05-25-2024, 05:14 PM
Jude is almost herded back into his holding pattern of passive-aggression, the one where he submits to snide shots that never confront the undercurrents. Does Near like him or hate him? Does he want to help Jude or does he just want to be a shitty little antagonist because he's bored and indecisive? Trying to pursue a clear answer has felt like a humiliation ritual.
Only now Jude has temporary immunity. He's unbreakable in the rubble of Near's relationship. "You're a little shithead," he snaps back. "Getting dinner later with someone – and canceling?" Jude lowers his chin and dramatically arches his eyebrows. Then he says plainly what he earlier implied. "I knew you had a boyfriend." So it's interesting you didn't say so, Jude's steady eye contact says. Real fucking interesting.
"You're such a fucking weirdo," the sideshow laughs. You know, if this was about sex, it'd be a lot less weird. It would explain away behavior that until now has felt senseless. Since Near doesn't want to sit with him, Jude stretches his legs along the couch again. "And you call me weird." He lifts his eyes to heaven and shakes his head.
Only now Jude has temporary immunity. He's unbreakable in the rubble of Near's relationship. "You're a little shithead," he snaps back. "Getting dinner later with someone – and canceling?" Jude lowers his chin and dramatically arches his eyebrows. Then he says plainly what he earlier implied. "I knew you had a boyfriend." So it's interesting you didn't say so, Jude's steady eye contact says. Real fucking interesting.
"You're such a fucking weirdo," the sideshow laughs. You know, if this was about sex, it'd be a lot less weird. It would explain away behavior that until now has felt senseless. Since Near doesn't want to sit with him, Jude stretches his legs along the couch again. "And you call me weird." He lifts his eyes to heaven and shakes his head.