Hannibal's house (where Jono better be getting ready for the wedding), Tuesday afternoon

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal had seen Lucille this weekend, but neither of them had remembered their usual Saturday lessons. And this weekend was likely to be too busy with wedding preparations. So Hannibal had written Lucille and asked if she would prefer to make up the week's lesson today.

Which meant that he was readying tea, scones, and the harpsichord for his student. And playing a bit himself before she got there, just to get back in practice.


[OOC: Expecting one, but open post outside of the lesson!]

Comments

[crimson_sister]

It had been kind of Dr Lecter to offer to make up for the lesson, Lucille thought. The weekend still bothered her, but music was as always a good way to ease her mind, and she had handwavily been playing the piano in the rec room after class yesterday.

She knocked on the door. Perhaps it also helped that what she remembered from the weekend was a feeing of friendship and trust towards Dr Lecter.

[sharp_as_knives]

What Hannibal mostly remembered from the weekend was that Lucille had secrets a bit darker than she'd let on. Which only meant he was even more inclined to help her out.

He smiled as he opened the door. "Lucille, come in. I'm pleased you could make it today."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille smiled back, one of her rare sincere smiles, and said:

"Thank you for offering to have the lesson today. I know you must be busy."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I always have time for a friend," Hannibal said, leading her in. "Besides, I consider this a welcome distraction from the preparations."

He poured her a cup of tea. "How are you doing?"

[crimson_sister]

She balanced the saucer in her hand and took a sip from the cup before answering

"I'm fine," Lucille replied, with just a hint of hesitation. It wasn't a lie though; she was fine, and she was happy to be here. Sharing her love for music in the company of someone whom she felt safe with was... well, if anything did bother her, it was that feeling of safety. It was strange.

"And you? Is there a lot to be arranged still?"

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal poured and sipped his own tea. "Most everything is done that can be; we're still organizing deliveries for the hall - food and flowers, whatever must wait until the last minute. And ensuring nobody will have a problem getting there, since we've been forced to relocate."

[crimson_sister]

"Relocate?" Lucille asked.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled a bit ruefully. "We were originally prepared to hold the ceremony at The Boards; however, the island's movement has posed some problems to the contractors renovating it. Hence the address on the invitations. We should, however, have a portal heading there on the day, for our guests." He nodded to her.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille gave a small nod in response. "I wanted to thank you for the invitation," she said. "It will be the first wedding I ever attend."

A small sign of trust, that comment, revealing how little experience she had had of society.

[sharp_as_knives]

"In that case, I hope it meets your expectations." Hannibal grinned. "And you needn't worry; it will be my first as a groom, after all."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille laughed a little, feeling at ease. "I'm sure it will. It will sound bad if I say 'because I have nothing to compare with', however."

She reached out for a scone. Feeling something that resembled happy was a strange feeling.

[Actually posting the comment is a good idea]

[sharp_as_knives]

"Not at all," Hannibal answered. "It merely means we must set an impossible bar for any others you may attend later."

He chuckled. "Although, given that this is Fandom and we are both men, it's already likely to be quite scandalous by nineteenth-century standards."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille hesitated, then said: "Is it never considered... unusual for two men to marry here?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"It is becoming less so," Hannibal answered. "However, there are many areas where there is still a stigma attached to it, and it only recently was judged legal in this country. Or in the United States, I should say, since I've no idea where the island is at present."

He didn't sound at all bothered by that fact; Hannibal had never particularly cared for laws, except in knowing them well enough to circumvent them.

[crimson_sister]

"Laws can trap us, can't they?" Lucille didn't care much for them either, but she didn't have Hannibal's experience in how to not become a target for them.

"And is no one here surprised when the find love with someone of their own sex rather than the opposite?"

It surprised her how bold her questions were today, and Lucille immediately felt embarrassed about asking such a thing.

[sharp_as_knives]

Fortunately, Hannibal was fairly unflappable, and had no problem with questions. Particularly as he had a faint idea of why this was being asked.

"I imagine some of them may be - either because their own society is biased against it, or simply because it's something they hadn't anticipated for themselves. Fortunately, they will find little judgment here."

[crimson_sister]

Had he spoken that idea out loud, Lucille would have been quite uncomfortable. Relieved by the response that Hannibal had given, and that it was not in any way personal, she said:

"Are there any other laws where there have been such a change? I have read that women now have the right to vote."

[sharp_as_knives]

Fortunately, Hannibal was good at that sort of thing.

"They do indeed," he said. "These days, most of them work outside the house, and in various skilled trades. I've known any number of women as doctors, lawyers, and administrators. They serve in the military in most countries, as well. There are still both blatant and unconscious biases against them, but there is a great push to fight against that."

He gave her a small shrug. "You would likely be better off asking one of the women from this time about it, as it's something I've only had experience of for a few weeks when the island was being strange."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille thought for a moment. "Both Cassandra and Jalian, two friends of mine, have opinions on the role of women that differ from what I am used to. Neither of them are from this time though."

Both of them also found her clothing impractical, but that was another matter.

"I am pleased about those changes." Lucille sipped her tea. "And I will be happy to attend a wedding that would not be possible in my own time. Finding someone to share your life with must be a precious thing."

[sharp_as_knives]

"It's certainly something I had never thought to find," Hannibal answered. "I am rather looking forward to it."

[crimson_sister]

Discussing it further would be too personal, and Lucille thought it best to change the topic.

"I enjoyed the movie in class yesterday," she said. "Although I know little of the time it was set. Some of the songs where rather... I don't know how to describe them, but I didn't mind."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'm pleased to hear it," Hannibal said. "I realize it was a bit racy, but it has a number of songs that became quite popular, and was an influential and popular production. Several times, in fact."

[crimson_sister]

"Several times?" Lucille asked.

[sharp_as_knives]

"It was originally produced in the nineteen-sixties," Hannibal said. "Then there was a film, and another production in the eighties, and again in the nineties, and I believe another recently."

[crimson_sister]

"Is it because of the songs or the story?" Lucille asked.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Both, I imagine," Hannibal answered. "They're rather compelling, don't you think?"