danzan | open post

[ A small laugh. ] Well... shit, you ain't wrong.

But there's one jellyfish that can theoretically live forever.

[ His arm loops around Jean-Paul's, and he hits "play" on the video. There's the typical montage of the deep blue sea, which is terrifying in its own right, but Logan doesn't dwell more on it than he should. ]

I'm a highly intelligent man.

[Snort. Giggle.] They call it the Jellylogan.

[He watches, but he also plays with Logan's shirt as he does.]

The deep sea ones are gross. Those eels or whatever that look like d'Alien? Blech.

[ "Jellylogan" earns Jean-Paul a small pinch on the hand. ]

They're not supposed to look nice. [ He cracks open the first can of pop, taking a gulp of it before holding it out towards Jean-Paul in case he wants to share. ] Deep sea conditions're crazy. They look freaky to survive.

[ Another gulp of Sprite. ]

Sorry, professor.

[He takes a sip and passes it back.] I am aware of how evolution works. That makes them no less creepy.

There're people ten times creepier than a deep sea jelly is.

[ One of them glows on screen, and Logan's lips curve into a smile just looking at it-- like a child, really. The narration tells of the species, of its way of life, and his thumb strokes the side of the Sprite can before he knocks back enough to have gotten two-thirds' of it gone. ]

If the ocean didn't scare me so much I'd want to dive.

The jellies are fine, it's the fucked up ones wit' pointy teeth I don't like.

[It's impossible not to appreciate that smile. Jean-Paul watches, trying not to smile in response and mostly failing. His fingers play with Logan's buttons, popping them open one by one.]

It scares you? Why?

Drowning's the worst way to die. [ And given he's felt it all-- bomb explosions, exquisite tortures, gunshots, being burned alive, poison... it's a big thing, knowing which one's the worst. ]

Think I wouldn't mind bein' a jelly, though. [ They glow prettily even on the small laptop screen.

Logan notices his buttons being undone, but doesn't comment on it. ]

When're you ever gonna see colours like those except underwater?

I think space would be even worse. At least underwater there's a sense of... presence.

You'd be a great jelly. They're very zen.

[He just slips a hand right on inside his shirt to stroke his chest lightly.]

Nowhere, I'm guessing.

[ Ah. Like clockwork, the soft vibrations in Logan's throat start, a content sort of purring coming up as he finishes the last of his first can and cracks a second one open. ]

Nowhere's right. [ His voice is lower, softer. If Jean-Paul had a sensitive nose, he'd note how much sweeter Logan's scent was turning, too. ]

When I saw the moon landing in '69 a tiny part of me wanted to be a space man. [ He admits this with a slight sheepishness. ] Always loved SF books, so it was unreal seeing it happen.

But, shit. Think I'd be scared in space, too.

[He may not detect the scent change consciously, but he can hear the purring. Jean-Paul is learning to read all these small cues. He keeps petting, pleased.]

I think that's cool. People shouldn't be ashamed of their ambitions.

You know, people think you are not scared of anyt'ing.

I'm just good at bluffing. [ That, and people tend to need someone who isn't scared of anything. He's not fearless in the least, he doesn't think; he's just good at focusing on things other than the fear, remembering what he has to do, only focusing on what's important.

Logan's head drops a bit, cheek nuzzling gently against Jean-Paul's hair. ]

Think the kids feel better thinking they got someone fearless on their side, too.

Ouais, you are. Not as good as me, but pretty good.

[That gets him to move to kiss Logan's neck.]

Mmm. Ouais. Kids are dumb, but I'm glad - they deserve to feel safe.

[ The kiss is pleasant-- sweet without making any especially unbearable heat. The jellyfish on his screen consumes its prey and rapidly digests it, but all Logan feels is some vague approximation of "fluttery" and "nice". ]

Should teach me to bluff better.

Non. You'd be too cold if you were like me.

[He exhales, long and slow, letting tension leave his body. He's always wound up pretty tight if he's not doing something physical.]

Mm. [ Logan turns, kissing the top of Jean-Paul's head. ] You got your own warmth.

Least you do to me.

[He kisses Logan's neck again.]

Well.... ouais. But you're special. Try to remember that when we get into a fight, which we will.

[ He huffs a small 'heh', shaking his head. ] I'd rather fight than pretend things're okay.

[ The arm that'd been connected to Jean-Paul's untangles itself to wrap around his waist and tug him closer. ]

The day lying's an easier option than telling the truth is when we bail.

[ Another pretty jellyfish flits across as the narrator explains its day-to-day. Logan smiles again, but hides it behind a mouthful of Sprite. ]

Good. Because I don't lie. It's a waste of time.

[He's pressed tight against Logan, hand still on his chest.]

I'm not particularly good at hiding my annoyance. You've probably noticed. [Yeah, JP, way to state the obvious.

He looks up, and grins.]

You really fucking love these jellyfish. I'll buy you a tank someday.

[ Logan nearly spits some Sprite out, a surprised little laugh in his throat. ] Where the hell am I gonna put a tank, darlin'? [ His room isn't that big, he doesn't think, and it'd have to be in the space between his desk and his bed, which isn't really as remarkable as you'd think. ]

I love all animals. You gonna buy me a whole ecosystem?

[A Gallic shrug.] I'd get you a bigger place so you'd have room. [As if this were the obvious and not at all ridiculous solution.]

If you wanted. [The hand on his chest stops petting to lightly skate over his nipples.] I said I'd spoil you. I am not sure why you don't think this would not extend to OUTSIDE the bedroom.

[ No, he's sensitive...

Logan's breathing changes just slightly, and he drinks the rest of his second can before setting its empty shell by the first one. ]

I don't want anything. [ Truthfully, honestly, he can't even think of one right now. The jellyfish documentary's almost over, and seeing schools of them all swimming so close to each other makes him grin just as much as Jean-Paul's ridiculousness does. ]

You already got me Sprite. And you're here.

I'm good, Johnny.

[Jean-Paul laughs softly.] My simple man. Logan, you have no idea how refreshing you are.

[Onscreen, the jellyfish swim, otherworldly and delicate.]

Maybe you just like t'ings that light up. Jellyfish, me... you like fireworks? Maybe laser pointers, mon minou? [He keeps petting him as he talks.]

Fireworks are too loud. [ The purring continues, and continues until the pictures are gone and the credits start rolling. Logan, probably unsurprisingly, doesn't stop watching, presumably to read everything that comes up on screen until the video ends naturally. ]

And if you're makin' a joke about me chasin' a laser pointer like a cat, we're gonna have our first real fight.

[ He's joking. His posture's too relaxed, purring too loud, scent too sweet, for that to sound like a real threat.

And he kisses Jean-Paul's hair again, fondly. That's not what angry people do. ]

I thought you might say that.

[Jean-Paul lacks the patience for credits. He picks up the laptop and puts it aside, near the empty Sprite cans. He rolls, perching neatly on top of Logan, hands folded on the other man's chest. Nevermind Logan being catlike - JP looks like a particularly satisfied one.]

Allo.

[ Jean-Paul might not be particularly heavy, but Logan's letting out a little huff as he sinks into the mattress, anyway.

Good-naturedly, he shoots back, ] What?

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i'm googling deep sea creatures now and regretting everything tbh

Look at goblin sharks

THOSE ARE THE WORST ONES FUCK OFF

aaahaahahaaaa!!

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