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[john_ofdarkness]

It startles him, when he realizes that Buzz is gone. There's the basic, expected level of startlement; he'd always been certain (somehow, subconsciously) that Buzz would be a permanent fixture of his life, and so the absence is like discovering that a part of himself is missing ... but there's also a deeper, troubling level, and he's trying to

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[dragon_dealer]

Cimorene, herself a large proponent of throwing rocks in times of emotional confusion or distress, is walking by. After a moment of indecision, she says, "Would you like an apple?" She's carrying a few in a sack, now resting on her hip.

[john_ofdarkness]

His brows go up. "Normally I'd treat that as a fairly innocuous request, but given where we are--"

[dragon_dealer]

A small laugh. "I promise, they're just plain apples." She pulls one out at random and takes a bite to show him. "Picked most of them myself, and my husband did what I didn't."

[john_ofdarkness]

"It's down to faith in humanity, then." He takes an apple, and takes a great bite from it. Unsurprisingly, nothing happens, except for perhaps some swallowing and digestion.

[dragon_dealer]

"Well, that is a perilous thing for it to be down to. But I hope you like the apple."

[john_ofdarkness]

"Could be worse," he allows, and takes another bite. "Haven't seen much return on your investment in people?"

[dragon_dealer]

She shrugs. "A few. I'd describe my marriage as reasonably happy, so there's that, if nothing else. But most people I've met here are some degree of crazy." She smiles, a bit wryly.

[john_ofdarkness]

"Well. It seems I've met a kindred spirit--although I'd warn you against thinking that the crazy people are all in here. We all got here from somewhere else, after all." Considering her, "What's your husband like?"

[dragon_dealer]

"Percy? Simple, but not stupid. Sees the good in everyone, somehow or other, but doesn't deny there's bad too. He used to be a knight, but decided farming was better."

[john_ofdarkness]

The name is familiar to him; he has to think a moment, but then he remembers where he's heard it. "He wouldn't be the Percy who's helping my boyfriend build a church?"

[dragon_dealer]

"Yeah, that'd be him. Tall and gangly, red hair."

[john_ofdarkness]

"Purple house. I've heard, duck." This is almost too funny, really. "A bit masochistic, for a cynic to live with a man like that."

[dragon_dealer]

"Oh, maybe a little. But at least he's sane, and doesn't feel the need to prove how brave or good or fill in the blank he is." She smiles. "He's comfortable, hm? Besides, if your boyfriend's building a church too, I doubt he's as stoutly cynical as yourself either."

[john_ofdarkness]

"Believe me, I'm speaking from experience. Living with him is a study in not measuring up." And it's strange for him to say that, to admit a weakness; he's not on his game today, too shaken up about Buzz vanishing.

[dragon_dealer]

"That is true, some days. But maybe things work when they're complimentary, as well as when they're the same. He why you're throwing the rocks?" She leaves it a yes-no, so he can close the subject if he wants.

[john_ofdarkness]

That closes him up again. "I didn't know that I needed a reason to throw rocks."