(OPEN) Exploring

[camebefore]

Who: Hannibal Lecter (HR) and YOU
When: After the discussions of here is in his room on the first floor. Later he's walking about in the checkerboard hills to the Jabberwocky scar and later in the maze.
When: 4/29
Rating: PG-13 - Hannibal Lecter, after all.
Summary: Wonderland is a place where the impossible is possible, an idea that clashes with some of what Hannibal Lecter is. This might require some testing to decide for himself.
The Story:

warnings: May be spoilers for the NBC series 'Hannibal'. Clear and present spoilers for the novels 'Hannibal Rising' and 'Hannibal'.

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[eatsyourscience]

[The maze is one of the few parts of Wonderland that isn't completely known to Souji. It seems like it changes every time he visits it, so it's still interesting to explore it. He's managed to make it to the center--a heart-shaped area paved in broad slabs of red stone--and he's lying on his back with his arms splayed at his sides, watching the sky for any trace of a cloud.

He doesn't notice right away when Hannibal arrives. His thoughts are somewhere else.]

[camebefore]

[Hannibal is methodical if nothing else. He takes his time learning each twist, where he might be able to stay hidden if needed. Mentally, he's gathering a map that he can use later.]

[When he reaches the center, there's a vague disappointment. It didn't provide much but something to look at. A glance is given to the person draped over stone before Hannibal went over in his mind the turns of the maze. That left the other side to finish out.]

[A shame he hadn't brought a lighter to see if the maze could be caught on fire or pushed through.]

[eatsyourscience]

[When Hannibal steps onto the stones, Souji hears his footsteps. He lifts his head, then sits up, looking at Hannibal curiously. Souji doesn't recognize him and new people are always pretty interesting.]

Did you get lost? [He raises his voice just a little, to be heard across the distance between them. Getting lost tends to happen in a maze, but only if you're trying to get somewhere in the first place.]

[camebefore]

[A half-turn meets the voice, maroon eyes moving over Souji. There is no recognition in his face, unsurprising given his arrival the day before. He's slowly becoming used to people being in the oddest of places.]

No, I am not. I'm learning the maze. It seemed better than sitting about the castle.

[Shifting focus is easy enough, like a marker placed in a book to come back to it later. He puts on the smile he's told is polite and thoughtful seeming.]

I am Hannibal Lecter, the new one, not the one that has been about for awhile. And you?

[eatsyourscience]

[That clarification forestalls the immediate question Souji would have asked, which means they can move right on with the introductions.]

I'm Souji.

[He climbs to his feet and dusts his pants off in a cursory sort of way, his mind already circling back to the "two Hannibals" thing.]

I don't think we get two people with the same name that often. [At least not the same family name and given name.] I guess that made for some awkward introductions when you first arrived.

[camebefore]

That it did. I believe Mr Crowley had the best reaction: exasperation and disbelief.

[Hannibal's smile seems natural enough, hands sliding into his coat pockets. Non-threatening is an image he has been trying to cultivate after the matters with Popil.]

Good to meet you, Souji. Is that an Eastern name?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods, wandering over to where Hannibal's standing. He doesn't see anything strange in Hannibal's demeanor; his own is just the pleasant side of neutral.]

Japanese. My family name is Seta.

[It just feels polite to add that, since Hannibal gave his full name.]

Are you figuring the place out okay?

[camebefore]

I thought as much.

[Across the mind's eye, he sees Lady Murasaki and Chiyoh in the twilight. Nothing of his thoughts reach his face, only that polite interest.]

I'd like to think that I am. I haven't seen any grinning cats or white rabbits despite this being called Wonderland. I must not be looking in the right place.

[He knows nothing of the demise of the White Rabbit or what the Residents are even like. The best Hannibal has been told are secondhand stories.]

I'm still stumbling a little over this being the Wonderland. Yourself?

[eatsyourscience]

Next month I'll have been here for three years. I guess I've gotten as used to it as anyone can.

[He's still on the fence about whether or not that's a positive thing.]

I've got some experience, though, I guess, so I can try to tell you what I know, if you have questions. Some of the answers will probably be that no one's figured it out yet, though.

[camebefore]

[The 'years' bit is a shock to Hannibal, manifesting itself in a blink. So far, most he had met were new like himself or only here for a month or two. Years is another matter altogether.]

Questions. [Another opportunity might not come to learn, and Hannibal is not one to pass such up.] Why are there so many mirrors? Is that like the books? What is the 'Jabberwocky' that others have mentioned?

[It's a start for now.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji has to blink too at the succession of questions. He considers, his eyes drifting to look at the hedges behind Hannibal.]

The mirrors let the people on the other side of the glass watch us. From that side they're like windows.

[At his side, he's holding out three fingers on one hand. It helps him remember the questions Hannibal asked. He folds down one finger for each one he answers.]

It's a little like the books. The people on the other side can go through them whenever, although they're not supposed to. When they do, they switch places with us. But we can't cross over the same way.

[He folds a second finger down, such that it looks like he's pointing at the ground now.]

The Jabberwocky is kind of part of Wonderland, but it also is really destructive to it. I think it's kind of like.... [He frowns and looks back at Hannibal again.] It's like an auto-immune disorder. A part of an organism that attacks other parts of the organism for no apparent reason.

[camebefore]

Watch us.

[It should have been a question, but his voice was flat and without doubt for what Souji is saying. His head turns towards the mirrors, mouth turning down in a frown. The thought of another 'him' is intriguing and annoying. He does prefer to be the only one. It is when Souji begins to speak of the Jabberwocky that his attention returns.]

Interesting. I wonder if it can be used against it then.

[Whatever the rest of that thought is remains unsaid. Instead, he gives Souji a small nod of appreciation.]

I appreciate the information. Perhaps sometime I will be able to return the favor.

[eatsyourscience]

It's no problem. It's better to know about that stuff ahead of time.

[Something occurs to him and he decides to mention it. He places his hand on his hip, now that he's not ticking off items on a list anymore.]

Oh, there is one way to force a Mirror to cross back over. Get them to look at their reflection, and they go back automatically.

...That won't keep them over there, though.

[camebefore]

[Hannibal says nothing, only nods at the information. It could come in useful should he meet one of these 'mirror' creatures. They are more than enough mirrors scattered around the mansion that he could force one to look into it.]

I would settle for a temporary leaving if they are dangerous. Again, my thanks.

[He's got quite a bit to think on now. He lifts a hand to wave to Souji as he eyes the maze again, mentally tacking the fastest way out.]

[eatsyourscience]

Yeah, no problem. [Souji offers a smile, not expecting one back.] I'll see you around.