(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

[from here}

Sinric comes down from his room, still dressed his furs and heavily embroiled tunic but looking fresh and scrubbed.

He smiles brightly to see Hannibal.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

"As you are from a time long after all this is dust." He gestures around the hall.

"What has that to do with Sinric being- spoken for?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Spoken for by history," Dr. Lecter says. "He has to be in places so the Abbey of Corvey is founded, and a Varangian named Ragnar sets events in motion that lead to the discovery of new lands beyond the sea. So he can't stay with you; but when you are both old, Palermo might be the place to look for each other again."

Pause.

"But you must keep all this strictly to yourself, and act as if you didn't know. When you hear about Corvey in a decade or so, you'll know you can trust my words."

[thewidewideworld]

"I trust your words." Niketas' voice is lower and sad. "He predicted the date of my father's death almost a year before it happened. And carried that weight in his heart for far longer. If he can carry such a secret, I can carry a far lesser one."

[cook_the_rude]

"Then trust my words," Dr. Lecter says. "Trust them all the way."

[thewidewideworld]

Niketas sips his wine. "And that's why I can't- why he won't stay."

[cook_the_rude]

"You can," Hannibal says. "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Cherish the feelings, both of them, and keep them in a golden treasure chest for the rest of your life."

[thewidewideworld]

"It that how you see him? As someone to be cherished but briefly."

[cook_the_rude]

"As a free spirit that will touch one for a while, but will ultimately always go his own way," Hannibal says. "To help along the way when he happens to be where I am, and to say farewell to with a kiss after that."

[thewidewideworld]

"You're a better man than I." Niketas says, in admiration more than self-depreciation. "And deserve him better than I. I can only hope I... I can be as clear-headed when it's time for us to part company again."

[cook_the_rude]

"It's the price for the privilege of having him in one's life," Hannibal says, "and it's worth it."

[thewidewideworld]

"It has already be worth it. To hear his voice again, to be reminded of better time. To know he made it." Niketas touches his eyelid, already far less red than it was. "And for this, and your kindness."

Sinric comes back into the hall but is waylaid by a group singing Christmas hymns, the sort that will one day become carols.

[cook_the_rude]

"I'm sincerely glad that it helped," Hannibal says. "At least this way, my visit to this amazing place and time wasn't entirely self-indulgent."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's voice soars as he joins in with the singing, genuine and joyful. He dances over to them, never missing a note and holds out a hand, beckoning them to join him.

[cook_the_rude]

"He wants us to join him for the dancing," Hannibal says, putting an encouraging hand on Niketas' elbow.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric comes over to Niketas' other side, helping him to his feet.

He takes them both into the open space that has become something of a dance-floor. The song is bouncy and joyous and Sinric's voice carried lightness with it. Not magic, not exactly, but infectious happiness.

[cook_the_rude]

Between them, Niketas is safe to move with the others and dance with the monks.

Hannibal smiles at Sinric and reaches over to squeeze his hand.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric leans them in merry circles, laughing into the melody.

After a while, he gently steps back, his eyes warm as he watches them. He catches Hannibal's eye, beckoning him over with a nod.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal steps towards him, reaching for his hand.

"Tell me the abbot is lying forgotten in a corner, dead from apoplexy?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs and buries his face in Hannibal's shoulder, hiding his eyes as they turn gold. "He's in the chapel we just defiled, desperately praying to cast the demons of decadence out."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal laughs as well.

"To the great amusement of the entity we woke," he declares.

[thewidewideworld]

"We may have cursed that man to years of lurid dreams." He runs a hand up Hannibal's chest, letting out a breathless sigh. "I can still feel it in me."

[cook_the_rude]

"I am still deeply awed," Hannibal says. "And feel that we're not quite done with being nefarious."

[thewidewideworld]

"I am still slightly frightened." Sinric admits with a playful smile. "Which begs the question, what kind of nefarious are you leaning towards? Because the amount of power I feel under my skin, I could turn this room into Bacchanalia with a handful of notes."

[cook_the_rude]

"I am thinking slightly more specific..." Hannibal says, smiling into Sinric's eyes.

[thewidewideworld]

"Tell me?" He asks breathlessly, taking Hannibal's hand. "I want to hear you say it."