Lex & Jean-Paul, Wednesday Afternoon
Feb. 3rd, 2010 02:58 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsLex and Jean-Paul collide, then discuss Lex's status as Morgan's 'little, electric friend.'
It was easier to avoid people when he was outside than when he was in. Jean-Paul had understood that before, of course, but the difference between knowing intellectually and having incontrovertible evidence was stark. He couldn't walk down a hallway without running into someone - literally, half the time. The other half of the time, he attempted to hide in his suite only to fail. Either that, or he got cornered while leaving the kitchen.
Of course, the fatal flaw in his logic here was that flying through the woods... left him open to attack. Attack by pesky little creatures with bushy tails and disturbingly good aim. Especially considering their chosen missiles were pine cones.
Jean-Paul came away from the experience bearing several small scratches and having decided that he would avoid that particular stretch of woods for the remainder of his tenure at the mansion. Rubbing at his temple as he slipped inside the main building, he checked his fingers to see if they'd come away bloody. Not there, but he knew the back of his neck had been hit particularly hard before he'd managed his escape.
Lex ran down the stairs without paying much attention to where he was heading. He needed to get out of his room for a bit, get some fresh air before he went nuts. Training was wearing on him and he needed to blow off some excess energy, without going to the Danger Room. The quarry seemed like his best bet.
Hitting the flat of the first floor, he ran straight into a man roughly his size and reeled in surprise and anguish. "Damn, son of a..." he muttered under his breath.
Jean-Paul hissed softly under his breath, frowning as he rubbed at his arm. This - this was why he had decided to stay outside. But then the squirrel attacked and... he supposed he would find no peace, at least not today. "Apologies," he said, attempting to ignore the stinging of the scratches from the pine cones on the back of his head.
"My fault, not yours," Lex hissed through gritted teeth. He didn't believe it, but he knew it was only polite to offer apologies to the residents. They seemed to be rather touchy sometimes. Looking at the other man he realized he hadn't talked to him since shortly after his arrival at the mansion. "Um... Sorry," he said flatly, forcing his way to his feet.
"Non," Jean-Paul replied, offering the man a hand up. "I have not been paying so much attention as I should. It is becoming a bad habit." This was not the first or even the third time he'd collided with someone. Perhaps staying somewhere like the roof, away from trees and other people, might be a good idea.
"That makes one for both of us. My head's been in the clouds recently. Between the polar opposites of my work and personal life these past two weeks have been crazy." He stretched his neck and then laughed, "It's been quite a long time. How've you been?"
How had he been?
Jean-Paul paused at that for a moment, considering, and then shrugged. He gave the same answer he always gave when people asked. "Fine, merci." Then he tried to piece the memories that he needed back together so that he could figure out where he knew the man from. "Ah - Lex, yes?" They were falling into place easily enough - this time. "And you? Aside from having people run you down, of course? This work, it is not so bad? It is the opposites that cause the trouble, oui?"
"That would be me," he said with a growing smile, the man seemed in a much better disposition than the last time they'd spoken. It was probably because he wasn't hitting on the man's sister. "And your sister's safe," he said with a sly grin, "I'm spoken for." He really needed to learn to shut up sometimes.
"Spoken for?" Jean-Paul asked, brows rising a little, the next, logical question left unspoken. He left the issue of his sister unaddressed, since the memories he had of their last encounter cut off before the end.
"Yeah, I've been seeing someone for a while, and I asked her out a little while ago." Lex laughed softly, he hadn't thought he'd try to keep it a secret, but he realized he didn't feel the need to elaborate it to anyone. It was between him and Vanessa, Jay knew of course but that was just because Lex needed someone he could trust.
"Congratulations," Jean-Paul said, smiling a little. "Does the lady in question have a name?" The scratches on the back of his neck were stinging again, but he ignored them. This, at least, was a distraction that didn't involve him completely exhausting himself or sending people staggering backward into walls with the power of his mind... or whatever it was that caused the concussive blasts to go off.
