(no subject)

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy and Hannibal spent a fair amount of time working on Sunshine yesterday, and she is currently resting in one of the beds.

She could probably do with some gentle company.

Comments

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

'The label is incorrect,' he murmurs.

Tepesh is an appellation he was given after his death. His name is Vlad Dracula, son of the Dragon, or of the Devil, depending on the translator.

'But it matters not.' His gaze moves to the sleeping woman. 'Save only that she is safe.'

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

"That's what matters to me as well," Dr. Lecter says.

Pause.

"And the year is correct."

Not a question.

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

'The year, yes. The name, no.'

At least he thinks the year is correct. There were so many atrocities committed against the Turk.

'Vlad Dracula. Tepesh was added only after my -- death. It means, "Impaler." But you know that already, don't you?'

The corner of his mouth lifts.

'In more ways than one.'

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

"I do," Dr. Lecter says. "Rae has interesting friends who know to treasure her."

He thinks, briefly, of a box of hand-written index cards.

"It's fitting you're one of them."

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

Vlad shrugs, and dips his chin.

'I'm curious how you fit in to her collection.'

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

"I cook," Dr. Lecter says. "She bakes. We appreciate each other's work."

Pause.

"She fights monsters much larger than herself. I feel great respect for that."

In his mind, there's the brief image of an unassuming and slightly unkempt man whom Dr. Lecter affords a similar respect, combined with inquisitive interest.

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

That thought makes Vlad smile. She is formidable, indeed.

He turns an eye back to the doctor. There is a sense memory, lurking, just beneath the surface. Of sinking teeth into flesh.

'At least she knows what kind of monster I am.'

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

"And for some reason, she affords you the privilege of not fighting you," Dr. Lecter says.

Never doubting that she could.

In his memory palace, there is a room that contains the model of a labyrinth of thorny hedges and walls armed with broken bottles on top, with pins that have names on stuck to various staged inside. Most pins are red; only four of them are green.

"Friends are worth more if they could take you down, but do not do so."

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

It seems an odd layout for a battle, but that's what he sees it as. Chess pieces in motion.

'She knows my true heart.'

It is left unstated that she does not know Hannibal's true heart.

'She knows, perhaps more than she'd like to, and she uses what I have to offer her.'

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

"She has proven to you that she can be trusted utterly," Dr. Lecter says. In his mind, a yellow pin is added to the labyrinth.

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

'No. She will betray me.'

He looks back to her again, and his heart shows on his sleeve.

'They all do.'

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

"And knowing that," Dr. Lecter says, "she is still worth the price to you."

In his mind, he moves the yellow pin beyond one more thorny hedge, closer to the centre of the labyrinth.

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

'Oh yes. Of that, I have no doubt.'

This man's battle plans, his chessboard of identities and relationships, reminds him of something his tutor at the Ottoman court taught him. When your life depends on knowing who is friend, or friend of friend, and foe, or friend of foe, it behooves one, even as a child of only ten, to be able to remember names and faces, and their place in the game.

He fixes Dr. Lecter with a gaze as cold as steel.

'She will betray you, too. She fights monsters, Doctor.'

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

"That she does," Dr. Lecter says. "And yet, she is worth it."

He might mean either of them.

Re: Sunshine asleep

[vojvode]

'Yes. On that point, we are in, agreement.'

He glances across at the woman, who seems to be stirring from sleep.

'You'll excuse me, Doctor?' He lifts a hand, resting it across his chest in an archaic gesture reminiscent of touching the brim of a hat.

Re: Sunshine asleep

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Lecter nods his head, hinting at a bow.

"Of course," he says. "It was good to meet you, Prince. I hope to talk to you again."

In his mind, Dr. Lecter enters a door with a plaque that says "Remarkable Milliways Acquaintances", and there hangs up the earlier scene Dracula had given him, alongside a portrait of the man as he is now, and a miniature of the Ambras Castle painting.