Yeah, that's a good question. [ one that John, apparently, has no immediate answer to. it's worthy of a gulp of wine. ] Not being a prick? Giving to charity?
And here I despaired because I was asked to keep my word in all things, and rescue maidens, and protect virtue, and murder anyone who insulted me or my family name. You're saying people can't even be bothered to pass over a bit of their cash? Have they no sense of noblesse oblige?
[ And - ]
And kindly do bear in mind, dear fellow, I'm from far far into your future.
Well, that's where you're heading if your descendants are amongst the poor miserable unfortunates sent to Barrayar. But yes, it's all exciting. Chivalry and bloody-mindedness reborn.
[ the frankness of the admittance is appreciated, and he wastes no time swinging the pack off his back to signify that he's stopped, that his attention's focused. despite the situation, he manages a relatively decent bedside manner - you could almost be forgiven for thinking this wasn't close by a crash site at all. ]
Anything specific, or would you just like me to check you over?
[ which he's already started doing, actually, and— what the hell are the chances of that name popping up on the jacket of a newly crash-landed newcomer? it takes some effort to hold in the surprised laugh, but he keeps it to a sudden, bemused smile that goes covered up as best he can with a fish into his bag for a bottle of water to offer to her. ]
You sound like a satisfied citizen. [ lips hitching at their corner. this is wild. ] Maybe you should try giving to Cats Protection and laying off the honour a bit.
Yeah, 'course. [ of course, and John's only too happy to help return it to her. but that currently doesn't mean much, because the offending animal is... well. not here, as far as he's aware. ] Sorry. He tends to - come back. Do you want to—?
[ there's a gesture inwards, past himself. come in. ]
[ this is potentially a mistake, but he's not yet come up with the best way of handling the victims of his idiot ferret, so. courtesy doesn't seem like the worst option.
it's met with a slight bite, and John huffs a laugh. he can take a ribbing. ]
If it is I've not trained him well.
[ which could be a sick burn or could be John referring to the timing of the whole thing (20 minutes ago he was in bed) and completely missing the alternative insinuation he's made. either way, he's closing the door and following her in. in the living room, there are a slightly alarming number of carved wooden ducks. ]
Well, I don't think anyone would mind it too much if you'd shut up for a minute or two every now and again.
[ that's one way to leave off your accent!! a little squintwink over the edge of his glass. he's lighter with wine and playing. it's nice to have the opportunity. ]
[It's all in jest, of course, not meant to frighten the poor fellow. Smiling, Clara peers around at the decor - similar to hers, honestly - until her eyes land on the ducks. Her brows slide up.]
[ a scoff, excuse you - though, in fact, no he does not. then that's quite a collection and John isnt sure what she's talking about at first until he stops in the lounge doorway and— ]
Ah. Yeah. My housemate's. I don't notice them anymore.
[ good round, good round. John scoffs, nods out assent and raises a glass to a point well made on Byerly's part. ]
Yeah, alright, I'll let you have that. [ but, he's started so he'll finish. ] It also tends to make people chat a lot of utter shit, so I don't know why I bothered buying you any.
If you don't want to hear bullshit, you should stop talking with human beings. They have little else to offer. The service I offer is that I'm honest and transparent about my bullshitting - I'll never pretend to tell you the truth.
[ John's expression matches, falls into something squinting and pleased as Byerly conjures up some web of words he nearly loses track of. not quite enough not to be able to hook himself onto the end of it and come back with a question, wine-warm and without any trace of irritation at the nature of the talk. a tipsy stab in the dark that lands in the right place. ]
This conversation's not on the clock. So where does that leave you and your transparent horseshit?
[ mostly he just seems to be having fun switching up the number of ways he can utilise the word shit in the same context. ]
Maybe I'll take a few silver from your pocket after. Don't you enjoy my horseshit, though? It's so pleasingly delivered. I'd have made a good court jester, back in the days when such men found gainful employment.
