someone woke up on the grumpy side of the world. and has stayed that way all day. approach with grand caution.

whuh — oh. hey.

. . . wow. a truly astute observation. amazing , really , your deduction skills.

why do i not believe that ? ted , you were there. you know what happened.

. . well , did you make amends with the others you hurt ? i don’t deserve that any more than the rest of them.

you have to be okay with that possibility. it might be all you have. . . . ted , i . . have a question.

[ the fire that once blazed in eyes so accustomed to warmth and love was dim now , replaced reluctantly with tears john didn’t know he had. ] why did you do that ?

there’s a conflicting burn in his fingertips , one that suggests a familiar itch for a cigarette. he really * wants out of this entire situation. “ i don’t . . you - you could have reached out , christ *. there were better ways to handle it , you know that. “

“ you - what ? who the hell is elias — why are you changing the subject ? ? “ the bassist’s eyes flick down to the pack , fingers twitching. “ i said i’d quit ,“ he mutters before taking one for himself. who is john to turn down the peace offering ?