week one - train to the afterlife (u wish hannibal)

[sating]

[ The last thing Hannibal remembers is falling.

There's a bit more than that, naturally, but that's the overwhelming part of it. There's blood in taste, smell, and sight, and perhaps that should be more prominent, but it's not. Instead, it's the warmth of an embrace in the cold wind coming from the ocean. A moment before they had fallen, he had felt Will's weight shift, and Hannibal certainly could have stopped it. But in truth, he hadn't wanted to.

He'd always been enchanted with how he might meet his end in the way that he was enchanted by particularly good music or art. It sparked his imagination, because there were many ends he could picture, but none were certain. He didn't desire death, of course, since living was far more fun, but he'd always hoped that when he did die, it would be in some elegant, grandiose way. Being dragged off a cliff into the blood black sea below was perfect for that idea he had in his head.

What came after was something he had never concerned himself nearly as much with, though. It was perfectly obvious to him, because no matter the story or theology, his own fate in that respect was fairly certain if there was anything at all. He wakes before Will and peers around curiously, but his lips only pull up into a faint smile. A train is a bit quaint and unexpected in terms of an afterlife, all that said. Because what else could it be? He would accept that just as easily as a vision that comes from the final firings of his neurons. Both may as well be true.

When Will stirs, Hannibal's attention is pulled away from the setting and to the man sitting across from him instead. Hannibal crosses one leg over the other, and they sit in a mirror of a scene that feels almost old by now. With the same cool clarity as always, Hannibal speaks when he knows Will will be awake enough to hear him. ]

Hello, Will.

Comments

[sating]

It is a distinct possibility. Or at least, that would make more sense than our train.

[ Hannibal continues to lead the way, at least in a manner of speaking. He follows the crowd more than he leads it, mingling in with everyone else. He's taking stock of the people he sees, and in more ways than one. It's a natural consequence of his diet. He looks at people and often thinks of what part of them may be best on a plate. Though in equal measure, he notices the variety of age, of nationality, everything normal that a good psychiatrist would. Some killers have a problem with this, but for Hannibal, these two halves are never in conflict with each other.

He looks to Will and smiles in a way that reaches to his eyes, but is also very slightly smug and teasing all at once. Because he is an asshole. ]

Should I be asking you to draw a clock for me?

[sweats]

[ Will thinks he should probably be feeling outraged about that but he's settled into this odd sort of peacefulness with Hannibal that instead has him rolling his eyes and very subtly pressing his knuckles into Hannibal's back. He doesn't know what brings him to do the gesture but it felt like the best way to show just how through he was with the comment, but in a friendly manner. ]

The next time you ask me to draw a clock for you, I hope you're prepared to eat it. I think it's fair to say I'll be getting second opinions from now on.

[sating]

[ He breathes out a small, short laugh at Will's response. My, how things have changed, and he's very glad for it. There was a time where Will wanted to kill him for this very question, and now it's distilled to this. He finds both prospects just as pleasing, but of course this is the one he prefers. There's a thrill in tension, but sometimes he too prefers peace. ]

It is. Our relationship is more complicated than simply the doctor and patient by now, so I would encourage it. Letting biases bleed into work is unprofessional.

[ He absolutely didn't miss the fact that his is still first though :) ]

[sweats]

[ Now that they're out in the open, Will is starting to feel a little clammier than he'd like. He doesn't like crowds, for good reason, and this is very much a crowd. It only gets worse as the Sheriff tells them... well, nothing, and Will finds himself wincing a little. ]

Because you've never let that happen before, sure. Jesus, Hannibal.

[ And he wants to stay, he thinks, and continue whatever this is but he's really not liking the pressure in his head and the way the town is staring to swim in front of him a little. So, this is what he does --

He takes Hannibal's hand again, just a loose grasp around his wrist to tug him close so Will can lean in and murmur. ]

Not feeling so hot. Find out what you can, alright? I need to get some air.

[ He lets go after, slipping through the crowd then to find his bearings somewhere quiet -- and empty -- again. This, of course, means going behind the Saloon to puke but, you know. ]