(no subject)

[anamusebouche]

Ellard Doyle was a sad little man. No doubt his youth had something to do with this. Abused and used, he was one of Emmett Whitfordshire’s many victims – and many more men besides him.

He’d bravely crawled out of that life, changed his name, died his hair, but he was never able to leave behind the nightmares of his past. He worked in IT, kept mostly to himself, suffered various nervous ticks and was known as a loner bordering the anti-social.

Most importantly, though, he wasn’t Alcuin and he wasn’t Felix.

One thing Hannibal was not going to allow was Alcuin spending the rest of his life in fear he might be guilty of the murder of Whitfordshire. His mental state was too fragile for that still, and he might do something foolish, such as confessing to the crime, to himself, to his friends, or to the police.

Felix, of course, had been an easy option to frame for the murder, but he was a good friend to Alcuin, and an interesting young man Hannibal wasn’t quite willing to part with yet.

Someone else had to do. And that someone was Ellard Doyle.

Framing him was quite easy. He obsessively kept news clippings of Whitfordshire’s murder in his sad little flat, and a digital diary in which he described the hell that was his daily life.

It was easy enter his flat and wait for him there. Killing him would have been easy, but Hannibal had opted to talk to him instead. Their meeting ended with Ellard typing his suicide note and putting a gun to his head to end his misery. It was quite beautiful, to see him relieve himself of the burden of life. And as he pulled the trigger he gave Hannibal a little thankful nod.

All Hannibal did, was to add a confession of murder to the suicide note, and that was it. Ellard Doyle became Whitfordshire’s murderer.

The next day he read about it in the newspaper, over a delicious cup of coffee, in his favourite café. He hoped Alcuin would read it soon too.

Comments

[miss_ives]

"Hannibal," Vanessa greeted him as she walked over, having intended to have a coffee here, on her way to work. "You're looking very pleased with yourself." And while reading the newspaper, at that, an odd combination.

[anamusebouche]

The observant Miss Ives was a pleasure to see. He smiled as he looked up from his newspaper. "It's a beautiful morning and a particularly delicious cup of coffee. Please, will you join me?" He asked, pleasantly, as he folded the paper and set it to a side.

[miss_ives]

"With pleasure," Vanessa remarked with an honest smile, and took a seat beside him, setting her purse on the third, unoccupied chair at the table. "What brings you here on this beautiful morning, Hannibal?"

[anamusebouche]

"Sometimes, not often, I simply enjoy the pleasure of a cup of coffee outdoors," Hannibal confessed. "The beauty of this morning certainly has something to do with that. What about yourself?"

[miss_ives]

Vanessa smiled at his answer, then raised her eyebrows at his question. "Oh, I often stop by for a cup of coffee, on my way to work." When the waiter came over, she ordered an expresso, then turned back to Hannibal. "And how have you been? It's been far too long since we met."

[anamusebouche]

"Enjoying a quick and smooth return to the shadows," Hannibal said. "Certain parts of my private life had suddenly become matter of public interest, but I believe the novelty of it finally wore off."

[miss_ives]

The tabloids; Vanessa remembered. She nodded, but was not going to mention the subject matter herself, since it was, after all, his private life. "I'm glad for it." Hannibal, and then Felix; she would be thankful if tabloids suddenly dropped off the face of the Earth. "It is a small blessing that red tops can be so easily distracted."

[anamusebouche]

"It's not a position I wish to anyone who did not seek it," Hannibal agreed. "Fortunately, that is at an end."

He took a sip of his coffee, then regarded Miss Ives again. "How are your books?"

[miss_ives]

"Fascinating, as always," Vanessa replied with a genuine smile. "We've just acquired a set of Italian recipe books from the 15th century, if you'd like to have a look."

[anamusebouche]

"I'd love to," Hannibal replied, genuinely. "From both a culinary and historical perspective."

[miss_ives]

"Stop by the museum some day, it'll be my pleasure," Vanessa offered. She would personally put him on the list.

[anamusebouche]

As if easily charmed, Hannibal smiled. "I will be looking forward to it," he assured. "Would an evening appointment suit? Or should I come by day?"

[miss_ives]

"Whatever works best for you," Vanessa assured him with a smile. "I can shift my hours about, if needed." Or just stay on a little longer one evening.

[anamusebouche]

"The time shortly after the vacation season is usually my most busy time. An evening would certainly be preferable. This Friday?" He asked. "And if I find something that begs to be replicated into the 21st century, you will have to allow me to cook it for you some day."

[miss_ives]

"I only wish I could repay you in kind," Vanessa told him, having long since confessed her lack of culinary skills to him. But she still appreciated good cuisine, even if her gifts did not lay in making it. Her smile lit up her eyes as she nodded, "It would be my pleasure."

[anamusebouche]

"A little peak into the 15th century is more than I could ask for it," Hannibal replied with a kind smile. "It is I who wishes to repay you."

[miss_ives]

"Let's agree to be mutually grateful, then," Vanessa suggested, eyes glinting in amusement.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin had come to the cafe to write, his small laptop nestled in a fine leather bag as his cane tapped the floor and he made his way past the tables, listening for empty space. ...It sounded odd, but he did have quite a high success rate now when it came to listening for empty tables.

However, he paused when he neared Dr. Lecter's table.

He wasn't sure what made him stop, he simply sensed something familiar (or, more likely, heard or smelled something that his mind instinctively connected to the other man), and cocked his head slightly as his mind appeared to make a connection.

