It's not like the story particularly shocks him, knowing the time that John is from. Although he is sure there would be a handful of people who'd be more accepting, the odds of John meeting someone like that, someone who wouldn't be prejudiced against him even if they might not share in those feelings, were extremely slim. So it's not a surprise when John describes how it all unraveled.
What he doesn't like is the fact that it sounds like John is preparing to draw a parallel there. Make some kind of connection between his relationship with Fraser, and his relationship with Jim himself, something that's bound to sit incredibly sourly on his stomach, so he holds a hand up between them.
"Hold on. John," he sighs, shaking his head. "First of all, I am sorry for what's happened between you and Fraser. To lose a friendship like that, and for those reasons, it... sounds terrible. Really. Secondly, I apologize ahead of time if I'm being presumptuous by assuming this is where you're headed, but if you're about to tell me that our friendship will be ruined when you inadvertently confess that you have feelings for me, I'm gonna have to stop you right there."
Yes, he's just gonna come out and say it in the open. He really hates beating around the bush, can you tell? "I care about you, John. I do. My feelings for you aren't as strong as they are for Mary, but you're important to me. I also need you to understand that me being with Mary wasn't a choice I made because she's a woman, and you're a man. That kind of thing holds absolutely no weight, for me. Men sleep with men, they live together, they have open, honest relationships where I'm from. So do women, for the record. One of my helmsmen is happily married to another man, and they have a beautiful daughter together. Human, alien, black, white, blue-- none of that matters. I get that that's a lot for you to wrap your head around, but I need you to understand that none of that holds absolutely any weight to me, and I am... used to it. People don't hide anymore, I don't hide. So, I just want to say that... I don't mind. At all. If there are feelings here, then that's fine. We're still friends. God, I do hope we're still friends, because you're a really important part of my life here, and I hope that the fact that I can't return those feelings the same way won't be enough to make you want to pull away from me."
no subject
What he doesn't like is the fact that it sounds like John is preparing to draw a parallel there. Make some kind of connection between his relationship with Fraser, and his relationship with Jim himself, something that's bound to sit incredibly sourly on his stomach, so he holds a hand up between them.
"Hold on. John," he sighs, shaking his head. "First of all, I am sorry for what's happened between you and Fraser. To lose a friendship like that, and for those reasons, it... sounds terrible. Really. Secondly, I apologize ahead of time if I'm being presumptuous by assuming this is where you're headed, but if you're about to tell me that our friendship will be ruined when you inadvertently confess that you have feelings for me, I'm gonna have to stop you right there."
Yes, he's just gonna come out and say it in the open. He really hates beating around the bush, can you tell? "I care about you, John. I do. My feelings for you aren't as strong as they are for Mary, but you're important to me. I also need you to understand that me being with Mary wasn't a choice I made because she's a woman, and you're a man. That kind of thing holds absolutely no weight, for me. Men sleep with men, they live together, they have open, honest relationships where I'm from. So do women, for the record. One of my helmsmen is happily married to another man, and they have a beautiful daughter together. Human, alien, black, white, blue-- none of that matters. I get that that's a lot for you to wrap your head around, but I need you to understand that none of that holds absolutely any weight to me, and I am... used to it. People don't hide anymore, I don't hide. So, I just want to say that... I don't mind. At all. If there are feelings here, then that's fine. We're still friends. God, I do hope we're still friends, because you're a really important part of my life here, and I hope that the fact that I can't return those feelings the same way won't be enough to make you want to pull away from me."