Post-Parents' Weekend destresser, Monday evening

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal and Jono had both sent out e-mail to everyone they knew on the island, as well as posted in the school's boards, and everybody was invited. After this weekend, some of them seemed like they would need it.

Hannibal had a very well-stocked bar and wine cellar, there were darts and billiards and a card table downstairs as well as a media room, a music room and library on the first floor, outside decks on both if you didn't mind the flamingos, and of course, food.

Pork tenderloin crostini with cranberry pepper jelly
Pumpkin carrot soup shooters with coconut cream
Prosciutto, mango, and parmesan salad
Sweet potato ravioli with lemon sage brown butter
Mini beef wellingtons
Beef tenderloin with garlic and merlot jam
Chocolate and peanut ganache tartelettes
Chocolate orange mousse, spiced fruit brioche and yoghurt sorbet
Raspberry sorbet



[Open post! Everybody invited.]

Comments

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

Didi shrugged. "He liked the librarian, but I don't think he understood what I was doing here. I told him some days neither did I."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal handed her the wine glass with a smile and a bow. "Would you be insulted if I were to say that that sounds very human?"

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

Didi giggled. "Nah. It sounds about right. It's like all the stories about Greek gods -- my family doesn't do different things than anybody else's, we just do them bigger and longer."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

There was a pun there that Hannibal was absolutely not going to make. He'd just share in her laughter and grin. "I'm sorry I didn't get to meet him, then."

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

Didi was grateful Hannibal ignored the pun potential, yes.

"You never know," she said lightly. "He might decide to turn up again while we're still here."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled. "Should he do so, you are more than welcome to bring him for a visit."

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

"I appreciate the offer," Didi said, sincerely.

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nodded in acknowledgement. Then, thinking of something, asked her, "Tell me, do you play cards?"

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

"Not particularly well, but I do," Didi nodded. "I'm not much of a bluffer. Funny you'd ask, though. Usually chess is the one people want to know about."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal laughed. "Tradition, I suppose? But no, chess is a two-person endeavor. I was thinking of something involving a small group. A way for Jono to interact with a small group he feels comfortable with."

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

"Oh, sure, I'd be up for game night with you and Jono," Didi said easily. "I like Scrabble."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"I wouldn't mind that," Hannibal agreed. "Although we will have to agree on spellings." Not that Hannibal had a preference between US and UK, but that didn't mean he wouldn't troll Jono for the heck of it.

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

"You're Lithuanian, I'm nothing, and Jono's been in the U.S. since he was 17," Didi pointed out dryly. "I think we'd do okay spelling words the way we want to. But cards would be fine too, if you'd rather dodge the whole issue."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'm entirely flexible," Hannibal said, smiling. "Jono is considering going about more without his wrappings," he explained, "and we were looking for things he could do at home with small groups of friends, to become more comfortable with it. The activity is secondary, so long as it won't make him uncomfortable."

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

"Sure," Didi said. "I think that could be really good for him."

If there was an old wound there, a wish she'd understood things better, that she'd done more to make Jono comfortable, it wasn't one she was interested in opening for Hannibal's benefit.

"Just let me know when you'e doing it, and I'll do my best to come over."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"Thank you." Hannibal nodded to her. "I appreciate it. But for now," he offered, "can I get you a plate, or would you rather explore on your own?"

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

"I'll just explore. I should say hello to Jono, anyhow," Didi said. "But thank you."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"You're very welcome." Hannibal smiled and waved her toward the food. "Please, enjoy."