Adolescent Questions

1. How old were you when you went on your first date?

Jonathan squinted at the ceiling again. "That was some time in the Academy, I think..."

"Yeah? Clarissa didn't get the fancy treatment, then?"

"Not as such, no."

Jacobyte raised his hands in a "I won't ask, no worries" gesture.

2. It is common for one's view of authority to develop in their adolescent years. What is your view of authority, and what event most affected it?

A snort. "Authority is... Authority's the biggest stick. The shiniest gun. The loudest opinion. Nothing to do with right or wrong."

"Deep."

"I try."

"And did anything affect that?"

"How does the abusive father work for you?"

Jacobyte's hands went up again. "Don't shoot the messenger."

"Oh, I won't," said Jonathan, grinning.

"I'm touched."

"Gun's on the other side of the room anyway. Too much effort."

3. What were you like in high school? What "clique" did you best fit in with?

"High school? Clique?"

"Go with the Academy," said Jacobyte. "And clique... think social group."

"What was I like in the Academy..." Jonathan snorted, then turned solemn, laying a hand flat on his chest. "I was a perfect darling. Well behaved. Charming to work with et cetera, et cetera."

"Didn't you sleep with all your teachers?"

"... that not count as 'charming to work with'?"

4. What were your high school goals?

"Pass with my memory intact, and without catching any communicable diseases."

A half laugh escaped Jacobyte's lips. Jonathan looked smug.

"And did you succeed in your goals?"

Jonathan peered over. "S'that on the sheet?"

"Yep."

"Liar."

"I'm shocked, shocked by your accusation, Jonathan."

A long pause. "You've been watching Casablanca again, haven't you?"

Jacobyte saluted Jonathan with the glass of gin he'd produced from Deity knows where. "Here's looking at you, kid."

5. Who was your idol when you were growing up? Who did you first fantasize about in your life?

Jonathan nearly fell backwards laughing. "Oh, that's a good one... hrmm pum pum."

Jacobyte tapped his pencil against the question sheet.

"Can't say I had an idol," Jonathan eventually answered. "Fantasies? Had several of those. Deliciously twisted things that they were."

"And are you going to share with the class?"

"Not on your shiny-toothed life."

6. What is your favourite memory from adolescence?

"That... would be the time I took down a fully trained Agent because he nabbed my drink."

"You did what?"

"I took down—

"—a fully trained Agent. Yeah, you said."

To say Jonathan looked smug was an understatement.

"This happened in the Academy?"

"Yep."

"And..." Jacobyte waved a hand, hoping Jonathan would elaborate.

"Oh, not much more to say, really. There I am, tucked away in a corner and working my way through the stickiest beverages the bar had to offer, and this spangled git comes over, introduces himself and just takes one of them. Right there in front of me. Then pulls a face, 'cause apparently he didn't like whatever it was, sets the glass down and says 'see you around'. Waltzes back to his little group of similarly spangled gits."

"And you didn't take kindly to this?"

"I did not."

"So you decked the guy?"

"Nope."

"Then... what?"

Jonathan inspected his nails. "I drank the rest of my drinks, went outside and waited for him to leave. He looked rather less spangled by the time I was done." A sunny smile.

"Let me guess, you parted with the words 'see you around'?"

"Why, Jacobyte, you see into my very soul."

7. What is your worst memory from adolescence?

Jonathan tapped his fingers on the arm's chair. "Might have to go with the whole 'exploding time machine' thing."

"That was your group? I heard about it. They said—"

"Jackie. You don't have to tell me what 'they' said. I was sodding there."

Jacobyte tilted his head. Not demanding, just... if Jonathan wanted to say more, he was perfectly welcome to.

A sigh. Jonathan lifted his shirt up an inch or two and traced a ridged pink line on his hip. Jacobyte hissed. "That what I think it is?"

"Probably," said Jonathan, lowering the shirt and settling back again. "Can't claim to know what goes on inside your head, Jacobyte." He grinned.

"Temporal shrapnel." Jacobyte turned the page. "Not fun."

"What's the next section?"

"Occupational Questions," read out Jacobyte.

"Ooh, fun."