Hannibal

[poison_isley]

She should have probably gotten a dog. It'd make her look less suspicious as she wandered through these gardens, admiring plants and perking things up on the dreary February day. The white house with all the glass wasn't really her taste, but somehow they had some healthy pampas planted at the edge of the estate and she couldn't believe how it was thriving.

The green woman in the tight black jeans and a black motorcycle jacket reached up to touch the feathery fronds and smiled.

The smile fell the second she heard the door of the house open. She shot a look at the man and it took her a beat longer than normal to decide if he was a threat or not. Hand on the ornamental grass, the whole plant began to twitch and grow.

Comments

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal did not appreciate intruders. He valued his privacy and of course, he did not want to run the risk of people encountering endeavours that were not meant for the light of day. So he had a rather complete system of surveillance installed before even moving in.

He was working in his house today, installing some things that needed installing in the cellar. It was the sort of thing he couldn't leave to other people (why, after all, would a man require an industrial sized meat shredder in his basement), so it was something he did himself.

He was therefore wearing quite casual clothing; old trousers and an old sweater, when he came out to see the strange woman at the edge of his property. When she noticed him too, the plant began to move.

It caused him intrigue to the intruder, rather than anger as he walked out calmly to where she was standing.

[poison_isley]

"I was just looking at your grass," she explained without being asked, terse but with an edge of fear. She couldn't handle the police right now.

[anamusebouche]

The grass moved and it wasn't the wind causing it. "I would venture to say this isn't 'just looking'," he said, kindly enough. She was on edge, possibly scared, so he would be kind to get closer. She intrigued him.

"Are you doing that?" he asked, more curious than annoyed.

[poison_isley]

She gave him and incredulous look.

"Really?" Ivy said. "Of all the questions you could possibly ask, that's what you went with? Are you new? Have you never read the news?"

She paused.

"Of course I'm doing it."

The grass went still, though some of it was distinctly longer, and overall it looked shockingly healthy.

[anamusebouche]

"I've heard the news," Hannibal offered, kindly enough. "I've never witnessed your power first hand. It's quite a skill," he said, appreciative. She was clearly more scared than angry.

[poison_isley]

That...was not the typical reaction. Ivy kept her guard up, but she walked forward and regarded him curiously.

"You like that, huh?"

[anamusebouche]

"The plants seem to," Hannibal said. "Is this something you do often? Go about people's gardens and brighten them?"

[poison_isley]

"Well...I've been kind of bored. And the weather's easing up," she said.

And the news was just starting to die down about the Ravenscar escape.

[anamusebouche]

"It is, yes," Hannibal agreed, looking to the clouds. Spring was most certainly in the air. "Would you like to join me for tea? Outside, of course."

[poison_isley]

"Who even are you?" she asked, slowly unfurling a little as he gently welcomed her in. It was a rare thing to not find someone adversarial right off the bat. Ivy moved closer, bit by bit.

[anamusebouche]

"I'm Hannibal," Hannibal said politely, not giving her the intimidation of a title or even a last name. "And your reputation precedes you, Dr. Isley."

[poison_isley]

"Y- you can call me Ivy," she offered. It was only fair. Even though it gave her the warmest little tingle, hearing her title.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal extended a hand, both to shake hers and to invite her to step further into the garden. She was clearly shaken by simple manners and it spoke volumes about how she'd been treated in her life.

[poison_isley]

She carefully took his hand and walked along, everything growing a little greener, a little healthier in her wake.

"You really do have a nice garden," she said.

[anamusebouche]

"Thank you," Hannibal replied. "I have to admit, I've only just moved in. I'm still redecorating the interior and I haven't done anything about the garden yet."

[poison_isley]

"You've got time. You really shouldn't disturb the ground for another few weeks," she told him. "It's only just starting to get going for spring. Be patient."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal nodded to her advice. "Thank you, I will take that into account."

He gestured to the lounge set on the patio. "Please, have a seat. We'll stay outside, if you don't mind. The interior isn't ready to receive any guests yet. Tea?"

[poison_isley]

"Tea would be really nice, yeah," she nodded, taking in all the plantings. Whoever had designed this garden really knew their plants.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal left her there for a moment and went inside. He prepared a tea pot and and filled the filter with a jasmine and herbal blend, venturing the guess she was that type of woman.

He came back with a tray, carrying a glass tea pot with the filter in it, and two large glass tea cups and caught her examining his plants.

"I'm thinking of hiring a gardener," he admitted as he joined her.

[poison_isley]

"Whoever did the original design knew what they were doing. Everything is complimentary, and situated right for the best sun. Great job," she praised, warm and genuine.

[anamusebouche]

"Unfortunately, the previous owner passed away," Hannibal said, as he poured her tea. "I wouldn't know to who to pass on the compliment."

[poison_isley]

"Too bad," she said, not terribly upset to hear it.

"You'll want to find someone in the next week or so, or you'll never get into spring rotation with a good gardener..."

She looked fondly at a shriveled lobelia.

"...Or...I could do it," she offered, trying for casual. And nearly getting it, rather than desperate.

[anamusebouche]

"You escaped a psychiatric institution," Hannibal said, gently. "By turning a little patch of moss into a ravenous monster if the media is to be believed."

"There's a lot of moss here."

[poison_isley]

"I was kind of hoping there was less glyphosate and electroshock in landscaping," she said. "Gotta have a reason to bother making a monster."

The most minor of reasons, but some sort of reason.

[anamusebouche]

"Well, if you could refrain from that here, I would gladly employ you," Hannibal said. She was interesting and he liked keeping interesting things close.