Given what Jon initially heard from Murmur's mind when they synced, it's not surprising he finds it difficult to remain in the present moment. With so much competing for the angel's attention, how could his mind not wander?
His analysis of Jon is correct, presented in a factual manner, but recognizing Jon as intelligent causes another brief flash of almost-embarrassment, this time mixed with pride. Jon is keenly aware of his strengths and weaknesses; he isn't much to look at (especially now, with the many scars he's accumulated), and he doesn't have the kind of charisma that draws people in for deep and lasting friendships, but he is intelligent. It's the one thing he's always known makes him a little bit special, but it's not usually appreciated like Murmur clearly does.
"Yes, erm ... " Face warm, Jon ducks his head and shoves his hand into the pocket of his coat, searching by touch for the metal cigarette lighter to wrap his fingers around. "I'm afraid those aren't qualities that are highly valued by most people. Intelligence especially is a bit of a double-edged sword. People tend to resent you for it, if - if not outright despise you." He thinks, as he often does, about that older boy who bullied him as a child and took the Web's Leitner from him, the sneering way he called Jon little Einstein with such contempt.
He wasn't the only one. Just the one Jon couldn't save from being taken by the Web.
Best not get too far into that. He doesn't try to hide the guilt he still feels over that incident from Murmur, but he doesn't want to dwell on it at the moment. He glances back up at Murmur with a thin smile and a light shrug.
"I admit I'm not knowledgeable about Celestial sociopolitics," he says, acknowledging Murmur's confession to similarity with Jon. "Is that ... more how you all view each other? Alliances, rather than friends, or - or comrades?"
Mentally, he adds: Jack seems nice. I don't know her well, but she helped me when I'd first arrived. Gave me a statement. So he knows she's a monster, too, just a different variety than Jon.
no subject
His analysis of Jon is correct, presented in a factual manner, but recognizing Jon as intelligent causes another brief flash of almost-embarrassment, this time mixed with pride. Jon is keenly aware of his strengths and weaknesses; he isn't much to look at (especially now, with the many scars he's accumulated), and he doesn't have the kind of charisma that draws people in for deep and lasting friendships, but he is intelligent. It's the one thing he's always known makes him a little bit special, but it's not usually appreciated like Murmur clearly does.
"Yes, erm ... " Face warm, Jon ducks his head and shoves his hand into the pocket of his coat, searching by touch for the metal cigarette lighter to wrap his fingers around. "I'm afraid those aren't qualities that are highly valued by most people. Intelligence especially is a bit of a double-edged sword. People tend to resent you for it, if - if not outright despise you." He thinks, as he often does, about that older boy who bullied him as a child and took the Web's Leitner from him, the sneering way he called Jon little Einstein with such contempt.
He wasn't the only one. Just the one Jon couldn't save from being taken by the Web.
Best not get too far into that. He doesn't try to hide the guilt he still feels over that incident from Murmur, but he doesn't want to dwell on it at the moment. He glances back up at Murmur with a thin smile and a light shrug.
"I admit I'm not knowledgeable about Celestial sociopolitics," he says, acknowledging Murmur's confession to similarity with Jon. "Is that ... more how you all view each other? Alliances, rather than friends, or - or comrades?"
Mentally, he adds: Jack seems nice. I don't know her well, but she helped me when I'd first arrived. Gave me a statement. So he knows she's a monster, too, just a different variety than Jon.