[Theres a drawn out pause in the response. The truth is, he should turn this down. Infectious or not, living with the dying is no kind of party, and Prior's been lucky in finding one person to not only tolerate it but do so with care. Prior's alone here now, again, and if he wanted to be fair on anybody he'd leave it that way. But he's just so terrible at being alone. Already the distraction of a few scattered texts has his body curled in round the phone like the screen light's something he could photosynthesise.
[He could guess the obvious, but he gathers that "You were doing el tango horizontale" isn't going to fly.
The second obvious retort is one that chills him a little more considerably, but a moment of rational thought has him backpedaling. No no no, Byerly wouldn't be hustling under Shades Darker's roof if Koralle suspected deathly, incurable illness passed through sex and blood. Sharing an afflication can't be the reason either.]
I was assigned a house when I got here. Everyone else got roommates but me: I got all the space I could wish for without the wish ever being made. Creaky floorboards and silent, impenetrable dark. I posted on the network that night, because I was lonely, and my leg was fucked up and I couldn't get off the bathroom floor.
He came over with a picnic. Apple turnovers and not-terrible wine and an invitation he wouldn't let me turn down. And after that I wouldn't let him let me go.
[So maybe this will backfire one day. But if he's telling truths? It's not just for Prior's own health he made the offer.
Things have been too quiet lately. He's never thrived in silence, and he can't crash on Red and Boxer's couch like it's his vacation cottage whenever the deafening nothing bears down on him. Can't keep pestering the kids. Can't keep strolling among the pods and mooning over Big Bill and Haystack and Eds, Mikey.
Beverly.
Fucking Beverly. It had only been weeks. Not even a full month, he'd had her smile and her fire and her goddamn laughter, too generous for how shit half his jokes were. They were only friends and never lovers, but that didn't erase what having her meant to him.]
Meanwhile Prior's harboring a kind of devastated, disbelieving fury in the pit of his chest and he hasn't let it spill yet, but with every movement he can feel it splashing higher, threatening to breach its banks. The last thing he can bear is solitude and though he pretends to weigh up the offer, though he's trying for something responsible in making sure Richie knows the catches on the deal, he couldn't turn it down more than someone drowning could refuse a last gasp of air.]
I like repugnance. All my favorite people seem to claim that's what they are. But, if you're sure...
Don't go putting Southwestern pastiche on my walls and we'll get along fine.
[Easier to type than to realize. Fuck, he really is signing the dotted line here. Talk about rash decisions.
Richie puts the phone down a moment. Reaches for his smokes and realizes he's due for a refill. Bevvie always carried extras.]
If you find a better offer before we get to go back home my biddy heart won't break neither, so don't be shy about changing your mind. My door's open whenever you need it.
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So a response does come, eventually.]
Did Byerly ever tell you why we lived together?
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The second obvious retort is one that chills him a little more considerably, but a moment of rational thought has him backpedaling. No no no, Byerly wouldn't be hustling under Shades Darker's roof if Koralle suspected deathly, incurable illness passed through sex and blood. Sharing an afflication can't be the reason either.]
A mutual love of parcheesi?
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I was assigned a house when I got here. Everyone else got roommates but me: I got all the space I could wish for without the wish ever being made. Creaky floorboards and silent, impenetrable dark. I posted on the network that night, because I was lonely, and my leg was fucked up and I couldn't get off the bathroom floor.
He came over with a picnic. Apple turnovers and not-terrible wine and an invitation he wouldn't let me turn down. And after that I wouldn't let him let me go.
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What a soft nougaty center lies under that devil's goatee.
Is this your way of asking me to up the ante?
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It's my way of telling you I'm like that Japanese knotweed. Harder to get rid of than you may have intended.
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[So maybe this will backfire one day. But if he's telling truths? It's not just for Prior's own health he made the offer.
Things have been too quiet lately. He's never thrived in silence, and he can't crash on Red and Boxer's couch like it's his vacation cottage whenever the deafening nothing bears down on him. Can't keep pestering the kids. Can't keep strolling among the pods and mooning over Big Bill and Haystack and Eds, Mikey.
Beverly.
Fucking Beverly. It had only been weeks. Not even a full month, he'd had her smile and her fire and her goddamn laughter, too generous for how shit half his jokes were. They were only friends and never lovers, but that didn't erase what having her meant to him.]
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Meanwhile Prior's harboring a kind of devastated, disbelieving fury in the pit of his chest and he hasn't let it spill yet, but with every movement he can feel it splashing higher, threatening to breach its banks. The last thing he can bear is solitude and though he pretends to weigh up the offer, though he's trying for something responsible in making sure Richie knows the catches on the deal, he couldn't turn it down more than someone drowning could refuse a last gasp of air.]
I like repugnance. All my favorite people seem to claim that's what they are. But, if you're sure...
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[Easier to type than to realize. Fuck, he really is signing the dotted line here. Talk about rash decisions.
Richie puts the phone down a moment. Reaches for his smokes and realizes he's due for a refill. Bevvie always carried extras.]
If you find a better offer before we get to go back home my biddy heart won't break neither, so don't be shy about changing your mind. My door's open whenever you need it.
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But keep your door locked, Richie, this isn't Mister Roger's Neighborhood. I'll settle for taking a key.
[There's quite a break, here, but - well, the boy was raised right somehow.]
And thank you.
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You're welcome Pry.