4th code - audio

[winksandnods]

[Talking with Julian had not caused the restlessness, but it had certainly brought it to the fore of his mind. He'd tried to push it aside, but...

It was difficult to keep his concentration when he had no clear path to pursue and when he had gone nearly four months without sex. At least when he was used to not going more than a few days without someone. Not always someone new, not always someone good. But even when he got terribly wrapped up in his work, there was always some distraction to be had.

Some little break so that he could return refreshed.

So. Journal.]

Despite its usually infallable use, the bar here seems useless in this regard, so I'll ask those who might know better.

Where does one spend their time in this town if they're looking for company?

[He's being polite, Luceti.

...While also wondering just how true it is that there are no laws here. He isn't certain enough to be fully upfront about what he's looking for, but...

It's worth experimenting, at least.]

Comments

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

Luckily enough neither of you is too particular.

[voice]

[winksandnods]

Come on now. We have standards.

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

Do you? Is he still with his toy from the theatre?

[voice]

[winksandnods]

...As much as Guy is ever "with" anyone-- yes.

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

My point is made.

[voice]

[winksandnods]

That doesn't mean he doesn't have standards.

Find me one idiot among the lot, and I'll concede a point.

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

He's slept with every man in Cambridge, save a few. You can't tell me Cambridge doesn't have its fair share of wealthy imbeciles.

[Still, he's pretty sure Anthony has a point.]

[voice]

[winksandnods]

And most of those few, you'll find, are the wealthy imbeciles. [...He's not sure, really, whether he's trying to joke... or whole-heartedly defending Guy's taste.]

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

I suppose you're right. [Although Julian is pretty sure Guy never pursued Philby or McLean, and he knows Guy didn't pursue him.] Never could figure it out, really.

[voice]

[winksandnods]

[...Just because you're very brilliant, Julian, doesn't mean sometimes you aren't really stupid.]

Figure what out?

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

His taste in men.

[voice]

[winksandnods]

[A pause. He smiles to himself, remembering the way Guy has described more than one... but especially the ones he's been truly... insistent... about.]

They have to shine.

Somehow. In some way. They all have that shine.

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

[A shine Julian lacks? Why is he hung up on that? Guy has been an awkward half-crush in the past and even now is someone he really can't quite rule out despite Julian not considering him "dating material." The only reason for that designation is Guy's own supposed policy of "casual sex only." Julian isn't exactly against casual sex, but he's not keen on being simply another notch on someone's bed post.]

I suppose that makes as much sense as anything.

[voice]

[winksandnods]

[Anthony chuckles, but it's a quiet, pensive sound. No humour in it at all, really.]

He's always in love. With someone or some idea or some cause. Passion to passion to passion. Not everyone, no. [Guy's had too many casual encounters that meant nothing to deny that.] But there's always something. The trouble with Guy... [He knew it all too well.] Is knowing which passions he'll forget in a week and which will last a lifetime.

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

...I always wondered if he could never stay with someone long because he loved everything else in the world too much to give his heart to one.

[voice]

[winksandnods]

[A sigh.] There have been a few-- ideas, people... The passion doesn't fade. He tries to cover it with other passions, but, there are some that have lasted a lifetime.

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

He loves his friends better than lovers, doesn't he?

[voice]

[winksandnods]

[Another pause. He won't lie.]

We all do.

[voice]

[burns_so_brightly]

[A slight chuckle.] I know you do. You love as strongly as he does. You just...have a different way of showing it, I think.

[voice]

[winksandnods]

We've... [He won't say much over the Journals, but Julian will know what he's talking about.] We've been in this together since the beginning, Guy and I. We started together, and when Kim and Donald joined us...

We have to put each other over everything. We're too connected. Everything. If one falls, we all fall.