Room 238, Monday night

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Aeryn leaves Isabel's room and heads back to 238, because she and John need to talk about it.

And wonders if she'll start forgetting she has the damn key when she actually has it. But for now she's still reflexively reaching for it and then giving up and knocking.

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[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John's currently lying on his bed with an ice pack on his eye. Stupid door.

"It's open," he says.

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She closes the door behind her, frowning when she sees him. Specifically the ice pack. "What happened?" she asks.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I ran into the door," he tells her. "And yes, that's the truth."

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She takes a seat on the edge of the bed and asks, "Would you stop injuring your face?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Wasn't my fault," he says shortly. Stupid radio.

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"I talked to Isabel," she tells him.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Do not let her do this, John."

"Shut up, Umberto," John snaps. "Probably should name you something simpler since everyone knows about you now. How's Isabel?"

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"She's all right. Willing to help."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Huh."

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Well, she's been expecting a fight straight off. "Have you thought about it?" she asks.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"No," he says sullenly. "Slipped my screwed up mind."

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"Don't avoid the things that are supposed to help you," she says. And there's a little bit of a warning in there.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I'm not avoiding anything," he says. "I had class and Umberto wouldn't shut up and I ran into a door. And I don't know if I want someone in my dreams!"

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"Do you want help?" Aeryn asks flat-out.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I don't want other people seeing this, Aeryn," he says. "It's hurting me and I don't want to hurt anyone else."

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"Isabel knows what she's doing. She says nothing that happens during it is real. You can't hurt her," she tells him. "Do you want it to stop hurting?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He takes the ice pack off his eye and sits up. It's bruised but not too bad.

"Of course I want it to stop hurting," he says. "But does Isabel know what this is? That this is something she's probably never seen. She gets hurt, that's on me!"

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Aeryn eyes the bruise and says very calmly, "I've explained the basics to her. I can explain further if need be. Whether she can handle it is her decision. You are now hurting yourself. It's your chip, your brain, your hallucination, and I'm the one trying to fix it all. If you're going to be worried about hurting people, remember what the other John did and then remember that you're already obeying the chip."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John immediately pales, lets the ice hit the bed and scrambles off the bed until his back's pressed against one of the walls.

And he takes several deep breaths to try and dispel the urge to throw up.

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She had to go there. She knows it. Doesn't mean she likes the reaction.

Aeryn stands, walking over but keeping a little bit of distance. "I know you're worried about that," she says gently. "Then something needs to be done about it. Don't let it get worse."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He's still fighting off the urge to throw up but he looks up at her and knows she's right. He has to do something.

"Okay," he says quietly.

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She lets out a breath and closes the distance between them. "It'll be okay," she tells him quietly.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He's still a little scared of touching because he's sensitive to what he's been doing and she's right. There.

So, he presses closer to the wall.

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She almost draws back, not sure what to do... and then decides to try something. And she touches a finger lightly against the side of his wrist.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Aeryn?" he questions because he's really not sure of anything right now.