Sometimes, Mark doesn't mind gaps in conversation. Sometimes, they afford him the ever-needed time to check his phone for new texts or emails, to work on some line of code, to keep up with the international news, which he's been able to do lately just by tracking facebook. But on the whole, it's more the fact that Mark prefers to use his words wisely, rather than try for a great number of them, and when people don't bother trying to force thoughts to come out, silence is what usually prevails. He's made a point, back in Palo Alto, of going on regular lunches with some of his coworkers. A few of the best developers are regulars at the table, and Mark makes a point too of inviting random employees from just about any group, right down to the janitors who mop up their floors after hours. Something about inclusion. He's really learned something about inclusion, and how it provides a better air to the working environment, even if the very point of facebook is that it's exclusive, that it gives a person full choice over who they choose to avoid or associate with. Work isn't the same, though. At work, the point is to make everyone happy enough, just happy enough, to produce good material. And over the process of doing that, Mark's just become more aware of what he's always known, that it's pointless to force meaningless, inane thoughts out just for the sake of filling the space.
Eduardo tries hard to that end, though, in a way that few other friends of Mark's ever have. He pulls inclusion to his regular life too, tries to see everyone for the good in them (except for those who have severely wronged Mark himself, or those who stand the chance of it in the future). Silence probably unnerves him. And Mark stares ahead just long enough that he decides, maybe he can compromise here, give them something concrete to do that keeps them from flailing at each other in this weird sort of dance.
"Well, I think I've eaten all of my burger that I can right now; stomach's not what it used to be, living off rabbit food these days," he says quickly, casting a half-interested look at his burger. He takes another bite, as though trying to test just how hungry it is, then nods— he's definitely lost the bulk of his appetite. "Got an extra room I can crash in? Or, if... I mean, I'm pretty sure I can find another place. I like bamboo. Could find a place made of bamboo. Assuming it grows here."
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Date: 2011-05-21 03:52 am (UTC)Eduardo tries hard to that end, though, in a way that few other friends of Mark's ever have. He pulls inclusion to his regular life too, tries to see everyone for the good in them (except for those who have severely wronged Mark himself, or those who stand the chance of it in the future). Silence probably unnerves him. And Mark stares ahead just long enough that he decides, maybe he can compromise here, give them something concrete to do that keeps them from flailing at each other in this weird sort of dance.
"Well, I think I've eaten all of my burger that I can right now; stomach's not what it used to be, living off rabbit food these days," he says quickly, casting a half-interested look at his burger. He takes another bite, as though trying to test just how hungry it is, then nods— he's definitely lost the bulk of his appetite. "Got an extra room I can crash in? Or, if... I mean, I'm pretty sure I can find another place. I like bamboo. Could find a place made of bamboo. Assuming it grows here."