Hannibal

[alcuin]

The last time Alcuin had spotted Hannibal he was speaking with Eliot, and Alcuin had wanted to give him that space. So he'd slipped to the side for a moment, checking his phone, when a familiar voice caught at the edge of his spine.

"Alcuin," the man said, with the slow drawl of someone who always expects to be welcomed.

Alcuin froze. Then slowly turned.

Roger Carrick. Still bronzed, still smiling like the world owed him forgiveness for the things he never admitted.

Alcuin didn’t speak. Just looked at him.

"You look good," Roger said. “Didn’t recognize you at first. You’ve really grown into your own.”

Alcuin’s mouth curled, faintly. “I wasn’t a child when we met.”

Roger chuckled, as if it were a joke. “No. No, I suppose you weren’t.”

A beat. Just long enough for discomfort to settle.

“I’ve been meaning to reach out,” Roger added, voice going a little quieter, as if afraid they'd be overheard. “There’s a new project I think you’d be perfect for.”

Alcuin’s eyes didn’t waver. “I’m not interested.”

"You don’t even want to hear about it?"

“I don’t take meetings in hotel rooms anymore,” Alcuin said calmly.

The words landed with precision—gentle in tone, surgical in intent.

There was a flash of anger across Roger's face, and then he reached out and grabbed Alcuin's arm. "I don't know what you're getting at, but if you're thinking of dragging me into some me too bullshit - "

Comments

[anamusebouche]

"Yes, of course," Hannibal assured him. "Yours or mine?"

[alcuin]

“Yours, if that’s all right,” Alcuin said. He sounded calmer now.

[anamusebouche]

"Of course," Hannibal replied, ever calm.

Once they were in the car, Hannibal treaded carefully. "Was he... the first?" He asked, considering Alcuin's reaction.

[alcuin]

Alcuin looked at his hands. “No, just the… longest term.” Pause. “He liked set visits.”

[anamusebouche]

"I'm sorry you had to face him tonight," Hannibal said. He would enjoy this kill.

[alcuin]

“I… am actually a bit proud of myself for how I handled that,” Alcuin said quietly, looking up at him. “A year ago I think I would have just… shrank away.” He sighed. “I’m not sure that angering him was very smart though.”

[anamusebouche]

"Can he still hurt your career?" Hannibal asked.

[alcuin]

Alcuin sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe. Not as easily as he once could I suppose. But maybe I scared him. He may think I have the power to ruin his.”

[anamusebouche]

"I think you might," Hannibal agreed. "But perhaps not without damaging yourself."

[alcuin]

"You are absolutely correct," Alcuin said quietly. "It's selfish of me, isn't it? To only worry about protecting myself, when maybe he's been doing this to other people this whole time..."

[anamusebouche]

"No," Hannibal replied gently. "The only man guilty of his crimes is he himself. You are not obliged to sacrifice yourself."

[alcuin]

"I know that, intellectually," Alcuin said, looking out the window. "And I know that it wasn't my fault exactly, but it still... I mean, it's not like I ever said no, Hannibal."

[anamusebouche]

"Hindsight is taxing on our souls," Hannibal provided.

[alcuin]

"I just don't like remembering. It makes me feel foolish. And... and dirty."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal leaned in and kissed him sweetly. "A reminder," he said gently. "That you are not."

[alcuin]

“Thank you,”‘Alcuin said, and offered a little smile. “I do know that, truly.”

[anamusebouche]

"Perhaps one day you'll find a way to expose him," Hannibal suggested as if he wasn't planning on murdering g him soon.

[alcuin]

“Maybe,” Alcuin said quietly, and looked out the window as they neared Hannibals’s home. “I am glad at least that I made him uncomfortable tonight.”

[anamusebouche]

"You did touch a nerve, yes," Hannibal agreed.

[alcuin]

Alcuin’s mouth quirked into a smile. “Good. I hope it made him think back to all the young men he’s fucked and made him try to remember if he verified they were all legal.”

[anamusebouche]

"Do you know any of them?" Hannibal asked.

[alcuin]

"Other men? I... no," Alcuin said.

He looked a touch uncomfortable again. "Honestly I don't have many actor acquaintances." And in hindsight, he suspected that Anafiel was trying to keep him isolated.

[anamusebouche]

"May be helpful, to find kindred spirits," Hannibal suggested.

[alcuin]

"Maybe," said Alcuin. "Maybe I need to figure out how."

[anamusebouche]

"It may give you back some agency," Hannibal said.