A/N: Cleaning out my files, I found this tiny story that I started and forgot about. I read it over and decided to keep it. This is all there is. It's just a little Data/Lore interlude set sometime during Datalore.

I often wish there had been more friendly interaction between the two.

You Can Say That Again

"A man walks into a bar. Ouch! It's an iron bar."

Lore waits for Data's response. There is none. He rolls his eyes in a peculiarly human fashion and tries again.

"A piece of string walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve pieces of string." The string goes outside, ties himself up, messes up his hair, goes back into the bar and orders a beer. The bartender asks, "Aren't you that piece of string?" "No," says the string, "I'm a frayed knot.""

Lore splays his hands, 'ta da' style. Data blinks. Frustrated at Data's lack of comprehension, Lore comes out of his louche position on the couch in Data's quarters. His voice rises a notch, indicating his mounting impatience.

"Two pails of puke are walking around a neighborhood. One says to the other, 'this is where I was brought up'!"

He flings his arms wide and leans forward like a dagger stabbing the air. Data purses his lips and becomes introspective. Lore's entire body shudders with an infuriated sigh. "Jesus Christ," he mutters.

"Is the Son of God," Data says seriously, staring at Lore without blinking.

A snort of laughter bursts from Lore's nose.

"Was that funny?" Data asks, almost hopefully. "Did I tell a joke?"

Lore shakes his head, quivering with mirth. "No, Data. You didn't tell a joke. But it was funny."

Data's interest is thoroughly piqued. "Why was it funny if it was not a joke?"

"Because it was unexpected."

A few moments pass in silence.

"Boiled eggs!" shouts Data.

Lore starts. "What?"

Data splays his hands as Lore did. "Boiled eggs!" He waits for Lore to break out in guffaws, but the other android slumps his shoulders in defeat and looks vaguely... disgusted?

Data brings his arms back to his sides. "That was unexpected, was it not?"

"No, it was stupid. 'Boiled eggs' has no connection." Lore sighed loudly. "You just don't get it, do you Data? You have no idea what makes things funny."

Data's mouth turns down at the corners. "I do not understand humor."

"You can say that again."

"I do not understand humor."

Lore smiles and shakes his head. He leans forward with his elbows on his knees and looks up at Data through golden eyelashes. "It doesn't matter. Things are funny or they're not. I can't explain it either."

Data brightens. "Intriguing!"

"What is?"

"You are an android. Correct?" Lore nods facetiously and Data continues. "Your positronic brain, like mine, is capable of billions of computations per second. And yet, you are no closer to understanding humor than I am. I repeat- intriguing!"

Lore sighs loudly and gets up off the couch. He walks over to Data with a lopsided smile and pats the other android on the shoulder. "Are you saying we're as stupid as each other?"

"I am saying that we are alike in more ways than not." Data looks unduly pleased with himself.

Lore lifts a pale, slender hand complete with knuckle creases, vein ridges and perfect fingernails, and pats Data affectionately on the cheek.

"It's a good thing I got the looks," he says, deadpan.