11-01-2023, 08:51 PM
When Near puts it how he does, it all sounds absurd. Well, it is absurd. It is absurd that Jude exists at all. It is absurd that the functioning systems of power are as opaque and aristocratic as they ever have been. And if Near approached that absurdity with any kind of compassion, then Jude could come around to admitting some of it, though there’s no pleasure in viewing one’s own life as closer to the building of a nuclear bomb than the organic and soulful birth of a life. But there is no kindness, there’s no mercy, there’s just the mocking tone of an opinion columnist who outlines the facts in such a way as to denigrate or even question their existence.
“You’re an asshole, you know that?” He doesn’t bother to hide the heat from his tone now. He crosses his arms and then crosses his ankles as his whole expression darkens. “I can’t believe you even have a boyfriend,” in a tone that suggests Near has lied to him about the seriousness of his association with Guthrie. “You’re just such a dick.” He throws up his hands.
“You asked me to come here! With your stupid newspaper ads!” Explain that, Jude’s tone says. Seriously, what the fuck?
“You’re an asshole, you know that?” He doesn’t bother to hide the heat from his tone now. He crosses his arms and then crosses his ankles as his whole expression darkens. “I can’t believe you even have a boyfriend,” in a tone that suggests Near has lied to him about the seriousness of his association with Guthrie. “You’re just such a dick.” He throws up his hands.
“You asked me to come here! With your stupid newspaper ads!” Explain that, Jude’s tone says. Seriously, what the fuck?