Read on Twitter
Okay twitter, here we go: Hannibal/NHS Modern AU first meeting twitfic
Nie Huaisang has never thought of himself as someone with jagged edges. He was always soft, always needy, and *always* dependant. And people who need others can't afford to keep them away. No sharpness was ever going to tarnish his delicate self.
He used to look in the mirror
He used to look in the mirror
and wave his fans, pretend that he's something other, observing himself from afar and admiring his own wrists for their feathery dance.
His brother used to look at him like he was something precious. Husaisang thinks he misses that the most. That and- well, it's very difficult
His brother used to look at him like he was something precious. Husaisang thinks he misses that the most. That and- well, it's very difficult
to be beautiful when one was afraid all the time. Huaisang misses existing in a state that isn't the horror of the unknown.
He was never stupid- stupid people are dull. He was just beautiful, and he wanted to be surrounded by good things.
He remembers, when he met Jin Guangyao, thinking 'oh, that's what it meant to have both power and beauty. what an indescribable wonder'.
He thinks about A-Yao now
He remembers, when he met Jin Guangyao, thinking 'oh, that's what it meant to have both power and beauty. what an indescribable wonder'.
He thinks about A-Yao now
attempts to smile as he does, tries very hard to achieve the right balance between harmless and transcendent, after all, Huaisang has a very important meeting today, with a man who appreciates the art of vanity, just as much as the craft behind a deceptive smile.
Hannibal Lecter is the Chesapeake Ripper, Huaisang knows this. His darkness seeps around him like noxious clouds of ill intent. One only needs to observe to see that he doesn't approach people, he stalks prey.
Huaisang has met predators in disguise before, has lived with one
Huaisang has met predators in disguise before, has lived with one
for a very long time. And in a war, one must surround themselves with fire to ward off the storm. So Huaisang has selected a fire to burn himself on, and its name was Dr. Lecter, and its smile was sharp as a knife.
When Dr. Lector lets him in with a polite "Huiasang, you're right on time." Huiasang lets an A-Yao smile wear his face, and steps onto the stage for his performance.
"I've been having very bad dreams, Dr. Lecter" he says, and his eyes fill with pre-prepared tears.
"I've been having very bad dreams, Dr. Lecter" he says, and his eyes fill with pre-prepared tears.
The man is impassive but kind in the face of this display. But when Huaisang says, "I strangle him with my bare hands and wake up hard and panting" Dr. Lecter's gaze sharpens on him and he, ever so slightly, leans in, like huaisang is something delicious and tempting
It's so easy, Huaisang thinks, to get powerful men to pay attention to you.
Dr. Lecter asks about A-Yao and Huaisang spins his tale of stolen glances and an unattainable man- unattainable because he belonged to da-ge, and if Huaisang loved nothing else, he loved his brother.
"Where's your brother, now?"
"dead."
"Where's your brother, now?"
"dead."
The performance is impeccable. The story beats set perfectly. Huiasangs fan comes into play just as he chokes on the word. It hides him from scrutiny and shows off his delicate, beautiful wrist. The movement practiced endlessly.
"I'm very alone, Dr. Lecter," he says.
"I'm very alone, Dr. Lecter," he says.
"Where's your A-Yao, then?" Dr. Lecter's accent shapes the word so strangely, and Huaisang thinks 'yes. that's the name of a killer on the lips of another. This is how your name should always be said San-ge'
This is where the silence comes into play. Huaisang conjures Xichen into his being, leaving A-Yao's smiles behind, and speaks with his eyes. The fear isn't false, and so it's easy as breathing to flutter his eyelashes around it.
"I-" he stutters, deliberately.
"I-" he stutters, deliberately.
Dr. Lecter waits for him, an endless pcean of polite, feigned disinterest.
Huaisang makes himself laugh. It rings clear as a bell in the room.
"This is where you're supposed to assure me of your silence, doctor," he whispers.
Huaisang makes himself laugh. It rings clear as a bell in the room.
"This is where you're supposed to assure me of your silence, doctor," he whispers.
And Hannibal does.
It feels like a dance; one step, two step, pause, spin. The lies and truths weaving through each other as Huaisang speaks. When the take is finished, Dr. Lecter is wiping tears off his face for him, kneeling in-between his spread knees. A picture of compassion
It feels like a dance; one step, two step, pause, spin. The lies and truths weaving through each other as Huaisang speaks. When the take is finished, Dr. Lecter is wiping tears off his face for him, kneeling in-between his spread knees. A picture of compassion
It's an intermission, of sort. The audience and the performer leaning against the stage in silence, as Huaisang 'recovers'.
"I don't know what to do, Dr. Lecter." Huaisang leans into Dr. Lecter as Act 2 begins.
"it seems you're out of options, dear Cassandra." Dr Lecter muses
"I don't know what to do, Dr. Lecter." Huaisang leans into Dr. Lecter as Act 2 begins.
"it seems you're out of options, dear Cassandra." Dr Lecter muses
"No one would believe you."
"Do you?" The tremble in Huaisang's voice is only partly fake. This is it, the one for all the marbles. Hannibal either helps him, or he's fucked. Husaisang lets his hand wander across Dr. Lecter's chest as he speaks. It's improper, but he's wracked
"Do you?" The tremble in Huaisang's voice is only partly fake. This is it, the one for all the marbles. Hannibal either helps him, or he's fucked. Husaisang lets his hand wander across Dr. Lecter's chest as he speaks. It's improper, but he's wracked
with grief, after all. And looking for comfort.
Dr. Lecter is warmer than he anticipated, stronger. He is suddenly, achingly reminded of his brother holding him, being pressed against his solid chest. He swallows around a lump in his throat.
Dr. Lecter is warmer than he anticipated, stronger. He is suddenly, achingly reminded of his brother holding him, being pressed against his solid chest. He swallows around a lump in his throat.
Dr. Lecter laughs. *laughs*. Out of all the options Huaisang had prepared for, amusement didn't occur to him.
"Oh, darling Cassandra. After the display you've prepared so eloquently for me, how could I ever turn you away? I do so strive to preserve beauty"
"Oh, darling Cassandra. After the display you've prepared so eloquently for me, how could I ever turn you away? I do so strive to preserve beauty"
/end.
I guess. Or this will actually turn into a revenge plot
I guess. Or this will actually turn into a revenge plot
