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[cook_the_rude]

 Dr.  Hannibal Lecter is having breakfast on the lawn -- sweet iced Vietnamese coffee, and that kind of baguette sandwich with spicy fillings that owes its popularity to the country's colonial French last as Indochine.

He is sitting at a table shaded by a large, square dark red umbrella and does not seem to have a care in the world. As always, there is enough to share.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric looks tired as he comes up from the lake, a little drawn. The flutter of the red umbrella catches his eye and he smiles softly to see Hannibal. "My dear Hannibal."

[cook_the_rude]

"Sinric," Hannibal says. "would you like some iced coffee? It's sweet and pleasant, and will cool you down nicely."

Pause.

"In any case, so sit down and join me."

[thewidewideworld]

"Please?" Sinric brushed a kiss over Hannibal's temple before sitting, a carelessly familiar gesture that speaks of how deeply he trusts Hannibal. "You've been missed, my friend."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal heaps crushed ice into the glass and pours the sweet coffee over it.

"I have been home," he says, " stalking the dragon, who believed he was stalking me."

[thewidewideworld]

"The quest of Saint George begins." Sinric's fingers brush Hannibal's as he accepts the glass, chilled despite the heat of the day. "Are you free from your cage or is this a stalking of minds?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Of minds and wires and patsies," Hannibal says. "But I am getting closer to leaving."

[thewidewideworld]

"What's he like, your dragon?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Awkward and shy," Hannibal says. "He hates his body and believes himself ugly and disfigured; as a dragon, he transcends the perceived flaws of the man. "

[thewidewideworld]

"In the guise of the dragon he has wings and claws. Does he wear it as a mask, or does it wear him?"

[cook_the_rude]

"I would guess he wears it as a tattoo," Hannibal says, "but I can be sure that it wears him, to give it agency in the human world. "

[thewidewideworld]

"Two beings then." Sinric nods thoughtfully, sipping his iced coffee. "In harmony or conflict?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Conflict," Hannibal says, sipping his iced coffee. "Until recently, it would have been possible to save the man from the dragon."

[thewidewideworld]

"A wounded animal as well as an adversary then?" Sinric nods gravely. "The dragon has stuck a crippling blow?"

[the_cupbearer]

"Hello, Hannibal," Ganymede greets, trailing a hand across the doctor's shoulders as he sits down; he's looking breezy this morning in heavily-embroidered blue and gold pants and a cropped singlet.

It's still hot in the desert.

"You look happy."

[cook_the_rude]

"I am content with the world in general," Hannibal allows. "Coffee?"

[the_cupbearer]

"Happily," he says, sitting down across the corner of the table. "If you tell me what makes you so content."

[cook_the_rude]

"Currently, the way this coffee turned out," Hannibal says. Hepours the coffee over crushed ice, adds condensed milk, and stirs.

[the_cupbearer]

"It's rather hard to make Vietnamese iced coffee unpalatable," Ganymede says, resting his head on his hand, elbow on the table's edge.

[cook_the_rude]

"You think I shouldn't be content?" Hannibal says.

[the_cupbearer]

"I think contentment for you would have to come from something slightly more meaningful than coffee."

[cook_the_rude]

"Don't ever underestimate coffee," Hannibal says with a smug smile.

[the_cupbearer]

"And what have you been doing that you need such sweet coffee to revive you, hmm?"

[cook_the_rude]

"I have been home, in my world, and set more things in motion," Hannibal says.

[the_cupbearer]

"And what things would those be?" Ganymede asks. "More of your crush?"

He knows Hannibal hates that connotation. It's a good part of the reason Ganymede uses it with that smile he has.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal eyes him, saying nothing. "In fact, I firmly count on Will Graham's help," he finally pronounces.