Hannibal and Jono's house, Christmas

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal and Jono had returned from their honeymoon in time for Christmas Eve, but where most people might have taken a few days to relax, Hannibal was taking the opportunity to cook.

Sparkle had been invited, along with their collective students, and they'd asked that word be passed to anyone who might still be on the island and needing or wanting to spend the holiday with others.

There were eggnog, coffee, lamb, quail, copious roasted vegetables, and desserts in the oven. The fireplaces were lit, and the smells of pine, spices, and roasting meats were everywhere.

Christmas was ready!


[OOC: EVERYONE IS INVITED! If you're around, feel free to drop in. SP is the name of the game, I expect.]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

"I didn't have to, but I absolutely should have," Hannibal corrected him. "Merry Christmas."

[myownface]

Sparkle chewed the inside of his cheek, then sighed and accepted the offering, looking at it quietly for a few seconds more.

"... I didn't get anyone anything this year," he murmured. "I mean, I appreciate the thought, but..."

Between this and the knife that he was going to get from Leto tomorrow, he was going to feel like a huge heel. He shook his head, and then tried a smile on for size anyway.

"Should I open it now?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"Gifts are given freely, with no expectation of return," Hannibal said. "You don't have to get me anything; I didn't expect it. I simply thought that this was something you would appreciate."

He nodded to the envelope. "Absolutely, if you would like. Or you can wait until you're home, if you would rather."

[myownface]

Sparkle chewed on his lip, and then nodded a little.

"Here's fine," he replied, smiling briefly and then working the envelope open. "I mean, the suspense is going to kill me if I don't, anyway."

That, or he'd get home, shove the envelope in a drawer, and try to forget about it until April.

"... Okay," he said, pulling out the contents of the envelope and staring. "I'm going to say 'you shouldn't have' again, you know that, right?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"I have a feeling that I very much should have," Hannibal answered wryly. "The island has not been treating you terribly well this year."

[myownface]

"I don't know if I should reply to that with, 'you say that like it's just the island,' or with, 'you say that like it's just this year,'" Sparkle replied, wearing a wry twist of a smile. "But... the vacation will be nice."

... To the moon. He was only slightly bemused about that one.

[sharp_as_knives]

Well, when you were on the moon, you bought gift cards to the moon. That was how it went.

"I hope it will. Hannibal smiled. "It's a lovely resort, and while there are things to do should you wish to, I thought the chance to relax away from here might be adequate on its own."

[myownface]

"Well, then... I... um." Sparkle tucked everything back into the envelope, still clearly processing all of this. "I mean, thank you. Here does get to be a little much, sometimes."

'Sometimes.'

[sharp_as_knives]

"You're very welcome." Hannibal toasted Sparkle with his own eggnog. "Enjoy it in good health."