Room 238, Tuesday night

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Aeryn's not sure what to think after talking to John, but there's no possible way she can just say "Okay" and leave it at a phone call.

So as soon as she hangs up, she's headed down the hall, and forgoing forgetting the key this time. She goes straight for turning the doorknob.

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[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He'd left the door open, forgetting to lock it.

When she comes into the room, she'll see John swatting at a spot near his shoulder, frowning and scowling at nothing.

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She steps inside, closing the door behind her. "Hi," she greets him, frowning.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Ah, Officer Sun has come to join. Be a nice boy and introduce me."

"No," John mutters, swatting at the air and moving away. "Hi." And he sounds miserable and tired.

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"What's going on?" she asks, because she knows something is and how was your day? doesn't seem to work right now.

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"M'fine." He walks away from Scorpius and towards the kitchen area. Turning on the water, he splashes cold water on his face and lets it drip off.

"Been a stressful day. Lots of homework."

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"You said someone was in class with you," she reminds him.

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"Yeah." John walks past Scorpius, holding up a hand to avoid having to look at him. "Rory was there. Chloe too. And Professor Skeeter. I was a zebra today."

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"Yes, Rory sent me pictures. I'm keeping one of them," she says, and isn't going to think about the second. "You said he's not dead."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"You've told her about me. I'm flattered, John. Truly flattered."

"Just shut up for a second," John shouts, turning away from Aeryn to point at Scorpius. "Shut up for one second. You're not even here!"

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Her eyes go wide, and she's looking, trying to see something there. "John," she says, trying to get his attention. "Who are you talking to?"

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"Scorpius," he snaps, gesturing at the place he's seeing Scorpius. "He's standing right there. Why haven't you shot him?"

"Scorpius is too formal for our relationship, John. I do think a different, more unique name would be suitable."

John turns and frowns at Scorpius. "Like what? Bob? Rufus? Barnaby? Rita Jr?"

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She really, really wishes she did see something. "There's no one there," she says. "Scorpius isn't here."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Yes he is," John says and he might sound slightly hysterical now. "I can see him. He's right there. He's right there."

"Am I John? Am I really?"

"Shut up, Seymour Butts. Shut up."

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Aeryn stands in front of him, trying to block his view of whatever he's seeing. Trying to make it so he's only seeing her. "John," she says, "Scorpius is dead. I saw him get on the transport, I saw the transport explode. It's just you and me here."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Scorpius actually puts his chin on Aeryn's shoulder.

"Get away!" And John shoulders past Aeryn, attempting to barrel into Scorpius and just ends up hitting the floor with his knees.

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To say she's freaked out would be an understatement, but Aeryn keeps calm and kneels in front of him, putting her hands on his face so he won't look away. "Scorpius is not here," she tells him. "If he was, I would have killed him already."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I see him," he admits raggedly. "I can hear him. I see him."

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"It isn't real," she assures him, though this maybe worries her more. "He isn't here."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Just the voice this time. "I am very real. And I am very much here."

He swipes at his ear, trying to push the voice away. "Yes, he is. I can see him. He talks to me. I can talk back."

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Aeryn's looking at where he's swatting. Still not seeing anything. "Do you trust me?" she asks.

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He's still swatting at the spot near his ear, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to push the noise away.

"Yes."

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"Then believe me when I say he isn't here."

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"Then what am I seeing?" he asks her. "I can see him. I can see him and I'm not kidding."

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"I don't know," she says. "But I'm looking where you're looking and I don't see him. I don't hear him. He isn't here."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

When John looks up, Scorpius is in Hawaiian garb, with a drink with one of those little umbrellas in his hand. The straw hat looks funny and the zinc on his nose? Even funnier.

"She is, of course, wrong. I am here and I intend to stay. I quite like it here."

John just bows his head and breathes raggedly.