Gourmet suite at the Arms Hotel, Sunday

[sharp_as_knives]

This was the most crowded Hannibal could recall being in quite some time. There were several children in the master bedroom, one of whom was apparently his, her other father in another bed in his room (yes, thank you, Angela, but they were not a couple here, and you could stop looking at them like that), and Jono's friends on the pull-out couch in the living room.

On the bright side, it was a built-in audience for breakfast. So Hannibal was brewing some excellent coffee while he worked as quietly as possible at cinnamon polenta pancakes, sweet potato & pork belly hash, rosemary grapefruit, thick-cut bacon, and toast from some very good, dense bread he had.

And mimosas for the adults. He had a feeling they still might need a drink.


[OOC: open to those who stayed the night and anyone with a need to drop by!]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"Pssht," Karla said, waving that suggestion away. "They let Emma Frost have werewolf triplets. We should absolutely be able to get away with one."

[furnaceface]

//Well, her werewolf triplets are with Jack,// Jono noted, shrugging his shoulders. //Not that I'm advocating werewolf triplets in my personal future any time soon, of course, but...//

[glacial_queen]

"I'm just saying. If Emma can have psychic werewolf triplets, surely we can have one teeny little daughter," Karla pointed out. "She'd be adorable. Possibly unstable, but completely adorable."

[furnaceface]

//No child of mine could possibly be unstable,// Jono sniffed, looking up at the ceiling indignantly.

In the background, Kayla gave another boot to Nommy's shin. 'Just in case.'

//No child of mine.//

[glacial_queen]

Which just earned him a kick in the shins as well. Because the apple hadn't fallen that far from the tree at all.

"Says the male who still gets knocked on his ass by grapes."

[furnaceface]

//It's been years since you've done me in with grapes,// Jono argued, squinting one eye a little in pain and resisting the urge to just kick her back. //Years, Karla. I like to think I can handle a few grapes, these days.//

... A few. Not many. And slowly.

[glacial_queen]

He couldn't kick her! She was his Queen!

...Don't ask Lucivar for his opinion on that, though. Okay? It wasn't needed.

"Like to think," Karla agreed. "You like to think lots of things that aren't true."

[furnaceface]

//They're just grapes. I've been eating things again for years, you know. Grapes included. I'd even stopped making faces whenever Kenzi brought me chocolate.//

Mostly. Kind of.

[glacial_queen]

"Maybe the plain green grapes at the supermarket," Karla sniffed. "But I'm willing to bet that a ripe and juicy Concord or a champagne grape would have you flat on your back in no time."

[furnaceface]

//... There's a difference?//

Jono was hopeless. It was okay to just out and break that to him.

[glacial_queen]

Karla was going to do one better, actually. "Oh Hanni~bal..." she called lightly. "Jono doesn't understand there are different kind of grapes or that the differences ma~tter!"

Bam, Jono. Bam.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal grimaced. "We will have to have a tasting. That won't stand. Maybe after the children have gone home."

And he'd had a week or so to recuperate.

[furnaceface]

Jono was shooting Karla a quick 'you traitor' look.

//I... grapes. They're grapes.//

Keep digging that pit for yourself, Jon.

[glacial_queen]

"Right," Karla said, rolling her eyes. "And all beers are alike, too." She shook her head. "I'll have to see how the arbors are doing in Balmia. There should be enough early grapes for a proper tasting, if people don't mind coming for a visit."

She gave a delicate shiver. "Be nice for everyone to get out of the cold for a bit anyway."

[furnaceface]

//... Wait, where?//

Sorry, Jono wasn't familiar with this 'Balmia' of which you spoke, Karla.

[glacial_queen]

Karla shot him an annoyed expression. "I'm sorry, has it been that long since you returned home that you've forgotten it?" she asked too sweetly. "Remember, there was that whole contract you signed and everything?"

[furnaceface]

//The contract, I remember,// Jono replied, looking more than a little bit baffled. The confusion carried just as clearly in his voice, too. //The early spring grape harvests and the decidedly more summery territory name are new. But of unseasonably warm weather this year for Glacia?//

Or just denial?

[glacial_queen]

"I see you and Nommy have been trading jokes," Karla sighed. "Ahahaha, yes, Glacia. Right. Terribly frigid all the time, I'm guessing? As opposed to Fandom, which is all warmth and coziness."

She couldn't hit that sarcasm button harder if she tried.

[furnaceface]

//I... wot?//

Karla. Karla you were hurting Jonothon's brain. Stop it.

//I mean, of course I'll go. It's just I'm not-- I think maybe I'm just tired and confused or something. Kids all weekend, you understand.//

He was wide awake.

[glacial_queen]

Karla just patted his head. "Of course, dear. Blame the children. That's very adult of you."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Wine comes from grapes," Hannibal pointed out. "Do all wines taste the same?"

Wine would be very nice about now. Where was the pitcher of mimosa?

[furnaceface]

//Well, no, of course not. I just...// Jono groped around impotently for words. This clearly wasn't working out in his favour. Dammit, Karla. //Never really had the opportunity to learn the difference back when I could just up and do so at my own leisure, is all.//

[glacial_queen]

"Keep back-pedaling, Jono," Karla muttered from behind her glass.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Hence the need for a tasting," Hannibal answered. "Then you will know the difference."

[furnaceface]

//Then I'll know the difference,// Jono agreed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. //Makes sense enough.//

He so wasn't going to survive the experience without hitting overload, was he?