[week five - thursday]

[ceded]

[ There are a number of normal places one might find Hannibal Lecter in the town of whole ass. He's a fairly dependable sort of man, with a routine and things he likes to do. These are small things Xion has learned about him over the weeks she's spent getting to know him.

Which makes the kitchen the very first place she tries, since it's in the hotel. She doesn't find him there, to her mild surprise, so off she sets.

The third place she tries - the clinic - nets her what she was looking for. Xion will tilt her head as she hobbles in on her trusty crutches, the look in her eyes thoughtful, even if her expression is otherwise, well, blank. ]

Are you preparing for something?

[ ... hi, by the way. ]

Comments

[ceded]

I'm not....

[ ....

She doesn't try to respond, in the end. But her expression goes a little hard as she stares at anything but him. ]

I was looking for you. I wanted to ask you something.

[sating]

[ His brow knits together lightly as he watches her, but his expression relaxes after. He still keeps his attention on her, and he nods in understanding. ]

Of course. What is it?

[ceded]

[ Rather baldly: ]

Do you have a role?

[sating]

[ His expression instead shifts to one of light surprise, but his answer is immediate as he shakes his head. ]

No. I don't.

[ It's a simple answer, but it sounds quite sincere and is delivered with the same certainty that Hannibal tends to always speak with. But he does frown slightly after giving it, and he has to return with a question of his own. ]

Asking "why" seems ill-fitting, so I'll rephrase it. What brings this up, Xion?

[ceded]

[ Xion looks up into his face, her eyes searching his. Whatever she finds there, she doesn't comment on it. ]

I ... I want to make this game end, Dr. Lecter. For so long, I've felt ... helpless. If I can do anything to make that happen ... I will.

[sating]

[ Hannibal pauses here, watching her back curiously. When he speaks, his voice is gentler, and there's a note of concern in it. ]

If I had any power to do that, I would. But unfortunately, I was not given such power. I suppose that, in itself, is the reason.

[ He sighs, though it's soft. ]

If you're looking for the roles, what do you plan to do, Xion? From what I know of them, that seems... Dangerous, I suppose, though if you're feeling helpless, that may not matter. But involving yourself in their affairs may not help with that feeling.

[ceded]

... you can do a lot with information, [ is what she finally says, somewhat cryptically. Seems she's not feeling forthcoming on the real answer to that question. ]

It's definitely going to be dangerous. But ... I can't keep doing nothing.

[sating]

[ He raises an eyebrow quizzically at her statement, but he doesn't ask further or press. Instead, he focuses on the latter half of what she says. ]

Doing "something" here seems to be rather concretely defined. Earning merit is the euphemism that the Sheriff prefers. I have earned some in surgery. I imagine others have earned it through murder. Either way, it comes through blood. Is that a "something" you truly want to undertake?

[ceded]

... if I want to end the game, doesn't it have to be?

[ Quietly, with no real inflection. It's probably not hard to tell she's been dwelling on this idea for a while. ]