Hannibal's house, Saturday afternoon

[sharp_as_knives]

It was a bit cloudy and humid today, so Hannibal had decided to stay inside for this. And though he himself had no doubts, in deference to Jono's worries, he'd chosen his office as the most expendable open space in the house.

He stretched out a padded blanket on the floor and set a towel and the small bottle of massage oil next to it.

Then, as usual, it was time to round up Jono.


[OOC: For the one mentioned!]

Comments

[furnaceface]

Jono, who was sitting on the sofa, reading a book. The cats were curled up beside him, one to each hip, and he seemed quite content to either keep reading, or possibly get sucked away into the kitty nap field.

It was a powerful nap field, blast it.

He glanced up when Hannibal came into the room, and gave him a little nod.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nodded back and chuckled. "Have they declared a detente, or are you the no man's land?"

[furnaceface]

//No man's land,// Jono reported. //Both evicted after Beethoven took a swipe at Joni over sensitive territory. Much as I respect their right to be cats, I'd prefer they not do so quite so enthusiastically in my lap.//

This current arrangement, though, he could live with.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal shook his head. "Well, perhaps I could claim the territory for a while?" He held out his hand for Jono's.

[furnaceface]

//You present a very compelling invitation,// Jono decided, taking Hannibal's hand. //What's the plan tonight?//

Whatever it was, he was already rather intrigued.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal pulled him up, ignored the grumpy cat looks he got, and wrapped his arm around Jono's waist to lead him toward the office. "How is your new skin doing?"

[furnaceface]

//Well,// Jono glanced down at himself, as though he could see anything under his wrappings. //Last I checked, it was still all present and accounted for. That's a good sign, I think. Great that I can make it, and all. But that wouldn't be much good if I couldn't keep it once it's there.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nodded. "A very good sign. I thought we might try to give it some company. Hopefully without incapacitating you for quite as long."

He was realistic; he knew "not at all" might take a while.

[furnaceface]

Jonothon nodded a little at that. It wasn't a bad day for it, he supposed. And he was even fairly reassured after the last time that he could manage this without flattening the island. So... that was good.

//Seems like a good day to wrap up in a long nap,// he decided, vaguely amused. //I've already figured out that 'forcing it until it sticks' works, but it's bloody exhausting. There must be a better way to go about it. It isn't like I slept for days after rebuilding my entire body before, after all, and that came with immediate physical trauma right afterward, on top of that.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I agree," Hannibal said. "I believe part of the problem is that you're too tense. Your concern about the process is making it more difficult." He opened the door to the office and waved Jono in.

[furnaceface]

//Unknown factors about my powers always have me a little edgy,// Jono offered, stepping through the office door and taking a look around. Huh. //But you're right in that regard. It almost certainly isn't helping matters any.//

At all. Even a little bit.

[sharp_as_knives]

"No," Hannibal agreed. "So, I thought we would work on your relaxation first." He guided Jono to the blanket.

[furnaceface]

Jono very nearly made some sort of lewd comment regarding Hannibal's statement and the blanket, but he caught himself as he took in the sight of the bottle and the towel, as well. And then he nodded.

//That might help,// he allowed. //And hell, even if it doesn't, I could always use a bit more relaxation. There hasn't been nearly enough 'all hell' breaking loose for me to feel like the island isn't going to pull something soon, at least.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Whereas I'm enjoying the quiet while it lasts." Not that he wasn't constantly planning for several varieties of the worst, but he wasn't going to let it spoil his enjoyment of the moment.

Hannibal sat by the blanket expectantly. "One of these days, I will have you truly relaxing."

[furnaceface]

//One of these days,// Jono agreed, giving Hannibal a wry look as he took a seat. //I suspect that'll probably involve a solid thump to th'back of the head with a heavy object, though.//

Jono was bad at this 'relaxing' thing.

[sharp_as_knives]

"If you like," Hannibal answered equably. "But for now, I thought I might start with a massage. A heavy object wouldn't leave you able to try healing."

[furnaceface]

//...Point well made,// Jono allowed, reaching up to begin unwinding his wrappings. //Anyway, the bump on the back of my head afterward wouldn't be terribly relaxing once I wake up again, either.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"That, too." Hannibal took the end of his wrappings and began twining them into a neat ball. "It would prove ultimately counterproductive."

Which...actually that was most of the reason why he wasn't doing it. Jono really did need to relax more.

[furnaceface]

Jono probably would have taken a thump like that rather personally, anyway.

//Ultimately, yes,// he agreed. //So, you're going to massage my way to relaxation, instead?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"More or less," Hannibal agreed. "I thought to use the massage both as relaxation, and as an aid to focus. Not precisely hypnotism or meditation, but something related. If you're game?"

[furnaceface]

//Perfectly game,// Jono decided with a nod. //Meditation in general works better when you're relaxed anyway. Probably why it's more difficult for me to manage these days than it used to be.//

Used to be. Back when he was a skinny nobody mutant who was learning self-control under Cable at the Wellspring.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Wonderful." Hannibal wound up the last of the leather and set it aside. "Lie down on your back."

[furnaceface]

//My back, hm?// Jono shrugged and did as he was told, making himself comfortable on the blanket and closing his eyes. //There's some terribly suggestive comment just waiting in the wings right about now that's all about how much of me there is to actually massage this way, you know.//

Because: Incorrigible.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "I'm certain there is, but that isn't what I had in mind. Maybe later," he promised. He poured out a bit of the oil and rubbed it between his hands before starting on Jono's shoulders. "You carry a remarkable amount of tension in the parts of you there are."

Some time later that evening...

[sharp_as_knives]

As promised, Hannibal sent off an e-mail message to Karla, and then another:

To: Jubilation Lee
From: Hannibal Lecter
Subject: Jonothon Starsmore

Ms Lee; You don't know me, but we have a mutual acquaintance. He was recently in rather dire straits, and I thought I ought to let you see for yourself. Please see the attached photo.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter