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[ostentiferous]

[This wasn't exactly a welcomed trip. Usually when he took a holiday, he put great thought into what location he wanted to be in, when he wanted to take it and what sort of environment he was committing to for that time. This was a rude intrusion on his life, something he had little control over and hadn't been asked to do. And that frustrated him. Not that he's showing it. Like most his emotions, they remain internal, nothing showing but vague bemusement as he prepares to test out this new phone he'd been given

Time to see just what sort of people he was working with now.]

I always find it's so unfortunate to have to introduce yourself when the circumstances are not of your choosing. It detracts from the more social element and it never comes out as you'd want it to. Can seem forced, even. So you'll have to forgive me for being a little glib, I'm still finding my feet.

[He clears his throat, a half sincere smile on his face, trying not to seem too controlled about his emotions, that'd make him stick out as much as a man panicking to an unsettling degree. He seems almost genuinely bewildered, though in relatively good spirits about it.]

I'm Doctor Hannibal Lecter, for those wondering, and I'm sure it's fairly obvious by now I haven't been here long. So if you'll humour me, I have a few questions. I'm sure that given the situation, the same questions are asked almost endlessly so I'll try to avoid the cliché.

[Which was complicated given that he wasn't entirely sure what the cliché was yet. He had a few theories, given what the most common questions would be from any confused and concerned person, lost in a new world.]

I'd like to know if there's any definitive way to get information here. Something that new arrivals could browse to answer all the easier questions. I imagine it'd save a lot of time for both parties.

Any help is appreciated and I'd be willing to return the favour. Working together seems to be the best way to navigate this kind of situation.

Comments

1/?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Saturday -- before his session with Doctor Karla Sofen. It's but a quick glance at his communicator, one of those subtly compulsive tendencies born from a reliance on one social network --]

[slightlyoffchilt]

[-- blood withers from his face, his heart stampedes to a quicker, more brutal pulse. Chilton drops the communicator, his lips silent in their mouthing of Hannibal Lecter. He hadn't found Abel Gideon's body in his guest room yet, he hadn't experience the frame job for himself; but Freddie Lounds had alluded to it, to him here. And as Chilton feared that Hannibal knew that Chilton knew, it would appear that Freddie suggested some legal fallout had happened.

But, in the same breath, Chilton knew he couldn't trust Freddie Lounds, expert libel settler, for the whole and honest truth. Even if it made sense, even if the design was adding up, he couldn't commit to trusting fully anything of what anyone said. Agendas were at play. The terrain that a lapse in cold, hard facts left was one haunted by untamed growths of paranoia and fear. Hannibal Lecter was dangerous.

But how dangerous was he right now, right here in Heropa?]

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[infomodder]

[Meanwhile, on the other side of town, someone else is also having an extreme reaction to the name and face of Hannibal Lecter. Someone else is having an extreme reaction in a very different direction because, well. Someone else has been told a whopping lot of nada by the few people he knows.

As if he'd believe them.

It's odd (slightly flattering) to see something of himself in the request. A way to look things up without being a bother. Boring anyone. Maybe he should've seen to getting something like that put back together instead of talking about it. Hot air, nothing else. The idea of taking charge of independence without having to burden people, that's—that's something Will would have appreciated himself.

And promptly did nothing to help rectify that.

Will Graham failing Hannibal Lecter (even if he'll never say as much out loud; he doesn't have to, everyone else has undoubtedly done it for him a thousand times by now) repeats itself.]

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[infomodder]

[Which is a very small part of why it takes him so long to say anything. No matter how he was exonerated, there would have been a window of time where he looked like the worst patient to have on any psychiatrist's resume. That and, well—it had (partially? mostly?) been his fault that Abigail was no longer with them, hadn't it? Of course it had. He just didn't know who or how or why or...

Maybe Hannibal knew that.

Maybe Hannibal would tell him. Eventually.

When he flips the video on, he's got terrible hat hair (the hat he was wearing had to be taken off, tacky thing that it is), a wall of fake bait behind him...and that smile? It's not strained because he thinks Hannibal is the devil himself, that he's smoke, that he's the Ripper. It's strained because it's Will. A Will who doesn't know much of anything and is probably much happier for it.]

Not really anything like. What you're talking about. Heard there used to be, but not anymore. [Is he looking directly at the camera? Hell no he's not, he's focused on something just beyond it. "Focused."] Doctor Chilton's been here longer than me, but. Could probably answer most of your easy questions myself.

[PICK ME
PICK ME
PICK ME
I'M SORRY I RUINED THE WORLD YOU LOVED]

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[walkingballpit]

Dr. Lecter, I presume.

[The look on the young man's face is the precise shit-eating grin you'd expect from someone who would make a Dr. Livingston reference at the first opportunity.]

I'm new here, too, but I thought I'd ask if you needed anything specific. I've got some - friends, here. Some of 'em have been here for awhile. If you do find Heropa for Dummies, could you let me know where to pick it up?

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[ostentiferous]

You presume correctly.

[Hannibal approaches this as politely as he can, not sure just how much he could trust friends of friends for information.]

