(no subject)

[the_cupbearer]

Usually, when Ganymede is collecting the arils from pomegranates he's doing so in large numbers; today that is not exactly the case. There are only a few of the ruby-colored fruits, all the seeds going into a bowl on his lap, beside which there is the long, elegant head of a dog.

The little puppies he had last time aren't with them--veterinary trips are a necessity--but their mother seems to be enjoying the time off.

Totally botherable.

Comments

[scarred_grin]

Pyrrha's conflicted, on the subject of pomegranates. On the one hand, she loves the color--matches her hair-stripe--and they sure taste good. But on the other, the sight of the seeds still in context with the rest of the fruit creeps her out a bit, like they're some kind of alien fruit-eggs and if she eats them there'll be some kind of horrifying vine-form chest-burster situation. Or trees? She's not exactly sure what they grow on, but vines seem more disturbing from a chest-bursting lifeform point of view.

Anyway.

One tall, lanky goth in tiny shorts and a faded Depeche Mode shirt, settling onto the couch nearby with some pizza and soda (and a familiar baby asleep in a sugar-skull-print sling).

[the_cupbearer]

Ganymede looks up, confident in his handling of the knife as he scalps the fruit and breaks it open into sections.

"You must be Pyrrha," he says, noting Egil in the sling at her side. "You look a little conflicted."

[scarred_grin]

He's... pretty.

Really, really pretty.

She's trying not to stare--really, she's grateful to have something to look at other than the creepy pomegranate guts, and while she is very happy in her committed relationship, it's perfectly normal to appreciate other people's attractiveness, but... damn. He is pretty.

"...hi," she says. "I am. Are you a friend of Teja's?"

[the_cupbearer]

"I am," he says. "I'm not incredibly familiar, but I know him, yes. Do you know Loki?"

[scarred_grin]

"I'm... I'm the other roommate," she says after a moment's hesitation.

Well, Loki trusts him. It's okay for her to say it.

"Me and Teja, we're getting married, so we're kinda Egil's foster-parents. That way he's got some stability when I'm not here, you know? He's got Teja and the cats to look after him."

[the_cupbearer]

"It sounds like a good arrangement," he says. "I'm supposed to babysit him at some point, I'm told."

[scarred_grin]

"He's a really good kid," she says. "It's only a matter of time before he's able to shapeshift on his own, but for now he still can't, so there's that. On the bright side, when he's in fox form he's got his own litterbox, just like the cats, so he doesn't need changing."

It's convenient, really.

"He may be the happiest baby I've ever met."

[the_cupbearer]

Ganymede only smiles, at her and at Egil, and at the ease with which she cares for him. "I've met him as a fox, yes. He's quite adorable in both shapes."

He brushes fingers over the sugar-skull printed cloth that's holding him. "Where did you get this? I haven't seen one used in quite a long while in my world. They're coming into fashion again, but not quite yet in such patterns."

[scarred_grin]

"I made it myself," she says. "I had a bunch of the fabric--I actually made a dress and some pajamas and things like that for myself out of it, and I figured he should have something nice and colorful. And since I kinda got noodle arms, it's the easiest way for me to carry him. He may not look heavy, but after a while... he's getting bigger, too. Giant baby."

[the_cupbearer]

"After a while they do get heavy, yes," he chuckles. "I never had one quite that colorful... But the last time I had a child she had one. It was blue," he says.

"I applaud your sewing skill. I never had so much."

[scarred_grin]

"You should let me make something for you," she says.

Well, if you're going to make art, you want it to be in a good frame, don't you? His style seems different from hers, but... pretty.

"I don't just do baby accessories, though I did make him most of his clothes. I made my wedding outfit too, and I made a candy uniform and all kinds of other stuff."

[the_cupbearer]

"What would you make me, then?" he asks.

[scarred_grin]

"Anything you want," she says. "I don't know what your normal style and lifestyle needs and all are, and it wouldn't really work for somebody who doesn't know you to just come up with something without any input. Are there things you like, or things you absolutely don't like, or things you've kinda wanted to try but haven't yet?"

Fashion-wise.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal walks by with a cup of coffee, looks at the pomegranates, and smiles.

"Hello, Ganymedes."

[the_cupbearer]

"Hello, Hannibal. You can use my anglicized name," he says, pausing midway through splitting open a fruit. "I do use yours."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal dabs his finger into a splash of red that the pomegranate made on the table, and licks it off.

"Lovely fruit," he says. "Which do you prefer?"

[the_cupbearer]

"At this point, probably Ganymede," he says, watching the other man and ruffling Ammera's fur, petting it back down.

"They do make very good drinks."

[cook_the_rude]

"More than that," Hannibal says. "May I sit?"

[the_cupbearer]

"Of course," he says, folding his legs up to make room, and situating the bowl of jewel-like arils on his lap.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal sits beside him, reaching out to touch the dog's silky ears.

"What are you planning to make with them?"

[the_cupbearer]

"With these, syrup," he says. "I'd require quite a few more to make much else."

[cook_the_rude]

"You could use them for a salad or another dish," Hannibal points out. "I like them in many things."

[the_cupbearer]

"Giving me suggestions?" he asks, teasing.

[cook_the_rude]

"Better," Hannibal says. "I'll make you a sauce."

[the_cupbearer]

"Oh?"

Ganymede flicks the arils off the membranes of the fruit, and into the bowl with practiced brushing motions as he talks.