Hannibal's house, Saturday morning

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal hadn't slept last night. Not through any sudden bout of insomnia, but because of staying up to listen to a five-year-old's chatter. Memory played tricks on you; Hannibal knew that better than most. But his memories of Mischa couldn't have painted her as any more sunny or wonderful than she was.

She'd spent the evening exploring his house and pulling him along with her. He'd told her the history of himself and their family, albeit somewhat edited.

Now they were sitting in the library, Hannibal on the sofa and Mischa in his lap as he read to her from a book of French poetry. She only understood one word in five, but she'd always enjoyed just listening to his voice. In her lap was a purring Joni, who had unsurprisingly taken to her. On the other end of the sofa was Beethoven, equally unsurprisingly eyeing her suspiciously.

He could manage for a weekend. Hannibal had Mischa back, however temporarily, and he wasn't giving her up until he had to.



[OOC: Expecting one or two, but open!]

Comments

[furnaceface]

There was probably a long list of people who hadn't slept well last night roaming the island today. Jono was most certainly one of them. Not that he had any complaints. He'd had Didi over, and they'd meant to do some catching up, but in their usual way, the conversation hand branched off in ridiculous directions, and they hadn't really done much in the way of serious talking at all.

But now it was the next day, and it seemed, to Jono at least, like maybe it would be important to at least introduce Didi to Hannibal. Because... because? Because. There were most certainly words for the why, but Jono was still a bit to overwhelmed to pick any of them out, apart from how it seemed like it was an important thing to do.

//He has some company this weekend, too,// he noted, walking up the walkway and kind of skirting around a few flamingos who were happily planted right there on the lawn. //If we're any trouble, I'm certain he'll tell us, though.//

[living_endless]

"But it's fun to be trouble with you," Didi protested lightly, and squeezed his upper arm. "Don't worry, I'll be good. How do you know him, anyhow?"

Not that it really mattered, but she couldn't help being a little curious.

[furnaceface]

//We met back when I was... er... larger. And more blue,// Jono replied, shrugging a little. //I hadn't been teaching for a while, I had taken some time off for Glacia's war, and when I came back, he was in my office. I sort of walked in on him without thinking.//

A beat.

//I remember being very impressed by his curtains.//

[living_endless]

"Curtains," Didi echoed. "Literal, hang-on-windows curtains,or is that some cool slang the kids are using these days?"

She hadn't missed the part about the war. She'd ask later.

Idly, she added, "I remember you being larger and more blue. That was a nice weekend." In the naked way.

[furnaceface]

//Literal curtains. On the windows. He had the place decorated. 'Hiring an interior decorator' decorated. Looks way better than it did with my band posters all up on the wall.// A beat. //And... it was, wasn't it?//

A very nice, naked weekend. He remembered it fondly.

He hadn't been terrified to touch her. Something that had been new for the both of them.

[living_endless]

"Wow. Curtains impress you now? You have grown up," Didi said, amused.

Then, before she lost her nerve: "So, y'know, I'm up for a repeat of that weekend if you are."

Really, worrying about being burned seemed silly when she was only around for a few days anyhow. Besides, Jono seemed older now. More solid. Less terrified of breaking her than he'd been at 17.

[furnaceface]

Oh lord. If he was that sort of person who went around being super impressed by curtains all the time, he wasn't completely certain he could live with himself.

And so help him, he was giving his foot an almost bashful kind of scuff against the ground, now.

//Yeah...? Because I would have to, er, run it past Hannibal first,// which was an interesting phrase he hadn't pictured himself ever using, honestly, mostly in that he didn't think there was anybody left alive that he'd consider asking that question about, usually, //but I would like that.//

A lot. Oh, god, a lot. He still felt as though he'd cheated the both of them out of so much, back when he was a teenager afraid of breaking anybody he touched.

[living_endless]

"Why would he care?" Didi asked. "It's not like we're going to do it in front of -- oh."

It didn't take her long to put together why Hannibal might need to give permission. Which -- she hadn't known Jono liked boys, but really, good for him.

"It's funny," she said, tilting her chin up a tiny bit out of pride. "It didn't occur to me you might be seeing someone. I ... kind of forget your life's gone on."

Without her. Always without her. Her mouth tasted bitter.

[furnaceface]

//And on, and on,// Jono agreed, lowering his own head a little, in turn. //Hannibal's not so much a whirlwind romance as... steady footing. He's someplace safe, and that's something I haven't had much of since you left. It's... been long. I've got three minds dancing around in my head these days.//

And only one of them knew who she was. But that one had loved her enough for all three.

