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Aug. 22nd, 2013 11:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_hermitWho: Daniel and Merritt
What: Showing off a bit and further adventures in trying to get along
the_lovers: *yeah, okay, point. but he has no idea why he puts up with you people sometimes*
the_hermit: *are you asking him? because.....*
the_lovers: * ... depends on how he ends up answering that. if it's him being a huge ass, he doesn't really want to hear it*
the_hermit: *he was planning to be an ass, yes*
the_lovers: *then yeah, no, keep it to yourself*
the_hermit: *you're no fun at all*
the_lovers: *depends on who you ask. but speaking of ... * Apparently, we're having a pizza party.
the_hermit: *no. no, he's pretty sure everyone here would agree. but okay, enough being an ass* I heard. *might not have been eavesdropping, but did catch a few things*
the_lovers: *whatever. but at any rate, he arches his eyebrows* Jack tell you, or ... ?
the_hermit: I overheard. I was... working on something or I'd've joined you boys. *ooh, sekrits*
the_lovers: Well, at least it wasn't just me. *he looks a little relieved by that and a little troubled, both. he may not quite know how to act around Dylan, but he does worry about him. he doesn't bother addressing that, though, he just tilts his head* Do I get to ask what?
the_hermit: *he worries, too, but Daniel and Jack seemed to have it under control. and he doesn't verbally respond, just reaches into his shirt pocket for a folded up piece of paper that he hands over to Daniel. it's mostly a mess of crossed out letters and words, but among the wreck are four circled names. he doesn't explain immediately, waiting to see if Daniel gets it like he expects him to*
the_lovers: *he takes the paper from him, looks it over for a moment, then looks up at him. he repeats this process a couple of times, his jaw working, confusion written on his face as if he plans on asking him what the hell this is, but the last time he glances down at the paper, it dawns on him* Anagrams, right?
the_hermit: *nods* He can't exactly have our actual names in his phone, can he?
the_lovers: *he can't help but grin* Wow, that's -- *actually kind of brilliant* -- wow.
the_hermit: *takes the paper back to tuck it away again* I appreciate that. *a beat* If I can't get his phone to put them in, I'll get Jack to grab it.
the_lovers: No offense, but you might want to let him do it, anyway. *since, you know, Jack's probably the best at that sort of thing and probably spends the most time with Dylan*
the_hermit: *looks like he wants to be offended for a moment but then shrugs* Point.
the_lovers: *he shrugs, too. a moment of hesitation follows and then* He'll appreciate it, when he figures it out. *a beat -- or, well, what's meant to be one. it ends up turning into another hesitation as he tries to decide what to call Dylan* Dylan, I mean.
the_hermit: *it's still bothering him he doesn't know the man's real name. seriously, he should have gotten it by now. but anyway* That's kind of the point. *he's been trying to think of ways to make it all easier on him, and if that's one of them....*
the_lovers: *it bothers him, too. not that he expected to just be able to look at him and figure it out like Merritt should have been able to, but ... calling him Dylan or Agent Rhodes makes him oddly uncomfortable. but at any rate, he makes a face at him. he was trying to sort of ... subtlely compliment him* Now, see, I never would have guessed that if you hadn't told me.
the_hermit: *sorry, he can't help but be an ass, sometimes* Just making sure you were keeping up.
the_lovers: *yeah, he got that, too* Thanks. Thanks for that.
the_hermit: *grins* You're welcome.
the_lovers: *reaches up to scrub a hand over his face to try, futilely, to hide a smile*
the_hermit: *he's on to him, and he just grins back for a second before he laughs a little and shakes his head*
the_lovers: *innocently* What?
the_hermit: Nothing. Nothing at all.
the_lovers: *shrugs* If you say so.
