Aaron

[alcuin]

It didn't actually take as long as Alcuin thought it might, to search Hannibal's office and find... exactly the kind of thing that he'd feared he would find. He almost took it with it. It should be in his care. But he knew that would be stupid. So he took photos, and then carefully closed up and left. Even though he knew that Kersen was keeping Hannibal occupied this evening, he didn't want to press his luck by taking any more time than he needed.

He went straight to Aaron's.

When Aaron opened the door, Alcuin just sighed, looking sad, as he went inside.

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[quitollis]

Aaron guessed from his sad sigh that it was bad news. "I'm sorry," he said, genuinely. Yes, he despised Lecter. Yes, he would gladly drive a silver stake through his heart. But... Alcuin had loved him and he was sorry that his world had shattered.

[alcuin]

Alcuin walked past him. "Aaron, I will be drinking," he said, not asking permission this time. "But I will not be going back there tonight." He went straight to Aaron's wine rack.

Without looking back at Aaron he added, "I don't want Kersen to feel obligated to... keep him occupied all evening though." He knew what that would could mean, and he knew Kersen was willing, but he didn't want to ask that of him.

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded and let him. He would not ask him to remain sober tonight. "What did you find?" he asked, carefully.

[alcuin]

"Letters," Alcuin said. Nearly spat, actually. He poured. "They were friends. He got them to trust him. The pages were practically bleeding manipulation. Oh, a copy of my birth certificate, too. That will probably be handy."

[quitollis]

The implication was horrific. Lecter had always meant to own Alcuin (because there was no word more suitable for what that vampire had done). He had always meant to have him under his thumb, to use, to manipulate, to...

"God... He's really played the long game..."

[alcuin]

Without asking, Alcuin poured a glass for Aaron as well, and handed it to him.

"Literally my entire life has been one big bloody lie," he said flatly.

[quitollis]

"Have you found any reason? Why you?" Aaron asked carefully. He accepted the glass and took a generous sip.

[alcuin]

"I... don't know," Alcuin finally said. "I mean, the way my parents wrote about me, it was flattering. And apparently my ability to read thoughts did manifest when I was a child."

[quitollis]

It was so disturbing. All of it. The grooming, the manipulation. Aaron sighed, unsure what he could do.

"Tell me what you need from me," he said. "Anything."

[alcuin]

Alcuin drained about half the glass of wine in two swallows.

"Help me figure out what to do?" he offered weakly.

[quitollis]

Aaron paused before he spoke. "You know what I would do. But I'll do anything to help. What do you want to do?"

[alcuin]

"Jump off a cliff?" Alcuin mumbled, but he wasn't serious.

He sighed. "I've been turning over all these possibilities in my head, and everything seems... too much or not enough."

[quitollis]

"I understand the appeal of vengeance," Aaron said gently. "He's played games with your life. 'Not enough' may seem like it's too little right now, but you'll be able to put it behind you at least. I can give you the silver, I can do it for you if you prefer."

[alcuin]

Alcuin was quiet for a moment and then said, “If I turned him into the WSS they’d probably put him in a cage.”

[quitollis]

Aaron appreciated that. He wasn't sure if it was Alcuin being kind to want to spare Lecter's life, or cruel to want him locked up forever.

"If you think they're able to catch him. You could lead them to him, of course. During the day if need be."

[alcuin]

"What will happen to the brothel?" Alcuin asked suddenly. "The people who work there... they're not coerced, truly. He takes good care of them."

[quitollis]

"Wouldn't you want to take over?" Aaron suggested.

[alcuin]

Alcuin hesitated, and then shook his head. "No. Perhaps... Kersen might be interested in folding parts of it into his business? But this could all be very complicated."

[quitollis]

"I commend you for your concern of the employees," Aaron replied and refilled both their glasses. "I'm sure you'll find a solution. After Hannibal's removal."

[alcuin]

Alcuin nodded, and looked down into his glass.

"I was joking about jumping off a cliff," he said quietly, "but honestly Aaron I have a lot of trouble imagining a life for myself after this."

[quitollis]

"You've known very little else," Aaron said, sympathetically. "But... that doesn't mean that there isn't a life without him. You'll find it along the way."

He paused and wasn't sure if he should say this. He didn't want Alcuin to think he was aiming to replace Hannibal's influence over him. "And I'll be there, at any time you need me, if you want me to be there."

[alcuin]

Alcuin really wasn't sure why he was doing this now, but it slid into his head with a small sliver of guilt, and he ended up blurting it out. "Kersen and I slept together a few days ago. It just kind of, um. Happened."

He'd wanted to talk to the vampire first about his plan, and make sure he really was okay with the part of it where he distracted Hannibal. And Alcuin had also talked to him about his complicated feelings for Aaron, and how much he worried he was just going to hurt him - he hadn't had anyone to talk to, really. They'd ended up talking for hours in that basement flat under Kersen's bar. He couldn't even remember now exactly how it gone from talking to him in the vampire's lap begging breathlessly to be bitten.

[quitollis]

Perhaps Aaron wouldn't have been quite so taken aback by this confession if it hadn't followed the words 'if you want me to be there'.

"... why are you telling me this now?"

Conflicting thoughts went through his head. Did Alcuin still not want him there? Was there no hope for them? (And how selfish of him to think about Alcuin in that way while he was mourning love lost.) But also... what a mental image that gave. How he would have loved being there to see it, or be part of it.

[alcuin]

Alcuin looked down. "I just, um, I thought I should tell you. I didn't want you to think I was keeping it from you."

[quitollis]

"Do you want to... talk about it?" He asked, then, still unsure about what he thought of it.