"Of course. Sorry, it's Morgan," he said with a smile. He would have called her Vanessa but he wasn't quite sure if she wanted him to use that name to everyone so he figured he'd keep with Morgan till she said otherwise. At the thought of her, his pupils dilated slightly and he thought about when he'd see her next.
One brow going up, Jean-Paul asked, "Morgan Lennox?" Then he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Can you short circuit the electric locks on doors?"
Lex mimicked the other man's movements as he was brought out of his reverie. "Um, I can do more than that, but yes I can short almost anything electric." He paused for a moment before realizing the man hadn't assumed it was Morgan Lennox. "Do you know any other Morgans?"
"Non, but I have not been here for many months," Jean-Paul replied, assessing the man anew. "There could be others that I do not know." Which wasn't really the point at all. He considered things for a moment, then said, "You are her Tiny Carrot Vibrator Boy, then." Jean-Paul wasn't sure he approved, but he was also pretty sure his opinion didn't count for much... and he didn't actually know enough for it to be allowed to, anyway.
"Her what?" Lex said, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He didn't have a problem with her calling him names, but if others were going to start making things up he might have a real problem. Nevertheless, it was a very humorous nickname. "I guess that's one way of putting it."
The corners of his lips twitching a little despite himself, Jean-Paul repeated, "Tiny Carrot Vibrator Boy." He wasn't sure that he could adequately explain the circumstances that had led to the development of that name, but he wasn't particularly interested in trying, either. "Things are going well for you two, oui?" If the expression on the younger man's face had been any indication, things were going very well, indeed. That could have been the honeymoon phase, though, and that never lasted.
Lex noticed the other man's expression but it did not register. "Yes," he said simply, he didn't kiss and tell. Letting the smile return to his face he made a friendly gesture with his hand. "It's not been very long, but it seems to be going very well."
"Bon," Jean-Paul said. He paused again, then said, expression entirely serious now, "Because if you hurt her, she has people who will kill you. Not I, I do not do those things, but once her friends have taken you apart and spread your remains to the four corners of the world, I will step on your innards with the heel of my boot. You will not feel it, but it will give me great satisfaction." After another moment, he said, "Not as much satisfaction as seeing her happy would make me, but still. Satisfaction of a kind."
With an equal serious, Lex looked deep into the other man's eyes. His mouth twitched once. "I don't intend on hurting her, and I am fully aware of how terrible it would be if I did. Intentionally or not. Do not bother threatening me. I want nothing more than for her to be happy." He quirked a weary smirk. It seemed like he was going to be hearing similar speeches from anyone close to her, and the best he could do was take them as they came.
"Oh, I am not threatening you," Jean-Paul said, giving the other man a smile. "I would simply step on the sad bits that were left of you once the truly dangerous people had had their own revenge, you see? I am really no threat at all. I simply move very fast."
"So I remember." He reached out a hand, "I think we understand one another then." If they didn't it wouldn't matter all that much. He just needed to stop over thinking everything. It would work out, or he'd end up getting annihilated by her friends. Those were the two options, simple as that.
"Oui," Jean-Paul said, shaking the other man's hand. "Also, please do not short circuit my door if she asks you to. It is likely that I am not there, but she is persistent and I like being able to keep people out."
"I'm not going to argue with that. Though I'm not sure how much say I'd have in the matter. She can be extremely persuasive at times." Lex laughed as he thought of her pinning him to the wall. She would have her way, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Merci," Jean-Paul said, snorting softly. "I can ask for nothing more, I think." Raising his hand, he rubbed at the back of his head again. "Avoid the trees. There are squirrels there. And they have very good aim."
"I'll keep an eye out." He made to move past the man, and then decided to throw one last thought in, "I'm not a good guy, but I think I'm good for her." He didn't wait for the other man to respond but instead moved towards the door. It was a striking thought, but one he was willing to stand by.
Jean-Paul considered that for a moment before backing his way out of the hallway lest he run into anyone else. He hovered for a moment before deciding to fly over the buildings to his room. He might run into another flier, but the chances were slim - he hoped - and his window was open still.
