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]

//But five of their six ends are sharp,// Jono countered, picking Joni up and cradling her against his shoulder as he took a seat next to Beethoven. She gave a mew of protest, but settled in easily enough otherwise. She was plenty used to his flames by now, little tail swishing behind her through the fire as though it wasn't even there. //It's alright. I demonstrated my prowess as a hunter by picking off the small one first.//

Joni was traumatized. You could tell by the purring and the kneading.

[sharp_as_knives]

"It's good to know you have such a finely-tuned predatory sense." Hannibal started the coffee and set about making the compote. "These are, after all, deadly beasts when their lair is threatened."

They might glare, even!

[furnaceface]

//You should've heard the mighty roar from this one when I evicted her from her territory,// Jono shared.

It had been more of a squeak.

//Had me shaking in my boots, I'm not too proud to admit.//

Now he was scratching her under the chin with one finger. Probably another fear reflex or something.

[sharp_as_knives]

"The small ones are particularly vicious," Hannibal cautioned. "Their eyes are deadly, I'm led to believe."

[furnaceface]

//This one wields them like a weapon,// Jono agreed. //Especially if I have a bag of treats handy. The lengths she'll go to when she hears that rattle.//

Including using poor Beethoven as a launching pad. Especially since the poor old cat couldn't even hear the treats she was scrabbling for.

[sharp_as_knives]

Joni probably looked at it as being advance scout.

"You'll have to be very careful." Hannibal checked the coffee and compote, then came to stand in the doorway for a moment. "I wouldn't want to see you overwhelmed."

[furnaceface]

//I think I'll be alright,// Jono replied, looking back Hannibal's way. //Overhwhelmed would be when--//

That was right about the moment that Beethoven stretched, sprawled out his front paws, and moved to rest his chin on Jono's other hand.

//... Now I'm overwhelmed.//

And trapped forever.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal grinned. "Fortunately you can taste dessert without hands." He nodded at Beethoven. "And he seems to have finally forgiven you for introducing Joni to his life."

Or he just was willing to make do with a still, warm body. He was a cat.

[furnaceface]

//I think maybe he's figured out that he's stuck with her. Or maybe that she's not actually that terrible. Possibly he's just thankful that I took her away from him just now.//

Probably that last one. Or the warm body one. Maybe both?

He was a cat.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Also possible." Hannibal smiled at the picture Jono made. "One moment." He picked up his tablet from the end table and took an actual picture. Because he was a terrible person.

[furnaceface]

//... I... You just...// Jono blinked. //Photographic evidence that I'm prone to being covered in cats?//

While on fire.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Yes." Hannibal smirked even wider. "Otherwise Karla would never forgive me." He gave Jono an innocently curious look. "Tell me, does your friend Lee have e-mail?"

[furnaceface]

HANNIBAL, YOU WERE TERRIBLE.

//... Probably?// See that look of mild horror on Jono's face? It would probably photograph well. //Almost certainly. I think. It might be on my phone.//

Why was he saying this?

Possibly because he figured Lee would appreciate the photo, anyway. Hell, maybe she'd send back photos of the kid she'd adopted. He'd heard that Shogo was bloody adorable, but not much else besides.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Wonderful!" Hannibal declared. "I'll send it to her as well."

He uploaded the photo and turned to go back to the kitchen; he wouldn't want for that compote to burn.

[furnaceface]

Which mostly just left Jono to stare after him, utterly perplexed.

//... I can't even accuse you of blackmail if you're just going right ahead and sharing it. Huh.//

He was still sort of processing what had just happened, here.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal checked the compote, finished it up, and plated the dessert, then fixed his coffee and brought it back. "It would only be blackmail if I wanted something from you in return," he agreed. "And if there were a chance of me not sending it on in return."

[furnaceface]

//So, in short, I'm doomed,// Jono replied, looking... not actually sad. But he was making a spirited attempt. It was difficult to look sad when Joni was purring her tiny mighty purr right in his ear like that. //Karla won't let me live it down, you know. And Lee might just start sending more cats.//