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This fic may or may not exist because I have developed an obsession with crocheted jellyfish. Also, thanks to Lunatic19 (on AO3) for informing me that glow-in-the-dark yarn is a thing, since the newest member of my jellyfish pile is now a glowing ghost jelly.

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It was a relatively normal day for Thomas and the sides, though there was one particular thing that, while not particularly concerning, just seemed to be a tiny bit strange.

For the past week or so, Thomas had gained a sudden strong interest in jellyfish, of all creatures. Which wasn't strange in itself, he loved animals after all, but it was more the nature of the interest. He didn't particularly want to learn about them or their habitat or anything, and he hadn't found himself googling things or scrolling down Wikipedia like he usually would when something like this struck him. No- this time, he just pretty much couldn't stop thinking about them and, perhaps more oddly, about how cute they were? Whenever his mind was free, his thoughts would slowly steer back toward jellyfish, for no real reason other than the sake of thinking about them, it seemed.

The nature of the thoughts didn't really seem to be quite like Logan's influence, but even still, he thought he'd ask about it.

"Hey, Logan?" he called out.

"Yes, what is it, Thomas?" the side asked as he rose up, adjusting his tie. "Do you need help figuring out another dilemma?"

"Uh, no, not really," Thomas replied. "I was just wondering if you wanted me to look into jellyfish for some reason?"

"Jellyfish?" Logan spoke questioningly. "No, I don't believe I have. Though I am always a supporter of you taking an interest in academic pursuits, I haven't had reason to suggest you learn about jellyfish specifically."

"Yeah, I figured," Thomas sighed thoughtfully. "It's just weird. I can't stop thinking about jellyfish for some reason but I also haven't felt like actually learning about them?"

"Well, that's odd…," Logan agreed. "Perhaps Remus is involved? It's a lot more mild than his usual affect on your intrusive thoughts, but jellyfish do seem like they'd be his kind of thing. He has been in a rather good mood lately."

"Maybe?" Thomas shrugged. "It doesn't really seem to fit him either, but it wouldn't hurt to ask, I guess… Hey, Remus, can we ask you something real quick?"

Within a second, Remus appeared, standing right in front of Thomas instead of in front of the vacant spot in front of the television. He was way too close, so Thomas had to take a step back.

"Hey there, Tommy~!" Remus greeted. "Why'd you call me? Wanna ~shake things up~?"

"… Uuuuuum, I don't think so?" Thomas responded uncertainly, not quite sure what exactly Remus had in mind. "I just wanted to ask if you've been making me think of jellyfish for some reason?"

At this, Remus let out a sudden chuckle.

"Hm, betting your thoughts right now are a bit too tame for my usual taste, eh, Tommy-o?" he asked with a strange grin.

Thomas felt like Remus was laughing at some kind of joke only he knew.

"Well yeah, that's why I'm just a little confused," Thomas agreed.

Remus began rocking on his heels.

"As much as I ~love~ distracting you, Thomas, this one's not on me," he told him. "But I could give you some nice little ideas about tentacles and stingers if you want~?"

"Uh. No, that's fine, Remus."

"Suit yourself," Remus replied with a shrug. "But yeah, I'm not the sudden jellyfish fanatic. I think you're looking for someone a little more… scaley."

Thomas blinked.

"Wait, you're telling me Janus is making me think about jellyfish this much?"

"Yup!"

"… Why…?"

"Hm, that's rather strange," Logan commented. "Janus usually doesn't have influence over your thoughts in that way."

"Eh, well, it'd be pretty coincidental for Ro-Bro to also be obsessed with jellyfish right now," Remus pointed out with a shrug. "And I know it's not Patty or Emo."

"I wasn't arguing with you," Logan pointed out. "I was merely commenting on the abnormality of the situation. Janus usually influences Thomas's thoughts when it involves his selfish desires or lying. Thomas was right in thinking that something like this would usually be the influence of either me or you, possibly Roman."

"Okay, but you haven't seen Janny's room lately."

"What does that-?"

"You called?"

Suddenly, Janus appeared, standing in Patton's typical spot.

"Oopsie~ Looks like Mommy caught us!" Remus exclaimed.

Janus raised an eyebrow.

"Remus, never call me that again," he demanded. "But do you need something, Thomas? I thought I heard you all calling me."

"Oh. Well…"

While Thomas fumbled awkwardly, Logan turned to face the other man.

"Apologies, Janus," he spoke. "We were briefly discussing you but did not mean to summon you."

Janus's eyebrow raised itself higher.

"You were talking about me behind my back?"

"Wait, no, not like that!" Thomas denied, putting his hands up.

"I wasn't really being serious, Thomas. No need to worry," Janus responded, putting up one of his own hands. "But is there a reason you're all talking about me?"

"Tommy here was wondering why he keeps thinking about jellyfish," Remus answered.

Janus blinked, making a face briefly.

"Oh. That."

Thomas could see Janus's human half of his face grow the slightest bit red.

"Apologies, Thomas, I didn't realize it was influencing your thoughts."

"It's… fine. It's not causing any trouble, I was just wondering since it seemed unusual," Thomas explained. "I didn't know you were that into jellyfish, though."

Janus crossed his arms.

"I'm… not," he said. "Or at least, I haven't been. Until recently?"

"He's been crocheting jellyfish almost non-stop for days," Remus chimed in.

"Days?" Thomas questioned. "How many jellyfish have you made, exactly?"

Janus's face grew redder.

"… At least nine?" he told the man. "… Maybe more?"

"Oh. That's a lot of jellyfish."

"It is."

"Why jellyfish, though?"

Janus tapped a finger against his arm.

"Frankly," he began. "I have no idea."

"You don't?"

"I just made the one, and then I couldn't stop," Janus explained. "I mean… There's just something about them."

"What?"

Janus sighed, waving his hand to summon up one of the new stuffed toys.

"I mean- look at it," Janus requested. "It's just- something about the face and the curly tentacles is just… really… cute…"

Janus started trailing off toward the end, his face growing hotter, even though everyone had already known how much Janus liked his stuffed animals.

"Anyway, I'm not even sure why exactly I like this particular pattern so much. I just do," Janus huffed. "I'm sure I'll tire of it eventually, and I don't intend to let it keep me from doing my job."

"I know you won't," Thomas assured him. "But aren't snakes more of your thing usually?"

"Usually, yes. But right now, it's jellyfish."

"Oooooo, I can conjure up a potion that could make you become half jellyfish instead of half snake!" Remus offered excitedly. "But it might end up making you half jellyfish and half snake instead of half human."

"That's alright, Remus," Janus denied. "Changing my species would be a bit extreme for a short-term interest."

"Okey dokey."

"Hold on. What's the green thing on top of that jellyfish?"

"… A leaf."

"… Janus, is that supposed to be an apple jellyfish?"

"… Perhaps."

"Oh my god," Thomas said, his voice pitching higher. "It makes sense now."

At this, Janus coughed into his fist a bit awkwardly, sending the jellyfish back to his room.

"Right. Well. If that's all, I think I'll get going, then."

"Alright, see you later, buddy."

"Bye DeeDee!"

"Goodbye, Janus."

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A few weeks later, the occupants of the mindscape awoke to the sound of Virgil's lovely voice screaming at 2 in the morning:

"JANUS, WHY THE HELL IS THE ENTIRE MIND PALACE COVERED IN JELLYFISH?!"

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… The apple jellyfish may or may not be real (as a mini version), and may or may not live on my ID lanyard…

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