It was easier to avoid people when he was outside than when he was in. Jean-Paul had understood that before, of course, but the difference between knowing intellectually and having incontrovertible evidence was stark. He couldn't walk down a hallway without running into someone - literally, half the time. The other half of the time, he attempted to hide in his suite only to fail. Either that, or he got cornered while leaving the kitchen.
Of course, the fatal flaw in his logic here was that flying through the woods... left him open to attack. Attack by pesky little creatures with bushy tails and disturbingly good aim. Especially considering their chosen missiles were pine cones.
Jean-Paul came away from the experience bearing several small scratches and having decided that he would avoid that particular stretch of woods for the remainder of his tenure at the mansion. Rubbing at his temple as he slipped inside the main building, he checked his fingers to see if they'd come away bloody. Not there, but he knew the back of his neck had been hit particularly hard before he'd managed his escape.
Lex ran down the stairs without paying much attention to where he was heading. He needed to get out of his room for a bit, get some fresh air before he went nuts. Training was wearing on him and he needed to blow off some excess energy, without going to the Danger Room. The quarry seemed like his best bet.
Hitting the flat of the first floor, he ran straight into a man roughly his size and reeled in surprise and anguish. "Damn, son of a..." he muttered under his breath.
Jean-Paul hissed softly under his breath, frowning as he rubbed at his arm. This - this was why he had decided to stay outside. But then the squirrel attacked and... he supposed he would find no peace, at least not today. "Apologies," he said, attempting to ignore the stinging of the scratches from the pine cones on the back of his head.
"My fault, not yours," Lex hissed through gritted teeth. He didn't believe it, but he knew it was only polite to offer apologies to the residents. They seemed to be rather touchy sometimes. Looking at the other man he realized he hadn't talked to him since shortly after his arrival at the mansion. "Um... Sorry," he said flatly, forcing his way to his feet.
"Non," Jean-Paul replied, offering the man a hand up. "I have not been paying so much attention as I should. It is becoming a bad habit." This was not the first or even the third time he'd collided with someone. Perhaps staying somewhere like the roof, away from trees and other people, might be a good idea.
"That makes one for both of us. My head's been in the clouds recently. Between the polar opposites of my work and personal life these past two weeks have been crazy." He stretched his neck and then laughed, "It's been quite a long time. How've you been?"
How had he been?
Jean-Paul paused at that for a moment, considering, and then shrugged. He gave the same answer he always gave when people asked. "Fine, merci." Then he tried to piece the memories that he needed back together so that he could figure out where he knew the man from. "Ah - Lex, yes?" They were falling into place easily enough - this time. "And you? Aside from having people run you down, of course? This work, it is not so bad? It is the opposites that cause the trouble, oui?"
"That would be me," he said with a growing smile, the man seemed in a much better disposition than the last time they'd spoken. It was probably because he wasn't hitting on the man's sister. "And your sister's safe," he said with a sly grin, "I'm spoken for." He really needed to learn to shut up sometimes.
"Spoken for?" Jean-Paul asked, brows rising a little, the next, logical question left unspoken. He left the issue of his sister unaddressed, since the memories he had of their last encounter cut off before the end.
"Yeah, I've been seeing someone for a while, and I asked her out a little while ago." Lex laughed softly, he hadn't thought he'd try to keep it a secret, but he realized he didn't feel the need to elaborate it to anyone. It was between him and Vanessa, Jay knew of course but that was just because Lex needed someone he could trust.
"Congratulations," Jean-Paul said, smiling a little. "Does the lady in question have a name?" The scratches on the back of his neck were stinging again, but he ignored them. This, at least, was a distraction that didn't involve him completely exhausting himself or sending people staggering backward into walls with the power of his mind... or whatever it was that caused the concussive blasts to go off.
"Of course. Sorry, it's Morgan," he said with a smile. He would have called her Vanessa but he wasn't quite sure if she wanted him to use that name to everyone so he figured he'd keep with Morgan till she said otherwise. At the thought of her, his pupils dilated slightly and he thought about when he'd see her next.
