The 'A Cut Above' Orphanage (Formerly Groovy Tunes), Saturday

[furnaceface]

Jonothon Evan Starsmore, the stunningly handsome and ridiculously wealthy rock-star descendant of the late Jack Starsmore, heir to the vast Starsmore Fortune, esteemed leader of the mighty and powerful Clan Akkaba, and wielder of Mysterious Powers of Which He Never Spoke, walked through the front door of his childhood home with a smile on his perfect lips, framed, as always, by his gorgeously chiseled jaw. Finally, after the years of ill-advised flings, illegal sushi parties and a caffeine pill addiction that had gotten him kicked out of the priesthood and had all but decimated his rock and roll career, he was back on his feet, and making a difference in the world.

And today, he was going to thank the man responsible for his recovery by writing his biggest check yet to his friend and mentor, who had founded the orphanage A Cut Above and who had showed Jonothon the importance of teaching today's less fortunate youth the most important of life skills, which would guarantee them a lifetime of financial stability and possibly a few illicit sushi parties of their own...

Rock and Roll.

"Jono, my dear boy." Hannibal came out to greet him smarmily. "You're looking well." He was dressed immaculately as always, and the light in the room picked out his beautiful cheekbones, edging them dramatically. It wasn't a lie, but it was a calculated flattery; he owed Jonothon for making this possible. At long last, he would be in a position to influence and train young minds, marinating them in the creative juices of music. "I have to thank you for your kind donation."

"Of course," Jonothon said graciously, bowing his perfect head for just one moment of solemn contemplation. "Anything for the children. After all, it does take so much time and money and patience and tenderness to keep the doors always open, the way you do. Who knows where I would be today, if not for the way you passionately developed my taste for music and helped me sink my teeth into the business. I truly am a seasoned professional, now, all thanks to you." A single tear rolled down his cheek. "I only hope that my contribution can do the same for any ripe young minds that find themselves under your care."

Hannibal smiled tenderly. "I'm sure it will. I look forward to helping many young people to feed the senses of the world, and to taste the richness of life."

[OOC: Because Rock-and-Roll Orphanage run by a cannibal. Had to be done. Co-written with never_dull and so, so open for any orphans who need a home, a career in rock-and-roll, and a tragic addiction to sushi in their lives.]

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[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal paused a moment to appreciate his own puns, hid an obvious smirk from Jono, then gestured at the foyer they were standing in. It was beautiful, perfectly decorated, and looked as though it had never been used in its life. A small table stood to one side, an inexplicable vase full of something that wasn't flowers perched on top. "Do you like what I've done with the place?"

[furnaceface]

"Of course," Jonothon Evan Starsmore, the stunningly handsome and ridiculously wealthy rock-star descendant of the late Jack Starsmore, heir to the vast Starsmore Fortune, esteemed leader of the mighty and powerful Clan Akkaba, and wielder of Mysterious Powers of Which He Never Spoke, said. "It's very... tasteful."

Ba-dum.

"Exactly the sort of atmosphere needed to enrich the lives of the orphans under your care. And speaking of richness..."

He reached into the pocket of his very expensive jeans and produced his checkbook.

"I've written down a 'one' on this check so far. We really do need to talk about how many zeroes are going to have to go after it in order for you to give these children the life they really deserve."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Can we really put a price on a healthy and loving environment and the opportunities music presents?" Hannibal shook his head, smiling. "Whatever you feel is fair, of course. I wouldn't dream of insulting you by suggesting anything less than your best."

Shut up, of course that made sense.

"Will you be joining me for dinner? I hope the first of the children will be here by then."

[furnaceface]

"Perhaps I'll just continue writing zeroes down until my hand cramps, then," Jonothon mused, embarking to do just that. "And of course you know it would be my pleasure to join you for dinner tonight. I just can't get enough of your cooking, Hani."

If that sounded suspiciously like 'honey' after being wrung through Jonothon's obviously fake pseudo-British accent, well, clearly you were hearing things. It wasn't at all placed there as a tidbit to see if an implied infatuation would do anything for the ratings.

Besides, Jonothon had chemistry with everything from evil twins to table legs. It was one of the few things about his character that remained constant over the years.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled back widely. He did so love being complimented on his food. Plus, he was mostly there to appeal to the older demographic; if screen time with Jono could get him an in with a younger audience, maybe he'd last longer than one season.