Hannibal's house (that Jono may be regretting being in tonight), Thursday night

[sharp_as_knives]

After numerous false starts, a (metric) ton(ne) (depending who you were asking) of planning, and only a little bit of veiled threatening of vendors, they had finally gotten to this point, which required manual labor. And Hannibal had no plan of doing it on his own.

So, he set the boxes on his desk, along with a list and two fountain pens, and called, Jono?

Comments

[furnaceface]

So far as Jono knew, there weren't even any angels in Fandom at the moment. Dropping the ball, island. Dropping the ball.

//We must know somebody,// he replied, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. //If not some religious figure, at the very least a head of state or... something. I don't think the Mayor is the type, though. Lady Ghanima is some manner of nobility, though. It might be worth asking her for a favour?//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal thought of the woman he'd met all of twice, and nodded. "Do you know her well? Do you think she would be willing?"

[furnaceface]

//Well, she's been a teacher here since my days as a student, and she and I aren't on unpleasant terms now. I think she got a kick out of how awkward I was the first time she and I were paired together at Caritas during the three minute dates.//

He shrugged.

//I think she might be willing. And I can't think of anyone else. I'm not asking Didi to do this, and while I'm certain Karla would get a kick out of an offer, I'd rather be able to count her as a guest. Not put her to work. We are not asking any of the Dark Court in Kaeleer, either. We don't need Warlord Princes murdering the guests because they didn't bow to the exact degree or anything like that. Rinoa's been out of touch again, I think Loki and Thor have both gone back to Asgard and I wouldn't ask Loki to officiate our wedding unless I didn't mind gambling our marriage with a trickster god. The mayor... would likely just laugh in our faces, from what I know of Tamsin, though I might be wrong. I've got no idea if John counts as a priest, but we'd probably have to blackmail him to do it, or risk being tied together by some manner of supernatural binding clause. Kurt is... dead... I think. Hard to keep track of who is and isn't back in New York these days. I'm guessing you don't want to ask any of the Jedi?"

They were technically priests. Of a sort.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal would totally chance Loki or John, just for the interesting potential of it, but he was willing to go with Jono on this.

"Not Skywalker," he agreed firmly. "And I don't know the others very well. Lady Ghanima seems like a good choice. From my observations, she has poise and gravitas, but she wouldn't be stuffy or afraid to enjoy herself."

[furnaceface]

//I don't think I've ever known Lady Ghanima to be stuffy or afraid to enjoy herself,// Jono agreed. //Now we just need to... er... ask her.//

And hope that she was free on the date they'd picked, as well.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Does she have a phone?" Hannibal asked. "Or at least, a phone number and her universe's equivalent of a way to answer it?"

[furnaceface]

//... Not sure. I suppose we can look her up.//

Jono had never exactly had a reason to phone Ghanima before, after all. Or a mouth to do so with. But the island did have a directory, and now Jono was pulling out his phone to try to find her name on it. Couldn't hurt, right?

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal went back to the invitations, leaving Jono to not being able to pretend he couldn't work a computer. "If you can't find her, I believe Sparkle is dating her brother; we could ask him."

[furnaceface]

//... Small islands.//

Honestly, now. Everybody knew everybody around here, or was at least a friend of a friend. You'd think Jono would know that by now.

//Alright, then. If I can't figure out how to contact Lady Ghanima, I'll let you do it, since Sparkle's closer to you and all.//

Jono had nothing against the kid, but he was more Hannibal's friend than his own, and it really just made sense, after all.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nodded. "But I should think she has some method of her students getting in touch with her."

[furnaceface]

//One would think, though if she isn't teaching this summer we might have a more difficult time of it.//

Jono shrugged.

//Not the end of the world, really. It isn't like we haven't had other challenges getting this wedding planned so far.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Considering neither of us had even contemplated it prior to Christmas, I think we're doing quite well," Hannibal answered.

He smiled as he set the next invitation aside to dry for a moment. "Then again, we are exceptional."

[furnaceface]

//And not at all modest,// Jono replied, looking up in amusement from his phone. //Though I'm not about to argue.//

There was nothing in the multiverse quite like the two of them, was there?

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'm pleased to hear it." Not to mention just a bit smug.

He finished another invitation and gave Jono a sly look. "If you call her and finish your part of the invitations soon enough, I've found a lovely recipe for warm strawberries with sambuca and mascarpone."

There was no harm in a little incentive, was there?

[furnaceface]

//... I'm fairly certain that's cheating, Hannibal.//

That was not stopping him from scrolling the island's database a little faster, though. With any luck, her phone would still be working, and he'd score himself some strawberries for his efforts.

It was the little things, really.

[sharp_as_knives]

"It's positive reinforcement," Hannibal answered solemnly. "A psychological technique with a very long history."

It was totally cheating. This was Hannibal. And his part of the invitations was getting visibly done.

[furnaceface]

//I feel a bit like a dog doing tricks for treats,// Jono said, wrinkling his nose good-naturedly. //But I do have to say, you certainly know exactly what treats it takes to get me to do tricks.//

Strawberries. Always cheating. Always.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Positive reinforcement works with any number of species." Hannibal folded an invitation into its envelope. "And I like to think I know you very well by now."

He'd better, since they were getting married.

[furnaceface]

It would be a really awkward marriage if he didn't, true.

//Better than most,// Jono allowed. //Which of the two of us does that work out better for, do you suppose?//

[sharp_as_knives]

Probably Hannibal. "I should think it works for both of us. Unless you don't want the strawberries."

[furnaceface]

Hannibal was certainly much better at using what he knew in order to get his own way, it was true.

//Of course I want the strawberries,// Jono replied, blinking. //I think you'd have to check me for fever if I decided out of nowhere that I didn't.//

Because Jono. Because strawberries.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I believe I can say without checking that you're positively on fire," Hannibal answered wryly.

[furnaceface]

//I will give you such a pinch, Lecter, don't think I won't.//

You could tell how serious Jono was about that by how amused he sounded as he said it. Hannibal was on a very small list of people who could make that joke with impunity. He had better appreciate that.

[sharp_as_knives]

He appreciated it very much.

Not that he wouldn't have said it if he weren't on that list, but it was gratifying to know that he was.

"You could have pinched me years ago," Hannibal answered, a smile playing around his lips. "You're marrying me instead."

[furnaceface]

...

Just for that, Jono made a reach to pinch him.

It was love.