Shiro and Jean-Paul - Backdated to Sunday

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

Jean-Paul and Shiro hide out on Superbowl Sunday and discuss the women (not) in their lives.



The spread in Jean-Paul's suite was very much in contrast to the festivities downstairs. Instead of burgers, chips and dip, and soda (or beer for those of age), the menu consisted of vinegared vegetables, homemade sushi, and a light shrimp stir-fry with Tokaji wine as the sweet to follow. Shiro had made good on his promise to show up, and both men were relaxing on the couch, ostensibly enjoying 'Les Pacte des Loups', but doing more catching up than watching the movie.

This was the ideal way to spend Super Bowl Sunday, as far as Shiro was concerned. He popped a piece of tuna maki into his mouth and smiled. "So now she has decided to be a lesbian. I thought people do not simply decide such matters."

"It was a surprise to me as well. I thought she was joking until I read further down the entries. I tried to talk to her, but she insists that being with only women will make her happy." Jean-Paul shook his head. "It's not going to help with her underlying fear, I think. Bigots looking to harvest your eggs do not back off if you present your certifications as a lesbian, but maybe the illusion of security will work out for her."

"It was worth it to read her response to Gibney, and to know that she wants nothing to do with him anymore." Shiro paused. "Maybe she will take me back now."

Jean-Paul arched one eyebrow. "Not without extensive and wasteful surgery, I think."

"Details. She will return to herself eventually, and then I will have my opportunity again. Victory." Shiro ate another piece of maki in celebration of his fictitious conquest. "But enough about me. What of you? There are rumors about you and I have had the decency not to inquire further."

"All false, I assure you. I have nothing that any sane person would deem a love life. What rumors...oh." Jean-Paul cleared his throat and took a generous gulp from his glass. "That. That was also nothing that any sane person would deem a love life. And it's over now anyway."


"I am sorry to hear that." Shiro poked a shrimp awkwardly with a chopstick. "What happened? Who was he? Is intervention with fire required? I know I ask that often, but I do mean it every time."

Jean-Paul laughed softly, his cheeks taking on color that could not be blamed on the wine.

"And the sentiment is still appreciated. It was complicated..." Jean-Paul snorted. "It was pathetic. You know Morgan? The shape-shifter? I propositioned her -- the old dinner out followed by a one night stand. We reached a compromise -- dinner only and hands-on privileges. No sex of any stripe. It was fun, for a while."

Shiro opened his mouth to comment, but though better or it and promptly shut his mouth. His face mirrored the shade of Jean-Paul's. But his curiosity got the better of him, and he asked the simple question: "Why?"

"So many answers to that one. 'Because I was lonely', 'because she was bored', 'because sometimes you just need to touch someone or go insane' and 'because I am an idiot' probably cover most of the bases, though."

Thoughts of Jay Guthrie at the nightclub passed through Shiro's head, and he couldn't help but shiver. "I . . . can understand that, I suppose. Why did it end? I gathered that you are friends, and close ones." He put his plate down and picked up the beer that had as yet gone untouched, finding that it felt better then.

"We didn't spend much time alone together when Morgan was wearing a male skin." So much easier to talk about it if he kept detached and didn't use names. "She...he showed up at my door one evening with dinner and wine. I got half-drunk and when he stretched out on top of me..." Jean-Paul sighed. He didn't even know why he was confessing this. "Most of me forgot that she was anything other than a very attractive man. I asked for some space before I embarrassed myself, she got upset, we argued, she walked out." Jean-Paul shrugged. "That is all of it."

"Women." It came out almost like a slur. "If she is going to pretend to be a man then she should know that men just . . ." Shiro raised the bottle to his lips to shut himself up. Like he knew anything about such things himself.

"I suppose we should have defined the rules of the relationship more exactly." Jean-Paul quirked a smile to go with his lies. "I am fine with it. It was fun while it lasted, non? And the last woman to get fed up with me left scars before she walked out. I'm getting better at this."

"Have you ever considered removing women from your life entirely? You seem to have the worst interactions with them. And if I am the one to say that, then you must have a problem."

A shrug from the speedster as he leaned more heavily into the cushions. "Experience says that it is less the fault of women and simply the fact that I tend to grate on the nerves after a time. Notice that I am not exactly besieged by admirers of either sex. And that is not a complaint! I prefer a few people I can trust to a flock of vultures."

"You have not yet grated on my nerves," Shiro offered. Which, in his mind, was a compliment of the highest caliber. "For whatever that is worth. I do not have a flock of anything myself, either."

"We are better off for it, " The speedster raised his glass slightly. "It means we get to be anti-social, eat well, and act better than everyone else without getting called on it."

Comments

[x-wildchild.livejournal.com]

Kyle would like to point out that Clarice seemed perfectly happy to be his friend, she just doesn't want him in a naked-time sort of way, which is fine since he's dating Jan now.