Willy

[phedredelaunay]

While Hannibal was gone, Phedre went and spoke to Alcuin. He was in and out of consciousness, though it seemed not to be the injury but more whatever pain medication House had given him. He'd said something about Willy, and Phedre was certain that Hannibal wasn't going to send word to him, so after she left she went over to the inn herself.

It was evening by then, and Willy was easy to find. She ordered a glass of wine out of politeness to the establishment, so that she could wait until his song was over. It wasn't as if there was a rush at this point.

Comments

[alcuin]

Alcuin felt his skin flush. Willy knew he loved Hannibal. He'd guessed... or he'd known.

He still didn't understand what that all meant. Or how it meant that Willy could heal him.

Not thinking of Hannibal for a moment (and no longer in pain), he sat up and threw his arms around Willy in a grateful hug.

[anamusebouche]

Nothing would make Hannibal change his mind on Fae, but he could concede that this at least was a good situation for Alcuin.

For Alcuin. Not for him.

He had been looking forward to having Alcuin in his bed for the foreseeable future, without words spoken. Now Alcuin was a truly free man; no marque, no fae, no deals, no bonds. That didn't sit well with Hannibal at all.

"You feel well, no lingering pain?" He asked the boy, because he did care about that.

[alcuin]

Alcuin pulled away from Willy so that he could look at Hannibal. "I... I feel fine," he said. "Perfectly fine." Feeling a little amazed.

"I won't thank you," he said to Willy. "But... if there's anything you need..."

[daoine_prince]

"You are free, dove," he repeated.

He looked to Hannibal pointedly.

"Do not waste the chance for the love you dream of," he said to Alcuin, looking to him as he finished.

[anamusebouche]

"If your business here is finished, kindly leave my home," Hannibal replied to that, casually, as if the fairy hadn't just unearthed his deepest secret.

[alcuin]

“Willy - “ Alcuin began, confused and maybe a little sad. He didn’t want to be free of him. He’d adored his time with Willy.

And he wondered what Hsnnibal thought of all that too. Willy had practically just told him that Alcuin loved him. And Alcuin had no idea what to do with that.

He didn’t continue though. And he wanted to speak to Hannibal.

“Willy, I will come see you play sometime soon,” he promised softly.

[daoine_prince]

Willy smiled warmly.

"I will watch for you," he said.

He turned to go, but paused to look at Hannibal. And slowly smiled slowly.

"Thank you for your hospitality," he said.

Only a fae could be so polite and so insulting at once.

And then he left the pair to face the truth.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal offered the most polite nod and was glad to see the last of him.

He tutned to Alcuin. "I will call for breakfast. I assume you're quite hungry. Or are you keener to get back home?"

[alcuin]

Home. Well, of course Hannibal would assume Alcuin was going back to his own quarters now that there was no reason for him to be here. And of course, he should.

Though he had offered... "I... well yes, I am very hungry," he said. Because now that the pain was gone he was realizing he'd hardly eaten anything at all for the past day.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal called out to the maid for breakfast.

Perhaps he should be kinder yo Alcuin here, but Willy had gotten to him and he was quite annoyed.

He nodded, then realised he was being a tad unfair. "I'm glad to see you better," he said and smiled genuinely. "Truly."

[alcuin]

"You, um. Did not seem very happy about Willy helping me," said Alcuin. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

[anamusebouche]

"I don't trust Fae. Their deals are dangerous," Hannibal supplied. "But I can't deny it was effective magic."

[alcuin]

"I trust him," said Alcuin. He hesitated. "But I don't... really understand everything he was saying. I don't know what he thinks I gave him that was worth such a boon."

[anamusebouche]

"More dangerous still," Hannibal replied. "To trust without understanding."

[alcuin]

Alcuin frowned. "Are you questioning my judgment? I can't say I'm regretting this decision."

[anamusebouche]

"I understand why you made the decision," Hannibal replied. "I hope you see the risks, but I don't fault you for taking it."

He smiled, kindly. "I'm very glad to see you well again."

[alcuin]

Alcuin relaxed a little.

And then, wordlessly, he reached down and carefully pulled the bandage off of his abdomen. He was perfectly healed. But the scar was there. Just as it would have looked if it had healed for months.

His face fell a little. "Well I suppose it wouldn't be appropriate for there to be no consequence at all," he said softly.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal came up to him to view the scar and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's a reminder of your resillience and strength. Don't feel ashamed to carry; you are beautiful always,"

[alcuin]

Alcuin relaxed just slightly when Hannibal touched him. "I... thank you for saying that. It will take some getting used to."

He was too used to trading on his beauty. Too conditioned to think that was his worth, because so many men had told him that for so long - and they saw him as valuable despite knowing nothing else about him.

Though he'd always felt that Hannibal valued something else in him.

[anamusebouche]

"I mean it," Hannibal assured the young man. "We should let Phedre know. And House, I suppose."

[alcuin]

"Right," said Alcuin. "Yes, of course. I'll go see them both. I should thank House personally. Or I suppose we could just go take breakfast in the kitchen, see if Phedre wants to join us."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal nodded. "Are you certain you can walk?" he asked, still doubtful about the fae's magic.

[alcuin]

"I feel perfectly fine," Alcuin said. "In fact... I think I'll go take a shower quickly, and put on some fresh clothes. I ah, I assume these are yours." And whatever he'd been wearing yesterday had been covered in blood. "Why don't you have the cook set up the kitchen for us, and I'll meet you there."

[anamusebouche]

"Feel free to put on anything from the closet, if you like," Hannibal said. "I'll makd breakfast myself. Come down when you're ready."

[alcuin]

Alcuin nodded, and after Hannibal left, he looked around for a moment, but then decided he'd go back to his own room. He ran into a couple of the employees on the way and explained to them that he was fine, and then took a long shower. Once he was alone he found himself uncharacteristically in the middle of something of a panic attack. It had all just been... too much. Memories of the night before came flooding back to him, and it was quite a while before he was able to compose himself and get dressed.

But by the time he came downstairs... he was perfect again. He smiled. "It smells wonderful."