Hannibal's house (which Jono doesn't eat much in), Sunday evening

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal had sent a text message to all the usual suspects - that was, everybody he knew on the island or who might have children there: Dinner tonight for the children and a chance to relax for the adults.

So he was setting about making food. A lot of food.


[OOC: Open to anyone; if you think you got the text, you did. If you think you didn't but you want to show up, feel free to drop by anyway! No OCD today; I'm continuing the trend of lazy.]

Comments

[myownface]

Oooh, an invitation like that was basically one that Sparkle couldn't refuse. Even if, well, he didn't exactly qualify.

Yes, he was sending a text message back.

I don't have any kids and I'm only an adult on the official paperwork. Which do I get classified under?

... Somebody was bored at the end of his workday.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal read the message and smirked, then texted back.

Welcome guest, and sous-chef as needed.

[myownface]

Oh, hey! Sparkle was good at both of those things!

I'll be over as soon as I close the store. How many you end up with this year?

[sharp_as_knives]

Only one; Angela, my child with Jono. Or at least, I haven't heard from any others.

[myownface]

Hey, that's a pretty manageable number, though. I mean, even I can usually handle ONE.

Sparkle grabbed his keys as he finished counting out the till, and then started turning the lights off around the clothing store.

[sharp_as_knives]

She's a lovely child, Hannibal texted back. Come along and you can meet her.

[myownface]

Looking forward to it! I'll be there in, like, five.

It wasn't like it was a long walk. Sparkle just had to be sure he did the last of the going-over-all-the-things to make sure he'd locked up and whatnot.

In five minutes, basically like clockwork, there he was, grinning at the glittery flamingos before giving a knock on the door.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal answered the door and waved him in. "No children of your own this year, then?"

[myownface]

"Nah," Sparkle replied with a shrug as he stepped inside. "Either I'm lucky or they're off stirring up shit somewhere. I figure if I make it through the weekend without having to pick up some kid I don't even know from the trooper station, I'm doing pretty okay, though."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille had calmed herself down a little since yesterday, and Cathy, her daughter with Cassandra, was a clever child. It didn't seem too strange for her and her friend to adopt a little girl if they were in a situation to do so, and according to Cathy they were.

Her other daughter bothered her more, but luckily Asdis had been more interested in making tiaras than reading poetry, so she had left her with Thorin.

Dr Lecter's invitation was very welcome, however, and Lucille knocked on the door, Cathy close behind her. "I will be very cross if you are rude to Dr Lecter or his fiancé," she told the girl.

[SP from me, hope that's ok]

[sharp_as_knives]

"That could be said of many of us," Hannibal said with a smile. He brought Sparkle through to the kitchen and poured him a beer, then handed it to him and led him quietly downstairs, where Jono and Angela were sorting through his records, discussing the music seriously.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal answered the door and smiled. "Lucille, welcome." He nodded to the girl. "And you are?"


[SP is always love!]

[myownface]

Sparkle followed along, beer in hand, little grin on his face as he saw the little girl crouched down and going through the... actually really impressive vinyl selection.

He kept the 'Doctor Lecter is marrying a hipster' comment that jumped to mind to himself, and instead piped up with a, "Oh god, she's adorable. Look at that adorable kid!"

[crimson_sister]

"Catherine Sharpe-Pentaghast," the girl replied. "My mothers call me Cathy." Lucille nudged her and she gave a small curtsy, while looking up at Dr Lecter with curiosity.

Lucille added: "Thank you for your invitation. It was very kind."

[I'm having issues with Cathy's journal so I'm playing her from Lucille's account.]

[clonewelldone]

Angela rolled her eyes at that, but grinned back over her shoulder at him. Then her eyes widened. "Mr. Sparkle?" She carefully set down the record she was holding and dashed over to him for a hug.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled at them both and bowed to Cathy. "Welcome, both of you. Please come in." To Lucille, he added, "I know these weekends can be trying." Also he was insanely curious and loved to meet everybody's future children.

[myownface]

Hug! Little kid hug!

"For lucky best wash," Sparkle cackled, holding his arms open to catch her. Because hey, Sparkle was never going to turn down a kid hug, like, ever. "Being trouble, kiddo?"

He figured it was safe to act like he always did with kids, here. After all, there was that hug incoming.

[crimson_sister]

The look Lucille gave him confirmed that the weekend was indeed trying. "In some future, my friend Cassandra and I adopted Cathy. She takes an interest in both poetry and music, so I thought she would appreciate visiting you."

"Yes, but please don't make me read Keats. I hate him," Cathy added.

[sharp_as_knives]

"No Keats," Hannibal said. "Duly noted." He led them in. "Would you like something to eat, or some tea? Or shall I lead you directly to the music room?"

[clonewelldone]

"I'm never trouble!" Angela declared, grinning and hugging him tight. "You're so young!"

What? Her parents were old no matter how old they were; Sparkle looked younger.

[myownface]

"What, and you aren't?" Sparkle was cackling as he picked her up and... well, he wasn't going to spin with the beer in his hand, you're welcome, Hannibal's flooring. But he was going to swing her around in place a little bit. "Better face it, kiddo. I'm gonna always be older than you, unless the island is doing its thing."

Which it technically was now, if only in a different manner of speaking, but he wasn't going to draw attention to that.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille gave Cathy a stern look, not appreciating this comment. She smiled at Dr Lecter, however. "Tea and something to eat would be lovely."

Cathy added a nod to this.

There was another knock on the door, a firm and loud one. "Mother?"

Lucille winced a little. How had Asdis found her way here?

[clonewelldone]

"Maybe I'll grow faster," she declared, giggling at being spun. When he set her down, she grabbed his hand. "Come help! We're picking music for dinner!"

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal eyed her as she made off with Sparkle - and not him. "Don't I get to help?"

[sharp_as_knives]

Already turning to lead them further in, Hannibal turned back to the door to open it again, raising an eyebrow at Lucille. "Is this another of yours?"