maskormenace | [canto uno

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[canto uno | video ]

[ A video, clearly the user's first time recording himself with the technology given. Hannibal's face appears on screen, adjusting the angle to one perfectly centered. He takes a step back, all grin. Almost childish, really. ]

Hello. I'm told this is the most suitable means for communication in these parts. I hope you'll forgive me for being a bit new to the concept of filming myself.

[ That aspect of grotesque murder and public display had never appealed to him. It seemed too juvenile, and revealing, even with masks or voice editors.

In this case, he was wearing modest dress clothing compared to his usual choice paisley and ostentatious color schemes and suspicious pocket squares. He crosses his legs at the knee, folding his hands on top, in the expected villainous finger-steeple. ] I have also been advised that this is the quickest means of locating lost loved ones. I would very much like to find those lost ones. Do forgive me for 'spamming' your network. I won't do this often.

[ A brief pause, in which he brushes across a scar on his face, disturbing the otherwise immaculate complexion, with the tip of his index finger. ] I seek a man named Will Graham. He may not be here, but if he is, and you know where he is, I would appreciate any tips. At the very least, alerting him to my presence will be sufficient. I thank you for any assistance in this matter.

[ What used to be the ability to seem professionally distanced from the matter of the man in question had rather crippled with the moonlight consummation of his glorious becoming. After a taxing and emotional affair, Hannibal was left with little time to embrace the difficult to quantify series of emotions it had evoked before he was suddenly...here. ]

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[ Well, it's true he's not her doctor. (She's probably not going to see any shrink for a while after Crane, at least.) ]

If it's okay... Will and I have known each other over a year now so it feels kind of strange to call him anything but his first name.

[ Still hasn't used the "D" word. ]

[It's okay, Hannibal will get to see Jeff in a whole array of suits, mostly three piece, especially if he watches his documentary like any trrue friend would. The only paisley you'll see on him may be the tie, but even those tend to be fairly safe, even a plain knitted or something with subtle spots or stripes. Jeff prefers refinement over blinding people with his fabric and colour combinations.]

Whoooole thing is public, sorry, buddy. I can read every interaction to every person ever if I really wanted. Y'know, unless they made it private, which you can do. [Although he only ever takes advantage of this if he sees people talking about him, because the world revolves around him.]

You were in hospital? I take it you weren't in such good shape on arrival then, huh?

[ Lucifer has no intention of hiding his interest in Hannibal Lecter, and once his name has been revealed, by Will himself in fact, then it's really too late. Hannibal Lecter; Chilton's dark shadow, Baltimore's looming threat. Lucifer had heard whispers in the dark, but it was the souls of those that wandered into his presence that gave away their demons. The name itself? The name was a new reveal to him, but he knew that the darkness was there, saw it in the corners, in the way Chilton - and the girl, Abigail - had bent toward him like a flower craving sunlight.

He should really chase her up.

But not right now. Right now his full attention was set on Baltimore's newest exile, because he knew - he knew - that the flowers were turning, and it changed the whole state of the game. A rapport with Hannibal was crucial. ]

You don't know me. Perhaps in your heart you do, but forgive me, I'm getting ahead of myself--I know something of you, and I must say that it's a pleasure to meet someone so widely respected by his friends and peers. I had so dearly hoped that I would get that chance.

So now I suppose, I speak of myself. My name is Lucifer, and no, it isn't a wicked trick played on me by my parents, before you wonder. It's already strange enough that you've been lifted from your world, how much more is it to ask that you believe in angels, I wonder? But I think you have an open enough mind to consider the possibility, at least.

So then: the pleasure is mine, Hannibal.

Hey, that's awesome! If it's a magic thing I can help out if you need it -- I got magic boosting powers. If not, hey, that's still pretty rad.

I'm Max, by the way.

Have you tried using a dog whistle? He has like eight thousand dogs, that would totally be a way to find him.

[ Will is great but Clary just considers him dad to Abigail and Grey. Dads are a strange breed to her. ]

[Terrible reviews or terrible review? If only Chilton hadn't taunted Hannibal about being old hat, if only he hadn't said that Tooth Fairy was so much more fascinating, murdering the American Dream with his brutality, if only he had not -- but no, Frederick Chilton held grudges. Petty little grudges. And Hannibal Lecter had framed him (or would frame him, from his current perspective -- but that was only an estimation of what was to come gleaned from a coy Freddie Lounds months ago). The grudge was nascent even now. Chilton had sincerely thought Hannibal to be his friend, and he was still humiliated over his delusion.

