Hannibal's house, late Tuesday

[sharp_as_knives]

Jono had seemed...distracted lately, and anxious. Hannibal might have thought it was related to their recent discussions, except that it was more unfocused and clearly not directed at him.

So, Hannibal had a devious plan this evening. He'd set aside everything that he would need, except for the last thing - Jono. He headed back down to the den to retrieve that.


[OOC: Jono modded by permission! For him that's mentioned.]

Comments

[furnaceface]

By the time Hannibal made it back down, Jono was entertaining himself - or, more accurately, distracting himself - by dangling a shoelace in front of the cats. Sure, he'd taken it out of his own boot. He wasn't wearing it right now, boots didn't need to be laced if they weren't actually on one's feet. But Joni, at least, seemed to be going nuts over it.

And the things he could do while a cat was intent on just catching the thing were amusing, at least.

... Like seeing how many circles he could get her to spin in before she gave up. Cats were amusing.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal watched for a moment as Joni danced around the shoelace and Beethoven tried to look unimpressed. "I can see you're terribly busy; should I come back later?"

[furnaceface]

//Nah, mate,// Jono replied, skittering the shoelace across the floor for a moment more before pulling it up out of Joni's reach. Naturally, she tried to jump up after it.

Heh. Sucker.

//I think we're good. She'll follow if she's terribly put-off by her wiggly thing walking away, I'm sure.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"In that case, may I interest you in what I have upstairs?" Hannibal asked, smirking.

[furnaceface]

//I have to admit I'm curious,// Jono replied, nodding his head a little. //You've been up there so long, I was starting to wonder if you'd gotten lost up there.//

... It was a big house!

[sharp_as_knives]

Not that big!

...well, maybe.

"I would have hated to deprive Joni of her exercise," Hannibal said. He held out a hand to help Jono up.

[furnaceface]

Jono gave Hannibal a thankful nod as he took the offered hand and pulled himself to his feet.

//She gets plenty enough of that just antagonizing Beethoven,// he noted, vaguely amused. //It's a wonder he hasn't just decided to sit on her and not let her up again.//

She was tiny enough.

[sharp_as_knives]

"It's probably best not to give him ideas." Hannibal nodded toward the cat in question, who was stalking off looking overly dignified. "Besides, I have better ones." He steered them toward the stairs.

[furnaceface]

//I'd argue that he's deaf, but that doesn't do me any good, really,// Jono allowed. //So, is this a surprise? Do I get a hint?//

He was curious!

[sharp_as_knives]

"Oh, yes," Hannibal said. "It's very secret and mysterious."

You probably had no idea what that glass of beer and bottle of massage oil on end table were for, did you, Jono? The large, soft towel spread out on the bed wasn't a clue at all, either.

[furnaceface]

//Hmm... let me think... are we spending tonight polishing the bottle collection?//

It was a lovely gesture, actually, and Jono was ... kind of touched, at that.

//Wouldn't do to have dusty bottles.//

He leaned sideways a little so that he could bump his shoulder against Hannibal's, affectionately.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course not. It's very important to keep your bottles clean." Hannibal smiled. "So, are you undressing yourself tonight, or am I helping again?"

[furnaceface]

//... You know, it'd be a cold day in Hell before I say no to an offer for you to undress me,// Jono replied, amused. //For what it's worth, my boots are already off, this time.//

Much to Joni's delight.

[sharp_as_knives]

"That does make it easier." Hannibal grinned back and kissed Jono's cheek, then led him over to the bed and curled the bottom of Jono's shirt in his hands to pull it up.

[furnaceface]

//Well, you know me,// Jono replied, lifting his arms so that Hannibal could more easily pull the shirt up over his head, //always aiming to accommodate...//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Very accommodating." Hannibal slid the shirt off and folded it on the nearest chair. He took a moment to enjoy the sight of Jono before reaching for his trousers.

[furnaceface]

Jono shifted his weight, again to be more accommodating, and gave Hannibal a little smile.

//Looks like you're going to be winning all of the Partner Points today,// he noted, aiming for a teasing tone, and managing at least an impressive 'tired and pleasantly surprised.' //Beer and a massage? If I'm not careful, I'm going to start falling behind on this completely arbitrary grading system I just made up.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "You'll have to find some way of making it up to me." He slid Jono's trousers off and smirked up at him. "I am open to suggestions."

[furnaceface]

//As am I,// Jono admitted. //I suppose I'll have to get creative.//

Creativity was difficult when there was a general, lurking sense of wrong constantly lingering at the edges of his senses. He could work around it most of the time, but it only seemed to be getting worse every day.

He reached to run his fingers through Hannibal's hair, though, and sent him a soft pulse of appreciation.

//We still haven't taken that trip to London,// he noted. //Perhaps I'll have to plan something special for while we're there.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal turned to kiss Jono's palm, humming in approval. "More special than the trip itself?" He tugged at the end of Jono's bandages to free it.

[furnaceface]

//There are plenty of things more special than London,// Jono replied. //Trust me, I've lived there. But if you know what to look for, there's a wealth of things to be experienced there, beyond the shopping and the symphony...//

Some of them could probably be enjoyed without ever leaving the hotel!

... Jono wasn't exactly tourist material.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I've spent some time there myself," Hannibal answered. "But it's still got its charms."

He started slowly but systematically unwrapping Jono.

[furnaceface]

//Oh, there are probably a few good things to come out of London,// Jono agreed. //Two or three, bare minimum...//

He looked downward quietly as Hannibal's hands worked over his wrappings. There was a sort of silent fascination to be had there. There always was, when it came to undressing Jonothon so thoroughly. Especially once the first gaps began to appear in his wrappings, and the fire came spilling free.

He was always waiting for a flinch.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal wasn't in the habit of flinching at beauty, no matter how intense. And Jono hadn't flinched - not for good - at what Hannibal was made of, which was every bit as common.

Hannibal just kept going.

[furnaceface]

Jono watched quietly until the last of the leather holding his flames in fell away, and then he looked up again at Hannibal, fire tousling his hair and a soft look in otherwise white eyes.

//I feel like I ought to be insisting that we be dressed to match.//

It would make for an interesting massage.