Curiosity | Hannigram AU

The Man In The Castle

Will jumps slightly in surprise at the voice.

"Sorry sir," he apologizes, setting down the wine. He cringes slightly at himself and looks about the room, avoiding the man staring at him intently.

"You don't like eye contact, do you?" Will turns to face the man, staring at the lapel of the fine suit he's wearing.

"Eyes are distracting. It shows so much about a person just by looking at their eyes." The man nods in agreement, a small smirk playing on his face.

"Eyes are the windows to the soul," he concludes.

Buster sniffs the hem of the man's pants. The man steps back and Buster growls up at him.

"I'm so sorry," Will says. "C'mere Buster!" He whistles to the little dog and shakes some rabbit meat. Buster turns his attention back to Will and trots over to eat the treat. Will also gives one to Winston, who is behind him.

"I must ask," the man starts. "Who are you?" Will looks up, making eye contact with the man, and looks back to the lapel.

"You can call me Will," he answers. "And you?"

"Doctor Hannibal Lecter," he answers. "But my friends call me Hannibal."

"Well Doctor Lecter, thank you for not immediately kicking me back into the beast out there."

"No matter, you may stay however long you like. Once the beast has been unleashed it is hard for him to stop himself." 

Will blinks as a moment passes between the two men. Their stares meet each other briefly and something flashes across the doctor's eyes. Something unnatural that unsettles Will and he knows his dogs have sensed it as well. But the flash is gone just as quickly as it came and Will is left questioning himself.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?" Lector asks. Will gives a small nod and shifts his weight. "Why not." The doctor turns to go but pivots back to finish a sudden thought; 

"Would you please keep your dogs down here? I have many things a dog could choke on."

Will's hand moves instinctively down to touch the top of Winston's muddy head. Lector's tone did not sound in favor of his dogs.

"My uncle had a dog who died and was found with human bones in her throat," Will ventures, trying to warn the sophisticated man that he knows what game he's playing. Hannibal Lecter only gives him an amused smile. "They couldn't find the rest of the body."

"I'm sure she was a spectacular animal, but I must insist that you keep your dogs down here. I didn't design my home with animals in mind. Would you please come up with me?"

Will sets his mouth into a hard line walking closer to the man. Water drips off of him splashing the rock floor. The quiet whines Winston gives are ignored by his owner as he leaves wet footprints up the staircase.

Will treads slowly behind his host, unsure if the man in front of him is leading him in a safe direction. Will had often been wary of people who let strangers stay in their home, being an orphan on the streets had taught him hard lessons. The biggest one had always been trust. At first, he trusted no one, but then a scrappy girl formed a silent truce with him that led to their friendship. There was no lead-up to this like then. He is in a stranger's home and he feels out of place.

At the top of the stairs is the kitchen. It's clean and pristine, nicer than the kitchen that he had grown up with at his uncle's. Though it exhibits the same structure as a normal medieval kitchen, there are no noticeable additions to the space. It's devoid of pots or knives or anything that gives it character.

"There is a guestroom already prepared," Lecter says to Will. "I will have the servants draw you a bath."

Will follows the doctor up a few flights of stairs to a room. He walks in and marvels at the simplistic elegance it gives off. The bed is pushed against the wall on the left with blue covers with gold accents. A small armoire rests just next to it. The two side tables are made of rich mahogany with intricate designs. And two beautiful paintings stand opposite of one another each depicting the same countryside, one night and one day.

"These are very pretty," Will comments, inspecting the paintings.

"Thank you, my sister made them. Now, the dining hall is just down the hall and down the stairs. Join me when you are ready."

"We'll see."

He leaves and closes the door behind him. Will steps into the bathroom attached to the room. It doesn't have a mirror which he thinks is strange. He puts his hand into the tub to test the water temperature and after it comes back warm, strips himself of his cold, wet clothes and lowers himself into the water.

He rests his head against the back of the tub and relaxes as the water swishes around his body. He wishes that his host would have let him dry off his dogs and decides he will do so after dinner.

He gets out and dries himself off with a towel. The clothes are still wet so he walks out to the armoire to see if there are any clothes in there. There are and Will is once again in awe of the elegance this place exudes. They are fine clothes and things that Will would wear on the regular but much nicer. There are a few suits and he decides to match the doctor's example and wears one.

It is very comfortable but not as comfortable as he likes. He changes the shirt and pants so they are more like his outdoor clothes. A simple look. Gray and black.

Will is ready to join Doctor Lecter for dinner and steps out of the room.