Hannibal's house (that Jono clearly thinks is his), Sunday

[sharp_as_knives]

Despite Hannibal's former office well on its way to being converted to a workout room, Jono had gone out running today. Since it generally took him a while, Hannibal had decided it would be the perfect time for a very personal meal.

After his run, Jono had worked out. And then headed for the sauna. Hannibal sent him a bit of amused approval as he plated his lunch, then let him have his time alone - his wrappings hadn't gone back on in over a week now, but he had needed a bit more decompression time after returning home. It was a work in progress.

Meanwhile, he was going to enjoy his pot au feu - marrow bones to one side with some very good salt and toasted baguette slices, tender meat sliced thin with vegetables arranged nicely among the slices, and just a bit of mustard and horseradish swirled in.

Bon(e) appetit was probably too obvious a pun, wasn't it? Never mind, then.



[OOC: WARNING - CANNIBALISM. Contents of Hannibal's meal (and thus the discussion about it) very much NFB.]

Comments

[furnaceface]

Jono raised a hand (which was at the end of an increasingly relaxed, somewhat noodly arm) to point a finger of approval in Hannibal's direction as well as he was able considering the awkward angle.

//Good idea,// he decided. //On top of everything else, the last thing we need to deal with would be questions.//

Aside from the useful ones about ring size and gem cut and so on.

[sharp_as_knives]

Well, the usual wedding ring would have no gems. Then again, they had just (re-)established that neither of them cared for the usual.

"I'll check the places I know of from my world, and see if they exist there, then do a bit of research on the best other places. Then we can plan a time to go."

[furnaceface]

//Sounds like a plan,// Jono murmured. //One more thing to add to the to-do list. Seems fairly straightforward, at least.//

... Jono didn't go ring-shopping often, clearly.

[sharp_as_knives]

And Hannibal wasn't going to disabuse him of the notion. He was finally getting him relaxed; the actual process of ring shopping would wait. Anyway, there were other marriage preparations to make.

"I've already procured some decorators' names and suggestions, along with quotes for the paint and minor renovations that the Boards will need. The contractors are loving us." A sauna, heated floors, a new extension for an office, not to mention the initial complete renovation of the place...he was making a large slug very happy.

[furnaceface]

Jono was cracking open one eye and glancing back at Hannibal again.

//The Boards'll need renovations?//

What kind of renovations could his theatre possibly need to accommodate some people walking down the aisle and standing in front of an audience?

[sharp_as_knives]

"The Boards are fine for community theater and talent shows, but they could use a coat of paint and a few minor fixes to look truly wonderful," Hannibal pointed out. "It seems as good a time as any to do it before we have friends from several different worlds coming together to see us married."

Hannibal and Jono's conceptions of weddings seemed to have a bit of disconnect.

[furnaceface]

Hannibal, you were getting Jonothon's sad eyes, now.

//I thought I had renovated the place.// Himself. Years ago. Before the indoor waffle rain. They probably could at least take some more paint, if nothing else. //New seating, laid in the carpeting myself...//

The now waffle-stained carpeting.

He was possibly missing the point.

[sharp_as_knives]

"The carpeting could use a good cleaning," Hannibal said. "And there are a few floorboards that might need replacing. Most of them could use polish. And paint for the walls." He shrugged. "I have no intention of changing it, only of bringing it to the peak of its beauty." He smirked and poked at Jono's side. "I'm not moving my things in."

[furnaceface]

There had been speculative squinting for a moment, before the poke to the side prompted a little squirm, instead.

//Touch-ups, then,// Jono replied, seeming more or less mollified with that answer. //It has been a few years since Troy and I did a complete overhaul of the place. Doesn't seem like so long as all that. Feels a bit like forever ago, too. Hard to keep track.//

Sorry, Hannibal. The Boards had been his baby for quite some time before the whole Fortress X mess. He was a touch protective.

//For what it's worth, th'floorboards should be fine. We'd replaced anything that didn't seem structurally sound at the same time we changed the seating and the carpets. But the paint job, I'll grant you. And the carpet cleaning.//

Bloody waffles.

