For some reason, Robb is surprised to see Johnny sitting there, not far from Summerfell, reading. He's not sure why it surprises him; it may only be that he was, in that moment, unprepared for his goodbrother's presence. It hasn't exactly been a secret that Johnny's been avoiding him, no matter how good they all are at pretending otherwise.
He can't very well just ignore him, so he's about to say hello when he overhears Johnny's words, and then he's even more surprised.
If Robb's surprised to see him, Johnny's even more. He jumps and his eyes fly towards Robb, scared and panicked. "Christ, Robb. You scared the hell out of me."
If he focuses on that, then maybe he can avoid the book.
Johnny hastily marks his place and sets the book aside. "Of course. Sorry. I was just...yeah, startled," he finishes, sheepishly. "Sansa's down for a nap, and Dara's with Sue...I didn't expect anyone to talk to me."
"Which doesn't explain," Robb says, a bit awkwardly, "why you're muttering about Theon. Not that I haven't been known to do that myself." He doesn't sit down, just sort of hovers, not sure if he's welcome.
Robb's always quick on the uptake like that. Johnny bites his lip, trying to think of a lie. "...Did you know that he once hit on his sister?" he blurts out.
Thankful that Robb had taken the bait, his posture relaxes. "He didn't know she was his sister," Johnny explains. "But still...I thought it was funny. Ironic."
It becomes clear that Johnny has been spending too much time with Sansa, and expecting his answers to be accepted without question.
"That's a good question," Johnny replies, stalling for time. "Very ah...astute of you." He glances at the book, nervously, as if it would give him the answer, and then back up at Robb. "...I don't suppose you'd believe it if I told you he told me?"
Of course Robb wouldn't. And he's a bit curious just how much Johnny's prepared to make up to avoid telling him whatever's really going on. "Is that what you're going to tell me?"
It's the tone of voice that gets to Johnny, and he sighs, giving in to the fact that he'd rather ruin Robb's entire world view than disappoint him. "No, it's--I read it." He gestures to the book beside him. "In there."
Johnny doesn't know if that's a good enough answer, or not, so he keeps talking. "A second one, actually. I found another one a few months ago and started reading it, but there's a whole bunch of them."
He can't very well just ignore him, so he's about to say hello when he overhears Johnny's words, and then he's even more surprised.
"What?"
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If he focuses on that, then maybe he can avoid the book.
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Robb's always quick on the uptake like that. Johnny bites his lip, trying to think of a lie. "...Did you know that he once hit on his sister?" he blurts out.
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"That's a good question," Johnny replies, stalling for time. "Very ah...astute of you." He glances at the book, nervously, as if it would give him the answer, and then back up at Robb. "...I don't suppose you'd believe it if I told you he told me?"
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Johnny doesn't know if that's a good enough answer, or not, so he keeps talking. "A second one, actually. I found another one a few months ago and started reading it, but there's a whole bunch of them."
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