Hannibal's house, Monday evening

[sharp_as_knives]

With the lifting of the fog, Jono had started improving, but he was still sleeping more than an average person, never mind Jono. Hannibal had left him alone for a while - he had class, after all, and calls to contractors, and some other minor business - but when it was dinner time, he came back up to the bedroom bringing dinner on a tray: steak and kidney pie, horseradish and sour cream baked potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, and a good grenache.

"I'm not certain at this point which of us is being more spoiled, but we will have to return to the dining room eventually," he said, quirking a smile at Jono as he set the tray down.


[OOC: For him what's modded with permission!]

Comments

[furnaceface]

//Will we really?// Jono glanced up at Hannibal with a smile around the corners of his eyes. He still looked tired, but it was a far more subtle sort of fatigue, that hinted at healing instead of the steady decline that he'd been making since the whole mess on the island had started. //I know I, for one, won't ever complain about you coming up to eat. But I suppose I'll be up and about again before long, at that.//

He leaned forward a little to see what Hannibal had brought up.

...

//And the answer here is, clearly I'm the one being spoiled more.//

Clearly.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Well, it isn't every day someone recovers from being torn in half." Hannibal sat and pulled the food closer. "I made various comfort foods for my class today; it would be impolite to do any less for you." He swirled the wine in the glass and took in its aroma before sipping it. "How are you feeling?"

[furnaceface]

//Better,// Jono replied, closing his eyes and savouring the taste as it echoed along the link he strung up between them. //Mostly. 'Sore' seems like an odd word choice for a part of my mind, but it's the closest I can figure. There are still frayed bits. But most of the poison's gone, at least.//

Which was a relief.

[sharp_as_knives]

"That's good to hear." Hannibal started in on the pie with his usual intense focus, enjoying a few bites before continuing. "I have a few suggestions that may help, if you like."

[furnaceface]

//Suggestions?// Jono tilted his head a little, just as intently paying attention to the taste as to Hannibal's words. //Suppose there's no harm in hearing them. I've been staring at bloody walls far too much lately, I'd like to get over this sooner rather than later.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"You often stare at my walls; I thought you enjoyed it," Hannibal teased. "But I thought we might stare at other walls together. Without going anywhere."

Have some potatoes.

[furnaceface]

Oh, potatoes. You were now Jono's favourite potatoes.

//Downstairs walls? I don't know, the shock might be the end of me,// Jono teased right back. //But I can see the appeal in a change of scenery, so long as you don't mind me leaning on you on the way down. Or potentially falling asleep in places not generally intended for sleeping.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "No, I thought we would stay right here. And build walls together. A music shop, maybe? Or any place you like."

He paused for another sip of wine.

"Positive emotions are meant to help with this poison. I can and will supply any you like, but I suspect it will be better if you build your own."

[furnaceface]

//Oh...// Jono blinked, and then nodded a little. //We had meant to do that a while ago. And got sidetracked. Sharks and lights and all.//

Which had been productive, but it meant that all he really had on his mental music shop shelving was, what, one Pearl Jam album? Well done.

[sharp_as_knives]

Well, it was a start!

"Yes," Hannibal agreed. "And you can help me to build a new room in turn, if you like." He shrugged. "It seems to me that against psychic poison, psychic medicine would do the most good."

[furnaceface]

//You're in the market for another room?// Jono looked at Hannibal curiously. //Did you have something in particular in mind?//

Colour him intrigued, Hannibal.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nodded as he took another bite of the pie, then explained.

"I thought I would move some existing pieces to a new place that leaves room for more similar objects. Maybe part of this house." He grinned. "I hate to keep you lumped in with the rest of Fandom."

[furnaceface]

//Well, I'm flattered,// Jono replied, shifting his weight around so that he was propped up on one elbow, facing Hannibal. //And curious, actually. Now I want to know what you're associating me with.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smirked. "I thought that might pique your interest. What do you say - would you like to create lovely places together?"

