[...Well, to be fair, that was a reasonable baseline and Chris nods again as he sets the drink aside.]
Well, fair's fair, that's a fine measure, most part. I'll not press your second point, but worth mentioning my curiosity's in play all the same.
That said...functioning don't mean you're not ripping at yourself in small ways, like picking a scab so the wound can't close proper.
Any number'll get into your head and mess with your ability to bed someone, but that's a dangerous thing here. Might be worth revaluating your bottom line 'fine.'
[ Yeah, yeah, the rest of the reasons are all complicated and would take too much effort with someone who doesn't already know him.
Which is absolutely one of the reasons. He's going to move on - after he takes another drink of his beer.]
I know. [ Meaning that's a fair assessment. ] At least in as much as any situation where fine doesn't quite apply needs a plan to deal with. I don't mind breaking them but doing so deliberately is... more controlled. I passed quota the first time with illegal sex and accidental drug exposure. I'd rather not be reliant on their rules, but there's always... exploiting definitions. Probably.
Look, my contract partner's not one for sex at all in any circumstance. He makes his by working for the cams. Other people get off on him dancing or doing whatever and he never need see them. Another friend watches others take care of each other and he gets credit for being there.
[He shrugs. Neither were for him, but if they made Festival and Jon's lives easier here, he'd tear anyone a new hole who argued it didn't count for some reason.]
To my knowledge, definition of 'meeting quota' just requires one party to get off and that party need not have deep involvement, depending.
Now...what's your definition of 'exploiting' and 'probably.'
[ He's both impressed and mildly irritated by Chris in that exact moment, which probably means he actually likes him. He can't even pretend it's entirely unexpected - it's not like he didn't already know Chris was smart and perceptive and pushy.
Those are the reasons he accepted that offer to begin with.
The irritation's just at having it turned on him. ]
I gave brief thought to taking up stripping. Maybe I'll go back to that. [ That is a joke, and his wry tone is probably a clue. It's a decent idea, he just knows he probably literally cannot. Too stiff. Maybe drunk enough, but bad plan. ] The second is more what I meant about exploiting. The probably is more about whether or not I manage to actually talk to people enough to make that happen.
There's always... telepathic assistance, I guess. That's an easier conversation to have -- and yes, I realize I should be telling you what my hangup is, I will do that as soon as I've finished sorting it out and can present it with any level of coherence.
[Chris stares at him a moment before silently reaching for his can to take a generous gulp.]
Gods....You really are me in some of the worst ways. Cheers to us and take your time.
[At least he understands. He puts a hand through his hair, pulling it a bit on purpose while he thinks.]
Will say...you're talking to me and that's a start somewhere. Can't much help for telepathic assistance myself, no magic to my name's got that slant, but there's those here who can help there.
[He'd mentioned his wife was here, but Chris was pretty sure the bit about her being a telepath was new. That would be useful, assuming he actually went to her for that.
If Ra'ah or Kallian were suddenly telepathic, Chris is pretty sure there'd be times he'd avoid them.]
Already cited the bit about 'I'm fine' now you've got the part where saying what's in your head takes a minute and if it's not a fear of misunderstanding...let me guess it's difficulty with the words themselves.
Dunno about you, but find too often my throat closes up like it's choking on words that have physical substance when the meaning or emotion's too big or thoughts too tightly spun. You've my sympathy for it's all I'm meaning; I don't wish a break in mind and mouth on many.
[He smiles a bit and reaches for humor instead of too-honest truth to strip them both down more than they'd been even a few minutes before.]
[ That is another joke, this one self-depreciating. There's also nothing wrong with his eyes, but that's not the joke. For all Chris knows he doesn't even have eyes, but still.
Another beat or two of processing and he sighs. ]
In my defense I've had at least one person in my head for decades. It makes verbal communication less... necessary than it might otherwise be.
Suppose I'll have to take your word for it, won't I? Unless you're ever willing to tell me what they look like under those.
[He's never met someone so determined to cover their eyes. Well. Except Topher, but Topher was blind and Chris was pretty sure there weren't any eyes left. So maybe Scott's sunglasses were similar in function to Topher's magic band-thing: a way to see without sight.
A question for another time.]
I see. I'm sorry. [He didn't need to ask what changed, Scott had said his wife had died.]
Unfortunately, you've still the rest of us to deal with and only verbal or physical communication to rely on. Learning curve's a bitch.
Glowing red, or blue depending on what circumstances you're seeing them in.
[ Absent, because he's not really thinking about that part and that's the fairly easy conversation. The rest of it -]
I can manage most necessary communication just fine. It's the feelings into words that's an issue. Which is... going to be an issue here, unlike any other point in my life because all of this verbal communication has to happen around sex and other people's relationships.
[Glowing red or blue? That was quite the difference in option.]
There’s a story in that one, but alright.
