Two pups, two muns

[cook_the_rude]

Today, Dr. Hannibal Lecter and a ten-year-old redhead known to be a younger version of Milliways' favourite baker are busy in the kitchen, making ice cream.

It's a slightly unusual kind, and involves grinding up gingerbread.

Comments

[cook_the_rude]

"They're a matter of faith," Dr. Lecter says. "People pray to them and ask for their help."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Oh," Rae says.

Religion.

Right.

The syllable sounds disappointed.

[collects_strays]

It flickers behind his eyes, like a candle that's blown out.

He considers whether to rekindle it, or let it smoke. But ultimately, Graham says nothing, looking stead to Dr. Lecter.

[cook_the_rude]

"Faith is very important to people, and just as real as money, or borders, or gender," Dr. Lecter says.

[sunbaked_baker]

The girl doesn't really know what to say, and looks faintly uncomfortable. Faith has never been a much-discussed topic in the Seddon household. Or, for that matter, in the household that came before the Seddon household. Religion, even less so. Oh, Sunshine has faith in people. But people people, not faraway religious figures. That sort of wishful thinking has never much interested her.

"Are there... historical bodhisattvas? Like, real people who chose to not leave the, um," what had he called them? "the circles of existence, and help others?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Very much so," Dr. Lecter says. "As Buddhism believes in reincarnation, there are even living avatars of them around, the most famous and globally revered being the Dalai Lama from Tibet."

[collects_strays]

"But no one can - prove reincarnation, in our world."

He's watching the wall again, and his voice is a little distant.

"Which is when it becomes faith."

[sunbaked_baker]

The girl hesitates. "But... they're characterized by their compassion, and their will to help people. I don't - I've never heard of the Dalai Lama, but if people respect them and try to live by their example and help people, then it would be better if there were more people like the bodhisattvas. Whether or not they were actually reincarnated."

If a bodhisattva is defined by their actions and purpose, then... as far as she sees it, the reincarnation and religion aspects are beside the point. But then, her only grasp of Buddhism comes from this conversation, her grasp of religious faith tenuous at best.

[cook_the_rude]

"That is probably the point of Buddhism," Dr. Lecter says.

Pause.

"I think the ice cream is ready now. Who wants some?"

He holds up his spoon and smiles brightly at them both.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Yes, please," Rae smiles in reply, but it is a smaller, more subdued smile. She is running low on the bright energy that fueled her enthusiasm earlier in the day. The conversation has been difficult to follow, too many strange new ideas and undercurrents she can't identify or even be sure she's feeling, leaving her drained and worn out.

"I'll... I'll get us some bowls."

[cook_the_rude]

"Thank you, Rae," Dr. Lecter says.

[collects_strays]

Graham doesn't say anything, and won't volunteer any help.

But he also doesn't interrupt, only watching as Rae gets the bowls.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae has a step-stool she uses when she can't quite reach. She sets it below the cabinet where the bowls are, and climbs up. The kitchen is a haven of light, as the late afternoon deepens towards sunset out the kitchen window. The girl is a bright spot of color, blue and green and red denying the grey season.

There's a moment of hesitation when she reaches to take down the bowls, and she turns to Will. "Would you like some?" she asks, so she knows how many bowls they'll need.

She had automatically taken three.

[collects_strays]

He still doesn't speak.

But after a pause, he nods.

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Lecter accepts the bowls. "Thank you, Rae," he says.

He deftly distributes three small, perfect scoops of the ice cream into each bowl, sprinkles them with a bit of crushed gingerbread, decorates with a swirl of ginger syrup, and then adds a small silver spoon to each.

With a smile, he offers a bowl to each of the others.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae smiles slightly, then goes to set the step-stool in its out-of-the-way place at the end of the kitchen cabinets, where it won't be tripped over.

"It turned out really pretty," she says, quietly, as she comes back to the table.

[collects_strays]

"It did," he agrees, matching her tone.

He picks up the spoon, but dips the back of it against the scoop of ice cream, slowly denting into it.

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Lecter eats a spoonful, closing his eyes while he swallows.

"It turned out the way I wanted."

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae takes a small spoonful of the ice cream, making sure to get some of the ginger syrup, and the crushed gingerbread.

"Mmm," she says as she tastes it, smiling. A moment later, she adds, "It's good. The gingerbread on top is really nice."

[collects_strays]

He takes his time, but eventually lifts his spoon from the bowl.

"It's great," he says to Rae.

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Lecter eats another spoonful, and smiles.

"Thank you," he says, to both of them. "I'm glad you like it, Will."