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

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[glacial_queen]

And this was where Karla smiled and explained that, yeah, she was joking and no, that was never going to happen because hello. Cannibalism. Kaeleer might not have any laws about murder but there were still limits, okay?

"...I'll think about it."

D'oh!

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal gave her another little bow. "In the meantime, may I interest you in some pancakes?"

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[glacial_queen]

She darted a curious look at him.

They weren't--?

Okay, no, not the pancakes. The bacon, though?

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[sharp_as_knives]

"Pork," Hannibal answered the unspoken question. "Although if you should feel adventurous...?"

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[glacial_queen]

"Is there, Father?" Audric asked, perking up and swiveling his head towards the kitchen.

Karla...wasn't entirely sure how to react to such an enthusiastic response from her son for human flesh.

Were there parenting books that covered this sort of thing?

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal could probably write one! Child psychology wasn't his specialty, but he did have the training.

"Not here, I'm afraid," he answered Audric. "I wasn't expecting to cook for anyone with the palate for it. But I should have some sausages in my office."

Hey, at least he wasn't refusing vegetables!

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[wee-kannibal.livejournal.com]

Why would he refuse vegetables? They were delicious!

"Will you get them?" he asked, looking up hopefully at his father. "We can have Mother try them! Her first time will be with us, together!"

What a silly and yet delightful thought!

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[sharp_as_knives]

"I can't leave my guests in the middle of breakfast; that would be very rude," Hannibal pointed out. "But your mother is welcome to join us for lunch, unless she has other things to do."

That way Karla had an out. Provided she could say no to that adorable face, but that was hardly Hannibal's problem.

Hannibal Lecter, manipulative? Film at eleven!

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[glacial_queen]

Right after the groundbreaking editorial about how water was--get this--wet!

"I--err, well, you see, I'm not really sure--that is..." Karla stumbled over her refusal, caught between curiosity, revulsion, and Audric's bright and shining eyes that pretty much begged for them to share a family meal together. "I think it's a little to soon for me to make that step," she said lamely. "But maybe next year, if you come back to visit us again?"

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[wee-kannibal.livejournal.com]

Audric tried for stoic, but he was not yet as good as his father at hiding his emotions. "As you say, Mother."

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[glacial_queen]

Great. Now Karla felt horrible. For not eating people. How was this even her life?

"I'm sure Dr. Lecter--err, Hanni--err, your father and I can come up with something to do today as a family instead." Big, pleading eyes towards Hannibal. Help her fix this!

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[sharp_as_knives]

Unlike Karla, Hannibal was immune to pleading eyes. But he knew when it was in his own best interests to give in.

"We can still have a family lunch or dinner," Hannibal offered. "I would be pleased to cook for you, no matter the meat." He thought of what he could get quickly. "Perhaps duck?"

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[glacial_queen]

"I love duck!" Karla said quickly. "Both because it's delicious and because I have a vendetta against waterfowl."

And this was why your little family worked, Karla. Because you were okay with eating the flesh of your enemies. Duck now, humans later.

"A late family lunch would be marvelous," she decided, mentally handing off responsibility for Kayla to Warren. "I'd like to get to know Audric a little better."

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[wee-kannibal.livejournal.com]

"No sisters?"

Look, some things needed to be specified up front!

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[sharp_as_knives]

"As would I." Hannibal nodded, then raised an eyebrow at her. "A vendetta against waterfowl?"

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[glacial_queen]

Karla pursed her lips, looking caught between defiant and chagrined. "Waterfowl don't like me very much. It all started when I was very little and tried to keep a swan's nest warm while the parents swam."

It hadn't ended well. For Karla or the eggs, really, but mostly Karla.

"And even here, well...the flamingos kind of have it out for me. For reasons beyond my control."

There had been an epic three-way battle between Black Canary, Mistress Mayhem, and Blossom. The flamingos had come in a distant fourth and never let them live it down.

Re: Inaudible to everyone else...

[sharp_as_knives]

"Neither bird is known for its mild temperament," Hannibal pointed out. "Duck it is, then."