"Dr. Lecter?" he asked curiously.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal smiled pleasantly when he noticed Finlay coming up to his table. The young man had proved to be quite wilful and strong. A combination that Hannibal appreciated.

"Finlay, what a nose you must have developed," he greeted amiably. "Please, join me if you like."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin chuckled quietly at that, smiling as he nodded his thanks and carefully took a seat.

"It's much more sensitive than it used to be," he admitted as he folded his cane up and put it aside. "How have you been? It's been quite some time since I last saw you- Or, heard you, I suppose is a bit more accurate."

[anamusebouche]

"That's a good thing, I'm sure," Hannibal replied kindly. Not seeing Hannibal meant not seeing a psychiatrist, after all.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Proof that I'm no longer wallowing in my own misery," Fin agreed, smiling in a wry sort of way. "The lack of wallowing and hopelessness does make me better social company, I think."

A server paused by their table, and Fin ordered a shot of espresso and a scone before returning his attention to Dr. Lecter.

"Things are much calmer for me at the moment. The press aren't as interested as they were only a few months back, and I've just put the final touches on my latest play," he added proudly, removing his sunglasses to reveal eyes that were milky and scarred.

[anamusebouche]

It was a pity, really, that Fin would never see his own eyes, scarred, and useless.

"I'm very glad to hear that you have picked up your life," Hannibal said, genuinely. "Another play. I'll have to be sure to catch it."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'll be sure to send you some tickets then," Fin replied, smiling bashfully. "It's very different from my last, I think. Less baron, though perhaps no less bleak. It seems my passions lay almost solely in the grim and the hopeless sides of life. I was aiming for happy this time around, but even the humour I managed to slip in is quite dark, or so I've been told."

[anamusebouche]

"But is it trueless hopeless, or do you find light in your bleak world?" Hannibal asked curiously.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"There are broad and beautiful patches of sunlight," Fin replied, smiling faintly- Though there was a hint of sadness to it. "There has to be, doesn't there? Without those moments of happiness, life ceases to be worth living."

[anamusebouche]

"But it's up to you to find them and to define them," Hannibal offered. "It can be different for everyone. I assume you find light in your work - even if your words are dark."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I find them in the completion of my work, yes. The process, however, tends to be quite... Challenging, I think is the word I'm searching for," Fin admitted, speaking slower for a moment as he chose those words carefully. He didn't really know how to explain how bleak things often seemed when he was writing. The way that his anxieties spiked and his mood shifted.


"I have my Will though, he's a constant source of light in my life," he added, speaking fondly of his fae love.

[anamusebouche]

"That is good to know," Hannibal said with a kind smile. "Positive encouragement can be a great healer of sorrow."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Oh, Hannibal, you've no idea how true that is," Fin smiled, his voice taking on an almost dreamy tone. "I never believed in fate or destiny before I met him- He calls me his evermore. How painfully lovely is that? Evermore. Not boyfriend, not lover..."

He trailed off, leaning back in his seat as he thought of his fae love.

"I've never been a romantic, if I'm honest, but he's different. He's changed me, I think."

[anamusebouche]

What it sounded like, in all honesty, was an unhealthy dependence and quite possibly mental manipulation of an anxious mind. It rather caused Hannibal to wish to meet this lover. "You speak of him so highly always. I should love to meet him. Perhaps I can convince you to join me for dinner some day?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I think that would be lovely- Though I'll warn you, he can be hard to cook for. He's practically vegan," Fin laughed. "He considers eggs a special treat."

[anamusebouche]

"He doesn't eat animal products usually, or he won't?" Hannibal asked. "I would hate to cook something in vain."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Oh, he loves milk and creams, he's just funny about eggs sometimes- Though he does love them. No meat at all though, I'm afraid. A pity, since I'm quite keen on it myself- Especially sausage. There's a place not far from mine that does 'artisanal' sausage. It's brilliant, I'd eat there every day, left to my own devices."

[anamusebouche]

"I do enjoy making my own sausages as well," Hannibal confessed. "I think it's decided then. I will make us sausages and a soja alternative for Will."

2015-09-07 21:33 GMT+02:00 finlay_flynn - DW Comment <dw_null@dreamwidth.org</p>

[prince_of_nymphs]

"You're very kind, Dr. Lecter. I'll be sure to ask him when I get in. I think you'll really like him," he added, though he honestly just assumed everyone would like Willy, since he adored him. It was easy for Fin to forget that when they'd first met he'd hated the fae, feared him even.

[anamusebouche]

Yes, Hannibal had the impression he wouldn't much like Will at all. There was a reason he was inviting the two of them, but not mentioning inviting Alcuin as well. He would not subject his young lover to any manipulator. But he was curious to see what kind of manipulator Will was. "Let me know what day suits you."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Well, I'm in the recording studio for an audiobook for the next few days- How about next weekend?" Fin suggested cheerfully.

[anamusebouche]

"Yes, that would be very nice. Saturday evening is a better evening. I'll be able to make those sausages in time," Hannibal replied with a reserved but genuine smile.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Brilliant," Fin beamed. "That sounds fantastic."

[pixiesweat]

Here was a familiar face, though he looked rather different than the last time Hannibal saw him. Since Willy had gotten him off the streets, Manuel was looking cleaner and neater, though anyone perceptive enough might notice that he'd lost a little weight, and maybe things hadn't improved as much as his outward appearance made it seem.

Like usual, he was headed nowhere in particular, and he wasn't likely to start up a conversation with anyone. He was heading past Hannibal's cafe, though, and could easily be interrupted.