Hannibal's house (where Jono still has scales), Friday night

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal cleaned up after his dinner and went back up to the sauna, shooing the cats away. Again.

He leaned against the wall inside and gave the tiny bright snake a look. He was stretched out and looked indecently happy. He was also still a snake. "I don't suppose you're planning on turning back in time to wear a ring, are you?"

Comments

[furnaceface]

//Just in case they were still under some misguided impression that the island was in any way normal,// Jono agreed, amusement in his voice.

[sharp_as_knives]

"As unlikely as that is?" Hannibal chuckled. "I often wonder how long it takes them to realize." It had taken him a matter of minutes; meeting alien students had a way of doing that.

[furnaceface]

//I suspect there are some students who leave here never realizing at all,// Jono mused. //'Normal' is relative, after all. I mean... look at me.//

In fairness, Jono was even fairly unusual where he was from.

[sharp_as_knives]

"That only means it is normal for them; there's nothing more to be aware of." Hannibal cocked his head thoughtfully. "I imagine my world would be very strange in comparison."

[furnaceface]

//You have a nose that might rival Logan's and you think that's relatively normal,// Jono groused. //I think your world is more confusing than mine.//

He meant that lovingly.

And with not much actual experience with Hannibal's world, granted.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I never claimed it was normal," Hannibal said, grinning, "merely within the bounds of standard human biology, albeit at the upper end." Like so much of him.

[furnaceface]

//Okay, then your definition of standard human biology is weird,// Jono countered, with a wrinkled nose that suggested that he'd be sticking out his tongue if he was able. //Either way.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled again and ruffled Jono's hair. "Well, it begins with something more or less like you, but with less fire and more skin."

[furnaceface]

//And that's an odd starting point,// Jono decreed. //I'm anything but standard.//

Now he was just being a brat.

[sharp_as_knives]

"You are, of course, exceptional," Hannibal teased back.

[furnaceface]

//And that's one of the reasons we make such a good pair,// Jono decided. //I don't imagine you'd settle for less, either.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal grinned. "Perish the thought."