the_hermit: I do. And I'm usually right, too. *and yes, he's definitely just pulling your chain, now, Daniel*
the_lovers: *he arches his eyebrows for a moment, wondering if he's actually missing something and then shrugs again. knowing Merritt, probably not. if he was, he'd rub it in his face or hold it over his head. a moment of silence follows as he reaches for the cards still on the coffee table -- he's not sure who put them there in the first place, but they've become kind of a fixture -- and as he takes them out to shuffle and more seriously* Has he shown you anything yet?
the_hermit: *there's a deck of cards in every room, he swears. and he keeps finding individual cards everywhere too, from Jack throwing then when he gets bored* A few things. I can be an actual voice in your head, now. *grins, though it fades after a moment* You?
the_lovers: That's ... kind of creepy. *exceptionally creepy, actually ... and yet despite that, despite his fear of having Merritt play headgames with him on any level, he's half-tempted to ask him to show him. ... maybe on someone else. like Henley. but still. he doesn't ask, though, he just holds up the deck of cards like he did for the girls before he got his tarot and peels through it. and without so much as a tell that he's doing something, the faces on the cards are their tarots -- Lovers, High Priestess, Hermit, Death, repeating over and over until he's done*
the_hermit: *which is why he didn't just reach out to him to show it. he can respect that it creeps him out, after all. and that gets a grin* That's nice.
the_lovers: *flexes the deck a little once he's finished and then holds it out to him to inspect, as if he needs to. nothing up his sleeve. he also may be grinning, too* I thought so.
the_lovers: Too bad you can't show me yours without ... *makes a vague gesture to his head*
the_hermit: *waves the cards off. he gets it. and then...* I promise not to peek if you wanna see.
the_lovers: *shrugs a bit and sets the cards in his lap so he can study him for a long moment. he's tempted -- if it wasn't obvious before, it is now* ... okay. *know what a huge show of trust that is, Merritt* Okay, so how does this work? *don't make him regret this*
the_hermit: *of course he knows. and he shifts a little, scooting forward to the edge of his seat so he can hold a hand out, stopping shy of touching Daniel's arm* So far, there has to be physical contact.
the_lovers: *he tenses a little when Merritt reaches for him, then relaxes at the explanation, breathing out a little, vaguely shakey breath. he's nervous. he's also grateful Merritt warned him before he grabbed him* So go for it.
the_hermit: *again, he knows. hesitates just long enough to take a breath himself, to focus, and then sets his hand on Daniel's arm* And that's all there is to it. *if Daniel's looking at him, he never opened his mouth, but that's definitely his voice*
the_lovers: *he did, in fact, notice that and he stares at Merritt for a moment like a deer in headlights before laughing* That's ... *not much leaves him speechless, either, but this certainly qualifies*
the_hermit: *smirks at him - and takes his hand off his arm* It should work the other way, too, but. *he said he wouldn't peek*
the_lovers: Haven't found a willing guinea pig yet?
the_hermit: Dylan let me listen some, to try it out, but I know none of you guys are my biggest fans.
the_lovers: It's not you, it's me. *for how flippant that is, though, how sarcastic, it's also the truth*
the_hermit: *smiles a little, wryly* Thanks, dear. *he knows, though. and he doesn't really blame any of them*
the_lovers: *pops one shoulder in a shrug* I figured I'd let you down easy.
the_hermit: Thanks. *a beat* Seriously, I'm not gonna screw with you guys.
the_lovers: Logically, I probably know that. *probably because Merritt screwed with him when they first started working together. probably because he could have screwed with him right now and, as far as he knows, he didn't* But it's about more than whether or not you decide to make me think I'm a pretty, pretty princess for the rest of my life. *even though he knows they all have them, he doesn't want Merritt to see his scars. he doesn't want anyone to. not right now, not without his permission, not even when they're fairly obvious. he doesn't want them used againt him or them to pity him or whatever*
the_hermit: *reels back, sitting back in his chair, putting literal distance between them because he feels like they both need it. runs a hand over his face, and manages, after a moment, and his tone is still level, though there's definitely some heat to his words...* I know. Even without you practically shouting it at me all the time, I know. We've all been screwed by the people who should have had our backs. But because we've all been screwed, if anyone can understand that without using it against you, it's gonna be us.
