Hannibal's office, Saturday

[sharp_as_knives]

At least staying at the hotel and meeting in his office meant that it was a short (and pleasant, if cold) walk to work, rather than a drive in Baltimore traffic. Which was especially welcome as his morning routine took a little longer as a woman.

Hannibal chased off the squirrels with a rum bribe and a forbidding look, turned the heat up to a comfortable range, and set out water, then sat at his desk to read a bit while he waited for Derek.



[OOC: NFB because therapy!]

Comments

[justlurkinghere]

"Yes. Her."

Why can't he be from a canon with cannibalistic serial killers?

[sharp_as_knives]

"Did it hurt more for the reminder of a time when your mother was there for you, or for the reminder of the person you lost?"

Because only the coolest people were.

...although you never knew; just give it time.

[justlurkinghere]

"I... I really don't know."

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nodded. "Good memories and bad can both be painful; they remind us of what we have lost."

He watched Derek carefully. "Will you tell me about your friend who died?"

[justlurkinghere]

He had to, didn't he?

"We were close. Stupid kids," he said with a shrug.

[sharp_as_knives]

It would help, yes.

"What was her name?"

[justlurkinghere]

"Paige."

And it was just a pointless backstory.

[sharp_as_knives]

"How close were you?"

It couldn't be pointless. There was so much sulking to do about it!

[justlurkinghere]

Well, okay. Needlessly dramatic and traumatizing.

"Very close." Sigh. "I found her. Dying."

THANKS, PETER.

[sharp_as_knives]

"What had happened?"

[justlurkinghere]

"She'd been attacked." By a werewolf. "And I didn't know what to do. She was dying. She smelled so sick form it..."

He'd rethink that phrase later.

[sharp_as_knives]

To be fair, Hannibal could smell sickness, too. And there were enough other people on the island with extraordinary abilities that he just set it aside and made note of it.

"What did you do?"

[justlurkinghere]

"I panicked. There wasn't anything that could fix her."

Because of werewolf bites.

[sharp_as_knives]

How he had known that was another thing filed away for later. "And then what?"

[justlurkinghere]

"She was in so much pain and I couldn't help her enough." Derek, think about what you're saying. Think about it. "It wasn't enough to help her. So, I took her somewhere safe. I'd hidden there before when--"

When people are attempting to gun him down for being alive and inhuman.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal would have to start an entire mental cabinet for "things to ask you later", Derek.

"And was this place still safe?" He was beginning to get a picture here.

[justlurkinghere]

"It was," Derek said quietly, face contorting into an extreme amount of grief. "She kept begging for it to stop hurting."

[sharp_as_knives]

"That must have been very difficult," Hannibal said calmly. "Seeing someone you cared for in such pain."

That picture was definitely coming clear, but he suspected Derek needed to say it himself.

[justlurkinghere]

Well, congrats on making him an even sadder sack than normal, Hannibal. "I didn't know what to do."

[sharp_as_knives]

Derek really didn't need much help with that; that's why he was here. "So what did you do?"

You could say it, Derek. The serial killer wasn't going to judge you.

[justlurkinghere]

Shhhh. With your logic.

"I--I helped her." With claws and enhanced strength. And apparently crying like he was now.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal reached for his pocket square automatically, and grimaced when he remembered women's suits didn't have those. He walked over to his desk and retrieved a box of tissues from it, set them by Derek without comment, and sat back down.

"You helped her in the only way you could," Hannibal pointed out. "How did you do it?"

[justlurkinghere]

Which were ignored as Derek attempted to be stoic again. "I held her."

Tightly.

[sharp_as_knives]

Not what he meant, Derek. But he would try not to sigh; you had come quite a way.

"And then what?"

[justlurkinghere]

Derek sighed, looking down at his hands. "I--there was so much blood on my hands."

Blood and disgusting black ichor as she rejected the bite.

"My uncle showed up and took her from me. And then my mother later."