Hannibal's house, Sunday

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal was enjoying a nice, quiet day at home. He'd had a few too many of those lately, but since someone (Jono) had decided that his hobby gave them extra work, he was indulging in other ways; at the moment, he was composing on theremin.

Classes started tomorrow, so hopefully things would pick up a bit.


[OOC: Open post!]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

"A tradition with a very long history," Hannibal answered. "All the better to convert others to your way of thinking." He stroked Jono's neck, more calming than medicinal, though there was a bit of darkness in his own voice, too. "God is a convenient tool to kill children with."

[furnaceface]

//And then people wonder why I don't have the time of day for him,// Jono mumbled, leaning back a little more, tilting his head to the side to give Hannibal better access to that part of his neck that actually had flesh underneath the bandages. //Or for most people. Damn, but humanity is exhausting.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Spoken like a true cynic. Or an introvert," Hannibal teased gently. He rubbed Jono's neck as suggested. "Or an insomniac."

[furnaceface]

//Or all of the above,// Jono allowed. //I'm going to take all the time off ever, soon. Maybe I'll move to a remote island somewhere. Without people. Most people. Some people can come along. Keep doing that, and you're invited to my hypothetical island.//

It would be the best of islands. The best.

[sharp_as_knives]

"We are already on an island," Hannibal pointed out. "And my front door seems to keep most people out."

He kept doing it regardless.

[furnaceface]

//Maybe a better island this time,// Jono murmured. //One that doesn't want to kill us every other month...//

Wishful thinking, Jono. People who wore an X just had really crappy luck with islands. It was science.

//Here's good too, though.//

[sharp_as_knives]

To be fair, people who wore an X seemed to have crappy luck with just about everywhere.

"Good." Hannibal massaged Jono's temples a bit more. "How is your head now?"

[furnaceface]

//Much improved,// Jono replied, glancing back to look at Hannibal again. //Thank you.//

... Yeah, he could have done that himself. But letting Hannibal do it for him was much better.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal certainly didn't mind, either. "You're very welcome." He put the cream away and wiped his hands on a towel he'd brought, then put one hand back in Jono's hair. "Try to make it last."

At least until Karla found out about things.

[furnaceface]

//At least until I teach on Friday,// Jono promised. //No guarantees from there.//

Because Fandom High students. Really.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Hopefully the introductions will at least go well."

[furnaceface]

//If we get through the week without any students setting any other students on fire or dragging them away somewhere, I think we've still got a chance to salvage it,// Jonothon decided. //If we don't, that's it, I'm burning down the ruddy school.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Let's hope that isn't needed, then." Hannibal shook his head. "Although with Johnny Storm, you can never be certain."

[furnaceface]

//Well, yes, but that's really a given no matter which Johnny Storm you're talking about,// Jono mused. And then shook his head, content to just sit there on the floor for a little while longer. //Deliberately, then. Not while showing off in some ridiculous hormone-driven flirtation gone horribly awry.//

Said the guy who once blew up an entire dormitory building because a drunk girl tried to kiss him.

[sharp_as_knives]

Paige had been so bad for you, Jono.

And for the school's architecture.

"So far we seem to have had few truly destructive students. When they're themselves."

[furnaceface]

//At least not ones that actually mean any harm,// Jono agreed. Because, again, oops, the Massachusetts Academy had really missed that building.

Ish.

For their seven, eight, ten students, depending on when you looked at the team. Yep. Huge loss.

//Let's hope that trend keeps up, no matter what the first impressions I got from some of the new ones have been like.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Hopefully the delightful Cassandra will mellow," Hannibal answered. And if not, there were always sedatives.

[furnaceface]

Jono only wished it was appropriate to sedate the students, sometimes.

//Fingers crossed,// he replied. //If nothing else, the first time the island goes bloody insane might knock some sense in her. Or push her over the edge, I suppose. Either way, here's hoping it's a problem that sorts itself out from there.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"The island does have a way of doing that."

The only time Hannibal had resorted to sedatives was the opiate tea he'd served when that pollen had his students half out of their skins. He considered it a public service.

[furnaceface]

During pollen weeks, it practically was.

//Sometimes, I'm sincerely surprised to find myself thankful for that.//

What was this world coming to?

[sharp_as_knives]

"Trial by fire isn't gentle, but it certainly tempers."