Passion and the Skull (Hannibal Lecter)

1

16 months earlier...

Arabella's gloved fingers curled over the top of her burgundy scarf, loosening its pressure against her neck. It matched with her cloche hat of the same color which she had received as a gift from her mother a few years prior. They came in handy to keep warm whilst presenting her as fashionable in cold temperatures of Maryland in winter.

Arabella arrived at the campus of the University of Baltimore where she had been invited to give a talk to psychology students. It was the second year of Arabella being invited as a speaker. She was not an alumnus of the university, but she had been a resident of the city for five years. The prior year, she had spoken to students about the 'wonders of work' beyond their degree. This year, she was going to be part of a series of talks which would address a mixture of working methods held by local practicing psychologists, along with aspiring students. Arabella was somewhat daunted by the idea of speaking to a group of professionals who were probably more advanced than herself. She wondered what the other speakers felt. Her talk would be a critique of the DSM's shortcomings and the intersectional approach to therapy. She hoped most practicing therapists knew how to validate their clients, but nevertheless the discussion was important.

She retrieved her visitor badge from the reception and was directed to the lecture room where two of the other five speakers were setting their things up.

"Dr. Bradbury." One of the speakers nodded to her. His long grey-black hair bobbed with the movement of his head. She narrowed her eyes and recognized the person.

"Dr. Murray," She nodded his way, "This panel will surely be interesting." She used the action of taking her hat off to cover the sour frown that had made its way onto her face. She hoped Howard Murray wasn't going to drain the crowd dry of compassion before she got a chance to speak. He was a man dedicated to the practices of old controversial psychology before ethical boards sprang up in the 60s. It was rumored throughout the Baltimore psychology social circles, that Howard Murray had been an awful and potentially abusive husband to his now ex-wife.

Arabella assigned herself a seat at the front by placing her hat, scarf, and coat on it. She gave her dark brown hair a gentle tousle and then retrieved her heavy laptop from her bag and reviewed the short slideshow she had prepared. The room still felt a bit cold, but she was glad she wore a smart-casual black sweater dress and tights. She decided she would wear her scarf whilst speaking so that there was color on her, and a visual focal point that would help people keep their eyes on her rather than being disengaged by her monochrome underlayer.

It wasn't long after before many people of different ages and professional appearance filled the seats of the room, and the event began. After the first two speakers finished their presentations and Q&As there was an intermission for everyone to get coffee and snacks. Despite the massive dispenser brimming with free coffee, Arabella slipped out of the room and walked down the hall to grab a coffee from the medical department's attached café. The coffee was at less risk of tasting awful and she was able to get herself her favorite comfort drink, a cappuccino, in time before Dr Murray's mad-scientist rambles in the second half.
Of course, she had been put after him in the speaking order. She wondered if the university did it because of how different they were. Arabella rolled her eyes at the reality. Then realized the barista may have thought her rude.

"Sorry, just thinking about the people I have to deal with." She explained.

"I feel that." The girl behind the counter offered a sympathetic face and handed over the cappuccino.
She went back to the lecture room just before everything started again.

Dr Murray stood at the front of the room and began to show pictures on the projector screen of groundbreaking projects from the 20th century that had been incredibly unethical in today's ethics. He broke down a theory as to why so much legislation has come into effect. Then he focused more on patient treatment and how legislation must be questioned. He spoke well and Arabella was certain he had infiltrated the minds of some of the crowd.
After he finished, the short Q&A took place.