the_lovers: *he breathes out and reaches up to thumb at his eyes. it doesn't help as much as he was hoping it would and he shakes his head a little, returning his attentions to Merritt sharply, all at once a little angry in a defensive sort of way in response to both what he said and how he said it* You think I'm not actually trying? What do you want me to say? *his mouth twitches a little following that, as if he plans on barreling into it, into telling him everything just to prove a point in his upset, and then thinks better of it abruptly*
the_hermit: *takes a breath himself, running a hand over his head again, and he's calmer when he answers that* I know you're trying. We're all trying. And you don't have to say anything. *he pauses a beat before, just to get them back on the usual ground...* In fact, sometimes I'd rather you didn't. *but seriously* Just keep trying. Don't forget you've got a team, now.
the_lovers: *the smart ass comment seems to help, to ground him a little, however subtly and despite the fact that he rolls his eyes. another sigh follows and he nods* Yeah.
the_hermit: *and looks at him for a moment before he nods* Okay.
the_lovers: *after a moment* Well. That was awkward. *which is his way of saying sorry*
the_hermit: *can't help but laugh - and yes, he gets that* Jack and Dylan aren't the only ones getting stir crazy.
the_lovers: Apparently not.
the_lovers: Hopefully we can get this show on the road kind of literally before we all kill each other.
the_hermit: Oh, come on. We made it a year without killing each other. *a beat* Now, serious injury is still an option....
the_lovers: We also had a show to work on which, not going to lie, cut down on the whole fantasizing about holding your head down in a bucket of water. Plus, you know. Orders and all. *concerning not killing anyone. but he's not serious about any of this*
the_hermit: *still looks mildly concerned for a moment, though he's teasing* We are very disturbed people. *and grins*
the_lovers: You're just now getting that? *not that he thinks Merritt did just realize that, but ... yeah. again with the scars. and the fact that they screwed over not one, not two, but three major institutions and one asshole*
the_hermit: Nah. Just thought I'd state the obvious.
the_lovers: *shrugs* Fair enough.
What: Showing off a bit and further adventures in trying to get along
the_lovers: *yeah, okay, point. but he has no idea why he puts up with you people sometimes*the_hermit: *are you asking him? because.....*the_lovers: * ... depends on how he ends up answering that. if it's him being a huge ass, he doesn't really want to hear it*the_hermit: *he was planning to be an ass, yes*the_lovers: *then yeah, no, keep it to yourself*the_hermit: *you're no fun at all*the_lovers: *depends on who you ask. but speaking of ... * Apparently, we're having a pizza party.the_hermit: *no. no, he's pretty sure everyone here would agree. but okay, enough being an ass* I heard. *might not have been eavesdropping, but did catch a few things*the_lovers: *whatever. but at any rate, he arches his eyebrows* Jack tell you, or ... ?the_hermit: I overheard. I was... working on something or I'd've joined you boys. *ooh, sekrits*the_lovers: Well, at least it wasn't just me. *he looks a little relieved by that and a little troubled, both. he may not quite know how to act around Dylan, but he does worry about him. he doesn't bother addressing that, though, he just tilts his head* Do I get to ask what?the_hermit: *he worries, too, but Daniel and Jack seemed to have it under control. and he doesn't verbally respond, just reaches into his shirt pocket for a folded up piece of paper that he hands over to Daniel. it's mostly a mess of crossed out letters and words, but among the wreck are four circled names. he doesn't explain immediately, waiting to see if Daniel gets it like he expects him to*the_lovers: *he takes the paper from him, looks it over for a moment, then looks up at him. he repeats this process a couple of times, his jaw working, confusion written on his face as if he plans on asking him what the hell this is, but the last time he glances down at the paper, it dawns on him* Anagrams, right?the_hermit: *nods* He can't exactly have our actual names in his phone, can he?the_lovers: *he can't help but grin* Wow, that's -- *actually kind of brilliant* -- wow.the_hermit: *takes the paper back to tuck it away again* I appreciate that. *a