Pacific Princess, room 102, Thursday afternoon/evening

[sharp_as_knives]

Their discussion at the theater was getting private enough that retiring to their room had sounded like a good idea. The boat was half empty at the moment, a good number of the guests on shore and most of the rest outside on deck.

Hannibal sat on the edge of the bed and watched Jono. "Would you like to start?"

Comments

[furnaceface]

//That works for me, I think,// Jono replied, rubbing awkwardly at the back of his neck. //Communication is important anyway. Of course we'd talk about it, presumably even if we did both agree to keeping one-nighters with women on the table.//

That was possibly the most coherent thought he'd managed to piece together without berating himself, tonight.

[sharp_as_knives]

That meant he was making progress! "We would," Hannibal agreed.

[furnaceface]

//Good. Good. I... Huh.//

... Yeah, Jono had that slightly bewildered look about him again. He wasn't completely certain how this had happened, considering it had started with him playing the 'I'm totally not feeling bitter toward that pretty woman over there for no sane reason' game.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal had a somewhat better idea of how it had happened, and right now he was patiently waiting to see if Jono had any questions for him, and not at all smirking.

[furnaceface]

Jono did, of course. A whole lot of them, actually, but all of those were going to have to go on hold for a moment, because, so help him...

//You're enjoying this.//

Because Jono needed to say that. Mostly not at all sulkily, really.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Just a bit," Hannibal confessed, grinning. "You really are terribly adorable."

[furnaceface]

//I...// Jono had no idea what to say to that, so he sat there for a moment more with his eyes wide, before ducking his head all over again. Which... was probably no less adorable. //Bloody hell, Hannibal.//

Adorable. C'mon! Jonothon didn't do adorable!

With the possible exception of right this very moment.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal laughed openly. "So, would you care to make this more than hypothetical?" he asked. "You can still say no."

[furnaceface]

No would have been such a safe answer. No meant no feelings hurt, he could deal with whatever that had been back in the gallery and they could get on with their respective lives as good friends and maybe the occasional 'with benefits' addendum.

That deep-down part of Jonothon who was terrified of commitment and being hurt and all of this blowing up in his face was insisting that this situation was as good a time for 'no' as any.

Jonothon nodded his head.

//I would care to. Very much, I think.//

That deep-down part of Jonothon could go get stuffed.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal was very proud. Jono was standing up and taking something that he wanted. Even if (especially if?) that something was a relationship with him.

No would have been a safer answer for a number of reasons.

"Then we will." Hannibal smiled and got up to wrap his arms around Jono. "Although I should warn you, I have no intention of calling you my boyfriend. Neither of us is a boy; there must be a better word."

[furnaceface]

//There are absolutely better words,// Jono agreed, stepping into the hug, content to just stand there like that for a moment. //I've got enough memories of boyhood to last three lifetimes, I'm about ready for something a little more mature. Partner?//

Did partner sound detached? Impartial? Jono really had no clue. He'd never really had a relationship that didn't start in high school.

[sharp_as_knives]

To Hannibal it sounded equal. And fairly permanent. He wasn't at all certain how adept he'd be at either. But he never started anything he didn't think he had a chance of being good at.

"Partner sounds much better."

[furnaceface]

Jono kind of sucked at permanent, too, when all was said and done. But if Hannibal seemed game for it, maybe there was a fighting chance.

Yeah, Jono was judging a lot of how insane this was by whether or not Hannibal thought it was worth his time. He knew how the man felt about trying things he didn't think he'd be excellent at.

//I mean,// he leaned back a little to look at Hannibal, //unless you can come up with something that you think fits better? But 'that guy I'm seeing' is a bit of a mouthful to say all the time, even for me.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"It is," Hannibal agreed. "'Lover' tells people a bit more than they need to hear, 'manfriend' sounds extremely awkward, and I never have particularly cared for 'significant other'. 'Paramour'? 'Leman'? 'Beau'?"

Feel free to stop him any time, Jono.

[furnaceface]

//Those are all quite... French,// Jono observed, blinking. //Paramour sounds like we're about to get swept up in some great epic romance with sweeping orchestrals in the background and a striking palette that was actually painted in some thirty years after it was all caught on film. Possibly horses. I never did get along with horses. Beau could be okay, though. It sounds more...//

He picked at a few words for that one before he settled on, //cozy?//

Beau sounded like a very cuddly sort of relationship, to Jono.

[sharp_as_knives]

Probably because it was a popular name for dogs.

"Good lord," Hannibal said, laughing, "you weren't supposed to agree with any of those!"

[furnaceface]

Oh, the relief on Jonothon's face there was crystal clear.

//Thank god. I was really only sort-of agreeing with beau because it was the least offensive of the lot.//

Seriously, Hannibal. He could kiss you. Er. If only he could kiss you.

[sharp_as_knives]

Someday!

Hannibal chuckled and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "'Partner' it is, then. Now, I believe I promised you a beer?"

[furnaceface]

//After 'beau,' I think I could use one,// Jono decided, nodding his head a little. //I think now would be an excellent time for that.//

See? It would help him feel better, since he'd been so needlessly terrified!

[sharp_as_knives]

"Una cerveza, con gusto."

Hannibal could see that terror.