[furnaceface]

//You've definitely got my interest,// Jono admitted, giving a nod. //Appeal to my vain side, always an excellent way to grab my attention.//

... What? Jono absolutely had a vain side. It was just often buried under his guilty side and his self-consciousness. But it was totally there.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I would say it's more curiosity than vanity," Hannibal said. "And perfectly natural."

Jono's vain side had nothing to Hannibal's.

[furnaceface]

Well, that was true enough. There were deities whose vain sides had nothing to Hannibal's.

//Very well. I'm curious if your associations are going to appeal to my vanity,// Jono countered, a little mischievously. //Or if I'm going to be relegated to the linen closet or some such place.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I have some very nice closets here," Hannibal pointed out. "They wouldn't be my first choice, but if you like..."

The pantry, for example, was probably larger than some people's apartments. But the associations really weren't appropriate here.

[furnaceface]

Yeah, now that Jono had a slightly better idea as to the sorts of things Hannibal occasionally cooked, he probably didn't want to associate himself too closely with Hannibal's kitchen.

//No, no, that's quite alright,// Jono replied, shaking his head. //Can I ask what you did have in mind? Or is that a surprise?//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal shrugged. "This room, maybe; it's large enough. Or the great room downstairs. Do you have a preference?"

[furnaceface]

//Well, lord knows I've seen the inside of this one far more,// Jono mused, glancing around. //How ridiculous of me would it be to have you associate me with the bedroom, though?//

The bed could have so many very particular memories attached to it!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal shook his head. "It's less about particular memories in and of itself, and more about an appropriate feeling to relate the memories to. We've spent a lot of time in this room; I think it would be very appropriate."

[furnaceface]

//I suppose we have, at that,// Jono replied, looking again around the room. Of course, the feelings that he associated with the place were perhaps not the most flattering, considering the... entire past month. But he'd cope, if Hannibal's own associations were stronger here. //Here, then?//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal caught a bit of the reluctance. "Would you prefer my office downstairs? Or the study?"

[furnaceface]

//I have better associations with both of those places after this past little while,// Jono explained, after a pause to consider where his hangups were. //But it's not my memory palace we're poking at. At the end of the day, it really isn't my call.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal shrugged. "I'm fond of my study as well. And since I have bookshelves there, it's easier to work with the smaller space and still add enough memories."

[furnaceface]

//And I'm fond of books,// Jono offered, //so it sounds like we might have a winner.//

One with only positive connotations, thus far! So, that was good!

[sharp_as_knives]

"The study it is." Hannibal smiled and ate a bit more.

"What about for yourself - back to the music store?"

[furnaceface]

//Back to the music store,// Jono agreed with a nod. //I didn't get as far along with it the last time around as I would've liked. And I like how versatile the whole arrangement is. Neatly organized and all.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"It lends itself very easily to storing memories," Hannibal said. "And has positive ones of its own."

[furnaceface]

//And very few negative ones,// Jono agreed with a nod. //Hell, I could fill the entire classical section with memories of you alone.//

Which actually seemed too easy, really. But it was worth contemplating.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I would be flattered," Hannibal answered, smiling.

[furnaceface]

//Well, then classical it'll be. I'll take requests, even. Lord knows I need more classical in my repertoire, anyway.//

This was true enough. He'd have to actually find the music and listen to it if he wanted to have more than the album cover, granted, but that was hardly a hardship.

[sharp_as_knives]

"We should have another music night," Hannibal said. "And feel free to browse through my collection as you like; you may find something I wouldn't have thought of for you."

[furnaceface]

//We should, and I will, thank you. Hell,// Jono shrugged. //I'll happily extend the offer the other way, too, if you can find your way around my... er, my filing system.//

Yes. It was absolutely a system. It involved organization and labels and things. Ish.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "Well, maybe once I've seen the way you organize your mind, I'll have better luck at that."

[furnaceface]

//Might make it a little bit simpler,// Jono agreed, //though I organize my personal collection a bit differently than I lay out the shop.//

Because he wanted his customers to actually be able to find the merchandise.