But as much as that acidic veneer of offering help corroded down Chilton's spine, he found himself distracted -- and not merely by Hannibal's forceful demeanor, no, it was that light, flippant flicker of words that caught Chilton's breath in his throat.]

What do you mean?

[He asked quietly, nearly trembling with those four words.]

What have you done?

[Not dead, barely alive. Without mercy. How agonizing it was, for Hannibal to toy with Chilton's future.]

[Like Chilton, when Will hears of harm he's missed from the mouth of Hannibal Lecter, he thinks What have you done? even with the compliment about his good looks. He doesn't ask, appreciating the privacy and the lack of bullshit he'll have to suffer through when Hannibal goes about greeting him ever-so-politely. Had Hannibal seen him dead? Had Hannibal killed him? Had his face been messed up in the process, what was he talking about? And yet what comes out of his mouth has nothing to do with it.]

Where are you? [Cutting to the chase, smile all gone, attempting blank and neutral but still coming off a little tired.] I can come to you.

[Or you can come to me, he doesn't add, isn't that cruel to Hannibal Lecter suddenly in the new Superworld. Nor does he add something about meeting in the middle, compromise—Will's already set that up by planting himself in public. What a tricky, selfish s.o.b.]

Feels discourteous, not seeing you in person.

[And he'd hate to keep a pretty face but go about being unspeakably ugly in every other way to Hannibal Lecter. Of course he makes it sound like a real question, like a situation one of them could really escape the eventual outcome to. Like Will would accept not seeing him, like Will would accept Hannibal asking after him only to not want a face-to-face. Will keeps restrained, but Chilton had been on the nose in a few ways when he mentioned Will running wild.

If Hannibal rejects this, that's okay.

He'll find a way to track him down, no power on Earth or outside it could stop him.]

[~~OMG~~ Is that actual, authentic laughing?

His eyes seem to say so. But then, they've been known to tell many lies.]

That really is an excellent idea. Why didn't I think of that?

[ That all seems above board. Will had told Grey he used to do that work. ]

grey

i live with him .

[ If this is Will's friend, then Grey will be polite. ]

what is your name ?

do you need help to find your apartment ?

[Brief, short, and simple. As if there was nothing of interest in the conversation, as if he had no stake in it. Knowing Chilton felt entirely the opposite.

He stopped the excessive cheer, but did not aim to have an opposite effect. He stared to the camera, utterly impassive. The only color came in the accented infliction of his words.]

I haven't done anything. Ask our dear friend Will, if he ever comes around. I'm sure you will find his memories very enlightening.

[Operation: Sew Discord, activated.]

[ Someone was going to let it slip that Will was here and Bela was not going to be that someone. While they were acquainted, she wasn't going to meddle in his affairs - unless of course it would have a direct impact upon her. After all, Bela did have a strong sense of self-preservation. ]

Hello.

[ Her tone is pleasant and she's smiling. He'll be able to hear a distinct English accent, one that has never left Bela even with her living in America for the past few years. ]

The network is perhaps the most efficient way of reaching a large amount of people at the same time. Although I do prefer a face to face conversation whenever possible.

[ She felt that was one of the ways to get a solid read on a person. Unless they were excellent at hiding their true selves. ]

When did you arrive?

[Will Graham. Chilton knew it was only a matter of time before that name resurfaced between them again, as if their conversation relied on the oxygen of those syllables. Will. Graham. He considered his friendship with Will, how it had deepened in Heropa, how they had to rely on each other over the year past. How Will had helped him hide Abel Gideon's body, when Chilton had accidentally murdered his would-be-murderer. How Will Graham had invited him to Easter dinner with his wife.

How Chilton had been treating Will Graham, every Saturday afternoon, in the esteemed backdrop of his office. Professionally.

How all of that had to stop now, because Hannibal Lecter was voracious and Chilton had built something of the life he thought he always deserved.]

He is yours.

[Chilton knew Hannibal wouldn't murder Will -- or, he thought he knew that. But he could not make the same claim for Raina. His Raina.]

You have... Transformed him. Isn't that so?

[Isn't that what I am to expect?]

