ʳᵉᵃˡ ᶰᵒʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᵐᵃᶰ

                      ❛  it jus’ takes practice.  ❜ this was probably the first interaction john had had with elam that started off somewhat alright. his words weren’t anything near the usual harsh, bitter stabs he made them out to be. however, this hit of kindness that lingered in john’s tone didn’t last long when elam started asking for things. with eyebrows rose and ideas churning, john sat down in front of the man, ready for deals to be made & teasing to began.  ❛  i already ‘ave birds t’ do it fer me. that kind of stuff isn’t precious t’ me anyhow, y’know, school , ❜ he challenged, licking thin-lips as his dark eyes sparkled. ❛  how ‘bout a pack of ciggies & no bitchin’ like a ol’ tosser fer a week? ❜

                   ❛ ----------- please be easy with the language. ❜ first of all, ❛  alright we have a deal ! though i will never understand your need for ciggies. . ❜ & he never will. but he’ll still oblige if it takes for john to teach him. carefully, he’d pass the guitar back to john, scooting over to meet face to face with a grin ---- a grin he rarely wears around him. he couldn’t believe this ! it's happening. to learn something new. . something he was forbidden to do back home. all the more excited to be. ❛ lead, if you will. ❜

                      ❛ i didn’t expect it to be this difficult. . learning how to play guitar.  ❜  caught in the act ( attempting to play with john’s guitar while he was away ), he felt embarrassed to say the least, ashamed to not catching up to what’s known as ‘ hip ‘ in these times. guitar was a primary instrument ---- john’s always around with his own in the house & out about. & just now did elam consider picking it up. . but not accordingly as he imagined. the book, he picked up in secret, aren’t doing justice.    unfortunately.         ❛ ----------- i’ll paint your assignment for you if you teach me. i’ll throw in some of my tricks to painting in exchange for guitar lessons.  ❜

                he  speaks  like  he  controls  the  place  when  he’s welcomed to a home to stay. it’s an insult, coming from someone who found the will to let john inside temporarily. like a slap to the face served john’s words. he shot a glance,  ❛ no, i will not mind myself — it’s three in the morning! you think it is not a big deal but it is to me! i worried all night —— ❜ his voiced cracked then. ❛ i haven’t rested. . ❜ it was a last call, he wanted to no longer argue about john coming late. this was not the first time it happened but the first elam spoke for himself. admitting the fact that he cares for john’s safety. if john doesn’t see it. . . perhaps he wasted time & effort to ready his home.

                ❛ you’re given a place to stay & yet, you don’t have the decency to respect the regulations in return. how do you think this feels? — you never think. ❜ a pause. ❛ to give me a proper explanation or even do something simple as to let me know ahead of time where you’ll run off to. it’s not that hard, is it? ❜ his glance fell to the guitar that was brought back. just a single glance more then fixed back to him & —

        ❛ —— i know nothing of their whereabouts as i am not a borg. remember that, sir. ❜ he was imprisoned for questions that were repetitive & had nothing to do with him. elam was just caught around the sudden attacks. he wants to be free. these questions were starting to get to his last nerve.  ❛ all i came to was acts of invasion & groups held hostage with pointed weapons while the other borgs cast destruction. what their purpose was, what they were looking for, i don’t know. then your ship came to the picture & they fled. i was hiding. please, i just want to be taken back. i had enough. i do not want to be a part of this. ❜