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

[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."

[anamusebouche]

"Thank you," Hannibal said with a small smile. "I made it myself."

The meatballs in the soup were Halicon.

He offered Alcuin a seat and sat down after.

"I called for Phedre. I'm sure she'll be here soon."

[alcuin]

Alcuin sat. It still felt a little strange, Hannibal serving him.

He picked up a spoon. "I was thinking, I ah... suppose there's no need to wait now, to have the rest of my marque limned. I thought I'd have to wait, since I thought I wouldn't be able to lie on my stomach."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal waited for Alcuin to take the first bite. It was beautiful to him to see the victim consume the perpetrator.

"Of course."

Suddenly the maid burst in. "Oh, I'm sorry. But... Did you hear? They found Halicon's head on a spike just outside the city walls! And the rest of him on the floor gutted like a fish!"

[alcuin]

Alcuin dropped his spoon, and it clattered to the table, soup splashing. He was white as a ghost. “I - I’m sorry,” he stammered, and hurried to clean it up.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal watched Alcuin as the news was announced. He found he wanted to tell him exactly what happened, but of course he did not.

He stood. "Rose, would you clean it up, please?" He asked, then offered Alcuin his hand.

"Are you alright?"He asked the boy.

[alcuin]

Alcuin didn't know what to say.

Finally he squeezed Hannibal's hand so tight it must have hurt, and said, his voice low, "That cannot be a coincidence, Hannibal."

[anamusebouche]

"Perhaps not, but a fortunate one, wouldn't you say?" Hannibal asked him.

[alcuin]

Alcuin wasn't stupid. There was no way he could ignore how... not surprised, Hannibal was. And he honestly didn't know what to do with this knowledge.

"The kingsguard won't think so," he said. "They don't know what a monster he was."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal could see the cogs in Alcuin's mind turn, but he waited until the maid left before he spoke. "He was a cruel man and met a fitting fate. I will not mourn him - and I should hope you will not either."

[alcuin]

“I… won’t,” said Alcuin. And didn’t really know what else to say.

“I suppose at least I have an alibi.” Pause. “And so do you. Since you were so kind to stay by my side all night.”

[anamusebouche]

Alcuin was going to find out; Hannibal was certain of this. He wasn't sure he wanted to hide it from him. But he did know that he would have to have a better hold on the boy if he did find out.

"I did. I wanted to be there. In fact, I will miss you, if you go back to sleep in your own rooms tonight."