The World Overflow

[justonezero]

Nsfw threads marked accordingly.

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[deto]

[ the automatic doors slide open when they get close ]

I know. [ deto thinks yoshi is more tenacious than anyone ever expects ] Okay, stop making me want to kiss you. The date will never end then.

[ inside, it’s all clean metal and modern aesthetics; soft shopping jingles and advertisement pitches in pleasant voices. and lucky for them (yoshi), the elevators and escalators are pretty close to the entrance ]

[justonezero]

[Elevators and escalators are the real best invention of mankind. Beelining for the escalator.]

Hmmm... Maybe later, then?

[deto]

[ following dutifully, long legs keeping up with no trouble ]

Don’t tempt me. I might not let you go home.

[ they’re taking the escalator up a couple of floors since skytree town is so big ]

Though I think you’ll be pretty tired by the end of this anyway. I might have planned too much. But I was - um… excited.

[justonezero]

How much do you have planned after the aquarium?

[deto]

Just this, the gift shop after, and a late lunch around here.

[ but that’s still a lot of walking ]

[justonezero]

Should be ok!

[HE CAN MAKE IT!!]

[deto]

[ his lips twist into an amused smile, the dark of his eyes fond. it’s always that face for him ]

I believe in you. Look, there’s the entrance.

[ through the double sliding doors, all clear glass and shockingly no smudges, the blue of the aquarium shines through. various info boards point them to the main attractions of the season and just inside the inner doors is a booth for the stamp event ]

Need a moment?

[justonezero]

I'll be alright! The escalators were a good break, too.

[deto]

[ trading in their admissions tickets, paid by deto’s savings

if the attendant at the stamp booth notices them holding hands, not a word is said. a polite smile is aimed their way, stamp card handed over with a succinct explanation of the event: go to the noted exhibits, obtain a stamp of proof, profit with a surprise prize at the end! bonus points for finding the hidden stamps. sounds fun enough to deto

the bad news is that the entrance is on the 5th floor, but the exhibits start on the 6th floor, so up they go one flight of stairs, where they can find the natural aquascape - a large tank full of fish (tetras!!), shrimp, and other micro-organism

which… ]

Makes me hungry…

[justonezero]

[Yoshi wastes no time in admiring the fish, but at Deto's comment...]

Eh? Already? Maybe we should have had lunch first after all?

[deto]

Is it bad manners to crave shrimp curry when I’m watching live shrimp swim?

[ will the staff kick him out ]

I’d rather walk around with you, though.

[justonezero]

I guess... it's not like they can tell?

We can get food right after, though.

[deto]

[ as they make their way past the aquascape, the hallway darkens for the glow of hundreds of jellyfish. moon jellyfish swim beneath the glass under their feet as they walk. the signs around them also have info on the sea nettles, spotted jellies, color jellyfish, and cassiopea in various petri tanks

the vibe is ethereal, a wonder that seems out of this world and straight into a realm of glowing blue hues that feel like they shouldn’t be possible outside of a video game. deto noticeably lowers his voice into a hush as they continue to chat, a little more respectful of the atmosphere now that they’re looking at more than just shrimp ]

Shrimp remind me of food, but jellyfish aren’t like jelly at all. They’re kinda… just peaceful. Like when we wake up next to each other, this is how I feel.

[justonezero]

[His own voice goes quiet, huddling a little closer, faces lit up only by the soft glow here and there in the otherwise darker portion of the aquarium.]

...I can see what you mean. It's just... soft. Relaxed.

...But, it's still a little different. Because when I wake up next to you, it's much, much warmer.

[Not that the aquarium is particularly cold - but the blue surrounding them gives off a cool atmosphere.]

[deto]

[ in lieu of kissing him to warm them both up right this minute, deto squeezes his hand gently ]

Well, that’s true. With you, it’s always a warm morning - or afternoon, makes me look forward to the rest of the day with you. But these guys feel kinda timeless, don’t they? Like they’re waiting for something.

[justonezero]

Kind of does... Like they're floating, lost in an eternal void.

...I guess that's what's the most comfortable for them, though.

[deto]

Lost with this many? Is that the loneliest feeling in the world? Though I guess this sign says most jellyfish are lone drifters.

[justonezero]

They also don't have brains.

[Also peering at the sign.]

[deto]

… Eh?!

[ suddenly this is creepy ]

[justonezero]

See? It looks like they have a nervous system, but no centralized brain.

[Pointing at the info sign.]

[deto]

… Doesn’t… doesn’t that mean they’re zombies???

[justonezero]

-? What? They're still alive, you know.

[deto]

Zombies aren’t dead?

[justonezero]

They're undead??

[deto]

Yeah???