Hannibal

[poison_isley]

They'd chatted comfortably and Ivy decided she liked him. She would definitely not kill him on purpose. That placed him in a special category of people she wanted to like her. Friends was a little far to go, but friendly was about it. And she kind of wanted to impress him, too.

Ivy had promised him a vegan meal and she and her vines had gone wild in the kitchen of her new house. It was small but it had a small garden in back and a decent kitchen. She'd just kind of claimed it when she spotted it online. The last realtor that came by was so confused...

She had opened the wine and invited him, making light chat as she finished up the menu was entirely vegan. To start was a simple potato cream soup with caramelized leeks, then bacon wrapped scallops with a paprika sauce and beetroot dusting served with tempura vegetables and a beautiful miso risotto, also dusted with the beetroot.

There was no reason to hide herself, so when he stepped into the kitchen she had plenty of extra 'arms'. Everything smelled rich and flavourful. Even as she cooked, dishes were being washed and dried and put away. Vines retrieved utensils and stirred the risotto and retrieved the pineapple from the sous vide for dessert.

"Let me just get this on the plates and we can sit at the table," she said. A vine wound it's way to him with the bottle, offering a refill.

Comments

[anamusebouche]

"A feast to be sure," Hannibal said. Ever the gentleman, once she was seated he refilled her glass and his own before sitting down as well. He looked at the plates; she'd made an effort and it was appreciated. "This looks very tasty," he assured her.

[poison_isley]

"It does, huh?" Ivy smiled, proud of herself for pulling it off.

"I didn't freak you out with the babies, did I? It's nice to have extra hands," she laughed lightly.

[anamusebouche]

"I know you by reputation," Hannibal explained. "It's interesting to see the vines in a more domestic setting. It was a very entertaining show."

[poison_isley]

"This is better than I thought it would be," she said after a bite of soup. The onions added a delightful smoky sweetness to it.

"What do you like cooking the most?" Ivy asked curiously.

[anamusebouche]

A little private smile spread across Hannibal's lips. But of course, he did not speak of what he truly enjoyed cooking. "I like trying out new things the most. I'm always looking for something special, something interesting. This soup is delicious," he complimented.

[poison_isley]

"Thanks," she smiled. The tiny smile on her lips as she lifted her spoon was sweet, and gave away at just how much it meant since, well, no one complimented her but Klaus and men who wanted to fuck her- who she never took seriously. She could tell just from his pheromones that he didn't want her body like that.

[anamusebouche]

There was nothing wrong with Hannibal's libido, but he didn't go around thinking every single person he met a potential sexual partner. She was very pretty, but she was much younger than he was and a little to loud and overt. And he knew better than to get too close to the clinically insane.

"I hope you're not aiming to keep your herbs and spices a secret... I'd love to know what you used."

[poison_isley]

"I'll give you the recipes I followed. Please don't think this is normal. I don't usually cook so I never mess around with recipes," she said before finishing her soup.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal smiled, a little easy flirtatious smile. "I'm touched you made the effort especially for me."

[poison_isley]

"I mean, you're welcome," she said with a hint of a blush. No one ever thanked her; she wasn't quite sure how to handle that.

[anamusebouche]

"Not used to compliments, are you?" Hannibal observed.

[poison_isley]

"Not for a long time," she admitted. "Not from people who don't know me really well."

[anamusebouche]

"When people have been telling you you're a monster for so long, you start believing it," Hannibal commented, pleasantly enough, but well-aware that he was pushing some boundaries. "Will you pass me the tempura, please?"

[poison_isley]

Therapists were not usually this understanding and ivy wasn't sure what to do.

"You're not wrong," she mumbled, passing the vegetables.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal accepted the vegetables with a nod. "I know," he said, with a little knowing smile.

"You have a unique perspective, different from most other people. That does not make you a monster," he continued conversationally.

[poison_isley]

"You know, it'd be nice if more people got that," she said. "I can't believe the way mankind abuses this planet."

[anamusebouche]

"In your eyes, we're the monsters," Hannibal agreed. He found it quite interesting to meet someone with such a different perspective. After all, he had a different perspective too and in the view of most people, he was a monster too.

[poison_isley]

"Not everyone..."

The list was short, but it existed.

[anamusebouche]

"It's not strange or wrong to wish for companionship," Hannibal offered.

[poison_isley]

"Companionship? Or 'companionship'?" she asked, making quotes with her fingers. "Because I've got friends, and I don't want a..." she wrinkled her nose, "...Commitment."

Yeah, nope,that was just not going to happen. Chuck was a...fluke.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal smiled. "A social structure to fall back on, whatever shape or form it might take on. Friends, yes."

[poison_isley]

"I've got all the friends I can stand," she smirked. True, but Ivy had the capacity to love as fiercely as she hated. She was simply too sick to feel those emotions.

[anamusebouche]

"Good," Hannibal replied. "It's quality over quantity, in this case."

[poison_isley]

"I hadn't thought of it like that," she smiled, dipping into her risotto and moaning softly. It was creamy and fragrant with the miso, and the beet was just a bit of sweetness.

"Oh, God, I'm never eating anything but this ever again."

[anamusebouche]

"May I take you up on that challenge?" Hannibal asked. "Let me cook for you some day."

She was not human, and Hannibal realized that she might instantly notice if something wasn't truly vegan, but he found he rather liked her and he did enjoy cooking simply for the love it as well.