He clicked the bottle back, offering a smile. âConsider that noted. Just thought Iâd suggest it.â If there was ever another government vs residents fight, Brian could at least hope Jon might change his mind. Then again he knew Jon wanted to be free, more than anything and he wouldnât give that opportunity up for anything. Why would he?
Brian gave Jonathan a confused look and joined in the laughter. âThat is definitely not what I was suggesting. Takes a certain level of sophistication to pull off the attire that I do.â If you ignored the coffee and chemical stains on his shirt, it was fine. He grinned. âAlthough, if you really didnât care about fashion as much as you say you doâŚit shouldnât matter what you wear, no?â He shook his head. At least the drink had finally gotten to Jon. Brian was fed up of feeling like a lightweight.
âAye, I did.â He gave a small, solemn nod. âYou may not think itâs a science, but it is. Everything is. And Iâm the only person thatâs come even slightly close to piecing it all together. I had everything. And then I lost her. And then they took my researchâŚmy facilitiesâŚeverything. Until Grimstone found me. Now Iâm back on track. Almost.â Maybe explaining things to someone like Jonathan Lund would help the other residents to understand why he was doing what he was doing. For the most part. He had other objectives and results he needed to reach now. âOh Iâm sure Iâd find someone. I step out of the office for half a second and someone is bound to get on my nerves. I just appreciate that you make a conscious effort.â
âBold suggestion.âJonathan chuckled. Of course, it wasnât impossible. even someone like Jonathan craved human contact at times, even he wanted to have people who he can trust, not just friends, but people he can really, truly trust. Yet, somehow, Brian didnât strike him as someone he could trust, at least not yet. He was still testing the waters, gathering information on the man, calculating everything, before he even considered calling the other man a friend, or even an acquaintance.Â
âDo you not know about the sophisticated, aristocratic family that Iâm coming from? You mustâve missed that part in my file. Iâm bred with sophistication.â He rolled his eyes in slight annoyance, mocking the words he spoke of, his family, and anything really that had to do with that part of his life. âWhat did you suggest then, if not that?â He was curious to know. âIf I didnât know better, Iâd think you were trying to ruin my reputation, Matthews. What would the ladies think of me? The guys? Thank God, I have that pretty face to cover up for the awful, ridiculous clothes you would let me wear.â He spoke dramatically, before extending his hand, âJust pick out something clean, and weâll have a deal.â
âWas it worth it? Sacrificing your girl, for the sake of achieving some scientific greatness?â He wasnât curious for himself, in his mind, there wasnât a doubt that this whole thing was utter foolishness, but he wanted to know the reasoning behind Brianâs actions, the ideas and beliefs he held on to. âYou cannot play God, Brian. Thereâs a higher power, something bigger than science, that allowed for that kind of power to run through our veins, in our bones. If you could only feel it one day, if you could taste it, live with this amount of power, you would understand.â He explained, laying on his back with his hands behind his head, âHave you never thought of it? Getting your grabby hands on a piece of ability and sticking in it right in your fragile, purely human body?â
âAnd here I thought I was special.âÂ