Hannibal's house (which Jono isn't even actually in at the moment), Saturday afternoon

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled as he finished getting ready. Not that there was much to do - he was already in suit and tie, and it wasn't as though the harpsichord got put away at night - but he made certain everything was tidy, set a second chair nearby, and sorted out a few pieces of music. He also made both good coffee and a proper pot of tea.

He might not have often taught music before, but he did know how to treat a guest.




[OOC: Expecting one, but open post!]

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[crimson_sister]

Lucille knocked on the door. She was looking forward to her first lesson, but perhaps unsurprisingly she was also nervous. It was unnecessary, she told herself. Conversations with Dr Lecter had always been unexpectedly easy and enjoyable, and she didn't doubt that this would change because he was teaching her the harpsichord.

And she couldn't wait to play the instrument again.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal opened the door and smiled. "Miss Sharpe. Please, come in. Would you like some tea or coffee before we begin?"

[crimson_sister]

"Tea would be lovely, thank you." Lucille smiled back, entering the house. Perhaps she shouldn't be surprised that Dr Lecter would be thoughtful and offer that.

"Before we begin I have a confession to make. I have never been taught music before. It wasn't possible where we lived, but I managed to make time for practicing on my own."

When her parents wasn't at home and she and her brother weren't confined to the attic.

[sharp_as_knives]

"In that case, I too have a confession," Hannibal said, leading the way to the kitchen. "I've never taught music before. Anatomy, psychology, and surgical techniques, but never music."

He took down a wooden box and opened it to reveal a number of tins of tea. "Do you have a preferred variety?"

[crimson_sister]

Lucille followed him, more at ease as that matter was cleared. "Black tea, please, unless there is something else you recommend."

She added: "So you have taught at medical school?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"I have a very good Earl Grey, or we can stay with Darjeeling if you'd prefer something more plain." Hannibal opened both for Lucille to smell.

"I have," he answered meanwhile. "I quite enjoy teaching, there and here."

[crimson_sister]

Both teas smelled quite nice, and Lucille would have liked either, but as she had been asked to choose, she said: "The Darjeeling, perhaps? And may I ask what brought you to this school?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course," Hannibal answered to both questions. He packed away the rest of the tea and added the Darjeeling to the pot, getting out sugar and milk as he spoke.

"I found myself rather at loose ends and wanting a new hobby. I heard of the school, and thought I might try teaching younger students for a time. And once I discovered the nature of this place, I was far too intrigued to give it up."

[crimson_sister]

Oh, proper tea in a pot, and none of those tea paper bags. Lucille smiled.

"It is... intriguing." And as much as Lucille found that frustrating at times, she had also come to appreciate the freedom she had here.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal was nothing if not a snob proper with his food.

...in several senses, actually.

"Probably more for you than for me," he said. "And more for both of us than someone like Jono, whose world suffers from many of the same oddities as this island. What have you found the strangest here so far? And what part is your favorite?"

[crimson_sister]

Allerdale Hall could hardly have been said to be a place where good food had been served, but at least they had had proper tea, if not of particularly high quality. At least it had been brewed from leaves, in a pot. Lucille suspected that Dr Lecter had a lot more refined taste than her parents.

"There is a freedom here which I didn't expect," Lucille said, answering the second question. She considered the first one. Of course she couldn't mention that strange week, so she settled for: "And many of the inhabitants are still quite strange to me."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I imagine the freedom here can be rather heady; there are things here and now which are normal that might be shocking at home." He paused. "I should probably warn you of modern swimwear in advance of the summer."

While the tea was steeping, he took out a container of madeleines and ohter little cakes and plated several. "Please, help yourself."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille picked one from the plate and nibbled at it. "Thank you for the warning. I suppose there are worse things than upsetting my sense of propriety, at least."

She smiled a little. "Perhaps it isn't propriety so much as surprise. What we find gives us a sense of freedom may differ though."

It wasn't like propriety had ever concerned her as much as it was supposed to, but that didn't mean she found walking around half naked tempting."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I imagine so." Unless Lucille was thrilled at the opportunities for murder the multiverse presented? "But it seems most everybody finds some freedom here that they aren't accustomed to at home."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille had yet to consider the possibilities for murder in a multiverse, not that the urge to stab certain people hadn't occured.

"You too, then?" she asked, feeling she could be bold enough to do so.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course." Hannibal smiled at her. "The sheer number of places to go from here - other times, other worlds - is inspiring. Not to mention the opportunity of meeting people from those worlds."

And eating them.

"I never could have met somebody like Jono in my world - his sort of mutants don't exist. Or some of my other friends, who use magic as they breathe. It's fascinating."

[crimson_sister]

"One would perhaps expect the opposite, but it seems the differences here inspire friendship."

The fact that she had made friends at all continued to surprise Lucille.

"But the school trip is the only time I have experienced another world myself."

And it hadn't included any murder.

[sharp_as_knives]

Clearly an oversight!

"There is usually a class or two each semester that involves travel - frequently my own or Jono's," Hannibal said. "If that's something that interests you, you should consider taking one. Or visit Portalocity and see what sorts of trips they have available."

[crimson_sister]

Perhaps Hannibal needed to teach a class where there was opportunities to commit murder in new places every week.

"I will keep that in mind," Lucille said. She would. "I had little opportunity to travel while growing up. I only wish my brother could come with me."

[sharp_as_knives]

"You miss him," Hannibal noted. "Will he be visiting you?"

[crimson_sister]

"I'm not sure if that is possible," Lucille replied. "Do you have siblings, Dr Lecter?"