Hannibal's house, Thursday

[sharp_as_knives]

Well, radio this morning had certainly been...interesting. Hannibal was torn between going to a deserted beach somewhere warm until this was over, and talking to as many people as possible. Maybe even Anakin.

He decided to start with breakfast, though. With actual pork sausage, just in case.


[OOC: Open post! Because I couldn't not give folks the chance. *G*]

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[furnaceface]

Jono had been sleeping off the effects of taxing his brain over the last few months for the past couple of days, but he'd been up today anyway to set up Karla's classroom, and he wasn't quite aware that anything was off, just yet. Which meant, hey, might as well go and visit Hannibal, since he was up anyway, right?

And so, here he came, knock-knocking on Hannibal's door. Which could not possibly end poorly, right?

[sharp_as_knives]

Of course not!

Hannibal opened the door and smiled. "Jono. Please come in. You look better rested than you have in months."

[furnaceface]

//I should hope I do,// Jono replied, giving Hannibal a little nod hello as he stepped inside. //After the baby was born, I took off, got as far away from Glacia as possible, and with the exception of a few runs to the school to help people set up their classes, I've just been sleeping, since. More soundly than usual, I was so bloody knackered. Apparently I needed it more than I was willing to admit.//

So... desperately. He wouldn't have denied that much even without the island's help.

//How're you doing, mate?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"A little bored, but well." Which he managed just in time not to say he blamed Jono for. "I've been contemplating a dinner party. Do you think Kayla's arrival is a good enough excuse?"

[furnaceface]

//I think,// Jono replied, //given how much everybody enjoys your cooking, 'I've been contemplating a dinner party' is, on its own, more than enough to excuse throwing one, mate. And people would be thrilled to attend, too.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "I'll have to do it, then. I promised Karla waterfowl, coffee, and alcohol as celebration. And I've got a batch of beer that should be ready soon, brewed especially to spoil you."

[furnaceface]

//Well, I'm flattered,// Jono replied, reaching up and scratching at the back of his neck through his wrappings. //You know, my birthday's in July, right?//

Yes, 'just because' gestures still confused the hell out of him, sometimes.

[trigons_child]

Raven had absolutely no idea what was going on on the island today, but she just happened to pick that day to go visit Hannibal, though she had been reluctant to leave Karla and had to be chased off by some of the other Healers. She was, after all, more than a little concerned about what Jono had said he sensed in her mind, and she was worried now her demon side was manifesting in some new way. And since Hannibal had been working with her to try to get her two very different natures to co-exist, it was only natural she wanted to discuss it with him.

So there was a Raven gently tapping on Hannibal's door.

[sharp_as_knives]

Well, at least she wasn't crying "Nevermore".

Hannibal opened the door and smiled at her. "Raven. It's lovely to see you. Please, come in."

[trigons_child]

"Thank you," Raven said, stepping inside. "I was ordered to stop hovering over Karla and Kayla and to take some time for myself, so I opted to come to the island for a short time. I trust you have heard the news about the baby?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"I have, yes." Hannibal smiled back and led her to the den. "Can I get you anything to eat or drink?"

[trigons_child]

"Something does smell wonderful," Raven said, catching the scent of breakfast. "I do apologize for interrupting your breakfast, but I cannot help but be pleased that you are in the midst of preparing food, because that means I can enjoy it myself."

She blinked in confusion for a moment. She hadn't quite intended to phrase it quite that way, true as it was.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled. "I'm very often in the middle of preparing food, eating food, or cleaning up after food. And as I'm very proud of my abilities, I never mind sharing the results with a friend."

He changed course to the kitchen to get her a plate. "Please, have a seat. Coffee?"

[vdistinctive]

It'd taken Eliot all day (and a strategy-session with Sophie over the phone -- and don't think she hadn't laughed at him a fair amount, first) to decide this was an idea worth pursuing. He had theories about what it was about Hannibal that set off his radar, but there was a very distinctive lack of distinction to it all, and he wasn't about to let an opportunity like this pass him by.

And yeah, he was pretty sure he'd end up giving away more than he'd get, but it wasn't like he'd ever really bothered outright lying to Hannibal before, right?

It occurred to him as he knocked on the door that this was the first time he'd be visiting Hannibal's place when one of them wasn't injured.

Huh.

[sharp_as_knives]

To be fair, Hannibal hadn't ever bothered outright lying to Eliot, either.

He answered the door and raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Spencer. Is something wrong?"

[vdistinctive]

"You mean other than the island-wide honesty thing?" Please, it wasn't like a cover story would work right now, anyway. And Eliot wasn't going to punch a wall to have an excuse to come by.

Not that he hadn't considered it.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I heard the radio." Hannibal smirked. "I've no fondness for the dean, so I'm more amused than anything. Would you care for breakfast?" He held the door open.

One of his first instincts had been to question Anakin, after all; he could hardly fault Eliot for having a similar impulse.

[vdistinctive]

Well, at least Eliot didn't have to try to explain himself. "Already ate," Eliot said. "But thanks."

Man, he wished he had Sophie in his ear right now. He should've asked her to go on comms for him. Interrogations without violence weren't really his forte.

"What's up with you and the dean, anyway?"

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal grimaced as he waved Eliot in and led him to the living room. "There was a student last year from his world who had apparently been mixed up in some nasty business. I don't pretend to understand their political and religious systems. Someone claiming to be from the authorities came to arrest him for war crimes, and Anakin Skywalker let them."

He frowned and crossed his arms. "I don't particularly care what the boy had done; it bothers me that an adult entrusted with keeping him safe surrendered him with no concerns made for his safety. I found out about it when one of the boy's friends, who is a student of mine, told me. I offered to speak to the dean on his behalf, since I thought he'd be more likely to take an adult seriously. And I tend to be nosy." Seriously, Fandom? He hadn't needed to add that part! Sigh.

"I insinuated that his world's government might not be entirely honorable and fair. He threw me out of his office."

[furnaceface]

//Bloody compliments,// Jono muttered, following along a half-step behind. //Things would be so much more miserable without them, but at least I could go on pretending to be okay while fairly secure in my own opinions about my self-worth.//

...

//Which isn't what I wanted to say at all.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"That's because your own opinion of your self-worth is far too low." Hannibal gave him a look. "But I am determined to improve it."

Yep, very true.

[furnaceface]

//And wouldn't that be nice?// Jono sounded almost wistful at that. //I'm not certain what I've done to deserve it... But I'm game to let you try.//

[sharp_as_knives]

You weren't sure why you deserved to have your self-esteem improved? Hannibal was trying not to facepalm here, Jono.

"Just so long as you're willing to try."

[furnaceface]

Less his self-esteem, and more the effort from another person! Those were different things!

//I'll give it a shot. Least I can do if you're going through the trouble.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I see it less as trouble and more as a challenge." Hannibal smirked at him. "I do love a challenge, and I never take on anything I don't think I've a chance of winning."