sharp_as_knives | Office Hours, Tuesday evening

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Office Hours, Tuesday evening

Hannibal had been wary about coming back here after all the singing on Friday, but things today seemed fairly sane. Or at least largely within the bounds of science and psychology that he could extrapolate to. Which was good, because he had finishing touches to put on tomorrow's lesson, now he'd been assured the proper ingredients.

[OOC: Open door, doing paperwork, please drop by! Still needing a TA...]

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"Well, her personality seems unaffected." Hannibal's lips twisted in amusement. There was something incredibly amusing watching the impeccably dressed and equally postured Count being attacked by a cub.

You should see him when she's sick!

Drac sighed, flicking his wrist to send a small ball of purple mist bouncing around the room so that she could play with it as he returned to his chair.

"Yes. Though at times, she acts like she did when she was only 88. But I don't know if that is because of the excitement of being away from home or this."

Eighty-eight? "How old is she now?" He watched her chase the purple ball. "Has she never been away from home before?"

"A hundred and fifteen." Drac waved a hand. "I know, I know. She looks younger. She should grow a few more inches before she's 120."

He settled in the chair, crossing his legs again. "I run a hotel, exclusive for monsters. There's no need to leave home."

"If you'll forgive me saying it, Count," (He could be deferential when ~~it suited his purposes~~ needed!) "children often wish for things that aren't needed. And new experiences can be good for them." He sat back, nodding at the wolf cub. "And perhaps for adults as well."

"At a hotel," Drac was too pleased that someone knew the proper way to address him to be mad at the interference in his parenting skills. "New experiences come to us. Just last month we hosted our first Wendigo wedding." The write-up in the papers had been very complimentary about the hotel!

"And Mavis is safest at home with me."

"I imagine that's true," Hannibal conceded. "Still, perhaps coming here will serve as a good experience for you both." And that was as blatant as he cared to get in one session.

"Wendigo?" He frowned, changing the subject and trying to place the word.

"Wendigo. I know, I know. But they specifically asked, and I made it plain that they would have to obey the rules of the hotel, including the ban on eating other guests."

"Though I had to maintain a tight control over my chef. He was looking forward to trying his hand at cooking human."

Not going to happen on Drac's watch. Sorry Quasimodo.

So many possible replies! And he was trying so hard to be good here. "I thought you had no humans as guests? Or were your chef's culinary skills simply not up to it?" It was, granted, an acquired skill.

"Human free since 1898," And Drac preened hard at that, thank you.

"But there are any number of monsters out there that eat flesh, including some who eat other monsters. Hence the ban. If someone wants to bring their own food, it still has to follow the rules. I'm very particular about what can be served on our menus. No monster should feel unwelcome at Hotel Transylvania."

As to the chef... "Chef Quasimodo has assured me he can make the finest delicacies from humans. I have assured him that will set Human and Monster relations back centuries."

"No doubt that's true." If unfortunate. "What did these wendigo do, then? You can't have a wedding without a reception." Call it professional curiosity.

Drac waved his hand. "We had a variety of foods. Including substitutes. While not exactly the same thing, they do provide the nutrients needed. And Quasimodo is clever at what he does."

"Apparently there are a number of meats that taste similar to human." At least enough that humans couldn't tell the difference.

He pointed at Dracula, smiling. "Though you bring up the subject of tomorrow's class nicely. Eating isn't always about nutrition. At least, I should hope not."

Drac chuckled. "There supposedly are. We used some of them, and also meat substitutes. You get used to using substitutes really quickly after hearing some of the horror stories."

"We made sure the couple and their guests were well entertained and fed, even if their primary choice in cuisine was not available. I have been told that the location and safety more than made up for the lack of human on the menu."

He raised an eyebrow at Doctor Lecter. "Eating not about nutrition? That's an interesting idea."

"Horror stories?" That did sound interesting.

Then Hannibal shook his head. "Surely you've consumed things purely for the pleasure of it before? Your chef must prepare beautiful and tasty dishes that aren't all about the nutritional content." If not, he wasn't sure who he ought to pity more.

"Well, yes, he does." Drac had to think about this a moment. He leaned back in his chair and templed his fingers. "I guess I wonder if nutrition can be dropped at all from the conversation. The idea that it needn't be considered is... odd, to me."

"It is generally one of the considerations," Hannibal acknowledged. "But if I may present an example, at human weddings cake is traditional these days. It has little to no nutritional value; its value is in its beauty and taste and the tradition behind it."

He would have loved to ask about the "drinking blood" thing, but Mavis had seemed to enjoy his food, and in any event he suspected it would be rude.

"Surely you mean nutritional purpose? There is still value, though it may not be positive."

"I stand corrected." Hannibal nodded at him and tried not to sigh. "But yes, I suppose everything has a value. It's simply not always the driving force behind its consumption. Or even a strong consideration."

He shook his head. "Eating would be terribly dull if nutrition was our only worry. Nor would my dinner parties be quite so popular," he added. "But I'm curious about something you mentioned earlier - horror stories involving substitutes?"

Drac shook a finger at that. "No no. Horror stories involving use of the real thing. Monsters being poisoned, mostly, through their food. Purposely or not. Or being hunted for simply trying to survive."

"Ah. In that case, your attention to Mavis' allergies makes even more sense." Hannibal shook his head. "It's a terrible thing." And if he referred as much to adulterating food as killing people, well.

"Are monsters openly known where you're from, then? You seem to have a thriving community."

Drac shook his head sadly. "No. We hide in the shadows, now. Some of us can blend in with humans, but there is always the fear of being discovered. A place to be safe and themselves is a welcome rest."

"I imagine it would be." Hannibal smiled rather grimly. "As I'm sure you're aware, humans are very good at persecuting even other humans. Blending in may be easier, but there is always that fear. It's good that you can provide a safe haven."

"It was the dream of my wife and I, to provide a safe place for our daughter to grow up. For our friends to visit in safety and without fear." It was something he could do and not grieve. "They are family to me; we protect our family, do we not, Doctor?"

"We do indeed." Hannibal nodded. "I regret I have no remaining family by blood, but I also have friends who are dear to me, and I will do whatever I can to keep them safe." ~~Even if it meant framing them for murder and sending them to prison.~~ He knew he had a different idea of "safe", okay; it would all end up best for Will in the end.

"And children should always be protected from those who would harm them." Whenever feasible, anyway.

"Exactly. And speaking of children," Drac looked over at Mavis, and narrowed his eyes. She'd been incredibly silent for a long time... "Mavis?"

The pup looked up, innocence written all over her face.

"Mavis?"

"Whfflp?"

Drac held out a hand and she dropped her head sadly. Walking over to him, she spat a well chewed pen into his hand. He sighed.

"My apologies, Doctor. I believe it is time to feed my daughter." He wrapped the pen in a handkerchief and offered it to the man. "I will replace this."

Hannibal tried not to look too pained; it was a nice pen, but not irreplaceable. "I probably should have kept a better eye on that." He took it gingerly and gave Mavis an exasperated look.

"I realize you're missing class tomorrow, but I assure you ink and wood were not on the menu. I'll find you other things to eat if you wish to make up the time."

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Office Hours, Tuesday evening

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