[ In any other occasion, Hannibal would be nothing short of elated that Will had agreed to come with him to the party. Will was hardly a social creature, and that was something Hannibal appreciated about the man (since he himself was anything but), but there were also certain necessary gestures in the higher society of the Quad. His interest in Will Graham hadn't gone without notice. He enjoyed that, in a way, and if it were at all possible, he would simply bask in the scandalous attention all on his own, but Hannibal knew the way things worked. The longer that subject of interest remained mysterious, the more people that thought themselves his peers would want to go digging and find out more about Will. Naturally, that was something that Hannibal wouldn't allow.
In simplest terms, this was more a gesture to remove that mystery from who had captured Dr. Lecter's attention. And as he had fully expected, upon meeting Will, their interest dropped off quite drastically. The stories they had crafted in their own minds about the sort of person that he might take interest in were naturally much more elaborate than the reality. He imagines that they oftened imagined his mirror image. Another perfectly mannered socialite for them to chat with, and for the more shrewd to chat up in hopes of finding out something about him. Truly, what a shame that it was Will instead.
But things are never simple with Hannibal. That's something Will has learned better than most in the time they had gotten to know each other, and that too was something that Hannibal acutely appreciated about him. He had an uncanny gift for seeing what others could not. Too much, in fact, and it was what had led him to Hannibal in the first place. So in that sense, it came as little surprise. As soon as Hannibal himself realized that his interest in Will was more than idle, he also knew that eventually, he would find the truth. It was inevitable. But rather than feel anything like fear for when that day would come, Hannibal had always looked forward to it. Eventually, the pieces would all fall together, and Will would look through a different perspective. He would open his eyes for the first time and see Hannibal for what he truly was. How could he not be enchanted by the mere possibility of that?
Though whether it was fate or circumstance, those two reasons happened to come together on this night.
It was always easy for Hannibal to get guest lists for such occasions, since he maintained good enough relationships with Leithian high society that they would tell him with an easy smile on their faces. Most of the time, it hardly mattered, but one name in particular stood out to him. A Leithian doctor of fair means, a hard worker, and an up and coming member of high society. Bourgeois, really. Hannibal held no particular distaste for such people as a whole, but this man had made an error. He was shrewd enough to want to decrease Hannibal's business so that his own would increase, and this in itself didn't bother Hannibal at all. Petty business matters were truly just that. But he wasn't shrewd enough to know that trying to get to Hannibal through Will Graham was an unwise course of action.
It had only been a hint of his intentions, but Hannibal knew it well enough. Just so well as he knew that Will had finally picked up all of those pieces. As he expected, it was truly as simple as if a light had been switched on. For the first time, they had exchanged a glance, and Hannibal simply knew.
Like a monster brought into the sunlight from the shadow, he had been truly seen. The pieces came together for Will. They also came together for this evening.
His absence was meant to draw Will away, and he made his way deliberately to where he knew the other doctor was lounging comfortably. The irony was of course that his self-proclaimed rival wasn't unlike Will, in a way. A terribly antisocial man, so he had deigned that staying away from the heart of the party was better. A quiet study to enjoy the evening, if not alone, then with very little company. Hannibal knew his habits, and so it wasn't hard to find him and engage him in conversation. They talk of trivial things, of business and medicine, but the pause comes when Hannibal knows that Will is there. A ghost of a smile crosses his lips, and he almost thinks to go open the door, but Will is already there.
The other doctor sits in a chair, and he looks back to Will with a confused expression, but Hannibal himself is in the process of making a drink. An elaborate one, it would seem, but there's little surprise in that. He looks up from his work and gives Will a light smile and a nod. ]
Ah, Will— I'm sorry for stepping away. I got caught up in conversation with Dr. Auguste.
[ Is this-- the doctor starts to ask, but Hannibal's gaze returns to his work as he continues speaking. It's very normal and mundane, almost eerily so. Though perhaps that's just the knowledge that Will is sitting with. ]
We were talking cocktails, and as the host has offered an open bar, I offered to make one. A Boulevardier—the father of the Negroni, in a way.
