il_mostro | IC - INBOX/VOICEMAIL/TEXT/THREATENING LETTER

[What an interesting message. Hannibal is half-considering making sure that his doors are locked and he has a scalpel in hand. He cannot do much against three vampires - but he will not go down quietly.

Yet ... he knows Rafa to be the one with the diplomacy skills. He also knows that Rafa truly wants this Council to work.

Ergo.]

I find myself at an interesting crossroad between common sense and emotions.

Neither of which you would wish to deny, I am sure.

[ This is a complicated situation. Rafa doesn't at all blame Will for wanting to put Hannibal on notice, so to speak. He has reason to be worried. After all this man has taken what he loved from him before, and now his lovers are in Hannibal's space. This could turn messy very easily. Rafa would like to halt that, if he can. ]

Some words have more meanings than one. To one person, they may mean little. To another, who is better informed, much more could bear out. Yet to the first person, what was said remains as meaningless as it first seemed.

I am faultlessly honest with myself - even my own shortcomings. As it stands ... I am merely wondering what precisely was the point.

[Hannibal was already 'on notice'. This seems like overkill. Like Will was searching for something. Hannibal was not sure what that was - and so was waiting for the knife to fall.]

Yet some can see no meaning to begin with, and on later reflection, realize there was a thread there that might be followed.

[He rubs the bandage on his hand meditatively.]

I suppose it all comes down to the universal query. Why?

[Why this? Why now? Why endanger the fragile alliance that Rafa was building with Hannibal, and vice versa. Why risk the calm understanding between Hannibal and Ignacio?]

[ Rafa doesn't immediately answer. When he does speak, it's with care. ]

You will recall, perhaps...what happened the last time Will had a family.

That we are working together, it worries him. I believe he felt protective, and so, he acted. Perhaps I was wrong to want to keep him away from what we were doing.

[ He sighs. ]

How angry are you?

[Hannibal was trying very, very hard not to have an Expression. If Rafa and Ignacio had seen Molly and Walter -- they might have known immediately that they were not Will's true family. They were his smoke screen, his buffer to a normalcy he never felt. Will was going to drink himself to death in that small cabin in Maine.

Still.]

I hardly think the two of you would be in any physical danger from me.

[A pause, before Hannibal exhaled.] Perhaps ... you should ask him if that is what he wants. If it is, you and I both know he will not stop until he is involved. [Even if Will had to manipulate Rafa to do so.]

[Rafa had been honest with him - Hannibal did him the courtesy of being honest in kind.]

Extremely. However ... I am equally impressed and dazzled. If that makes sense.

I do not think physical danger is what concerns him.

[ Especially when it comes to Rafa. Will has always seemed to feel that Rafa lacks some form of mental resilience, and thus is in need of protection. Rafa's opinion is that it's more than five hundred years too late for that. He doesn't seek it, but he knows that Will wants to give it. ]

I understand you. I will speak with him. I suggest he is protective of me when I do not need it, yet I have tried to do the same with him.

If I can be candid, Doctor Lecter, you have left scars upon him. I do not want more damage to be done, he does not deserve it.

[Hannibal is silent through all of this, his dark eyes glinting. Flickering through simulations of emotions, but a few rare, true feelings escape. After Rafa is finished speaking, he exhales slowly. Leans forward, meeting Rafa's own dark eyes.]

I made a promise, well over a year ago. I made it to Will -- and I will uphold that promise to my last breath. I promised I would never hurt him again -- by word or deed. It will be kept. I promised never to touch anyone he loved or cared about. It will be kept.
I am trying, against incredible odds, to be worthy of the trust that Will once placed in me.

[A sigh, and a wave of his hand.] Clearly, that is not meant to be. I will keep my word, though, Rafa. I have more than enough reasons to.

[ Rafa takes that in, and when Hannibal has finished speaking, he nods once. It's true that he has reason to keep his promises. His lifestyle here would be put at risk by what Will knows - by what Rafa and Ignacio know, too. ]

I understand.

Know that he has reasons to do the same. He will not betray you. Nor will I. We have had time enough to do it, if we wanted, before you knew anything about us. We have much to work for now, together.

I have no desire to put it in jeopardy. I hope you know that.

[Hannibal arched one eyebrow at that, and he reached for his cup of tea. Sipped it slowly, his gaze narrowing slightly. He put the cup down, eying the bandage wrapped around his palm before he looked up at Rafa.]

What reasons would that be? Why would you not desire to put me in jeopardy?

[ It's a simpler answer than Rafa suspects Hannibal is expecting. ]

Because he asked me not to. I would not break my promise to Will. Before you meant anything to me, he meant everything.

[ Rafa shrugs. ]

Now, you are my ally. As such I would protect you, not do you harm.

[Now, Hannibal's eyebrows are going to raise again.]

This alliance means enough to you to protect me. [Well that certainly makes more sense than Rafa actually caring about Hannibal. Securing the alliance protects all the people that Rafa cares about.]

[ His eyebrows raise in turn. ]

I should wish to harm my allies?

[Hannibal gave Rafa a very even look.]

Until a few hours ago, I did not think Will wished to harm his allies -- and I consider him one of the most intelligent and savvy people alive. I have learned to change my expectations.

[Ergo, are they actually allies? Or is this a temporary truce?]

[ Rafa's head tilts. ]

I can speak only for me.

Though I will say, he asked it of me. He knows the value of the peace between you. He will not break it.

[Hannibal put his gaze on the other man for a long moment, before he dipped his head down in a respectful nod and almost bow. ]

Your word is good enough for me, Rafa.

[ Rafa nods, too. ]

Then, our alliance is in tact?

[Hannibal dipped his head, just so.]

Our alliance is fine. Just inform me if there is to be another crack?

[ He will if he has advance notice of it this time... ]

I will do my best.

[ He can't promise more than that. Rafa certainly doesn't control Will. ]

[An inclined head.]

Then I will work exclusively on not being at all paranoid.

Thank you, doctor.

[The faintest of smirks.]

Thank You ... Your Majesty.

IC - INBOX/VOICEMAIL/TEXT/THREATENING LETTER

Re: Backdated - shortly after Will's post; voice

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