I think I have enough resources as the moment for information but nothing solid that can be shared yet. If I find anything, I'll keep you in mind, if you'd like? Though to do that, I would need a name.

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[corviform]

[ Gil's mouth hangs open for a moment when he registers that voice. Of course, having a visual is a great help, but it's that accent he could place anywhere despite knowing him for the briefest amount of time. Less than he honestly would have liked.

His voice, English accented, is full of surprise when he pipes up: ]

Dr. Lecter? Ah... [ The man had questions, Gilbert! ] I've only been here a few months, though I can try to answer whatever question you have.

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[ostentiferous]

Correct. [There's a moment there where he pauses, not quite sure if he was picking up on something or not with this one. There was a degree of strangeness all around, it was hard to set apart what was the norm.]

I would appreciate that. Though nothing should be beyond the intermediate level. I'm mostly curious on the matter of work. If you know much on that one? I'm mostly curious if we're obligated to the jobs were given or is it possible to just establish our own ways of working here.

[detriments]

But then that would defeat the purpose of this forum, Dr Lecter. Don't you think?

[ostentiferous]

Not necessarily. Some things are easier to process when written down, others when communicated. Both are needed but they don't cancel each other out.

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[huntergames]

[ So Will and this doctor know each other? She peers into the feed with curious eyes, though quickly frowns, as if trying to find the right words before saying anything at all. ]

There's a lot people still don't know... I'm sorry, but I've heard you can request an audience with people from the military. Lieutenant... Ananke? And Captain Holiday.

[ostentiferous]

You can have an audience with them? I wasn't aware of this. Though I don't suppose they're open to criticisms. And I doubt they would appreciate being interrupted for simple information. I can't imagine they have much free time on their hands. F

[People who went to this much effort to take someone didn't just give them up after a meeting, he doesn't have much hope in confronting these men. He assumes there's some sort of catch he's missing. Trusting the military wasn't something that came easy.]

Have many people tried this?

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[proteus]

[ This reply came in late and well into the evening hours. ]

You can be glib. Everyone's likes to try and one-up each other on who can be the most flippant or an off-putting asshole when they make contact with the imPort community at large.

Glib is a nice change of pace.

[ostentiferous]

I would imagine that a lot of people coming here aren't really thinking straight when they first arrive, it's likely they might blunder into the network and present themselves falsely. I would refrain from judging people until they've had time to adjust.

People all take different times to adjust.

[He didn't need much time to adjust himself, he mostly just needed more resources to keep on top of everything. He didn't like being out of the loop.]

[Video]

[granddevil]

No, there isn't.

People are fond of asking when they first arrive and the ones that have been here for a while are fond of answering the same questions over and over again.

[ostentiferous]

Then it's a cycle with mutual benefits then. [He smiles faintly, amused by how easily people fall into patterns like that.] Without a solid basis for gathering information, I think asking is the best way of learning.

[juuustice111]

That would be pretty helpful, wouldn't it? I haven't heard of anything like that, but then I'm new here myself.

[ostentiferous]

It seems we're all looking for information. Perhaps if I collect enough, I could share it around? It seems we're all in a similar boat, it's only fair to help each other along.

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

The resource of information depends on the type that you want.

[ he tacks on, faintly amused. ]

There's a library. I'm told it has papers that bear the news—new news, of course, and old news, if we want to get specific—and books. Mountains of dusty old books.

[ostentiferous]

Libraries are usually a good starting point, even if one might argue they're somewhat of an outdated means of gathering information. If I wanted to follow the news in this place, I assume the best way to catch up would be the newspaper archive?

[He would like to know a little more about the place he's stuck in, even if he has to ventured through some back-dated newspapers.]

I've also been told looking back through the network is a good starting point. Whatever would help me get up to date, really. I have a lot to catch up on.

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[foreshadower]

Dr. Lecter? What a pleasure, or as much as it can be, considering the circumstances.

As for answers, some, I believe, enjoy using the internet. I prefer papers, however, or books.

Video

[ostentiferous]

Thank you. And yes, it's not exactly ideal but I'm sure it could of been a lot worse.

I have a greater preference to books, personally. I believe I'm a little more set in my ways than I care to admit. Though I wouldn't discount the internet, if it could help me to find what I need.

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[redhairring]

[ fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. As soon as she sees Hannibal's face and hears his voice, the color drains from Freddie's face. At her point in life...she doesn't trust the man. After all, Hannibal Lecter, possible Chesapeake Ripper? Bad news. Freddie wants to stay alive, she wants to find out the truth but doesn't want to die.

Of course, she's not going to let Hannibal know that she knows. And she's not going to let Hannibal know that she's rattled (though he can hear it in her voice, the hint of restraint, the fact that she's trying to keep a calm tone.) ]

Here here, the gang's mostly here.

[ It's an attempt to seem nonchalant, an attempt to seem nonplussed, while simultaneously wondering why does this place love Baltimore so much. ]

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[ostentiferous]

[Ah, yet another of Baltimore's finest. Funny, when Frederick mentioned those he knew here from home, he never thought to point out that Freddy Lounds happened to be here. Not exactly someone he was dying to see again.

