Groovy Tunes, Sunday

[furnaceface]

Jono's twitchiness was starting to lean into an edge that he just couldn't shake, no matter how much jogging or training or playing loud music he did around the island. It was almost getting to a point where he wanted to go to the mainland just to patrol to see if anybody needed a good beatdown.

...

Now there was an idea.

So, on Jonothon's shift today, after pausing to roll his eyes a little at the note Iris had left for him about the music she'd borrowed on Tuesday, he was pulling out his phone and flinging a text off to Jubilee.

Done any good patrols for muggers lately?

Lord, he needed to throw himself at a good demonic invasion or hellish alternate future or something.

[OOC: Open!]

Comments

[sharp_man]

Hannibal, of course, could tell that Jono was increasingly twitchy. He'd told Karla he might have to find something for him to do. Fortunately, today was a day for gifts.

Even if he had to come to the music store to give them, because Jono was too antsy to stay home long enough that morning.

So, here was Hannibal. He had a jewelry-sized box with a bow on it in one hand.

[furnaceface]

Jono finished firing off another text to Jubilee in reply to her reply indicating that she had figured he might have other plans today already.

Why would I have other plans?

He glanced up to see Hannibal with a gift in his hand.

//Oh.//

Hell.

//Right.//

[sharp_man]

Sorry, Jono; there were some things even you couldn't escape. Well, not for good.

Hannibal shook his head as he came over and set the box down on the counter. "Did you forget the date, or have you been deliberately ignoring it?"

[furnaceface]

//Ignored it until I forgot it?// Jono hiked his shoulder up for a moment. //I mean, it isn't as though it actually means a hell of a lot at this point, does it?//

Too many realities, too many timelines, too many voices in his head.

Well. A few less voices in his head than before. Same amount of lifetimes, anyway.

[sharp_man]

"It's a way of marking each year, should you care to do so," Hannibal said. "It is also an excuse for me to gift you with things."

[furnaceface]

//There are plenty of holidays for both of those things,// Jono pointed out. //... But I won't tell you to turn around and take that gift back until Christmas or anything, either.//

He was too kind.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal grinned. "I had a feeling." He kissed Jono's cheek. "Happy birthday."

[furnaceface]

//Right, right,// Jono muttered, at least making a token attempt at sounding grumpy about it.

He was failing at it, but he'd made the attempt, anyway.

//Thank you, though.//

[sharp_man]

"You're welcome," Hannibal said, smiling.

[furnaceface]

//So,// Jono said, after taking a moment to just sort of settle into the idea that they were acknowledging this, now. //... I suppose I open it now, hm?//

He was working his way around to this.

[sharp_man]

"That would be the tradition, yes," Hannibal answered.

[furnaceface]

//Hnf,// Jono replied, though his tone was edging into playful as he reached for the little package. //When do we ever do anything the traditional way?//

[sharp_man]

"You haven't opened it yet," Hannibal pointed out with a smile.

[furnaceface]

//True enough, that,// Jono allowed, pulling the little box open and peering inside.

[sharp_man]

Inside, on a plush removable lining, were a pair of guitar picks.

[furnaceface]

Jono blinked at those picks.

And tilted his head.

And then reached into the lining to pull one out and look it over thoughtfully.

//They're lovely,// he said, turning it over between his fingers. //Stone?//

[sharp_man]

"Meteorite," Hannibal confirmed. "Durable, lovely, and, I'm given to understand, with a lovely sound."

[furnaceface]

Jono was terrified to think what a pair of guitar picks fashioned from bloody space rock probably ran.

But then, he'd been with Hannibal long enough to know that they could both afford it, and it was better to just not let himself worry, besides.

//Well, then I look forward to putting them to use,// he said. And then paused, and nodded toward the guitar wall. //Mind if I do?//

[sharp_man]

That really was the best policy, yes.

Hannibal smiled. "Please."

[furnaceface]

Jonothon nodded and made his way to the guitar wall, considering the selection for a moment before pulling one of his favourite acoustics down and settling in with it.

//Any requests?//

[sharp_man]

"Knowing you, Pearl Jam?" Hannibal said, grinning. He had no particular preference himself, but he knew Jono.

[furnaceface]

//Alive it is, then,// Jono replied, a very nearly cheerful note in his voice as he started to play the opening riff.

Look, it wasn't the most technically impressive song they had, but it was a fun one to play the intro to, and the intro was a distinct one. Ah. Even on acoustic.

//... Lord, that's clean.//

He wasn't sure he had a better word for it. He was kind of in love with a guitar pick, now.

[sharp_man]

"I'm pleased you like them," Hannibal said.

Since they cost more than most people made in a month or two.

[furnaceface]

//I do, very much,// Jono agreed. //Thank you.//

Maybe one day when he was feeling like flailing for a good hour, he'd google these things and see what they came to.

[sharp_man]

"You're very welcome." Hannibal smiled, then nodded toward the box. "There is another present as well."

[furnaceface]

Jono cast a sideways sort of look at Hannibal at that, and then he shrugged and, setting the picks both carefully on the counter, went digging into the box a little further.

//... Is this a business card?//

[sharp_man]

"It is," Hannibal agreed. "I can give you all the details whenever you like. I thought you might appreciate a new project to focus your energy into."

[furnaceface]

Jono considered the card, read over the name on it, and then pulled out his wallet and tucked it away for safekeeping.

//I'll think on it,// he replied. //Today, it's my birthday. I don't want to do any more thinking than is strictly necessary.//

And he didn't want to talk about what Hannibal wanted him to do to the person whose card it was while there were potentially squirrels about.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal nodded. "The present is yours. I can explain it further whenever you would like. For now, I hope you will enjoy the picks."