Hannibal's house, Saturday morning

[sharp_as_knives]

Jono had been a bit twitchy for several days now; anticipatory and a little on edge. Not enough that Hannibal was concerned, but enough that he noticed. So today he'd set aside a bit of extra time and a large and disposable blanket. The back yard was sheltered by enough trees to give them privacy, and if there should be any...mishaps...it would be less messy.

Now he just needed to herd Jono out there.

Comments

[furnaceface]

See, herding Jono outside would probably be the easy part. He was busying himself around the house at the moment, cleaning.

Let that one sink in for a moment. Jono. Cleaning.

Never mind that there was somebody being paid to do just that, and all. He was antsy, and there was nobody who needed immediate punching or anything of the sort. So, there was a rag in one hand, and a spray bottle in the other, and apparently that spotless tabletop needed some more dusting, there.

Jono really needed to join another hero team or something.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal watched him for a moment, then leaned in the doorway. "I'm not about to say I mind the cleanliness, but may I offer a different outlet for all that energy?"

And if Jono could possibly find a hobby that did not involve being shot at, that would be lovely.

[furnaceface]

Jono handled being shot at much better than stagnation, though!

//Hm?// One more spritz from the bottle, and then Jono was glancing at the man in the doorway. //Had something in mind, did you?//

Probably, yes. Considering Jono had been so absorbed in his cleaning that he didn't notice Hannibal head outside in the first place, though, he wouldn't have had a single clue.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal shook his head. Yes, Jono was definitely distracted. "I do. Wipe that last bit up and come with me."

[furnaceface]

Jono looked sheepishly down at the liquid on the table at the shake of Hannibal's head. Okay, so he was a bit more out of it today than usual. Antsy. He nodded and wiped up the last of the spray, and then slung the rag over his shoulder and made his way outside.

//Alright, you've got my attention, then.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nudged Jono to sit and took up position behind him, one arm around his waist. "Today, we are working on your healing. Of the physical kind," he clarified.

[furnaceface]

Jono blinked back at him, one eyebrow raised a little. Well, he couldn't say it wasn't timely, what with the sudden whomp of Nanika's aura he'd sensed again on Monday.

//Hence the outside,// he noted, nodding faintly. //Right, then. Can't hurt to give it another go, so long as you stay back there, I suppose...//

He'd rebuilt himself from scratch. A few times. Unconsciously. This had to be easy, right? Just, maybe there was some sort of mental hang-up that was keeping him from it. Or... something.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I don't plan on going anywhere," Hannibal assured him. "Working together, we managed a little before, when you weren't at your best or in your own body. I'm optimistic we can do it again." Not easy, no, but attainable. "Would it help to connect with me, or shall I talk you through it?"

[furnaceface]

//Not sure,// Jono admitted. //We've only ever tried it the once, after all.//

He looked down at himself, eyes travelling along the length of leather bound around his chest. And then he reached up to start unwinding his bandages.

//All the better for watching for progress,// he explained as he did so. //And I think perhaps it'd be better for you to talk me through. That way if something does go pear-shaped, at least you won't be linked to me when it does.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal reached up to help with the bandages from the back. "Or you'll have added incentive for it not to go pear-shaped," he pointed out. Since Jono was more likely to protect Hannibal than himself.

[furnaceface]

Jono's shoulders bunched up a little at that.

//I can't make any promises that 'added incentive' will work here,// he admitted. //Much as I'd like to be able to say definitively that it would, this is an aspect of my powers I've never really explored. In any set of memories I've got. Always just sort of figured it wasn't something I had any control over. It isn't as though anybody else can just decide to heal better, after all.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Most other people wouldn't live through exploding," Hannibal pointed out. He thumped one of Jono's shoulders gently, a 'none of that'. "What would be the worst that happened if things went wrong?" he asked matter-of-factly.

[furnaceface]

Jono just met Hannibal with a deadpan look at that.

