The AA chip, here or otherwise, kind of did impress John, though. Because he'd known plenty of people to fall down that hole and never come up from it again. Because John knew, absolutely, the cost of having a habit so bad it could kill you or the people around you. Not everyone stopped, even when they were aware. It took strength. Quite possibly the sort that John didn't have, himself.
He didn't say so, though, not yet. Because that was heavy shit and they weren't there. Not yet.
Maybe, eventually, he thought, as Dan reached out to touch him. It was a little electric -- the kind that didn't zap, but made the hair on the back of his neck stand a little. Like a call to attention, maybe. He made a little noise of interest, even as he leaned in a little closer -- possibly under the pretense of watching Dan cook. "Smells good enough to impress," he said with a crooked sort of smile.
"I read," he agreed with a tip of his head in acknowledgement. "And go through the doors fairly frequently. Help out at The Spider's Web, now and again." He didn't do anything in a capacity where it might be called a job though. Some things never changed, no matter the location.
"Back home? Depends who you ask. Found trouble, mostly." Which was not un-true by any means "You?" John was curious, of course he was. That zing, that electricity and the subtle mental prodding at that party -- he wanted to know.