Hannibal (and totally not Jono)'s house, inside and out back, Saturday afternoon and evening

[sharp_as_knives]

//You know,// Jono said, thoughtfully looking over the food Hannibal had prepared (and still was preparing) for the party they were throwing today, //I think it's possible that there's something here for everyone on the island?//

Literally. Jono suspected that everybody on the island could show up, each make off with the entirety of one of the dishes, and there would still be leftovers after the party.

"I should hope so." Hannibal put the finishing touches on the last few plates he'd have to bring out to the grill. "I don't want anybody saying they left hungry from a party of mine." Or theirs. Whichever. "How is the music coming along?"

//There is definitely music,// Jono reported. //It's… leaning heavily into swing territory. First thing that came to mind when trying to come up with something that everybody could enjoy.//

"Not a bad thing," Hannibal said, smiling. "Although we might have to indulge in a bit of dancing later."

//Heaven forbid,// Jono teased, winking as he thumbed through his playlist one more time. //We'll see if we can get you away from that grill long enough to manage it, hm?//

Hannibal gave him a look of fond reproof. "I would never be so long cooking that I didn't enjoy my own party." He nodded at the food. "Once this is done, I'll only be turning things on here and there, and perhaps manning the bar."

//Well, then I suppose I ought to go put the shrimp out to coax the flamingos off the lawn,// Jono decided. //It's almost that time, anyway.//

"If you can keep them to the side," Hannibal suggested, "they'll be out of the way of anyone coming up from the front as well. Hopefully once everybody is back here, they won't be disturbing them."

How well would that work out? Only time would tell.



[OOC: Open post! Come to the party!]

Comments

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

It was late when Drac arrived. Not solely because of the sun allergy either. He was still slightly unsure of his position with people on the island.

But he was here and he was carrying some vintage wines from home. Real wine, not blood substitutes. Though he had one of those in a pocket; he still got a little woozy at times.

Re: After dinner!

[sharp_as_knives]

"Count." Hannibal smiled as he welcomed him. "I was hoping you would be able to make it. I realize these long summer days can't be comfortable for you."

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"Doctor," Drac nodded, smiling. "I am used to being awake at all hours, but being confined to my rooms for so long is tiring, yes."

He bowed slightly and handed over his donation. "From my home cellars. I do hope they are to your taste. The red is a Zaibăr, a traditional yet solid Romanian wine, and the white is a Grasă de Cotnari. Also an old wine; it's a little sweeter than most, but a solid body."

Re: After dinner!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal took them with a similar bow. "That's lovely of you; thank you. You didn't need to, but they're welcome. How have you been?"

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

Drac chuckled softly. "The wine is both a thank you for the invitation and an apology for having been out of contact so long. I'm doing..."

Drac had no idea how much anyone knew, so he hesitated.

"I'm doing better, thank you."

Re: After dinner!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled. "Say as much or as little as you like. I won't judge, and I'll try not to pry, though I am a dreadfully curious man by nature." He gestured at the food. "Would you like to try some of this? Or I've a bit of black pudding in the kitchen, if you'd rather."

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"Black pudding?" Drac was curious himself. "I'm not sure I've had that before?"

"And my hesitation was mostly because I don't know how much you know of the reasons I have been gone; I don't want to bore you."

Re: After dinner!

[sharp_as_knives]

"It's a sausage, made with quite a bit of blood," Hannibal explained. "And I would never be bored hearing a friend speak."

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

Drac stared at the doctor. Blood in the sausage...

"And it's a human food?"

Re: After dinner!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal laughed. "It's a very traditional human food, actually. Would you like to try it?"

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

Drac was torn. "I don't know. I haven't had human blood in over a century... well, except for one weekend here, but I am still not sure if that was really me or not."

Re: After dinner!

[sharp_as_knives]

"This is pig's blood, not human," Hannibal noted. Unfortunately.

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

And in contrast, Drac's face lit up. "Oh?" Not that he preferred pig blood, but it was at least more acceptable!

And less likely to be carrying all sorts of weird diseases.

"Well, in that case, I could definitely be persuaded," Drac smiled.

Re: After dinner!

[furnaceface]

//Drac, mate!// Why yes, Jono was making his way over to clap Dracula on the shoulder. It had been far too long, and after that whole ... thing ... back when Gaunt, Jono had been a bit worried.

He had no idea how worried he ought to have been until he'd talked to Raven in the Zin's simulation, though.

//How've you been, mate? Missed seeing you around at these things, you know.//

[OOC: Headed straight to bed, but I haaaad to. Drac!]

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

Look! One of the people Drac had let down!

He smiled at Jono. "It's been a while, but I am fine now. I've missed coming to them. How are you?"

Re: After dinner!

[furnaceface]

//I've been worse,// Jono replied, lightly. And if he had at all been let down, he certainly didn't seem aware of it. Or at least he didn't seem to care. //Things have been that odd cross between hectic and stagnant and I'm beginning to get twitchy again. You know that feeling?//

In fairness, Jono felt that feeling rather often.

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"That depends," Drac smiled. "The twitchy feeling like somewhere there's a bus load of guests about to descend upon you with no reservations? Or the one where you are sure that there's a venue just around the bend that will be THE ONE that answers your dreams?"

Re: After dinner!

[furnaceface]

Jono paused for a moment to consider those options.

//... Both? Is both an option? I feel like there's something right around the corner, and there are a million little obstacles between here and that something, and most of those obstacles are me.//

Which was really nothing new.

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"Ah yes. That feeling." Drac nodded. "A little bit excitement, a little bit guilt and worry, a lot of quiet frustration?"

RE: Re: After dinner!

[furnaceface]

//Exactly all of those things,// Jono agreed. //Waiting for the other foot to drop, and halfway wondering if maybe that foot is waiting on you for something important.//

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"Welcome to how I spent most of the past hundred and seventeen years," Drac's reply was droll. "Any idea what you're afraid of?"

Re: After dinner!

[furnaceface]

//Mostly? Stagnation, perhaps. Letting people down. Never making up for the mistakes I have made. Wasting what potential I have.//

A beat.

//It's a long list.//

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

And once again, Jono, you had the pleasure of being one of the few humans to make Drac's jaw drop.

After a moment, he shook his head and collected himself. "You do realize you just defined 'life', don't you?"

RE: Re: After dinner!

[furnaceface]

If Jono had a jaw... Well, his probably wouldn't be dropping, but he'd at least be pursing his lips a little.

//You mean to tell me that the definition of life is 'failing everybody you ever cared for?' Mate, even I think that might be a little on the pessimistic side, and I don't even have a bloody face.//

Re: After dinner!

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"You have not failed everyone you've ever cared for, Jono," Drac assured him. "But believing you have... or will... that's a part of life. That's what keeps us trying our best: the fear that we will be letting someone down."