Hannibal's house (which Jono's not speaking to him in (ha) ), Friday

[sharp_as_knives]

Lucille, Hannibal had no doubt, had heard the entire altercation with Jack. But she was inclined to murder herself, and had helped him after, so he wasn't worried about that.

Sparkle, on the other hand, he had little doubt had also heard, and he'd not seen hide nor hair of the boy since. And while Sparkle did seem to harbor his own sort of ruthlessness, it hadn't yet extended to murder save when they hadn't entirely been themselves.

So, Hannibal had phoned him and left a message. A request, not a demand, to speak with him.

Now he waited and hoped.


[Hannibal's home all day; open post other than Sparkle's thread. The nature of Jack's beef with Hannibal and the discussion of murdertimes NFB!]

Comments

[sharp_as_knives]

"I understand." Hannibal nodded. "Will you still come to visit? I welcome your company, and I would still very much like to help you, whether you wish to speak of this or not."

He'd made vegetarian food before; he could do it again.

[myownface]

Sparkle bit his lip, and then shrugged a little, sighing.

"Right now isn't a great time for me to answer questions like that," he murmured, in what was possibly one of the most insightful decisions he'd made about figuring out his own boundaries in... ever. "Can I have some time to process, and then come back to it? I don't want to just... say something and then find out I can't hold to it later."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course." Hannibal smiled. "I'm proud of you for realizing that. When you're ready, let me know."

[myownface]

Sparkle swallowed, and then pulled in a few ragged breaths, and then nodded.

"Thanks." He didn't have much, but he had a thanks. He at least owed Hannibal that much. "Maybe I should... I mean..."

He glanced toward the door.

"For now. And we can talk again when this is less... raw."

When he was less likely to bleed all over the floor in words.

[sharp_as_knives]

"If you prefer," Hannibal said. "But you're also welcome to stay for as long as you like. The decision is yours."

[myownface]

Sparkle worried at his lip, and then nodded.

"I'm tired," he said, softly. "And now my head hurts from... you know."

All the crying he'd been doing. Lots of that.

"I think I need to just have some me time. There's a lot of just... stuff."

[sharp_as_knives]

"There is." Hannibal nodded again, then pulled Sparkle in for a gentle hug. "Do what you need to. Don't forget to breathe."

[myownface]

"Thanks," Sparkle murmured, and he didn't resist this hug either, even if maybe it was against his better judgement. He was too tired to care. "I... Maybe I'll talk to you after one of your classes or something, next."

In a safe place where there were other people around. Not that he was going to specify that was why.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Whenever and wherever you like," Hannibal said.

Sparkle didn't have to specify; Hannibal was good at figuring it out.

He let Sparkle go with a smile. "Drop by or call. You know where to find me."