Jono's Birthday Party, His Hannibal's House, Wednesday night

[sharp_as_knives]

As was to be expected of any party thrown (or, more accurately, carefully arranged) in Hannibal's home, everything about tonight's party seemed to be well-considered, well-balanced, and tasteful.

And as was to be expected of any party thrown in Jono's honour in a home that he spent more time in than the place he called his own, all of those well-considered, well-balanced, and tasteful fixings were a little bit on the punk rock side.

There was food, of course, arranged by Hannibal. And music, naturally, arranged by Jono. And a billiards table in the billiards room, which Jono thought was important and which Hannibal had actually allowed him to have installed, which had left Jono pleasantly bewildered right up until the whole process was complete and he was free to shoot the billiards balls to his bio-nuclear psionic heart's content.

Just… maybe not all night, tonight. He was supposed to be entertaining guests or something like that, tonight. Just because it was his birthday didn't mean he was off the hook when it came to visiting or whatever. But if he got too overwhelmed, it was entirely possible he'd shove a flamingo or something at somebody and duck away before they realized what was going on. That was how parties worked, right?

That was absolutely not how parties worked. If you got too overwhelmed, you retired upstairs to the music room or library, after informing your partner so that he could host in your absence.

For now, though, Hannibal was giving last-minute instructions to the waiter (he'd restricted himself to one after Jono had looked pained at having a waiter for his birthday party) and painstakingly arranging the food.

He looked around proudly and nodded, then smiled at Jono. "You will have to come out of that room at some point. Are there any foods you'd like to try before everybody arrives?"

//… If I said I'd been eyeing the mushy peas since you started making them...// Jono looked hopeful, yes, before leaning over the billiards table. //Five ball, side pocket.//

"Mushy peas it is." Hannibal rearranged the raviolis into a configuration that allowed for one fewer and lifted the spare one to his mouth, letting it dissolve slowly. It wasn't one of his preferred tastes, but he made nothing unpalatable, and he was perfectly capable of appreciating the variety of flavors in it.

And Jono, who was usually at least a little attuned to what Hannibal was doing with his mouth these days, found himself half-closing his eyes, sending off a little psionic wave of appreciation, and missing his shot spectacularly.

At least tonight's party probably wasn't going to be boring.

[OOC: Open for anyone who thinks they were invited, anyone who wants to have been invited, any crashers, what-have-you! OCD up!]

[ETA: OMG I suck. I was so tired last night, I forgot to mention - it probably goes without saying, but this was written at least half by the wonderful furnaceface!]

Comments

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smirked. "So did I." He leaned in the doorway and watched Jono line up the shot. "Go on; we'll have guests to entertain soon."

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

Jono shot Hannibal a wry glance over his shoulder.

//Brat,// he accused lightly, before taking his shot. This time, he had somewhat better luck. The five went down, and it took the three along with it. //But that is good. What th'hell are those things wrapped in, anyway?//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

"Never ask," Hannibal answered, amused. "It spoils the magic. You have your mushy peas, and I have a lovely appetizer that's easy to eat."

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

When you were told to never ask by a cannibal, generally that only raised more questions, didn't it?

Still, Jono just blinked, and then nodded his agreement. He had his mushy peas, and also maybe didn't want to know?

He was going to be leery of those for the rest of the night.

//Thank you,// he said, after processing that. //For... arranging for all of this. Lord knows I never would've.//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal gave him an exasperated look. "They are vegetarian. And you're welcome. I'm well aware you wouldn't, but I suspected you would enjoy it just the same. So, somebody had to. And you know I never turn down an excuse for a dinner party."

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

... Well! Could you blame him, Hannibal?

//I'm surprisingly not actually completely against enjoying myself,// Jono admitted, stepping back from the table to chalk his cue. //I just don't generally care to be the center of attention, really. But this shouldn't be so bad. Plenty of places to escape to if I'm getting overwhelmed. And people should be so busy eating they might not even notice I'm there.//

He was mostly teasing about that last part.

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

Honestly? Hannibal was rather fond of life, and had no intentions of shortening his by feeding Jono and his friends people.