Will is his own man, entirely. I only facilitated growth. Though I think I'll borrow the phrase of an unexpected friend -- Will became. Becoming implies a sort of dormant potential, don't you think? Transformed gives the impression of making something that which it is not, in and of itself.

[A light smirk. He'll let a bit of ego slip through, to be scrutinized over and over by Chilton. The man deserves something, really. His fate really was gruesome as it was surprising. And Lecter relished the rare occasion of surprise.]

Yes, he is. [Leaving all implications open.]

You are convinced that his ability to empathize means he is seeded like you are.

[There it is -- the cut that his tongue makes. The sneer, the rising well of acid behind his teeth. The jackal snarling before the lion.]

It must be so lonely. Having to play in your house of mirrors.

How very useful. I'm sure a lot of people will be grateful to have your help.

It's very nice to meet you, Max. My name is Hannibal.

Have you found everyone you've been looking for?

I assume you've just arrived? Have your friends assisted you in adjusting?

[It is really a marvel how much Will has changed. Molded, at least in show, to suit Hannibal's preferences and expectations. He wonders, given what he learned about Will baiting him just to get him to turn himself in, how much of this was really, as had come up with Chilton, becoming versus transforming.

Either way, it was polite, as well as clever.

Will had given him the obvious location of a dog park, which was easy enough to find the location of. He could easily meet him there, but going to him felt too desperate. He might be less inclined to string the man around with words and metaphors, at this point, but his pride was never going to let him act the desperate wife after the war ends.]

So it does. I much prefer our face to face sessions.

[He can give his location, assuming that gave him time. He was located in Pennsylvania, after all.]

I'm here in Maurtia Falls. I gather a lot of others are split between Virginia and Florida. It may take some time for one of us to reach each other.

[Everything he said, usually, had double meanings for those who were paying attention. Afterthought caused him to muse that it was rather unfortunate that he hadn't developed teleportation, really.]

There may be a middle ground somewhere. I could meet you there.

[Physically and morally, if you were willing. He wonders how long it will take this Will to discern that he has more of the control now, differing from when they met. It should bother him, really... But it was a fascinating development of its own. To be observed, but also kept in check, assuredly.]

["Buddy"? He squints. Which is barely noticeable, unless you are used to reading his ~~trout face~~ subdued facial expressions, in which case, his distaste at the word is glaringly obvious.

Still polite:] No, I was not. I would think it a miracle of science that I survived, but I don't think I would have, were it not for the development of what seem to be some degree of healing abilities.

I do seem to have, thank you for your concern.

I have been here about a day, now. Perhaps two. I seem to have somewhat lost track of time after a very long rest. I am certain I will adjust, in due time.

[You understood, in a different time, after a series of most unfortunate events for whoever is so unfortunate to have been assigned as your dermatologist through the healthcare provided.

That sense defying health care that was acquiring a most improbably amount of flesh to restore, to some extent, the appearance of a human to the form that was once this stubbley, paranoid psychiatrist.

You knew, there, had learned rather, the truth about Will Graham, and it was more or less as traumatizing as learning the truth about Hannibal. What had caused an unadmitted degree of admiration from Lecter - that which was once so desperately and obviously craved - was what he could only interpret as spite and anger.

He had to wonder if the healing being in the IC unit wanted revenge, and to what lengths he'd go to get it. Hannibal always wondered things like this. What upon the revelation of his truth had inspired shock and fear, with Will's... He could not yet say, but he wanted to know.

Until then, he felt the smug satisfaction of harboring dirty secrets about all of them.] Hardly lonely, Frederick. You would be surprised how alike some of us truly are, in the end.

Yes, I once thought we were alike. You and I.

[Echoes from years ago, years before. Chilton had yet to face the wrath of Miriam Lass's brainwashing -- but that was close, that was looming. He just didn't yet know why. And as for the unspeakable horror that Hannibal understood so deeply, well, that was unfathomable at this juncture. What Chilton had was a distinct sense of betrayal, a vague feeling of being used, and dread about what the Chesapeake Ripper was rumored to have done to him. But Freddie Lounds (dearly departed from this world) had only hinted, and her scope of time was limited even then.

Will Graham's becoming had yet to eclipse anything.]

I once believed us to be more than... What would you call this? Predator and prey?

[Somewhat exasperated, somewhat bitter.]

You are not even talking about me, are you?

