Hannibal's house to Baltimore, Monday afternoon

[sharp_as_knives]

After lunch, Hannibal went to pick up the flowers he'd ordered - some just to brighten the house, which he set out on the tables, and one deep red rose, still with thorns, with which he armed himself as he stood in the foyer.

Are you ready to go? he thought at Jono.



[OOC: Going to be NFB once they leave the island, but okay until then! Hallelujah for one of my characters having an anniversary I can actually remember!]

Comments

[furnaceface]

//Ready as I ever am,// Jono replied, making his way down the stairs. He'd actually dressed fairly decently today, because trips to the mainland generally called for at least that much, didn't they? At least, they did where Hannibal was involved. He was still in the process of tucking his shirt in when he joined Hannibal in the foyer. //Will this do?//

He was perfectly capable of dressing himself, yes. Especially these days. But since he had no idea where exactly they were going beyond 'past the causeway,' whether he'd put on an appropriate button-down and jacket combo was well beyond him.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal, for his part, was wearing a perfectly decent pair of slacks and light sweater - rather casual, for him. He smiled at Jono and held out the rose. "That will do nicely."

[furnaceface]

The rose, thorns and all, left Jono a little bit confused for a moment, simply by virtue of the fact that he was being handed a flower at all. It wasn't until he blinked and reached to take it, careful to avoid pricking himself, that he really managed to process the fact that it had happened. He looked, perplexed, at the flower in his hand. And then back up at Hannibal again.

//It's lovely,// he said, because that much was certainly true. //And now I'm suddenly paranoid that I'm missing something important, here.//

Because an outing, he could fathom. They went out all the time, these days, and plenty of those outings were very thoughtful surprises on Hannibal's part. But the flower bit was new, unless Hannibal was suddenly in the mood to be the sort of shameless romantic that Jono himself mostly just denied ever being.

Or unless Jono was missing something.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smirked, and debated with himself how long to leave Jono hanging. But then, this day was about enjoying time together, not Jono being too distracted to pay attention. "Don't tell me you've forgotten our anniversary?"

[furnaceface]

//Forgotten our...// Okay, the rose was being squinted at, now, as though Jonothon was expecting it to come to life and give him answers, here. Unremarkably, it did no such thing. //We passed our anniversary, Hannibal. It was weeks ago.//

The flower continued to sit there in his hand, being thorny and unimpressed.

//Ah... Unless that wasn't the anniversary you were...// He looked up then, eyes seeking out Hannibal's. //Oh.//

In hindsight, he wasn't certain why he thought even for a moment that Hannibal would be concerned about something so mundane as 'that time they decided to start dating' at all. This was, after all, Hannibal they were talking about.

[sharp_as_knives]

This was very much Hannibal. And there were many more important things in his life than deciding to date someone. Or deciding that you already were, for that matter. "This one means more." He reached to take Jono's hand. "It struck me as significant enough to celebrate."

[furnaceface]

Jono's hand closed around Hannibal's, and he nodded a little. This was definitely the one anniversary that marked a make-or-break occasion in their relationship, there was certainly no denying that much.

//We're still here,// he noted. //We could be looking at a very different sort of anniversary today, if that conversation had gone even slightly awry.//

The night Hannibal had come to visit, and had presented him with the shattered, burned-out Jewel of one of Glacia's less savoury members of the Blood. The night they both looked one another in the eye with the understanding that they were both hunters, of a sort.

[sharp_as_knives]

"But instead, here we are." Hannibal grinned. "Very slowly planning a wedding." He tugged Jono toward the door. "And meanwhile, enjoying ourselves." He had plans.

[furnaceface]

//Planning a wedding at a glacial rate,// Jono agreed, though he sounded vaguely amused all the same as he let Hannibal tug him toward the big scary outside. //And thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Do I get a hint about where you're taking me today? Or is this one a surprise?//

Considering what the anniversary was, Jono was having difficulty puzzling out what kind of destination would be appropriate for the occasion. And he was afraid to speculate too much, because his brain automatically went to horrible places.

[sharp_as_knives]

Honestly, Jono, trust Hannibal to come up with something appropriate.

Not that that necessarily precluded "horrible", actually.