"Well, should you find yourself being overwhelmed, you can let me know, and I'll be happy to take the attention." Very happy; Hannibal adored being the center of attention. "I can always bring out more food," he teased back.

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

It was good that they'd reached that unspoken agreement!

//I'll never say no to more food. Or to shunting the attention off on you,// Jono decreed, and then leaned over the table again. //Seven, side pocket.//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

It had worked so well the first time, Hannibal couldn't resist taking a sip of the beer he'd made just for the occasion. It had come out very nicely, hadn't it?

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

At least the seven ball went down! It also took the nine and the cue ball along with it.

//... You're a wicked, wicked man.//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

If drinking beer was the most wicked thing Jono caught him at, Jono wasn't paying attention.

Hannibal wasn't going to bring that up just now.

"Would you prefer I forego the beer?" he asked innocently.

He took a moment to step around the billiards table and run a hand over the rustic-looking wooden beams he'd had installed on the short end wall. They looked quite good, and they would keep any stray darts from damaging the wall behind them, while their own imperfections would hide the marks.

That all of this was done entirely for Jono's benefit was plain in the way that Hannibal ran the custom, hand-made darts through his fingers as he picked up a set and headed back to a decent distance.

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

//Don't you dare forego the beer,// Jono replied, setting the cue back on the rack for the time being, and leaning back against the table, arms crossed in front of him. //That beer is fantastic.//

A beat.

//As is that darts setup. Have I mentioned as much yet?//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled back at him. "You were more interested in getting the balance on the billiards table just right, I believe." He hefted one of the darts, felt its weight and balance, and threw it for a bullseye.

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

//... Pretend I can whistle appreciatively at that shot.//

Because really, now. That was nicely done.

//Really, though. This wasn't that terrible a hardship, admit it.//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

"Not so terrible, no," Hannibal answered. "I hadn't decided what to do with this room once the boxes were gone, anyway." He looked around. "I'll still need to do a bit of decorating, though. Any suggestions?" He hefted the second dart, rolled it in his hand, and put it into the outer bull.

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

Jono watched intently as Hannibal worked his way through the darts one by one.

//You're asking me for decoration ideas? You have seen the way I generally decorate things, right? I'm still not entirely convinced I'd be able to get a band poster past the front door without it spontaneously catching fire.//

He was joking. About which part, though, was anybody's best guess.

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

"General suggestions rather than specific," Hannibal clarified. "And if you wanted any other games in here."

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

There was a long pause, at that.

Jono wasn't all that into shuffleboard, and didn't figure Hannibal would be eager to haul an arcade game or two in here.

Or a SEGA.

//... Other games...?//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

"I was looking into furnishings," Hannibal said. He frowned at the dartboard, took careful aim, and got another bullseye. "There are table tennis, and table football," he wasn't quite sure about that one, but there had been a lot of them, "as well as poker tables, chess tables, and a number of others."

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

//I used to be half-decent at table football,// Jono mused, after a moment. //Never really played all that much table tennis, though. And the only time my poker has ever involved a proper table...//

He tilted his head a bit.

//Actually, I've never played poker at a poker table.//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

"I will add those to the list, then." If they were going to have a games room, it was going to be done properly. Because Hannibal.

He walked over and picked up the darts, then checked his watch and put them carefully away, picking up the beer again. "Of course, we'd need more people to play poker properly."

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

//Finding people to play poker with shouldn't be too difficult. People who enjoy gambling around here are probably a dime a dozen anyway,// Jono pointed out. //Could be fun, really. Gather people up, play poker, gossip or whatever it is people do while playing poker...//

Strip?

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

Jono would do well to keep in mind the two walls of windows on this room.

"Why not?" Hannibal smiled. "After we have the table. And I imagine playing cards would help as well."

He was drinking the beer now, enjoying it thoroughly.

Re: Before the party

[furnaceface]

It took Jono a moment to reply, because hello, thoroughly enjoyed beer. You were quite pleasant tonight.

//As well as throwing sharp things at a wall or hitting things with sticks?//

Re: Before the party

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'm given to understand that fleecing one's friends and acquaintances is very therapeutic," Hannibal said. "But no, I meant buying a deck or two of cards would help in playing the game. I haven't currently got any; have you?"