Room 238, Thursday early afternoon

[can_be_more]

Aeryn's learned one really important lesson in the last year or so, namely that there is a big difference between random emo and dealing with the fallout of being under a lot of stress. And despite yesterday's talk, she's okay with taking some extra time to do her usual run around the preserve a second time. She'd had a lot of energy she just needed to burn off.

So she's in a better mood when she comes back to the room, though she's not sure how long that will last, if today's anything like yesterday.


[For John.]

Comments

[can_be_more]

"I just mean that if you have other plans, you should follow through with them," she says. This is going well.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Other plans?"

[can_be_more]

"Whatever's keeping you here today," she says. "You said you wanted to stick around here."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I don't have any other plans," he says. "I'd just like to stay here."

[can_be_more]

She turns back to put the caps on the bottles of food. "Okay."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He scowls at himself and retreats back over to the couch.

[can_be_more]

"Where is Bertram?" she asks, figuring she might as well just go again now.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," he says.

[can_be_more]

Aeryn sighs a little, looking around for him.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John kicks the couch, hoping to scare Bertram out but he's not under there.

[can_be_more]

She looks over at him, frowning. "Problems?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"No," he says. "Thought maybe the DRD was under the couch."

[can_be_more]

This feels uncomfortable, so she just says, "I can do the work without him."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He shrugs one shoulder and says, "Okay. If I see him, I'll tell him you were looking for him."

[can_be_more]

She waits a moment, pulling her hair back like she's expecting something else. "Fine," she says, starting for the door. "I'll be back later."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I'll be around," he calls back, making a face at the television screen for good measure.

[can_be_more]

"Maybe by then you'll think of something to say to me," she says, shaking her head as she opens the door.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I said plenty yesterday," he nearly snaps. "I'm done talking."

[can_be_more]

"Yes, because for all you always want me to talk things out, you set such a terrific example sometimes," she snaps back.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He snarls a little, almost starts yelling but stops himself at the last minute. "I told you what I felt yesterday."

[can_be_more]

"So that's the end of it? I didn't tell you what you wanted to hear so you stop talking?" Aeryn asks. "If that's the way it's going to be, fine, but don't expect me not to want to get out every once in a while and don't expect me to do what you won't."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"You didn't tell me anything," he says. "You're not telling me so many things. Not just the Vader thing. I've got no secrets from you. None."

[can_be_more]

"Such as?" she asks. If she's keeping other things from him, she honestly doesn't know.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"You don't like the way I handle my family situations, do you? What about everything with your mother?"

[can_be_more]

"You want to know things? Ask me," she says, closing the door again and folding her arms.