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

Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal will be there to greet you. Or Jono. Or you can sneak in if you'd rather.

Mingle and eat!

[sharp_as_knives]

Mmmm, food!

Play games!

[sharp_as_knives]

Card table, dart board, billiards.

Watch TV!

[sharp_as_knives]

Did you really need to come here to do that? Never mind - there's a very nice multimedia setup you're welcome to use.

Hide in the library or music room!

[sharp_as_knives]

If you just want the food and the crowd's not your thing. Just don't get food on the instruments, please.

OOC!

[sharp_as_knives]

Questions? Comments? World not ending? Check!

Re: Arrive!

[notamascot]

Kaylin was absolutely sure to be there. For the food. Just the food.

Certainly not because she felt safe with Hannibal and Jono. And definitely not to see if Hannibal would let something slip about his meeting with Teela.

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka didn't know if she was allowed to be at the party, since she hadn't had anyone show up for her over the weekend, which made her feel pretty funny and twisted up inside somehow, but she showed up anyway.

Though she did happen to be looking big-eyed and concerned that someone would tell her to go as she did so.

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

And Hannibal would be certain to welcome her because she probably needed the food, and not at all because he was fond of her.

"Kaylin, come in." He waved her toward the food with a smile. "How have you been?"

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal made sure to give her an especially gentle and friendly smile. "Welcome, Alluka. I'm pleased you could make it. Please, come in."

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

"Thank you," she said, as her bunny nodded in agreement, and they both entered as told. "Is it okay that I didn't have anyone visit?"

His smile was terribly reassuring, but Alluka wanted to know for sure.

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course!" Hannibal reassured her. "Not having people can also be terribly stressful. And even if it isn't, you can brighten the day of others who need it. Would you like some food? And I can make you a soda or hot chocolate, if you like."

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

She beamed up at him, distress gone.

"A hot chocolate, please?"

A beat.

"Can I help? Can I have marshmallows?"

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"You can most definitely have marshmallows," Hannibal told her, "so long as you don't mind that they're homemade. What would you like to do to help?" He was fairly protective of his kitchen, but... "Can you stir the milk as it heats?"

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

She'd never done it before, but that meant nothing.

"I think so," Alluka hopefully. "I'll try really hard."

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

...Hannibal had rather a bad feeling about this. Still, she ought to learn such things at some point.

"I'll show you; it isn't difficult." He offered her his hand to lead her into the kitchen.

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

Oh oh oh! Alluka loved holding hands and eagerly reached out to take his hand.

"I'll pay attention," she said happily. "I promise!"

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"I know you will do your very best." Hannibal smiled down at her and led her into the kitchen. He took the marshmallows out first - he had a number of flavors, from plain to almond to bourbon, and opened each container, setting them on the counter in front of Alluka.

"Now, your first task is to decide on a type of marshmallow," he told her, "while I get out the rest of the ingredients."

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

"I can do that!" she chirped, happily abandoning him to peer into the containers.

They all looked pretty marshmallow-y to her, so she let her bunny peer into the containers too.

"What's your favourite one?"

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"It depends upon what mood I'm in," Hannibal answered. "Why don't you try the mint? They should go nicely." He nodded at a box that was easy to tell - they were a lovely pale green. "Or if you like raspberry, those are pink." Which he knew was likely to go over better for the color than the flavor.

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

Pink was the best colour.

Alluka looked over at him and grinned.

"Can I have both?"

Mint-Raspberry would taste good and look pretty too!

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

"Why not?" It wouldn't be Hannibal's choice, but if that was what she wanted, why not? He brought over the chocolate, milk, and vanilla and got out a small saucepan and a whisk. He handed Alluka the whisk with a bow before pouring just the right amount of milk into the pan. "Now, you keep an eye on it while I put the rest away."

Re: Arrive!

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka giggled as he handed her the whisk.

As he turned to put the rest of the things away, the giggles stopped abruptly and her bunny fell to the ground as Alluka was shuttled off to the back of her mind, to nap, and someone else looked out through her huge blue eyes.

To those sensitive to it, Nanika's presence appeared like an anvil falling; heavy and unstoppable.

Nanika extended her hands towards Hannibal (the whisk clattered to the floor). "Give me a hair off of your head."

Re: Arrive!

[living_endless]

Didi didn't always come to Hannibal and Jono's parties, but she figured after her father's visit, anything that had her around people and out of her own head was good. She arrived more or less on time, clad in the usual black, and carrying a bottle of decent brandy.

Re: Arrive!

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal wasn't sensitive to such things, but the sudden change of personality was difficult to miss. He set the things in the cabinet and came back to her, taking in the sight of Nanika with interest.

And, mindful of Jono's concerns, simply raised an eyebrow at her. "Shall I hand you one, or would you rather take it yourself?" he asked.