Author note: Stats exam is tomorrow afternoon, wish me luck! And in the meantime...
Childhood Questions
1. What is your first memory?
"Factory smoke."
Jacobyte paused. "Factory smoke?"
A nod.
"Lot of factories where you grew up, then?"
"That question isn't on the sheet, Jackie," said Jonathan with a grin.
2. What was your favourite toy?
"Um..."
"You had to have had toys, Jonathan."
Jonathan was squinting at the ceiling.
"Shall I move on?"
"I think you'd better..."
3. What was your favourite game?
Jonathan's eyes glazed over for a moment, then he snorted. "Oh sweet Deity, I'd forgotten about that one."
"What one?"
"Favourite game."
"You gonna share with the class?"
A grin and a chuckle. "No way."
Jacobyte sighed.
4. Any non-family member adults stick out in your mind? Who were they, and how did you know them? Why do they stick out?
"Um."
"Um?"
"Well... there was one."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Sort of my first boyfriend."
Jacobyte sat up a little straighter and deigned to look attentive. "He have a name?"
"Clarissa."
Jacobyte blinked. "I shouldn't ask, should I?"
"Do you value your sanity, I think, is the more important question."
"Jonathan, I've spent... however long... trapped in a paisley apartment with you. My sanity's long gone."
Jonathan offered his hand. Grinned as Jacobyte leaned across to shake it. "Pleasure doing business with you."
5. Who was your best friend when you were growing up?
"Clarissa again."
Jacobyte shook his head and wrote this down.
6. What is your fondest, childhood memory?
Jonathan opened and closed his mouth.
"Mm?"
"Might have to go with Clarissa again, there..."
Jacobyte's eyebrows went up a little. "Some guy."
A shrug. "He was— Ooh! No, wait!"
Jacobyte halted the pencil's movement and waited.
"First space station. First time I looked out of a view port."
The pencil continued and Jacobyte smiled into the question sheet.
7. What is your worst childhood memory?
Jonathan's mouth opened and closed again, this time with a snap.
Jacobyte's eyes darkened slightly. "Next section?" he suggested, voice barely loud enough to be a murmur.
Jonathan nodded without looking up, and Jacobyte turned the page.