The calm and casual tone she was trying for didn't work, it wasn't enough to convince him. She seems almost unsettled by his presence. He takes note, silently, not wanting to draw attention to her odd behaviour.]

Miss Lounds, I can't say I expected to see you here.

[He keeps his tone neutral, but polite, more interested to see what her reactions would be than anything else.]

I'm quite surprised to see so many familiar faces. Not that I have a problem with that, it makes things a little less complicated.

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[closetshark]

[Pitch's tone is dry as usual, and it's unclear whether it's bad lighting or if he really is that grey in the face.]

Didn't you listen to the briefing they gave you, or have they stopped doing that? Either way, you're slightly more interesting than most of the new people. Manners get you everywhere.

What are you willing to offer for answers?

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[ostentiferous]

The brief didn't exactly answer my questions. A little too basic.

[Well, he did like upfront people. Straight to the point, nice and easy. No headgames.]

I think the question is less what I can offer you and more what you value. People prefer certain things over others. Considering my situation, it's probably a given that money isn't exactly my greatest asset at the moment.

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[deathline]

[She had viewed the broadcast out of boredom, trying to get a feel of the people she was surrounded by. Shiki isn't sure what compels her to reply to this video. Perhaps, looking at this man she isn't sure what to make of him at all. He looks normal. Sounds polite. It's no guarantee he's truly the former.

Maybe it was just his weird name that caught her attention.]

Hannibal Lecter is a pretty weird name.

What kind of doctor are you?

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[ostentiferous]

You could say so, it's not exactly the most common name. I haven't met many who share it.

[He keeps himself in a pleasant enough tone, wanting to seem as obliging as possible. There's an even tempered look on his face, calm and almost friendly. Almost.]

I specialise in psychiatry but I did work as a surgeon for several years.

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[sofentheblow]

[ Definitely after her session with Frederick Chilton. Her response comes the following day, in fact, skimming the network for what she may've missed.

Ripped from his home universe -- Will's, Chilton's, where from what she's gathered they're not used to this sort of thing, and his immediate concerns include avoiding clichés. Seems a little pretentious. (Pot/kettle, Karla -- though her own tendencies there are probably part of why it grates.) Perhaps she's being uncharitable, but, uh, Karla Sofen is not someone who tends to be loaded for bare with charity.

People she knows know him, though, so it's hard to resist a little prodding. ]

You might consider giving older network posts from other new arrivals a look. They're archived.

If it's a priority for you to avoid clichés.

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[ostentiferous]

That's a good idea, I hadn't considered that. I assume all the bigger events here were talking points at one time or another.

[He was definitely going to have to do some backdated reading to catch up, get a better feel of what this place and it's people were like.]

I would hardly call it a priority. Just a means to avoid annoying people who hear the same question again and again. It's understandable to ask but I imagine after a while, it can get tedious.

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[heartlessglitch]

Dr. Lecter.
I have very little patience for mincing words, so I will be straight-forward.
My name is Danger.
I am an artificial intelligence.
And I know a great deal about you.

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[ostentiferous]

[What a way to introduce themselves. He takes in the statement slowly, processing it with a slight frown. Just where was this going?]

Do you? Well, I appreciate your honesty.

When you say a great deal, just what do you mean exactly? [He pauses slightly.] I wouldn't of considered myself a talking point, personally.

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[connate]

The best bet right now is browsing the network and asking about anything you don't find answers to, unfortunately. Otherwise you'll have to rely on the welcome packet.

[ His tone's friendly, though it's obviously a fairly staged courtesy; professionalism, more than anything. And introductions tend to get skipped a lot around here, given the nature of the network, but he doesn't hesitate to return the formality. ]

Nick Burkhardt, with the local PD. [ A slight pause, and with a grin that's obviously more than a little wry: ] Welcome to Heropa.

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[ostentiferous]

It seems that information isn't exactly the easiest to come by here. I will have to do some research myself then, a little extra effort never hurt anyone.

[He also keeps his tone friendly, polite even, understanding all too well how important professionalism is. He found the better he presents himself, the less hassle he received. He always appreciates it being returned.]

Ah, thank you. It's comforting to know we have someone to maintain the law here, especially in such a strange environment. I can't imagine that's an easy job by any means.

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[vaccination]

[While Ellie's heard what he said, she can't help but get caught up on one little detail.]

Your name is Hannibal? [Someone had a sick sense of humor when naming their kid. Hannibal, rhymes with--well. Shit Ellie's had too much experience with.]

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[ostentiferous]

Yes. It's a little unusual and perhaps old fashioned now but I suppose we can't exactly pick our names, can we? [Yes, it rhymes. Which is, okay, unfortunate. But lets all try to move past that and focus on his charming and suave manner, yes? Yes.]

I think we all have a soft spot for our names, even the most peculiar ones.

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[immuno]

Doctor of what?

[ She'll get to the answering questions thing. She's going to ask hers first. ]

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[ostentiferous]

Right now? Psychiatry. Though it's not the only area I'm versed in.

May I ask why you're so curious?

COMMENT NOT HERE... FOR NOW.

[enabeled]

[ How is he even going to deal with you, Hannibal. How. ]