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]

//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.