Hannibal's house (which he and Jono are glad to be back to), Sunday morning

[sharp_as_knives]

After the last few hectic days, Hannibal slept in (and made sure Jono did his best to do the same), then took the time to make himself a proper, involved breakfast. Grapefruit, crepes, thick-cut bacon, and his best coffee.

And strawberries. Because Jono hadn't had a wonderful weekend, either.

He was going to take his time just to enjoy everything in quiet now for a while.


[OOC: Open post! Feel free to drop by for breakfast or afterward!]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

It was best not to ask, really.

"But healers hold their own complications," Hannibal noted. He smiled as he checked his work and moved to the next bad break. "And if you're going to be worked on by a surgeon, I would prefer to know it's being done correctly."

Not to mention he was slightly possessive.

Just a bit.

[furnaceface]

The tiniest bit, yes. Jono didn't seem to mind all that much. His track record with hospitals was... bad.

//That's the preference all around, I think,// he replied, closing his eyes and settling his cheek against the tabletop again. //I trust you'll do a good job. I'm just going to be insufferable otherwise.//

Moreso than usual.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled. "I will do my very best, of course. But I expect you'll be insufferable anyway."

[furnaceface]

//Well, how else will you know I'm still alive?//

It was much easier than trying to check his vitals, wasn't it?

Since he sort of didn't have any?

[sharp_as_knives]

"That was not a complaint, only an observation."

The drill came out again for the next rib. "These should be the only wires needed; I'll manipulate the rest into place, and your bandages will hold them. Fortunately we don't need to worry about your breathing."

[furnaceface]

//Oh, believe me, I know how lucky I am that breathing isn't something I need to worry about,// Jono noted. //Ignoring everything else for a moment, what are the odds that I wouldn't have survived the broken ribs, anyway?//

High. Those odds were high. The butlers had clearly been attacking with intent back there, and if ever there was a next time, he was going to be decidedly less hesitant to use lethal force. He was already kicking himself for it over the weekend's events. They could have all gotten killed.

... They could have mostly gotten killed. Except for him. He would have remained alive and well, to be well aware that he'd gotten everyone killed.

[sharp_as_knives]

"It would depend upon how quickly you'd gotten medical attention," Hannibal said. "They certainly knew what they were about."

He started threading the wires. "Did you know," he said with no small amount of satisfaction, "that I wounded one of them rather well?"

[furnaceface]

//Is that so?// Jono was glancing back again, sort of, a look of interest in his eye. //Well, there's a story you'll have to tell me, right there. Th'best I managed was giving my two some nasty headaches.//

In fairness, they were really nasty headaches.

[sharp_as_knives]

"A scalpel to the back of the hand," Hannibal said. "Severing at least one ligament and a good number of muscles. She wasn't pleased."

Which explained his own injuries after.

He finished the wiring and set about manipulating the other fractures.

[furnaceface]

//Bloody hell,// Jono murmured, though there was a pleased note in there all the same. //No wonder she laid you flat back there. Maybe she would've let you off easy if you hadn't cut her open so wide.//

A beat.

//That said, she probably had it coming.//

Had Jono mentioned he wasn't a big fan of the butlers? Could he emphasize that a little more?

[sharp_as_knives]

"Seeing as she was planning on killing me, yes," Hannibal agreed. He felt along that bone and set the other break, then moved to the smaller ones.

[furnaceface]

//I'm still amazed we all made it out alive, you know. Barely, granted, but... alive. It was dumb bloody luck they changed their minds. I should've at least given people a chance to turn back before I stalked through that gate.//

Should have could have...

Of course, he didn't figure most of them would have taken him up on that offer. It was one hell of a gamble, with so many students in tow.

[sharp_as_knives]

"And how many would have?" Hannibal asked. It was their decision, Jono; no guilt.

One more break...there. He started cleaning and sewing.

"It would have been good had they changed their minds a few minutes faster, granted."

[furnaceface]

//If there's ever a next time, I'll just start screaming my head off like a bloody lunatic before they even throw a punch,// Jono muttered. //It's bailed me out of a few tight spots before.//

He just had to be careful who it was he was screaming at. It wouldn't exactly be helpful if he went and scattered the brains of the people he was meant to be fighting with, or saving, would it?

[sharp_as_knives]

"Not a bad defense mechanism," Hannibal said. "And it would keep you out of reach as well."

[furnaceface]

//And as an added bonus, it's something I can do whether I'm like this, or big and blue. Not that I'm planning on ever being big and blue again. But life happens.//

Screaming was a great power to choose, okay?

//Staying out of reach is my new favourite strategy. And considering all this, maybe I'll actually remember it next time.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Please do." Hannibal was almost finished stitching now, and keeping a careful eye on Jono; screaming might be a good defense mechanism, but he'd rather not hear any just at the moment.

[furnaceface]

//Then I will,// Jono muttered, turning his head the other way so that he could get some of that cool table action going on with his other cheek. //Next time something wants to kill me, I'll scream at it.//

There. Good plan. Great plan.

He was closing his eyes tight again and just sort of half-trying to drift. The discomfort was starting to give way into a dull ache again, which he suspected wasn't going to remain quite so dull for long.

//How much more have you got t'do?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Two more stitches...there." Hannibal tied it off and gave Jono one more injection before cleaning it up. "The incision is actually fairly small, but your muscles won't be happy with any of this."

[furnaceface]

//They'll get over it,// Jono replied. //It's a step up from the state I was in before. While we're at it, would you mind taking a look at my side, just to make certain nothing's broken there, too? I don't think anything caved in quite the same way, I think it's mostly just a boot-shaped imprint and a few fractures to add to the damage that's been there for years. But a second opinion can't hurt.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal stripped off his bloody gloves and obligingly felt along the ribs in that area, then shook his head. "Perhaps tiny fractures, but it's structurally sound. Nothing to do but relax and wait."

He squeezed Jono's shoulder. "Let me bandage this, then we should probably get a clean set of leather bandages; these have seen better days."

[furnaceface]

//Thank you,// Jono replied, nodding slightly. //I didn't think it was anything quite so disastrous as what you just fixed, but figured it couldn't hurt to check.//

He wasn't in any hurry to get back up, anyway. It was kind of nice on the table, and if Hannibal needed a few more minutes for bandaging...

//Maybe after that, I'll attempt some actual sleep. Still bloody exhausted.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'm not surprised. It's been a long few days." Hannibal bandaged the incision and kissed the top of Jono's head. "I'll be right back. Your spares are in the closet?"

[furnaceface]

//Unless I'm out,// Jono agreed, //though I don't think I am. I'll try not to pass out right here on the table in the meantime.//

It'd be a tough call, though. He really was exhausted, and it was starting to catch up to him.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled. "If you're that tired, come with me. You can sit on the bed as easily as here. And I happen to be going that way."