the brotherhood doesn't have dental.

[exterrorist]

It's not the stupidest thing you've ever done, sure. Just kind of, I don't know, really fucking awkward. Like if I did go back and I did remember people, what, am I gonna just stroll up like HEY YOU KNEW ME WHEN I WAS 18 AND DUMB AND NOW I'M 32 AND DUMB. AWESOME!!!!!! And then something explodes, I guess. Because it's me.

I'd have even less connection to any of them than I did when I was young. I might actually feel like it'd be... kinder? To avoid them. Because it's weird. It just is.

Growing up is appreciated, though. Even the shitty parts.

Comments

[rhinemaid]

You were the one who had to pee terribly.

[exterrorist]

Yeah, see, this is like the least awkward memory anyone has of me.

[rhinemaid]

It sounds like you're living a series of terrible anecdotes.

[exterrorist]

That's actually the selling point of my memoir. Well, most memoirs, probably.

[rhinemaid]

What's the title going to be?

[cerebral]

I'm not the sort of person to be avoided easily. Even though we never technically had a connection beyond one anti-terrorist meeting, where you kept looking at me awkwardly.

[exterrorist]

You have to admit I'm right, though. And with what you must know about him now, I promise, you wouldn't like what you'd find about him from me now, even if he's not the same, even if he never becomes that man.

[cerebral]

You are. And I might not like it, but I'll still look if I can, for my own reasons.

[exterrorist]

You don't have to. The situation is so different in Baedal. You could just let it lie, for fucking once.

[cerebral]

'For once' implies something I wouldn't do normally, so there's no point in starting now.

I don't expect people to understand.

[norea]

One is better equipped to handle certain kinds of awkwardness as an adult, at least. [ Hasi remembers her non-conversations with you before, John. ]

[exterrorist]

Haha. [THE BLEAKEST NON-LAUGH. But no, she is correct at least in this case, since he can now make eye contact and doesn't seem so uncomfortable.]

[norea]

You see.

Anyway, you will find the city unchanged, barring a little ebb and flow.

[exterrorist]

I guess it wouldn't really be much less weird if it'd changed. Maybe I wouldn't even be able to tell. I wasn't a particularly perceptive 18 year old.

[norea]

Maybe. But would it be better or worse to come back to find us also fourteen years later, adapted to the city with families and the like? I honestly can't guess.

[joiedeviolet]

The question is, did you change at all?

[exterrorist]

You hardly knew me. How could it matter?

[joiedeviolet]

It matters because I felt like there was still a chance.

[Kate, you positive outlooking fool.]

[exterrorist]

A chance for what, exactly? I was an idiot. And at least a handful of people would say that hasn't really changed.

[joiedeviolet]

That you wouldn't end up a terrorist. But since you say 'was', I guess we can say yes, you've changed.

Late to the party as usual.

[favorfire]

...well. This is fucked up.

ahahaha omg

[exterrorist]

Aw, shit. I really didn't think this would happen. —Unless this is Mystique, in which case, knock it off.

Fair warning: John has a bad track record when running into dupes...

[favorfire]

I haven't tried to kill you or fuck you yet, so what do you think?

welp.

[exterrorist]

She is capable of greater subtlety than that. Which of course I'm not just saying because you might be her. I say shit like that all the time, often with no provocation whatsoever.

Because seriously, what would you even want to talk to me for.

[favorfire]

Please tell me I don't turn into some mopey, emo, reformed villain type. "What would you even want to talk to me for" -- seriously? Maybe because we're awesome?