beat* If I can't get his phone to put them in, I'll get Jack to grab it.the_lovers: No offense, but you might want to let him do it, anyway. *since, you know, Jack's probably the best at that sort of thing and probably spends the most time with Dylan*the_hermit: *looks like he wants to be offended for a moment but then shrugs* Point.the_lovers: *he shrugs, too. a moment of hesitation follows and then* He'll appreciate it, when he figures it out. *a beat -- or, well, what's meant to be one. it ends up turning into another hesitation as he tries to decide what to call Dylan* Dylan, I mean.the_hermit: *it's still bothering him he doesn't know the man's real name. seriously, he should have gotten it by now. but anyway* That's kind of the point. *he's been trying to think of ways to make it all easier on him, and if that's one of them....*the_lovers: *it bothers him, too. not that he expected to just be able to look at him and figure it out like Merritt should have been able to, but ... calling him Dylan or Agent Rhodes makes him oddly uncomfortable. but at any rate, he makes a face at him. he was trying to sort of ... subtlely compliment him* Now, see, I never would have guessed that if you hadn't told me.the_hermit: *sorry, he can't help but be an ass, sometimes* Just making sure you were keeping up.the_lovers: *yeah, he got that, too* Thanks. Thanks for that.the_hermit: *grins* You're welcome.the_lovers: *reaches up to scrub a hand over his face to try, futilely, to hide a smile*the_hermit: *he's on to him, and he just grins back for a second before he laughs a little and shakes his head*the_lovers: *innocently* What?the_hermit: Nothing. Nothing at all.the_lovers: *shrugs* If you say so.the_hermit: I do. And I'm usually right, too. *and yes, he's definitely just pulling your chain, now, Daniel*the_lovers: *he arches his eyebrows for a moment, wondering if he's actually missing something and then shrugs again. knowing Merritt, probably not. if he was, he'd rub it in his face or hold it over his head. a moment of silence follows as he reaches for the cards still on the coffee table -- he's not sure who put them there in the first place, but they've become kind of a fixture -- and as he takes them out to shuffle and more seriously* Has he shown you anything yet?the_hermit: *there's a deck of cards in every room, he swears. and he keeps finding individual cards everywhere too, from Jack throwing then when he gets bored* A few things. I can be an actual voice in your head, now. *grins, though it fades after a moment* You?the_lovers: That's ... kind of creepy. *exceptionally creepy, actually ... and yet despite that, despite his fear of having Merritt play headgames with him on any level, he's half-tempted to ask him to show him. ... maybe on someone else. like Henley. but still. he doesn't ask, though, he just holds up the deck of cards like he did for the girls before he got his tarot and peels through it. and without so much as a tell that he's doing something, the faces on the cards are their tarots -- Lovers, High Priestess, Hermit, Death, repeating over and over until he's done*the_hermit: *which is why he didn't just reach out to him to show it. he can respect that it creeps him out, after all. and that gets a grin* That's nice.the_lovers: *flexes the deck a little once he's finished and then holds it out to him to inspect, as if he needs to. nothing up his sleeve. he also may be grinning, too* I thought so.the_lovers: Too bad you can't show me yours without ... *makes a vague gesture to his head*the_hermit: *waves the cards off. he gets it. and then...* I promise not to peek if you wanna see.the_lovers: *shrugs a bit and sets the cards in his lap so he can study him for a long moment. he's tempted -- if it wasn't obvious before, it is now* ... okay. *know what a huge show of trust that is, Merritt* Okay, so how does this work? *don't make him regret this*the_hermit: *of course he knows. and he shifts a little, scooting forward to the edge of his seat so he can hold a hand out, stopping shy of touching Daniel's arm* So far, there has to be physical contact.the_lovers: *he tenses a little when Merritt reaches for him, then relaxes at the explanation, breathing out a little, vaguely shakey breath. he's nervous. he's also grateful Merritt warned him before he grabbed him* So go for it.the_hermit: *again, he knows. hesitates just long enough to take a breath himself, to