Groovy Tunes, Saturday

[furnaceface]

//Oh...//

Jono was at work at the Groovy Tunes once again, and today he was listening to a 90s alternative station, because some things were just never going to change, thank you very much.

//Oh my.//

And if that 90s alternative station just happened to play a collaborative song between Placebo and David Bowie, well, he certainly didn't know that was about to happen, no.

//Hnnnn.//

But he definitely wasn't complaining.

Groovy Tunes was open, and the owner was going to be rummaging through his stock for that song and then playing it on repeat for the rest of the day. No reason. Really.

[Open as well! OCD-free! Aw yiss.]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal could say (and probably would, should anyone ask) that he was here merely to visit a friend.

The truth was closer to "visit a friend and also make certain his next weekend was free and also bully him into attending Thanksgiving dinner despite being neither American nor capable of eating".

But here he was. And listening to the music rather bemused at the...interesting...reaction it was eliciting from Jono.

[furnaceface]

Don't judge him too much, Hannibal. Jono was totally allowed to have that reaction to Bowie. He had fond memories of meeting the man.

... More fond than most.

//I'm unclean, a libertine, and every time you vent your splee-- Doctor Lecter!//

Well, this was awkward. Not that he was getting up and moving his hips in time to the music or anything.

Much.

[sharp_as_knives]

No more than Hannibal was smirking.

"Are we back on a last-name basis?" he asked, amused. It seemed the most innocuous thing he could ask just now.

[furnaceface]

//No, of course - I just - bloody hell.//

Jono ran his hand through his hair, looking more than maybe a touch awkward.

//Was caught a little by surprise, is all. I didn't leave you standing there long, did I?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Long enough," Hannibal answered, still amused. "Good music, is it?"

[furnaceface]

//Well, I'm a fan,// Jono replied, scratching awkwardly at the back of his neck. //Of David Bowie, especially. Listened to all of his music growing up, practically religiously.//

And then had a very good night with the man much later.

//Right, then. I. I'll just. Er. I'll sit down.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Don't feel you must on my account," Hannibal answered. You were so amusing when you were flustered, Jono.

"David Bowie - he was here for one of the family weekends, wasn't he?" He was the one who looked very much like Hannibal's uncle.

[furnaceface]

//He was,// Jono agreed, shoving his hands into his pockets if only to hide the worst of his fidgeting. //He was here visiting Sheila, when she was running the antiques shop. Hell of a man.//

And how.

[sharp_as_knives]

It was like that, was it? Interesting.

Hannibal shrugged. "He seemed pleasant enough when we spoke. A countryman of yours, isn't he?"

Yes, even Hannibal with his spotty knowledge of pop music had heard of David Bowie.

Yes, he was being a total troll.

[furnaceface]

//He's from Brixton,// Jono agreed with a shrug of his shoulders. //Another lad from London, so there's a bit we have in common on this side of the pond. You spoke with him too?//

Of course he had, Jono. Hannibal was a little shit who got into everything, and shame on you for not knowing that by now.

//I only really met him on that particular weekend, myself. I'm pretty certain I amused him, what with the way my jaw bloody near hit the floor.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Oh, was that what had happened to it? You should be more careful, Jono.

"He looks very much like my uncle," Hannibal replied. "I believe I amused him wondering if he were a distant relation."

He really had been a pleasant man. Hannibal hadn't had sex with him, though; that would have been awkward.

[furnaceface]

Look, losing one's jaw over Bowie was a completely understandable, if freakishly uncommon affliction. Jonothon could hardly be blamed.

//... Imagine if he was. I wouldn't be terribly surprised to learn that an artistic streak like the two of you both have is something that runs in the family, mate.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled and nodded at the compliment. "Apparently he knows of no relations in Lithuania or France, however. And I know of none in Britain. It would seem to be merely a quirk of genetics."

Because in sane worlds, that was the quirkiest genetics got.

[furnaceface]

Jono was actually somewhat jealous of places where genetics worked that way.

//... Not a bad quirk to have.//

Certainly a very attractive quirk to have.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Not at all," Hannibal agreed. Although if you tried for a threesome with Hannibal and his uncle assuming he's alive, that would just be weird, Jono.

[furnaceface]

Even Jono had limits to his Bowie appreciation! Fortunately.

//So,// he said, feeling at least sightly less awkward as he hiked himself up to sit on the edge of the counter, //to what do I owe the pleasure of your company today? Or did you just stop by to watch me dance?//

Yes. Dance. He was going to call it that.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal would accept that liberal application of the word, yes.

"I wanted to make sure you'd received the invitation for Thanksgiving," Hannibal answered, moving to lean on the counter next to him. "And that you were planning on coming."

Or had a very good reason not to, Jono.

[furnaceface]

//It got to me safe and sound,// Jono promised, giving his head a slight nod of confirmation. //I just haven't had a chance to respond yet.//

He'd been very busy with his undulating to Bowie and Molko.

//Not that... responding really... takes much effort...// He was also at least getting slightly better at stepping on his own bullshit before somebody else was forced to do it for him. //There might've been some procrastination involved.//

Effort was hard. People were harder, and Jono and Thanksgiving, which wasn't even his bloody holiday, had a somewhat tenuous relationship.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I suspected there might be," Hannibal answered, not unkindly. "But I plan on doing a good deal of cooking for the day, and would welcome your sharing it."

[furnaceface]

There was a moment's silence (music aside) before Jono drummed his fingers on the countertop.

//I wouldn't want to disappoint,// he replied. //Were there many people invited?//

Pretty much anyone capable of eating food, and apparently one who wasn't, Jon.

[sharp_as_knives]

"My friends, most of whom you know, and the faculty and students at the school," Hannibal answered. "I don't expect most of them to attend; last year it was a very small gathering."

Because some people had no taste.

Not like that.

[furnaceface]

//I suppose some people go home for it. Apparently it's one of those big family holidays in America.// Or so he'd been led to believe by Paige, who was also bloody insane, so that was probably not the best benchmark for that sort of thing, right? //And most of the people on the island are temporary residents, away from home.//

So, at least that much made sense. Of course, there were also plenty who didn't have homes otherwise...

//I'll come along, then. I enjoy your cooking and your company, and I'd probably be tied up and dragged along regardless if I were to decide otherwise, mm?//

He knew how this worked.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Only as a last resort," Hannibal said, chuckling. "But I promise to make it as painless as possible."

[furnaceface]

//If anybody can...//

Hannibal was pretty good at that sort of thing, generally. It helped that he wasn't outright antagonistic or particularly clingy. Jono could appreciate both of those qualities in a person.

//Is there anything I ought to bring? Dress code or something of the sort? I never have any bloody clue when it comes to the holiday ones.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal spread his hands. "Bring yourself, and wear clean clothing. Something nice if you have it, but comfortable. If you've a mind to bring anything else, you may, but I'm not asking it." He smiled. "I simply can't resist a holiday that centers around food."

[furnaceface]

//I find myself utterly not surprised,// Jono announced, looking amused. //They're not typically my favourite, but I have to admit, these get-togethers you put on are helping with that, somewhat.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"You've discovered my ulterior purpose," Hannibal confided. "I'll have you enjoying parties in no time."

[furnaceface]

//Ambitious, mate.// Jono certainly didn't seem to be complaining. //You might manage to get me to a place where I can begrudgingly admit that parties aren't actually all that bad, but enjoying them seems as though it's pushing it a little, don't you think?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"It's a slow process," Hannibal acknowledged. "I have faith."