

Once more with feeling:]

What happened?

[impavid]

[ John rolls his eyes expansively, because what is it with people picking on these things? ]

I tried to get people to tone down some hazing.

[ Which really is the sum of it. John was married, so nobody suspected him of anything beyond being soft. His easy, jokey rapport lent itself to deflecting people away from things without drawing too much attention. John's more scared of big bugs than he is of bullies. ]

[priorly]

[And that eyeroll wins a click of Prior's tongue.]

Stop getting pissy when people give a shit, we've been through this. Put your pants on and come here.

[impavid]

Yes ma'am.

[ He'll be as pissy as he wants, thank you!!

With pants on, though. He steps into them and hikes them up, disentangles his toga towel and lets the ties hang loose. Grabbing up the damp towel and clothing he carries them through to the bathroom, picking up the one he chucked through, and vaguely folds them to one side for washing properly later.

When he pads back out, he moves to the end of the bed the puppy is on and picks her up. Little lady, you do not get to hog this whole end of the bed for yourself, he wants to sit down too! ]

Anyway, we've heard a lot about me -- why don't you tell me what's new for you?

[ While he gently restrains the puppy who is now walking around in his lap trying to get comfortable again. ]

[priorly]

Me? Oh, nothing really. You know me - just your average shut-in.

[With John helpfully pinned down by the dog, Prior shifts a little closer and catches a finger under his shirt at the back. It looked bad enough from across the room.]

If the little shits who did this aren't barred yet, call me next time they show up. I'll have their room assignments accidentally mis-assigned. The golden shower parlour's usually free.

[impavid]

[ Oh.

Something suddenly dawns on John, and he half turns as if to see the marks when Prior lifts his t-shirt. ]

Wait, you meant that? Most of those are ancient -- actually most of them are from glass. Anything newer is generally some idiot slamming me into something but it doesn't hurt.

[ He's a bouncer, someone always bounces him right back! This genuinely doesn't even count as being roughed up to John, so he didn't even make the connection. ]

[priorly]

Then what did you mean?

[Prior traces his fingertips across the mottled pattern on John's back, as if testing the claim that the marks are old.]

It looked like it hurt when you took your shirt off.

[impavid]

[ What did he mean? Something else. He gives a vague shrug, still half looking back as Prior's fingers trace over the marks. Most are old, smallish imperfections on his back. There's one or two newer scrapes but nothing immediately bleeding, just scratches. ]

Well sure, my muscles are a little sore and I had gross wet t-shirt sticking to me, so I guess it wasn't fun.

[ But he's not actually going to die any time soon from it. He's had much worse. ]

[priorly]

And everybody knows, wet t-shirts are Thursday night's special. Mm, well, if nothing's wrong then I take it back.

[He smooths John's shirt back where it should be, resting a hand on his shoulder and then his chin on his hand.]

You can get pissy with me for giving a shit.

[impavid]

Oh, well since I have permission now...

[ Don't give him an inch, Prior. ]

[priorly]

I didn't say I wouldn't still bitch about it.

[Somewhere in John's periphery, Prior smiles.]

So how is? Ianto? I never seem to catch him - you should tell him if he can get over his trepidation of setting foot in our little den of iniquity, he's welcome to help me with stock again.

[impavid]

[ Den of iniquity. John turns more inward toward Prior now his t-shirt isn't being fussed with, puppy still fussing at his hands in his lap sleepily. ]

You be nice to him, he's not got a lot of confidence. Needs a little building up. I persuaded him into finding a job, though, and he's been working at a cafe. Which is good, he's been bringing me things left-over from the bakery!

[priorly]

I'm very nice. I saved him from the big bad cougar, took him in like a little orphan and showed him the wonders of the place. Well, a few of them.

[Prior pulls an obliging ooh face in response to the bakery treats.]

What shook it? His confidence? [Because it doesn't take a seer to notice that. Prior has at least mastered the art of hiding most of his own insecurities under a beautiful veneer of bullshit and bravado. Ianto wears his like a sign round the neck.]

[impavid]

I get the impression it's not exactly a single thing and more a series of things.

[ He shuffles the puppy in his lap as she rolls in a way that is dangerously close to rolling her right off his lap and glances down at her, frowns a little. ]

It's not exactly my story to tell.

[ John is a gossip, but he doesn't really want to gossip about someone else's unhappy life backstory. ]

[priorly]

Fair enough.

[Circumstances being what they are, Prior rarely pushes anyone for details when he has a choice about it.]

In my experience, people who feel that anxious about being exposed usually learn to build walls fairly fast. Still, he's young, and maybe here he won't have to.

[impavid]

[ John's not sure about that, but then again maybe Ianto is different with other people. Maybe he walls them out, whereas with John he's walling them both in together -- trying to rip down any barriers John tries to erect between them. ]

The number of young people here makes me feel old.

[ Not just Ianto, all the kids too -- all wanting to earnestly do things. Some of them with their giant gundams. ]

[priorly]

[Prior laughs at that, and pulls away, settling back on the bed behind John.]

I think the saying is: you're only as old as the man you feel. That puts you back in your twenties.

[impavid]

[ He snorts at that, because if only that was true. ]

I don't remember anything aching so much in my twenties.

[priorly]

Mm, preach that one to the choir.

[John. Foot, mouth, friend with osteonecrosis. Not that Prior minds: it's nice not to be tiptoed around. He's smiling but he looks away a moment.]

But I don't feel old - well, I'm only 30. Mostly I still tend to feel too young. [A beat and the mask slips back on.] But tell me where it hurts, maybe I can help an old man out.

[impavid]

[ Prior's the one who complains when he's tiptoed around -- John is just taking that to heart. He knows, after all, he's just choosing not to censor. Everyone has aches and pains, not talking about them just because Prior has more isn't going to make his any better. ]

Well you're younger and prettier than me. You offering a massage?

[priorly]

True and true. [Teasing - but nice to hear. His battered vanity still appreciates the occasional polish.] And that depends on where it hurts.