[sharp_as_knives]

"That will simplify things," Hannibal said with a nod. "Mostly a good cleaning, then. Unless you'd like to change the color of the walls? If you're looking for a change, now would be the time."

[furnaceface]

Now it was time for Return Of The Squint: The Squintening.

//... Is this your way of telling me you don't like th'colour of th'walls?//

He didn't seem to mind, for what it was worth, though if he did any colour changing so far as that was concerned, he'd probably be considering something like wood paneling. Something not-too-bright so that when the house lights went down, the walls weren't still bouncing back all the ambient lighting from the stage.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Not at all," Hannibal said. "Only pointing out that we've no need to keep the color, if you'd like a change. We can match the current color, or I can have them bring in some alternate choices. What would you prefer?"

[furnaceface]

Jono was quiet for a few moments while he considered. It was fortunate that Hannibal was giving him that massage. It definitely made him more open to consider things like this.

//Mahogany.//

What? He'd been thinking about things like that before, but the price of mahogany wood paneling for the walls had been more than a tiny bit prohibitive, once upon a time. Less so, these days.

//Something that'll still look good after the wedding. It's dark, but dark's preferable, there. Anything on the stage'll have to stay black, but if you have a different preference, I can just paint over it again once we're finished with it.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal raised an eyebrow. "Mahogany paneling?" he asked to clarify. "I'll have them bring samples. And if we want anything else on stage, we can take care of that with decoration, and leave the paint as-is."

[furnaceface]

//That'll work,// Jono decided, after some consideration. //You know, after all this, I might have to consider putting on some sort of show there again. It's been entirely too long, and that's a lot of work to put th'place through for the sake of one afternoon.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'd like to see that," Hannibal said. "Although I suppose I'll still need to go elsewhere for my opera. Some of our students would undoubtedly enjoy the opportunity to act." And Jono would love producing it, but that went without saying. Mostly because it was still easier to convince him to do things for others than for himself.

[furnaceface]

//Knowing this place, any attempt at opera would be set upon by gremlins before we knew what was happening,// Jono pointed out, shaking his head. //They certainly didn't respect Wilde.//

What had Wilde ever done to them, anyway?

//Maybe I start easy,// he mused, relaxing again. //Do another showcase or something. Those usually had a better turnout anyway, and I won't be stuck in the lurch if I find I can't cast certain roles.//

Which would be a bloody disheartening way to try to ease himself back into theatre.

[sharp_as_knives]

"That sounds like a good idea," Hannibal agreed. "You could even do both - a showcase with a shorter play in the mix."

[furnaceface]

//Worth considering,// Jono replied, thoughtfully. //I might think about doing a one-act... something. Maybe three or four actors. I usually have difficulty casting more than that.//

Small towns, eesh.

[sharp_as_knives]

"One of the teachers has been teaching drama lately; perhaps there will be a few more interested students now," Hannibal said.

[furnaceface]

//Perhaps,// Jono replied, shrugging his shoulders just a little. //I hardly know most of the students these days. It'd be a good chance to get to know them, I suppose. In case of whatever the island throws at us next, and all that...//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Which is another thing to consider when we work on scheduling as well," Hannibal said. He shook his head. "It would be good if we could convince the island not to throw anything at us for one weekend. Perhaps if we wait for the next invasion, and plan as soon as it's over?"

[furnaceface]

//Won't that basically involve throwing together an entire wedding, complete with invitations, cake, decorations, and whatever else needs to be done, more or less overnight?//

Jono knew you were good, Hannibal, but that one seemed a little extreme.

//If anybody can pull it off, it's you, but our off-island guests might take exception.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Then we set a date and hope for the best." Hannibal was dubious, but it seemed all they could do. "Summer, perhaps? There are rarely major invasions in the summer."

[furnaceface]

//Mmm, true. Alien abductions, perhaps, but rarely actual invasions.//

It was sad when that seemed like the safest course of action.

//And less of a chance of being hit with another blizzard on the wedding day. If we are, we'll know the island is specifically out to spite us, and steps will have to be taken.//

... Like marrying elsewhere.