Cerulean [Hannibal] ✓

a date

He had stayed so long that now he found himself in the kitchen with the short haired woman, chopping spring onions and herbs for a dip they'd make with luve, a plant based 'joghurt-like' product, as Saturn was baking sweet potatoes for them while also preparing a variety of fruit and vegetables to eat. Getting out a wok she greases the entire thing and makes little pieces of crispy cornbread by smacking dough against the sides of the pot. "How spicy do you like your food, Hannibal?", she asks. "I don't eat spicy food too often. The French and Italian cuisine don't have too many spicy dishes." "I eat Chinese food on the daily. Including lots of fresh and dried chilli. I asked because I would offer you a chilli sauce but I think it might me too much if you aren't used to it." "Don't let me stop you from eating it." She shrugs and then begins finely chopping chillies, garlic, herbs, ginger and throwing them all into the wok with a bit of soy sauce and oil. Soon enough there is a very spicy sauce coming out. Carefully she fills it into a small bowl, then they carry everything to the dining table. She even brings some more tea. But this time herbal honey tea. "And you eat like this every day?", Hannibal asks, as he watches her load her corn bread crisp up with the chilli sauce. Saturn nods, eating it without even batting an eye. After chewing and swallowing she answers. "I love spicy food. And the Chinese kitchen gives many opportunities to veganise their dishes. Except meat stew or something of that matter. But these simple dishes I can easily make and enjoy. And once you get used to spicy food, chilli actually tastes like something and it's delicious.", Saturn chuckles. "I still don't think I'd dare touch that sauce for my own good." She laughs, covering her mouth quickly, placing her food back down onto her plate. "Hannibal.. I'm trying to eat. Stop making me laugh.", she squeezes out and he raises an eyebrow. "Me?" Cackling she curls up, clutching her already hurting belly. He simply watches her, finding amusement in amusing her. "Saturn?" "Yes?" "I'd like to take you out." She falls quiet in seconds. "Wait.. What?" "Let me take you out onto a date." "I.." "You don't want to?" "No.. I'd love to. I just didn't expect it to happen." "And why is that?" "Because you feel like a very reserved person, Hannibal. Very private and secretive. Not like a person that enjoys dating or anything like that." "I do enjoy it with the right company." Her face flushes and she quickly hides it with her hands. "Stop. You're making me blush. I hate blushing." "I'll make sure you get used to it." Her large dark eyes glance over at him. "I'll hold you to that."
"Now that I answered your question.. Answer me mine. Did you want me to ask you? Or is this pity on an old man." "You aren't that old, Hannibal.", she immediately says, her eyes looking at him in confusion as if she didn't understand why he'd even bring up their age gap. "No. I hoped you'd ask me, but I didn't think it would happen. You felt too.. Unavailable. And I felt a bit out of my league. Next to you I tend to feel...", she struggles to find a befitting word, "almost cheap." The man cracks a smile, before shaking his head. "No. No no no. Listen. You are impeccably dressed all the time while you can barely get me out of my sweatpants and oversize sweaters. It just feels.. Almost uncomfortable to walk around so.. Sleazy in front of you." Hannibal chuckles, then laughs. He takes off his tie, opens the first buttons of his shirt, slides off his west and gives her a smile. "Does this befit you more." To his great amusement the young woman merely covers her face. "I didn't mean it like that!! Hannibal! You find this funny, don't you?!" "I can't deny that." She pouts, then huffs, her cheeks burning. "You are impossible. I give up.." "You wouldn't dare." "Oh. But I do.." Her eyes glimmer with mischief for a second, but the well experienced psychiatrist notices in mere seconds. She was playing. A sign of her not only opening up a bit more, but also of her relaxing a lot more with him close. If he were to be asked.. it would be a mistake. But he wouldn't ask nor answer. He wanted her like that. He wanted her to relax more and more around him. She wasn't the usual type of woman to be expected in his social circle. She allowed herself to be far more relaxed. Wear casual clothing. Look imperfect and still speak with a certain confidence, although as she had admitted, he could make that self image of hers waver. "Your name.. Where does it come from?" "My family name is a very old german one. It came from the silk produced by the larvae of the Atlas moth. They were traders between Germany and Asia until they were grabbed by the pilgrim spirit and moved to the States. They lived through the first few hard winters and.. there we are. I have a few distant cousins in Canada and a few in the UK but those in Germany were wiped out by the Holocaust. Just one of the families. They hid a jewish family and when found out they refused mild punishment in exchange for the hiding spots of the other families they had helped to hide away. I'm pretty proud of that.", Saturn tells him, resting her chin on her palm, her dark eyes glancing over into his. He sees nothing but honesty. Nor anything she is holding back. He liked her honesty. Could even find admiration in it. "Hannibal.. May I ask you if you, since we are going to the opera together, can go to a live show of one of my favorite singers in turn. He is not very popular. But his songs are so.. pure in emotion. The longer you listen to them, the more you discover. A lot of them are merely instrumental. But those where he sings are simply beautiful. His groups name, or the name under which he publishes is Sleeping at Last. His songs mean a lot to me and I'd love to share that with you.", Saturn says, looking at him with a hopeful smile. "I'd be honored.", Hannibal admits, almost flattered that she'd take him to such a personal event. "Want to listen to his music a bit.. So you know what to prepare for?" "If you'd like to." "I listen to his music almost every day. Of course I don't mind.", she laughs.
Then she grabs her phone and the sound of bluetooth connecting is heard throughout the room.
"I love this song especially because it feels as if it is written about me.", she admits. "And why may that be?" "It's titled Saturn."