Hannibal's house, Friday evening (with hints of the past)

[sharp_as_knives]

The day had been decidedly long, and Hannibal was glad to finally make his way, avoiding any untoward encounters, back home. And, since Jono wasn't home yet, have a leisurely dinner of the sort he wasn't sharing with anyone these days.

[OOC: For the guy who can't duck a pitchfork!]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

Yes, well, Hannibal knew better than to suggest Warren. Not to mention that Logan was much more likely to be matter-of-fact about it.

Until then, Hannibal would just help on his own, by focusing on Jono's body and on the things he could do to help it and what they felt like.

...not like that. Right now.

[furnaceface]

Later? Could they focus on those things later? Much later, after the weird uninvited company took off? Jono would like that.

//Done that one,// he muttered after a while, a little sheepishly. //Got carried away. Stopped once I reached the stitched parts, though.//

Which on its own was kind of remarkable. Usually when he was out of sorts and lost himself in a task, he didn't tend to snap out of it again until somebody shook him for it. Thank goodness for stitches?

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "We won't come back to it, then."

He went back to the third hole and started in with the needle. "I'll go more slowly; see if you can match my pace. Let me know if I should slow down or speed up."

[furnaceface]

//If slowing down means just hanging around for a while with a needle half-in, I'd rather you not,// Jono replied, after a pause. He didn't mind the pain, or in this case the weird lack of it, but it was still just off. //But if you go at your usual pace and then wait for me to catch up, that... that ought to be fine, I think.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Whichever you prefer." Hannibal was flexible. He carefully made the first stitch, concentrating on the skin moving and holding together.

[furnaceface]

Jono nodded his head a little, eyes closed again. He could handle this. Keep himself aware of how much he was pushing himself, too. He still had a bit of work ahead of him. And the island was still a mess.

//Alright, then let's give this next one a go.//

He was already working on it, too.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal couldn't tell how far Jono had gone or how fast he was working, so instead he went at a slow, steady pace. He concentrated on pressing the skin together and sewing it carefully. And on projecting calm, which was only a little harder than usual, after Will's visit.

[furnaceface]

Still, it helped, and Jono took that calm and fed it into his focus, which he offered back to Hannibal again on a sort of open-channel. One was great for the other, after all. And as an added bonus, along with the focus would be a sort of vague awareness of just how much Jonothon had left to work at, and how exactly that focus was beginning to slip, the closer they got to the end of their task.

About halfway through the last hole, Jono paused, and, making certain the needle and thread were finished with, put a hand to the side of his head and muttered, //Oy...//

Somebody was getting tired.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal cleaned up and put away the suture kit, then set his hand on Jono's head, petting lightly. "Do you still want to try to finish them?"

[furnaceface]

//Dunno,// Jono admitted, leaning into Hannibal's touch. //I almost feel like I could, if I really pushed myself. But I'm not sure now is the time to push myself, either...//

The visions and the people who showed up just to mock seemed harmless enough. But there were still creatures outside who were quite capable of doing a fair amount of damage if they had a mind to.

[sharp_as_knives]

"You wanted each of them to be three-quarters finished to start," Hannibal said. "If you hadn't completely finished the second, they would be. That's a very good sign you're accurately gauging your own limits. If you think you can finish them, we'll do so. If you think it would leave you too vulnerable, we won't."

[furnaceface]

//I think...// Jono hesitated a moment, thinking on it. //I think... until we know more about what's out there, I had better not. Though once I've regained a bit of my strength, there's no reason I can't do the last little bit, too. Maybe we break for now, and try again in the morning?//

Right. Morning would be awesome for focus.

[sharp_as_knives]

Well, there was no knowing that yet. "In the morning," Hannibal agreed. He reached for the kit again. "I'll bandage these with a bit of padding, though you still may prefer to lie upon your side tonight."

[furnaceface]

Jono nodded a little.

//On my side or face-first, but on my side is easier on the ribs,// he muttered, exhaustion starting to catch up to him. //Might just throw in th'towel and sleep right here...//

Here was easy! Here involved not moving anywhere, which was nice.

[sharp_as_knives]

"And be very stiff come morning," Hannibal said. He bandaged each hole and packed everything away, then held out a hand to Jono. "Bed."

[furnaceface]

//Hnngh.//

It took actual effort to make such a guttural throat sound using only telepathy when he was this tired, but Jono was going to give it a good go anyway before grudgingly reaching for Hannibal's hand.

//Stiff t'morrow doesn't sound half as bad as effort tonight,// he muttered as he did so.

[sharp_as_knives]

"It will in the morning." Hannibal pulled him up and ushered him over toward the bed.

[furnaceface]

Jono shared another halfhearted psionic grumble, more just the impression of grumbling than any actual syllables, but still leaned on Hannibal and let himself be ushered across the room.

He'd lost his towel back there somewhere, because holding it up was also effort. But if somebody showed up to taunt them out of nowhere and got an eyeful, that was their problem at this point.

[sharp_as_knives]

If Will showed up, Hannibal would taunt him with naked Jono.

At the moment, though, he let Jono flop onto the bed and went to get his own pajamas on. "Would you like any clothes?"

[furnaceface]

//No chance,// Jono muttered. //If something breaks through the window to try to eat us, I will blow it to kingdom come wearing nothing but my birthday suit and a smile, and even the smile bit is iffy.//

For, you know, Jono reasons.

//I'm laying down now. This is where I stay.//

On top of the covers, fine, he no longer cared.

[sharp_as_knives]

It was almost as though you didn't know your partner, Jono.

Hannibal dressed for bed and turned the covers down, pulling them out from under Jono, before climbing in and pulling them back over both of them.

"If anything tries, I'll stay out of your way," he promised.

[furnaceface]

Hannibal was clearly more stubborn awake than Jonothon was tired. This was a good thing to know for future reference.

At the very least, Jono wasn't too tired to kind of wriggle over and cuddle up a bit closer to Hannibal. That was good, right?

//S'good. 'Cause 's been a long naffin' day an' 'm not gonna hold back, neither.//

When Jono got tired, he apparently got even more Cockney.

[sharp_as_knives]

Yes, Hannibal had noted this in the past. He wrapped his arms around Jono and sent back amusement and his own exhaustion. "May we both sleep well tonight."

Yeah, that wasn't in the cards.

[furnaceface]

//Cheers,// Jono muttered. //S'worth a shot, 'nyway.//

Come on, now. Jono didn't even sleep well on a good night.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Never stop trying." Hannibal kissed Jono's hair, breathed in his scent, and settled to sleep.