[The rest of that…is fair and Chris feels like he’ll be a hypocrite if he offers any insight at all…but…]
Yeah, that’s gonna be a hard one. Dunno if it’d work, I’ve been sorta hit or miss, but I’m trying it for my own similar issues: friend of mine suggested ‘stream of consciousness.’ Works pretty well in text cause then you write it all out and edit the rest, but even if you just wrote it on paper for your head and no one’s eyes, that might help.
[He shrugs.] A thought from one emotionally-challenged asshole to another.
I convert energy into concussive force that constantly emits as red light and force through my eyes. I fell on my head when I was a kid and broke my off switch. The glasses block both. Before I gained that ability and on the rare occasion I've lost it, my eyes are blue.
[ That's the easy part. Maybe not an explanation that makes any sense, but it's at least factual and easy. The rest... is hard. On one hand, why do they have to talk? Can't they just talk about not talking. On the other, honestly, he just failed to get off with someone who was trying to help him - and who had his dick in his mouth - and fairness says that deserves something. Like effort. ]
Before I got here I had a friend beaten to death. Before that the last interaction I had with a guy who is here was trying to get him to kill me - then I showed up here and he's from several years into my future. Nothing makes sense and we're apparently in some happy triad situation with my formerly dead ex-wife.
I am still trying to get over everything leading to up trying to kill myself using someone else. Everything I've heard about the future confuses the shit out of me, and that's before we get into the sexual requirements here or what prison was and exactly how much that added additional trauma, to the trauma that put me in prison, or what led me to making the choices I did.
I don't know what to do with any of those people much less here and I'd really rather not be touched except I do.
...that is the most words with the least coherence I have uttered in my life. It might have worked.
[There was, in fact, a story and an interesting one, even if he still wasn't entirely sure he understood, he at least 'knew' now. Maybe the understanding would come later.
Sadly, what Scott says next makes more sense, even without a why offered, he could understand the rest of it.
Without a word, Chis takes his beer and stands so he can sit on the couch next to Scott. Right next to Scott so their arms and legs touched.]
Well, I'm touching you, then, and only for a bit until you tell me to move or my own aversion to prolonged touch kicks in.
Beyond that....I'm sorry. That is a lot. You need your head sorted and possibly taken out of it. I'd say you ought talk to those that're here so they know what's stewing, but I'm the last person to say such, so fuck it. Do it as you can afore the city forces you somehow.
But... that made plenty sense to me, so I'd say it worked.
[ There's a faint quirk of a smile at mention of the contact until one of them can't take it anymore. Yeah, it feels a little like he's meeting himself.
That'd be less funny and frustrating if he liked himself more, but to hell with it. At least he's understood. ]
The last advice I'd give anyone else is to let the city force it, but I think I'll feel better if I do. Besides, I might learn something.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-03-08 10:18 pm (UTC)Well, fair's fair, that's a fine measure, most part. I'll not press your second point, but worth mentioning my curiosity's in play all the same.
That said...functioning don't mean you're not ripping at yourself in small ways, like picking a scab so the wound can't close proper.
Any number'll get into your head and mess with your ability to bed someone, but that's a dangerous thing here. Might be worth revaluating your bottom line 'fine.'
no subject
Date: 2022-03-08 11:14 pm (UTC)Which is absolutely one of the reasons. He's going to move on - after he takes another drink of his beer.]
I know. [ Meaning that's a fair assessment. ] At least in as much as any situation where fine doesn't quite apply needs a plan to deal with. I don't mind breaking them but doing so deliberately is... more controlled. I passed quota the first time with illegal sex and accidental drug exposure. I'd rather not be reliant on their rules, but there's always... exploiting definitions. Probably.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-08 11:21 pm (UTC)Look, my contract partner's not one for sex at all in any circumstance. He makes his by working for the cams. Other people get off on him dancing or doing whatever and he never need see them. Another friend watches others take care of each other and he gets credit for being there.
[He shrugs. Neither were for him, but if they made Festival and Jon's lives easier here, he'd tear anyone a new hole who argued it didn't count for some reason.]
To my knowledge, definition of 'meeting quota' just requires one party to get off and that party need not have deep involvement, depending.
Now...what's your definition of 'exploiting' and 'probably.'
no subject
Date: 2022-03-08 11:29 pm (UTC)Those are the reasons he accepted that offer to begin with.
The irritation's just at having it turned on him. ]
I gave brief thought to taking up stripping. Maybe I'll go back to that. [ That is a joke, and his wry tone is probably a clue. It's a decent idea, he just knows he probably literally cannot. Too stiff. Maybe drunk enough, but bad plan. ] The second is more what I meant about exploiting. The probably is more about whether or not I manage to actually talk to people enough to make that happen.
There's always... telepathic assistance, I guess. That's an easier conversation to have -- and yes, I realize I should be telling you what my hangup is, I will do that as soon as I've finished sorting it out and can present it with any level of coherence.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-08 11:50 pm (UTC)Gods....You really are me in some of the worst ways. Cheers to us and take your time.