[After some deliberation before responding, Hannibal elects to go through with it, switching the video to private first, now that he knows both how and that doing so is probably wise, more often than not. particularly with someone calling himself Lucifer, whether or not he actually was. This remained to be seen. Hannibal's choice to reply and to do so without public scrutiny is enough to at least suggest that he respects the possibility enough to do so, which probably also implies that he believes the religion in itself is a reality.

Lucifer. Was that actually possible? If Dorian Grey were here, persons previously thought to be fictional and written into text -- regardless of they were actually real or not -- could obviously arrive. That in itself meant this was possible. What beckoned further thought was if this was the actual complete Devil. One based on previously unprovable religious truth, rather than merely a character in Milton or Dante. How absolutely fascinating.

Why would he ever decline association? Best to proceed as if wholly unbothered by the name, and all it entailed. Best to be polite and engaging, much as many seemed to try with himself. The difference was, there was not fear, only very sincere curiosity.] Whether we choose to believe does not change the reality of our world. Even if you were simply a hallucination brought on by psychosis, you would still be a part of my personal reality.

It would seem in a place like this, anything is possible. That said, it just so happens that I do believe in angels, at least, in the way a curator admires the objects of art on display. Previously, the idea of the divine was a simple mural of spiritual magnificence to be pondered, never for one to expect to encounter in personal experience.

I had previously thought such grace was not for the likes of men. [But he did think they were real, and watching. He hoped they could see the art he made for them. He hoped God was appalled at the blasphemous ruin of his creation and mockery of divine creation. He had mused, if there was a Devil, if he had found it all very amusing.]

[Will's all set to inform Hannibal that, should he stay on as a Registered, upstanding citizen, he can get to places in very quick timing. It's why Will had suggested he go to Hannibal, not the other way around. Abigail had been confused by the fast travel, too, but she'd also been in a hospital. Made it easier for Will to know she'd stay put.

But then Hannibal offers up what sounds startlingly like compromise, and Will's face shifts just enough to make it clear he wasn't expecting that. Then again, perhaps he should have...Hannibal's entire world had changed and Will had greeted with him a smile, however fake. Wouldn't it make sense that he'd want to do whatever it took to not only get Will to him, agreeably, but keep him?

He stares, lips twisting in way to suggest he's tasting his words before he just spits them out. He is remembering Abigail's advice, how she knew.]

Generous of you. [And appreciated, judging by Will's tone.] I offered because I could be in any of our particular cities without much time or effort...

[He pauses, shakes his head. Playing guide is not foreign to him, at all, but with Hannibal? Waters that need to be navigated more carefully than he'd had with Chilton. Hannibal must be somewhat shaken by the transition, Will can't start inserting himself to the point it seems he's ready to flip the game on its back and become more like Hannibal, but only in Hannibal's direction.

A hand runs through his hair. Of course, not the one with a wedding ring visible.]

If you'd rather meet in the middle than wherever you've been assigned to live, [Oh, ouch, effortlessly chalking it up to Hannibal not wanting Will in his residence, no big deal over here, just tossing it out.] there's always Baltimore. Even if it's. Different. Than what we know.

[All their old haunts gone. Perhaps it's the best idea. Taking strolls about the city, Hannibal and Will both seeing that nothing is the same. Hannibal having Will at his side if they go somewhere more personal, when he realizes his old office is no more, his old house never was...who better to be with when it becomes completely apparent that, in this new world, they never existed? It's a second chance, and as long as they're both living and breathing? The road to ruin will follow, destroying all blank slates entirely.]

More or less. Words can come with many interpretations. Their presumed meaning can imply much about their receiver.

[Microscopic scrutiny.

As an aside, when he finds out Freddie is gone, he will regret the missed opportunity for lamb chops.]

I prefer to allow labels to others. We are what we make ourselves.

[How can he not like 'buddy'? It's inoffensive and familiar. People love that shit, it makes them feel liked and welcome and popular to be called a friend by some handsome looking dude. See, Jeff totally knows what he's doing.]

This place may look retro, but it sure does have it's medical advances. They can pretty much heal anything, and if an imPort dies? They just resurrect. Usually. Mostly. [Not entirely convinced on the ratio of resurrections and imPorts vanishing, but either way Jeff doesn't look all that concerned.] You got healing powers or some crap? Those help, and they just seem to be giving those out to anyone.

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[canto uno | video ]

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