//That said...// He reached into his pocket. Pulled out a little, time-worn green slip of paper. //There's a saying, about what absence does to the heart.//

[living_endless]

"Three minds?" Didi echoed, surprised yet again. "Jeepers, you're keeping it together pretty well. But I bet you have a whole new understanding of Del."

And if he was already that unsteady, how could she deny him the safe harbor Hannibal seemed to represent? She couldn't.

She smiled over at him, reaching to trace her fingers over the note. "The truth is, I don't even remember what exactly I wrote," she admitted. "I was just sad to go, and sad to say goodbye, and ... I'm glad it meant something to you. And I'm glad that you've never been angry with me."

[furnaceface]

//It's been a touchstone,// he admitted softly. //To who I am, who I was. Even when I wasn't sure, there was that, and us, and there you were, if only in my head, helping me to ground myself when I felt like nothing else in the world could.//

He shrugged one shoulder a little, and then reached to pocket the little piece of paper again.

//I have what it says memorized, word for word. But what it says doesn't matter so much as that it came from you.// A beat. //And it's far easier to carry around than animatronic parrots.//

What? It was true.

//Not that I haven't considered trying.// Also true. //Shall we, knock, though? I think the flamingos are starting to give us the eye, and I would like for you to meet him. For him to meet you. For, er... meeting. To happen.//

He could only be eloquent for so long, here.

[living_endless]

"True, but the parrot would let you look like a pirate," Didi pointed out, grinning like an idiot that he'd kept it. "So really,you should give it more consideration."

There was more in her heart, but it was hard to put into words. She glanced from Jono to the door, then back to Jono.

"And yeah, we should probably knock before we get too involved talking and decide to camp on his doorstep instead." She raised her fist and knocked three times, soft and quick.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled down at Mischa and smoothed his hand over her hair. "We should get the door, I think. Up you go." He set the book aside and swung her down to the floor.

[sharpened_him]

"I'll get it!" Mischa exclaimed, giggling and hurrying off as fast as she could.

Which was how Jono and Didi would find the door being opened by a small blonde child. "Sveiki!"

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled at her, and got only a bit more serious when he saw who it was. "Jono, hello. And you must be Didi." He ruffled Mischa's hair. "Mischa, saldainiukas, tegul ateina viduje."

[sharpened_him]

Mischa grinned at them both and held the door wide.

[furnaceface]

Yep. She was still made of bubblegum and kitten toe-beans and that kind of sunshine that made you sneeze when you stepped outside out of the dark. That was absolutely good to know, and Jono gave her a little wink before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a bar of chocolate that he'd picked up last night with her in mind while they'd been spelunking the grocers for strawberries.

Yes, Hannibal, it was quality chocolate. He wasn't going to hand the poor girl a Baby Ruth or something heinous like that.

//She is,// he agreed. //Didi, I'd like you to meet Hannibal. Hannibal, Didi. And the little one is another visitor, Mischa.//

Who was stinkin' adorable. For the record.

[sharp_as_knives]

"My little sister." Hannibal smiled down at her. "Although not that little; she should be grown by now." She had never gotten the chance.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he said to Didi. "One I hadn't thought to get. Please, come in."

[living_endless]

"Same to you," Didi said, tossing her hair out of her eyes. "I'm always happy to meet somebody Jono likes. There aren't that many of us."

She smiled at Mischa and said, //Sveiki, Mischa. Malonu susipažinti. Turite gana plaukus.// She was Endless; she spoke every language, even though her own accent was American with only the faintest British undertones.

[sharpened_him]

Mischa giggled and half-hid behind Hannibal's leg.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal stroked Mischa's hair and smiled at Didi. "In my experience, Jono likes quite a few people. But the number of them who've had a great positive influence on him is much smaller." And Didi was one of those at the top of the list, he was well aware.

And then, because this was Hannibal, "Can I get you anything to eat or drink?"

[living_endless]

"Not right now, but thanks," Didi said cheerfully. "And thank you. He wasn't a bad one on me, either."

[sharp_as_knives]

"He has that effect on people, even if he'd rather deny it," Hannibal answered, grinning at Jono. "And please let me know if your answer changes; as he can no doubt tell you, I adore feeding people."

Seeing what a lovely day it was, he led them through the foyer - the picture of them in their prom outfits had its own frame there now, but if Didi didn't notice it, Hannibal wasn't going to point it out. At least not yet. - and to the terrace.

[furnaceface]

//Hell, he even enjoys feeding me,// Jono agreed, following Hannibal inside. //There's quite the accomplishment, there.//

He wasn't touching any comments about his own influence on other people for love or money.

[sharp_as_knives]

"He especially adores my coffee," Hannibal said, smirking.