"I think I've found a place suitable and enjoyable," he said. "Given the nature of both that evening and of our relationship."

[furnaceface]

//This isn't going to be another one of those bone cathedrals, is it?//

IT WAS A PERFECTLY VALID QUESTION, LECTER.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal gave him an arch look. "That would be unoriginal, and so hardly in keeping with the day."

And don't try to peek at the Portalocity destination, Jono; he'd only given them a street address. Unless you were inclined to peek into Hannibal's mind, you would just have to wait.

For the duration of a portal.

[furnaceface]

And what a long wait that would be. Oh, wait, no, Portalocity didn't give Hannibal the horrifying stopovers.

Jono would somehow survive the wait, he supposed.

//I suppose it would, at that,// he allowed, a vague amusement in his tone as he leaned to bump shoulders with Hannibal. //We're headed directly there, then? Or are you planning on keeping me on tenterhooks all day?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"As delightful as that prospect sounds," Hannibal waved him toward the portal, "we're headed directly there, yes."

When Jono stepped through, he would find himself in Baltimore, standing in front of a museum. Of sorts.

[furnaceface]

And once he realized what it was he was stepping out to look at, giant green sea serpent and all, he was going to need a moment to kind of blink. And stare.

And then turn around to wrap his arms around Hannibal, because so help him, he wasn't actually capable of laughing his ass off at how unexpected this was, but he had to show his appreciation of this situation somehow. Who knew that all he had to do was be (somewhat) accepting of his partner's murderous ways and he'd get taken to a terrible tourist trap as an anniversary gift?

//If you tell me this is a joke, now, I'm going to be upset, Hannibal.//

This was amazing.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal laughed and wrapped his arms around Jono. "I thought it rather appropriate." Unbelievable and unexpected, but hopefully enjoyable. "Although unlike our relationship, I reserve the right to make comments on the sillier aspects of it."

Actually, that wasn't too far off of their relationship, either, was it?

[furnaceface]

//What, you mean you don't make comments on the sillier aspects of our relationship?// Jono gave his head an amused shake. //You might have to start, then. Now you've got me wondering if there are any that I haven't already commented on myself.//

Because it wasn't like Jono to hold his tongue, even when he didn't have one.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Closer to our relationship than I'd anticipated, then," Hannibal said, still grinning. "Although hopefully we are somewhat less tacky."

[furnaceface]

//Shouldn't be difficult to manage,// Jono decided. //If you can make wearing multiple types of plaid at once look tasteful, you can manage basically anything.//

If he could make celebrating the day he told Jono he was a serial killer into a pleasant outing, he could manage basically anything.

[sharp_as_knives]

It was less celebrating telling him than it was celebrating Jono accepting it and not telling him to leave.

"In that case, shall we see?" Hannibal kept one arm wrapped around Jono and nudged him toward the door. "I must admit I'm somewhat curious."

[furnaceface]

//You and me both,// Jono replied, letting Hannibal guide him to the entrance. //This is utterly ridiculous, I hope you know.//

That was high praise, really. Jono looked like he was on cloud nine. Look! This place had a portrait of Michael Jackson made completely out of soda cans! Because he was the King of Pop! This was MOST EXCELLENT.

[sharp_as_knives]

"It seemed a good opportunity for it." Hannibal smiled at Jono as he paid for their tickets. "And I'm not opposed to a touch of ridiculousness now and again."

[furnaceface]

//No, I suppose not,// Jono agreed. //Lord only knows how you'd manage to tolerate me if you were.//

Considering the fact that Jono's own penchant for ridiculousness ran deep.

[sharp_as_knives]

"With considerable patience," Hannibal answered, but he was still grinning.

They had an "odditorium". Hannibal never minded a good pun.

"...why would anybody make a sculpture of Pop-Tart wrappers? Although I suppose it's a better use than eating the things."

[furnaceface]

//Somebody really likes their Pop-Tarts, I suppose...?// Though Jono had no idea what to make of it, himself. He was giving it a pretty decent squint, all the same. //Right up there with the tinfoil dinosaur, I suppose.//

A beat.

//Hopefully there won't be any punching, with this one.//