//I'd level the island.//

Hey, he'd asked for the worst.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal quirked an eyebrow at him. "And our not being mentally linked would protect me from that?"

[furnaceface]

//Not hardly,// Jono mumbled. //I'm more concerned with what would happen if I had some sort of psionic meltdown as a result of exerting my powers that way, and wound up dragging you along for the ride, where that's concerned.//

He shrugged.

//Say I did manage to heal up, at least somewhat. Great. Hell, I've missed having a chest, let's celebrate, fine. But if something were to go wrong - and it generally does - while we were linked? Christ, the last thing anybody needs is to know what it feels like to have your face and chest blown out from the inside. And I don't mean this as a slight to you at all when I say you're not made to handle that pain. So far as your brain would be concerned, it wouldn't be second-hand agony, Hannibal. Your mind, at least your subconscious, would be utterly convinced that you're being torn apart and there wasn't a thing you could do to stop it happening.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal thought about it as he kept helping Jono unwrap himself. "I don't doubt that it would be unpleasant. Traumatic," he conceded. "But I also have no doubt that I would survive, and that the experience would prove valuable. If it were to happen." He smoothed Jono's hair with one hand. "But I won't insist." It would be easier if he could see what was going on, but pressuring Jono further wasn't likely to help, either.

[furnaceface]

//Thank you,// Jono murmured. //I'd like to at least try this a few more times and figure out what the risks are before I drag you along for the ride. Not ruling it out completely, just... it seems smarter to, er, maybe not. Yet.//

See? Yet? Jono was conceding that it would probably even be a huge help. Just. He was also paranoid.

[sharp_as_knives]

And yet still ended up dating a cannibal. It was adorable, really.

"Fair enough," Hannibal agreed. He kissed the back of Jono's head. "So, is there a particular thing you would like to work at first? Or shall we begin again with the bottom edge?"

[furnaceface]

Well, nobody said Jono was consistent in his paranoia. Anyway, Hannibal had spent a lot of time earning Jono's trust before the whole 'cannibal' thing came out.

//Bottom edge is as good as anywhere, I suppose,// he replied, setting his unwound wrappings to the side. //Work my way up. Farthest from what's left of my head seems like a good starting point, really. I don't need to somehow end up with even less of it if something goes wrong.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I very much doubt it will, but we will start where you're most comfortable." Hannibal wrapped his arms around Jono and stroked the edges of his skin and fire soothingly. "Start by relaxing as much as you can," he encouraged, his voice falling into the same crooning tones he used for hypnotism.

[furnaceface]

Jono nodded, and closed his eyes, and tried to focus on Hannibal's voice... on Hannibal's fingers toying at the edges of his flame.

//By relaxing,// he agreed, bowing his head a little. //I can do that. Just... relax.//

The flame licked up around Hannibal's hands, warm but harmless. Calming at his presence.

Like a deep breath.

//Just relax.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Like that," Hannibal agreed. "When you're as relaxed as you feel you can get," he smiled and kissed the back of Jono's neck again in encouragement, "relax some more."

[furnaceface]

//I relax too much and I might just fall asleep on you,// Jono teased in a murmur. //Then we won't get a hell of a lot done, will we?//

He rolled one shoulder, and then the other, leaning back a little.

//Or hell, maybe we will. You're a miracle worker, right?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I may have managed one or two," Hannibal answered. Like getting Jono to actually relax enough already to joke about this. "So." He steadied one hand and moved the other to stroke a small patch of skin just on the edge of the flames. "You feel this? Focus on it, then pull that focus in - as small as you can. One cell or a few."

[furnaceface]

//There... alright...// It was easy enough to focus on the spot, really, though he was more aware of it based on what he could sense through his flames than what he could faintly feel with the brutalized wreck of nerves and flesh right there along the edge of the damage. He tried all the same; there was still some sensation there, and it wouldn't do to not at least give it an attempt. //Not easy to try to break yourself down to th'cellular level. Involves paying attention to something you're only really aware of in that sense that it has to be there, in the abstract.//