focus, and then sets his hand on Daniel's arm* And that's all there is to it. *if Daniel's looking at him, he never opened his mouth, but that's definitely his voice*the_lovers: *he did, in fact, notice that and he stares at Merritt for a moment like a deer in headlights before laughing* That's ... *not much leaves him speechless, either, but this certainly qualifies*the_hermit: *smirks at him - and takes his hand off his arm* It should work the other way, too, but. *he said he wouldn't peek*the_lovers: Haven't found a willing guinea pig yet?the_hermit: Dylan let me listen some, to try it out, but I know none of you guys are my biggest fans.the_lovers: It's not you, it's me. *for how flippant that is, though, how sarcastic, it's also the truth*the_hermit: *smiles a little, wryly* Thanks, dear. *he knows, though. and he doesn't really blame any of them*the_lovers: *pops one shoulder in a shrug* I figured I'd let you down easy.the_hermit: Thanks. *a beat* Seriously, I'm not gonna screw with you guys.the_lovers: Logically, I probably know that. *probably because Merritt screwed with him when they first started working together. probably because he could have screwed with him right now and, as far as he knows, he didn't* But it's about more than whether or not you decide to make me think I'm a pretty, pretty princess for the rest of my life. *even though he knows they all have them, he doesn't want Merritt to see his scars. he doesn't want anyone to. not right now, not without his permission, not even when they're fairly obvious. he doesn't want them used againt him or them to pity him or whatever*the_hermit: *reels back, sitting back in his chair, putting literal distance between them because he feels like they both need it. runs a hand over his face, and manages, after a moment, and his tone is still level, though there's definitely some heat to his words...* I know. Even without you practically shouting it at me all the time, I know. We've all been screwed by the people who should have had our backs. But because we've all been screwed, if anyone can understand that without using it against you, it's gonna be us.the_lovers: *he breathes out and reaches up to thumb at his eyes. it doesn't help as much as he was hoping it would and he shakes his head a little, returning his attentions to Merritt sharply, all at once a little angry in a defensive sort of way in response to both what he said and how he said it* You think I'm not actually trying? What do you want me to say? *his mouth twitches a little following that, as if he plans on barreling into it, into telling him everything just to prove a point in his upset, and then thinks better of it abruptly*the_hermit: *takes a breath himself, running a hand over his head again, and he's calmer when he answers that* I know you're trying. We're all trying. And you don't have to say anything. *he pauses a beat before, just to get them back on the usual ground...* In fact, sometimes I'd rather you didn't. *but seriously* Just keep trying. Don't forget you've got a team, now.the_lovers: *the smart ass comment seems to help, to ground him a little, however subtly and despite the fact that he rolls his eyes. another sigh follows and he nods* Yeah.the_hermit: *and looks at him for a moment before he nods* Okay.the_lovers: *after a moment* Well. That was awkward. *which is his way of saying sorry*the_hermit: *can't help but laugh - and yes, he gets that* Jack and Dylan aren't the only ones getting stir crazy.the_lovers: Apparently not.the_lovers: Hopefully we can get this show on the road kind of literally before we all kill each other.the_hermit: Oh, come on. We made it a year without killing each other. *a beat* Now, serious injury is still an option....the_lovers: We also had a show to work on which, not going to lie, cut down on the whole fantasizing about holding your head down in a bucket of water. Plus, you know. Orders and all. *concerning not killing anyone. but he's not serious about any of this*the_hermit: *still looks mildly concerned for a moment, though he's teasing* We are very disturbed people. *and grins*the_lovers: You're just now getting that? *not that he thinks Merritt did just realize that, but ... yeah. again with the scars. and the fact that they screwed over not one, not two, but three major institutions and one asshole*the_hermit: Nah. Just thought I'd state the obvious.the_lovers: *shrugs* Fair enough.
