Hannibal's house (in which Jono is probably still on Cloud 9), Sunday evening

[sharp_as_knives]

It really had been a lovely trip, but it had brought up a few questions. Now that they were back home, Hannibal had some phone calls to make. (Jono did, too, but he was still what passed for "giddy" for him, so Hannibal had a feeling his calls would be waiting till later.)

So, he retired to the study with the list of off-island people they'd sent announcements to, prepared to call as many as he could to verify they'd actually gotten them.



[OOC: Open post! If you want Hannibal to have called you, he will!]

Comments

[furnaceface]

//Kayla will always be the baby,// Jono countered. //Just because there is a second baby in the picture doesn't mean that's changed. Kayla will be a baby at least until she's thirty-five.//

So there.

//... But a lock on the music room wouldn't go amiss.//

Another pause.

//At least until she learns to walk through walls and such.//

Hopefully that was a life skill to be picked up later, rather than sooner.

[sharp_as_knives]

"By the time she has the strength and control for that, she should be able to keep from accidentally destroying our instruments," Hannibal said, perhaps optimistically.

He paused.

"Bob owes me for our vacation. I'll see if he can enchant the walls to prevent it." Just in case.

[furnaceface]

//... And now I'm curious to see how his magic holds up to Blood Craft,// Jono mused. Before looking down at his phone again.

And going right back to making stupid faces at the baby photo.

//If it makes the house safer for her, though, it's absolutely worth a shot. Look at her, Hannibal!//

Jono, he'd seen.

[sharp_as_knives]

"She sent me the picture as well." Hannibal shook his head and sat by Jono, laying his arm along the sofa behind him.

"You plan on indulging her shamelessly, don't you?"

[furnaceface]

//Spoiling her rotten before sending her home to Karla and Worthington,// Jono confirmed cheerfully, shifting his weight a little and cuddling in. //I've already missed too much. I've got a lot of lost time to make up for, you know.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"All that neglected Cockney influence." Hannibal tsked. "Has she ever even had mushy peas, apart from baby food?"

Baby food absolutely did not count.

[furnaceface]

//I don't actually know,// Jono lamented, because no, baby food really didn't count at all. //Something that'll need to be remedied, most certainly.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I told Karla if she visits I might even let you use the kitchen," Hannibal teased.

[furnaceface]

//For the steak and potatoes she's decided are the best in the land?// Jono was teasing right back, now. //She can tell the difference between mine and Cook's. Still thinks mine are better. I don't know whether to be flattered or concerned.//

Ermengarde was never going to figure out that secret ingredient.

[sharp_as_knives]

Was it anything like Hannibal's secret ingredient?

...probably not.

"I should try them some day," Hannibal said. "For comparison purposes."

[furnaceface]

Nothing like Hannibal's secret ingredient.

//You'd probably figure it out in an instant,// Jono replied. //But then, you're more familiar with Earth spices than she is. It wouldn't be much of a contest for you. Ermengarde might kill me if I tell her the secret ingredient is love one more time, though.//

Even if he did get a kick out of it. Maybe especially because he got a kick out of it.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Let me guess," Hannibal said, "salt from Earth?" Kaeleeran salt was different enough he could taste it, anyway.

[furnaceface]

//Soy sauce,// Jono replied, teasingly. //Just a little. Olive oil, too. Simple things we take for granted here. I'm not quite so good at picking out the difference between different varieties of salt yet.//

And he could only manage so much using borrowed tongues.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smirked. "Sneaky." He liked it. "And the potatoes?"

[furnaceface]

//Same pan as the steak,// Jono replied, shrugging. //And the onions. So it all sort of marinates together. You have to start the potatoes first, of course, since they take so much longer, but once you get a feel for how long it all takes, that's simple enough.//

Culinary secrets by Jonothon Starsmore.

To Hannibal, of all people.

[sharp_as_knives]

Just because Hannibal knew how to cook steak and potatoes didn't mean he knew how Jono cooked them.

"So, my part in cooking this for Karla would be supplying ingredients?" he asked, smiling. "And a pan. I've a cast-iron skillet that might work quite well."

[furnaceface]

Jono gave a little smile around the corners of his eyes, and then leaned in to nudge Hannibal jokingly.

//It's either that, or you cut the onions,// he replied. //I won't hold it against you if you opt to stick to supplying a pan, though.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I should leave that to the one of us that doesn't breathe," Hannibal teased right back. "But it would be interesting to sous-chef for you." He cocked his head. "And now I feel rather like a steak. Would you like to share?"

It wouldn't be quite like Jono's own, no, but Hannibal could definitely cook a steak.