[ Hannibal grabs a bottle and starts to pour it into a glass full of ice. There's already some liquor in the glass, but whatever he's adding changes the color to a very rich, deep red. ]
It is a bittersweet drink, admittedly. I would be happy to make you one as well.
no subject
In simplest terms, this was more a gesture to remove that mystery from who had captured Dr. Lecter's attention. And as he had fully expected, upon meeting Will, their interest dropped off quite drastically. The stories they had crafted in their own minds about the sort of person that he might take interest in were naturally much more elaborate than the reality. He imagines that they oftened imagined his mirror image. Another perfectly mannered socialite for them to chat with, and for the more shrewd to chat up in hopes of finding out something about him. Truly, what a shame that it was Will instead.
But things are never simple with Hannibal. That's something Will has learned better than most in the time they had gotten to know each other, and that too was something that Hannibal acutely appreciated about him. He had an uncanny gift for seeing what others could not. Too much, in fact, and it was what had led him to Hannibal in the first place. So in that sense, it came as little surprise. As soon as Hannibal himself realized that his interest in Will was more than idle, he also knew that eventually, he would find the truth. It was inevitable. But rather than feel anything like fear for when that day would come, Hannibal had always looked forward to it. Eventually, the pieces would all fall together, and Will would look through a different perspective. He would open his eyes for the first time and see Hannibal for what he truly was. How could he not be enchanted by the mere possibility of that?
Though whether it was fate or circumstance, those two reasons happened to come together on this night.
It was always easy for Hannibal to get guest lists for such occasions, since he maintained good enough relationships with Leithian high society that they would tell him with an easy smile on their faces. Most of the time, it hardly mattered, but one name in particular stood out to him. A Leithian doctor of fair means, a hard worker, and an up and coming member of high society. Bourgeois, really. Hannibal held no particular distaste for such people as a whole, but this man had made an error. He was shrewd enough to want to decrease Hannibal's business so that his own would increase, and this in itself didn't bother Hannibal at all. Petty business matters were truly just that. But he wasn't shrewd enough to know that trying to get to Hannibal through Will Graham was an unwise course of action.
It had only been a hint of his intentions, but Hannibal knew it well enough. Just so well as he knew that Will had finally picked up all of those pieces. As he expected, it was truly as simple as if a light had been switched on. For the first time, they had exchanged a glance, and Hannibal simply knew.
Like a monster brought into the sunlight from the shadow, he had been truly seen. The pieces came together for Will. They also came together for this evening.
His absence was meant to draw Will away, and he made his way deliberately to where he knew the other doctor was lounging comfortably. The irony was of course that his self-proclaimed rival wasn't unlike Will, in a way. A terribly antisocial man, so he had deigned that staying away from the heart of the party was better. A quiet study to enjoy the evening, if not alone, then with very little company. Hannibal knew his habits, and so it wasn't hard to find him and engage him in conversation. They talk of trivial things, of business and medicine, but the pause comes when Hannibal knows that Will is there. A ghost of a smile crosses his lips, and he almost thinks to go open the door, but Will is already there.
The other doctor sits in a chair, and he looks back to Will with a confused expression, but Hannibal himself is in the process of making a drink. An elaborate one, it would seem, but there's little surprise in that. He looks up from his work and gives Will a light smile and a nod. ]
Ah, Will— I'm sorry for stepping away. I got caught up in conversation with Dr. Auguste.
[ Is this-- the doctor starts to ask, but Hannibal's gaze returns to his work as he continues speaking. It's very normal and mundane, almost eerily so. Though perhaps that's just the knowledge that Will is sitting with. ]
We were talking cocktails, and as the host has offered an open bar, I offered to make one. A Boulevardier—the father of the Negroni, in a way.
[ Hannibal grabs a bottle and starts to pour it into a glass full of ice. There's already some liquor in the glass, but whatever he's adding changes the color to a very rich, deep red. ]
It is a bittersweet drink, admittedly. I would be happy to make you one as well.