Hannibal's house (which might someday be Jono's, too), Saturday afternoon

[sharp_as_knives]

With Jono off at work, Hannibal had made himself lunch and then retired to the music room to compose something on harpsichord. He was playing for stretches, then writing down the parts he liked, happily working through it. Beethoven was curled up on the bench next to him, and Joni was curled up on top of Beethoven.

All in all, a quiet afternoon at home.


[OOC: Open for visits!]

Comments

[myownface]

"Yeah, I try to do that," Sparkle replied, nodding a little. "Most of them keep pulling out the same scare tactic, keep showing me a life where I rotted in prison for a while, lost basically all of my friends, that sort of thing. I'm not in a hurry to live that life."

[sharp_as_knives]

"You've already avoided it once," Hannibal pointed out. He smiled. "And I have no intention of abandoning you. Eat your crepes."

[myownface]

Sparkle's mouth kind of went a little dry at that. It was still hard to say his thanks for something like that, to show his appreciation when somebody said they weren't going to leave him and they meant it. He didn't want to believe it. It was safer to not believe it.

Always had been.

"Someday, I'll be able to take that at face value," he sighed, reached for his fork, and cut a bit off the side of his crepe. "I'm trying. It's... not... like... anything against you personally if I don't, right away. I know you've been here since as far back as you knew me, you know? And I appreciate it. A lot."

There was a very short list of people in the world who hadn't let Sparkle down. It was hard to believe that the list wasn't going to get shorter right away, but he appreciated very much that it hadn't.

"So, thank you."

For giving him something to try to take at face value. For being there.

[sharp_as_knives]

"You're welcome." Hannibal sipped his coffee calmly. "I know it isn't personal; you've been terribly wounded by your past. The challenge, as you see, is not to let it define you.

He squeezed Sparkle's hand briefly. "Remember - you have overcome it all before. You're still here. Anything you become from this point on can be your own decision. And should you need help in deciding, I'm always willing to be a sounding board."

[myownface]

"When you're not being run ragged by wedding planning?"

Look at Sparkle, suddenly desperate to steer the topic to something a little less himself again. He loved being the center of attention in all the ways that didn't matter for anything. This was overwhelming.

He was going to get all choked up.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smirked but allowed the change of subject. "I have no intentions of letting it run me ragged. I enjoy planning parties. Although if we could set a date, that would be a good start."

[myownface]

"Might help," Sparkle agreed, skewering some fruit on his fork and taking another bite. After he'd swallowed, he added, "If there's anything I can to to make life easier for you guys while you're planning, let me know, hey?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"I will," Hannibal promised. "For now, I hope you'll keep visiting from time to time."

[myownface]

"I'll have to make a point of it," Sparkle decided. "I mean, it isn't like I don't live just down the street or anything."

Really, Sparkle didn't have much excuse for not visiting any of his friends, at this point.

[sharp_as_knives]

"True." Hannibal smiled. "And I always enjoy having a friend for lunch, or dinner. Or breakfast, even."

And they had heated floors, Sparkle. Heated.