Hannibal Lecter, visiting post

[guppy_sandhu]

If anyone wants to see Lecter, the opportunity is there.

He has tubes all over the place, and a sensor alarm in the bed that alerts medical staff should he try to bugger off or jump up at anyone, so you're probably quite safe.

[ooc: Standard Lecter warnings for blood, violence, and psychological manipulation, plus medical details.
Guppy will be keeping an eye on him for the first 48 hours or so, but feel free to have visiting medics come in to relieve him.]

Comments

[road_to_calvary]

'What good would it do either of us? I imagine my opinion of your actions are quite evident to you, and you have not asked for it anyway.'

Even if he did, he would likely not bother.

'I also do not say I have formed one fully.'

[cook_the_rude]

"What part are you still undecided about?" Dr. Lecter asks.

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean's smile turns wry.

'The part about whether you are likely to change.'

[cook_the_rude]

"We all change constantly until we die," Dr. Lecter says. "Will Graham has changed me already."

[road_to_calvary]

'You know that is not what I mean.'

He sighs quietly, and sits down on the chair by the bed.

'nevertheless, I am interested to know how, if you would tell.'

[cook_the_rude]

"You are still wondering whether I would repent and become a good person as one is commonly defined," Dr. Lecter says, "distance myself from my former life and become a reformed character?"

[road_to_calvary]

'Yes,' he says, simply.

'Though I admit I do not think it is likely, and it is not my place to try and convince you to do so. You would only laugh at that, in any case. Still, you asked, and there it is.'

[cook_the_rude]

"Why?"

[road_to_calvary]

'Why what?'

[cook_the_rude]

"Why do you think I'd revert to 'goodness' as you define it?" Dr. Lecter specifies his question.

[road_to_calvary]

'As I said, I do not. I merely wonder if it is possible at all.'

It pains him to think anyone might be beyond redemption. And no one is, he is sure. But they have to want it, and he thinks he is right in believing that Lecter does not.

[cook_the_rude]

"If I don't want to, then it's not possible, isn't it?" Dr. Lecter says.

[road_to_calvary]

'I suppose that would depend on whether you are a religious man, or not.'

He is going to guess not, given everything.

'If you wanted to be better, you could simply stop. Actual repentance would be necessary for redemption in the eyes of God.'

All this is stated simply, with no hint of persuasion or hope.

[cook_the_rude]

"You mean the same God who will bring church roofs down on the heads of his fervent followers for laughs?" Dr. Lecter asks.

[road_to_calvary]

'Do you blame God for wear on wood and stone, or poor workmanship?'

It is delivered in his usual calm tone.

[cook_the_rude]

"If God is all-powerful, he would preserve his worshippers," Dr. Lecter says. "As that is clearly not the case, God is either non-existent, or intentionally cruel. I prefer the second option."

[road_to_calvary]

He finds this argument simplistic, to say the least.

'People must die at some point. I would think that being struck down during worship would be a perfectly peaceful way to go.'

No one who has lived his life could ever think God would be intentionally cruel. Redemption must be earned, that is all.

[cook_the_rude]

"How odd," Dr. Lecter says. "I find it dramatic, upsetting, and darkly ironic. I collect church collapses and suchlike."

[road_to_calvary]

'A church collapse would be amusing to you?'

He is not surprised. And finds it vaguely telling that Lecter would 'collect' such things - it seems to him that the man searches for reasons to by cynical.

[cook_the_rude]

"You probably can't appreciate the irony," Dr. Lecter says.

[road_to_calvary]

'I see it.'

Lecter must think he is very stupid indeed. Well, perhaps he is right. It does not bother him what others think.

'I simply do not find it funny.'

[cook_the_rude]

"It's the nature of irony that it's darkly funny, if not always laugh-out-loud funny," Lecter says. "But of course, humour is very, very cultural, and translates badly."

[road_to_calvary]

'I understand what you were saying, monsieur,' he says simply, and politely.

It is not funny in any culture - not to Valjean - but then, he is not practiced at laughing.

'Perhaps I should leave you to your recovery. You must be tired.'

He is still not sure why he came.

[cook_the_rude]

"You've had enough, have you?" Lecter says.

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean smiles quietly.

'Monsieur, if you would rather I stay to continue our last conversation, then by all means I will stay.'

There is still no fear in him. He rather thinks he can manage a conversation without tiring, despite how unpleasant it is likely to be.