One brow going up, Jean-Paul asked, "Morgan Lennox?" Then he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Can you short circuit the electric locks on doors?"
Lex mimicked the other man's movements as he was brought out of his reverie. "Um, I can do more than that, but yes I can short almost anything electric." He paused for a moment before realizing the man hadn't assumed it was Morgan Lennox. "Do you know any other Morgans?"
"Non, but I have not been here for many months," Jean-Paul replied, assessing the man anew. "There could be others that I do not know." Which wasn't really the point at all. He considered things for a moment, then said, "You are her Tiny Carrot Vibrator Boy, then." Jean-Paul wasn't sure he approved, but he was also pretty sure his opinion didn't count for much... and he didn't actually know enough for it to be allowed to, anyway.
"Her what?" Lex said, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He didn't have a problem with her calling him names, but if others were going to start making things up he might have a real problem. Nevertheless, it was a very humorous nickname. "I guess that's one way of putting it."
The corners of his lips twitching a little despite himself, Jean-Paul repeated, "Tiny Carrot Vibrator Boy." He wasn't sure that he could adequately explain the circumstances that had led to the development of that name, but he wasn't particularly interested in trying, either. "Things are going well for you two, oui?" If the expression on the younger man's face had been any indication, things were going very well, indeed. That could have been the honeymoon phase, though, and that never lasted.
Lex noticed the other man's expression but it did not register. "Yes," he said simply, he didn't kiss and tell. Letting the smile return to his face he made a friendly gesture with his hand. "It's not been very long, but it seems to be going very well."
"Bon," Jean-Paul said. He paused again, then said, expression entirely serious now, "Because if you hurt her, she has people who will kill you. Not I, I do not do those things, but once her friends have taken you apart and spread your remains to the four corners of the world, I will step on your innards with the heel of my boot. You will not feel it, but it will give me great satisfaction." After another moment, he said, "Not as much satisfaction as seeing her happy would make me, but still. Satisfaction of a kind."
With an equal serious, Lex looked deep into the other man's eyes. His mouth twitched once. "I don't intend on hurting her, and I am fully aware of how terrible it would be if I did. Intentionally or not. Do not bother threatening me. I want nothing more than for her to be happy." He quirked a weary smirk. It seemed like he was going to be hearing similar speeches from anyone close to her, and the best he could do was take them as they came.
"Oh, I am not threatening you," Jean-Paul said, giving the other man a smile. "I would simply step on the sad bits that were left of you once the truly dangerous people had had their own revenge, you see? I am really no threat at all. I simply move very fast."
"So I remember." He reached out a hand, "I think we understand one another then." If they didn't it wouldn't matter all that much. He just needed to stop over thinking everything. It would work out, or he'd end up getting annihilated by her friends. Those were the two options, simple as that.
"Oui," Jean-Paul said, shaking the other man's hand. "Also, please do not short circuit my door if she asks you to. It is likely that I am not there, but she is persistent and I like being able to keep people out."
"I'm not going to argue with that. Though I'm not sure how much say I'd have in the matter. She can be extremely persuasive at times." Lex laughed as he thought of her pinning him to the wall. She would have her way, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Merci," Jean-Paul said, snorting softly. "I can ask for nothing more, I think." Raising his hand, he rubbed at the back of his head again. "Avoid the trees. There are squirrels there. And they have very good aim."
"I'll keep an eye out." He made to move past the man, and then decided to throw one last thought in, "I'm not a good guy, but I think I'm good for her." He didn't wait for the other man to respond but instead moved towards the door. It was a striking thought, but one he was willing to stand by.
Jean-Paul considered that for a moment before backing his way out of the hallway lest he run into anyone else. He hovered for a moment before deciding to fly over the buildings to his room. He might run into another flier, but the chances were slim - he hoped - and his window was open still.
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Date: 2010-02-05 03:44 am (UTC)