09-26-2022, 12:26 AM
He could have never bothered himself with Jude's crap again. Jude and his crap would have continued happening off-screen and Near could have simply had an inkling of what this slow slide into deep oblivion was all about. Just as he doesn't need to interfere with the melting of the ice caps, he can sit on his ass and let malevolent cosmic forces infiltrate the earth from beyond the veil. His teriyaki chicken bowl will still taste the same, until it doesn't -- until chickens are extinct or until all flavor, all pleasure, is turned to ash. Whichever comes first.
Finally something they agree on: that conversation between them is pointless. Jude is astounded by how, across all this time, talking to Near still has the effect of feeling like a bully is holding his hands, slapping them to his own face and yelling, 'Stop hitting yourself!' If he doesn't say anything, Near cannot find something stupid to say back.
And then -- and then! -- Near demonstrates he does not need any input to provide output. He takes Jude's metaphorial hand and whaps him with it.
"Do you want me to drive?" A fifteen minute walk means that it must be five minutes or less by car. Jude glances up at the sky, seeing if the threat of rain justifies the request. Unlikely. Near just enjoys inflicting demands. If he hadn't just finished a coffee, he'd probably ask Jude to buy him one, or something stupid like that. Stupid things, all the time.
Finally something they agree on: that conversation between them is pointless. Jude is astounded by how, across all this time, talking to Near still has the effect of feeling like a bully is holding his hands, slapping them to his own face and yelling, 'Stop hitting yourself!' If he doesn't say anything, Near cannot find something stupid to say back.
And then -- and then! -- Near demonstrates he does not need any input to provide output. He takes Jude's metaphorial hand and whaps him with it.
"Do you want me to drive?" A fifteen minute walk means that it must be five minutes or less by car. Jude glances up at the sky, seeing if the threat of rain justifies the request. Unlikely. Near just enjoys inflicting demands. If he hadn't just finished a coffee, he'd probably ask Jude to buy him one, or something stupid like that. Stupid things, all the time.