[ He reaches out and tops off John's glass again. ]
[ leave his hard-earned silver alone! some of us have to sit in an office doing nothing for many hours just to occasionally treat a black eye for a living! but he's laughing along - catches that glass fill this time, frowning slightly along with the smile it brings. ]
Anyone would think you're trying to get me drunk, Mr— [ actually, he can't for the life of him remember By's surname, if he knows it at all. so... ] Jester.
[ it's an echo of a conversation that passed during a time he's discussed all too often recently, and the brief titter at that in-joke he shares only with himself is indicator enough that he might well be on his way there. ]
[ no, gas somewhere else. before. similar side-effects. doesn't matter, and he doesn't clarify. the point is that today wasn't that— and he can't remember seeing nay here today either. ]
No, I missed that. Wasn't any today. I don't know.
[ God, his thoughts are all fragmented, coming out in useless babble. John's face scrunches, frustrated at making an ass of himself, and he takes a second to holster his weapon - more accurately to put the safety on and stick it back into the waistband of his trousers to get it out of sight and mind - before dropping into a crouch, swinging his bag off his back. ]
[ Not the same as the biological attack, then. That's both good and bad. 76 hardly wants a repeat of that incident, but he also doesn't like that there's something around here that's making people hallucinate and they have no idea what it is.
That's assuming that Watson isn't simply unhinged, but he's always seemed put together in the little 76 has seen of him before now.
While he'd like to get moving, he isn't going to begrudge Watson a few moments to recover. ]
That's fine.
[ Meanwhile he turns and continues to survey the area around them, keeping an eye out for any other threats. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(INTROLOG #4: HISTORY LESSON)
byerly,
Yeah, that's a good question. [ one that John, apparently, has no immediate answer to. it's worthy of a gulp of wine. ] Not being a prick? Giving to charity?
no subject
Well, that's a rather depressing litany. Sacrificing your income or failing to be horrible.
no subject
Welcome to the twenty-first century. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
[ it's not anything anymore, but that doesn't need adding. ]
Most people can't even reach those lofty heights.
no subject
And here I despaired because I was asked to keep my word in all things, and rescue maidens, and protect virtue, and murder anyone who insulted me or my family name. You're saying people can't even be bothered to pass over a bit of their cash? Have they no sense of noblesse oblige?
[ And - ]
And kindly do bear in mind, dear fellow, I'm from far far into your future.
no subject
[ apparently not enough people opted to take a history GCSE - here sits history, repeating itself. ]
no subject
farah,
John, yeah.
[ the frankness of the admittance is appreciated, and he wastes no time swinging the pack off his back to signify that he's stopped, that his attention's focused. despite the situation, he manages a relatively decent bedside manner - you could almost be forgiven for thinking this wasn't close by a crash site at all. ]
Anything specific, or would you just like me to check you over?
[ which he's already started doing, actually, and— what the hell are the chances of that name popping up on the jacket of a newly crash-landed newcomer? it takes some effort to hold in the surprised laugh, but he keeps it to a sudden, bemused smile that goes covered up as best he can with a fish into his bag for a bottle of water to offer to her. ]
no subject
no subject
You might as well tell me to leave off my accent.
clara,
Yeah, 'course. [ of course, and John's only too happy to help return it to her. but that currently doesn't mean much, because the offending animal is... well. not here, as far as he's aware. ] Sorry. He tends to - come back. Do you want to—?
[ there's a gesture inwards, past himself. come in. ]
no subject
Did he learn it all on his own, or is this your way of inviting girls around?
no subject
it's met with a slight bite, and John huffs a laugh. he can take a ribbing. ]
If it is I've not trained him well.
[ which could be a sick burn or could be John referring to the timing of the whole thing (20 minutes ago he was in bed) and completely missing the alternative insinuation he's made. either way, he's closing the door and following her in. in the living room, there are a slightly alarming number of carved wooden ducks. ]
no subject
[ that's one way to leave off your accent!! a little squintwink over the edge of his glass. he's lighter with wine and playing. it's nice to have the opportunity. ]
no subject
The only way people a respite from the chatter is when they give me something to occupy my mouth.
no subject
[It's all in jest, of course, not meant to frighten the poor fellow. Smiling, Clara peers around at the decor - similar to hers, honestly - until her eyes land on the ducks. Her brows slide up.]
