Is Jon triggering something? Even on a subconscious level?

Yes. Yes, he is.

I guess it felt so - so *reconciled* to how much "stephen" dismissed him, and because the usual fandom description of their relationship would be *best* friends, and Jon didn't feel, I don't know, brave or entitled or sure enough to use it.

Oh, beautiful.

I think he's trying to be as nonthreatening as possible. The normal Stephen is prone to denying that they know each other, so Jon doesn't want to claim too much intimacy on their first meeting. And, of course, it ends up not mattering either way.

Thank you ^_^