[At least he understands. He puts a hand through his hair, pulling it a bit on purpose while he thinks.]
Will say...you're talking to me and that's a start somewhere. Can't much help for telepathic assistance myself, no magic to my name's got that slant, but there's those here who can help there.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-08 11:53 pm (UTC)[ Almost absent, because that first part has his eyebrows up and he can't quite decide if he's offended or not. Still: ]
What do you mean I'm you? [ In the worst ways, but just in general: what?]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-09 12:20 am (UTC)If Ra'ah or Kallian were suddenly telepathic, Chris is pretty sure there'd be times he'd avoid them.]
Already cited the bit about 'I'm fine' now you've got the part where saying what's in your head takes a minute and if it's not a fear of misunderstanding...let me guess it's difficulty with the words themselves.
Dunno about you, but find too often my throat closes up like it's choking on words that have physical substance when the meaning or emotion's too big or thoughts too tightly spun. You've my sympathy for it's all I'm meaning; I don't wish a break in mind and mouth on many.
[He smiles a bit and reaches for humor instead of too-honest truth to strip them both down more than they'd been even a few minutes before.]
Plus, you're all legs as I am.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-09 12:37 am (UTC)[ That is another joke, this one self-depreciating. There's also nothing wrong with his eyes, but that's not the joke. For all Chris knows he doesn't even have eyes, but still.
Another beat or two of processing and he sighs. ]
In my defense I've had at least one person in my head for decades. It makes verbal communication less... necessary than it might otherwise be.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-09 05:27 pm (UTC)[He's never met someone so determined to cover their eyes. Well. Except Topher, but Topher was blind and Chris was pretty sure there weren't any eyes left. So maybe Scott's sunglasses were similar in function to Topher's magic band-thing: a way to see without sight.
A question for another time.]
I see. I'm sorry. [He didn't need to ask what changed, Scott had said his wife had died.]
Unfortunately, you've still the rest of us to deal with and only verbal or physical communication to rely on. Learning curve's a bitch.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-10 11:51 pm (UTC)[ Absent, because he's not really thinking about that part and that's the fairly easy conversation. The rest of it -]
I can manage most necessary communication just fine. It's the feelings into words that's an issue. Which is... going to be an issue here, unlike any other point in my life because all of this verbal communication has to happen around sex and other people's relationships.
I really hate this place more every day.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-12 06:35 am (UTC)There’s a story in that one, but alright.
[The rest of that…is fair and Chris feels like he’ll be a hypocrite if he offers any insight at all…but…]
Yeah, that’s gonna be a hard one.
Dunno if it’d work, I’ve been sorta hit or miss, but I’m trying it for my own similar issues: friend of mine suggested ‘stream of consciousness.’ Works pretty well in text cause then you write it all out and edit the rest, but even if you just wrote it on paper for your head and no one’s eyes, that might help.
[He shrugs.] A thought from one emotionally-challenged asshole to another.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-12 09:00 pm (UTC)[ That's the easy part. Maybe not an explanation that makes any sense, but it's at least factual and easy. The rest... is hard. On one hand, why do they have to talk? Can't they just talk about not talking. On the other, honestly, he just failed to get off with someone who was trying to help him - and who had his dick in his mouth - and fairness says that deserves something. Like effort. ]
Before I got here I had a friend beaten to death. Before that the last interaction I had with a guy who is here was trying to get him to kill me - then I showed up here and he's from several years into my future. Nothing makes sense and we're apparently in some happy triad situation with my formerly dead ex-wife.
I am still trying to get over everything leading to up trying to kill myself using someone else. Everything I've heard about the future confuses the shit out of me, and that's before we get into the sexual requirements here or what prison was and exactly how much that added additional trauma, to the trauma that put me in prison, or what led me to making the choices I did.
I don't know what to do with any of those people much less here and I'd really rather not be touched except I do.
...that is the most words with the least coherence I have uttered in my life. It might have worked.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-16 12:43 am (UTC)[There was, in fact, a story and an interesting one, even if he still wasn't entirely sure he understood, he at least 'knew' now. Maybe the understanding would come later.
Sadly, what Scott says next makes more sense, even without a why offered, he could understand the rest of it.
Without a word, Chis takes his beer and stands so he can sit on the couch next to Scott. Right next to Scott so their arms and legs touched.]
Well, I'm touching you, then, and only for a bit until you tell me to move or my own aversion to prolonged touch kicks in.
Beyond that....I'm sorry. That is a lot. You need your head sorted and possibly taken out of it. I'd say you ought talk to those that're here so they know what's stewing, but I'm the last person to say such, so fuck it. Do it as you can afore the city forces you somehow.
But... that made plenty sense to me, so I'd say it worked.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-17 02:22 pm (UTC)That'd be less funny and frustrating if he liked himself more, but to hell with it. At least he's understood. ]
The last advice I'd give anyone else is to let the city force it, but I think I'll feel better if I do. Besides, I might learn something.