... That's quite a collection.
no subject
Ah. Yeah. My housemate's. I don't notice them anymore.
no subject
Bullshit. Here's a bottle of wine for two and you've barely stopped for a second.
no subject
Dear fellow, wine is pleasant enough, to be sure, but no one's tongue has ever been arrested by it. On the contrary - it lubricates.
no subject
Yeah, alright, I'll let you have that. [ but, he's started so he'll finish. ] It also tends to make people chat a lot of utter shit, so I don't know why I bothered buying you any.
no subject
If you don't want to hear bullshit, you should stop talking with human beings. They have little else to offer. The service I offer is that I'm honest and transparent about my bullshitting - I'll never pretend to tell you the truth.
no subject
Does your housemate make them?
no subject
This conversation's not on the clock. So where does that leave you and your transparent horseshit?
[ mostly he just seems to be having fun switching up the number of ways he can utilise the word shit in the same context. ]
no subject
[ says John, passing back through the living room with a small bowl of some ghastly meat-concoction to set down outside the front door as a lure. ]
no subject
[ By flutters his eyelashes at John. ]
Maybe I'll take a few silver from your pocket after. Don't you enjoy my horseshit, though? It's so pleasingly delivered. I'd have made a good court jester, back in the days when such men found gainful employment.
[ He reaches out and tops off John's glass again. ]
no subject
[ leave his hard-earned silver alone! some of us have to sit in an office doing nothing for many hours just to occasionally treat a black eye for a living! but he's laughing along - catches that glass fill this time, frowning slightly along with the smile it brings. ]
Anyone would think you're trying to get me drunk, Mr— [ actually, he can't for the life of him remember By's surname, if he knows it at all. so... ] Jester.
[ it's an echo of a conversation that passed during a time he's discussed all too often recently, and the brief titter at that in-joke he shares only with himself is indicator enough that he might well be on his way there. ]
no subject
Perhaps I am. The flush in your cheeks is terribly becoming, you know.
no subject
[ no they definitely don't ]
no subject
Do you enjoy a bit of flattery, dear Doctor?
no subject
[ he enjoys flattery in certain contexts - this being one of them only because it's so obviously ridiculous. ]
no subject
[A joke, said a bit warmer than her previous one.]
And nothing for me. Thanks.
no subject
[ His grin broadens. ]
What else would you enjoy? I could speak about your hands.
no subject
Or you could not.
no subject
[ The smile turns a little more challenging. ]
My deepest apologies, Doctor. I didn't mean to make you feel shy.
no subject
[ is very much in the market for another sip of wine though, Christ ]
76,
No.
[ no, gas somewhere else. before. similar side-effects. doesn't matter, and he doesn't clarify. the point is that today wasn't that— and he can't remember seeing nay here today either. ]
No, I missed that. Wasn't any today. I don't know.
[ God, his thoughts are all fragmented, coming out in useless babble. John's face scrunches, frustrated at making an ass of himself, and he takes a second to holster his weapon - more accurately to put the safety on and stick it back into the waistband of his trousers to get it out of sight and mind - before dropping into a crouch, swinging his bag off his back. ]
Sorry. Just need some water.
[ just need to put his head back on straight. ]
no subject
[ Farah shakes her head and winches immediately. Wow, no, this is full of not good. ]
Pretty sure I have a concussion, [ she says, frowning at his bemused smile, but thankful for the water. ]
no subject
That's assuming that Watson isn't simply unhinged, but he's always seemed put together in the little 76 has seen of him before now.
While he'd like to get moving, he isn't going to begrudge Watson a few moments to recover. ]
That's fine.
[ Meanwhile he turns and continues to survey the area around them, keeping an eye out for any other threats. ]