for souille

[sapor]

With the final glasses polished and put away from the evening, the ritual of meal is complete. The cabinet doors close with the same ceremony of a good host releasing their guests back into the world, only after arming them with stories and full stomachs to get them through another evening. It's a farewell, but something far from permanent-- everyone, after all, must eat.

He's declined help this evening from Abigail in cleaning up, insisting that she make herself comfortable elsewhere in the house. While the tediousness of the chore can usually help cleanse and settle a mind, Hannibal claims the kitchen space for himself in order to see how Abigail keeps herself entertained. Her choices and actions will be telling, and he believes her to be fully aware of his watch.

It's his nose that finally leads him to her-- a now familiar trail of a scent that stands out from the rest of the house like a nonnative bird fluctuating from a settled hop to quick bursts of flight.

"I do believe it's time to get you back," he suggests as careful, incrementally, as the care given to rolling down his sleeves and buttoning them back into place. It's never a welcome conversation, but it is one that must be had.

Comments

[sapor]

He can certainly take into account her aversion to the facility, not from the simple perspective of a child whose entire world has been displaced, but as a clever creature who has been corralled into a cage against its will. Abigail's penchant for sneaking out of Port Haven speaks of much more than simple dislike. Providing a different sort of landing, he hopes, alleviates some of that restlessness, or at least encourages her to put it to use in other efforts.

"I'm afraid giving you any kind of deadline would be a lie told to comfort you," there is a tinge of sympathy to his voice, very latent, past the calm rhythm of his tone that has delivered good news, bad news and everything between. Occasionally, those satellite phrases leave even him with something to think on.

"They still need more observation before they consider you ready to face the challenges that lie outside of those walls."

Patronizing? Perhaps. Removing her coat from the coat rack, Hannibal extends that garment towards her with a watchful eye, looking for any thoughts or subtleties that may pass over Abigail's face.

[souille]

She's visibly disappointed, but at least he's being honest with her. The nurses would either avoid the issue entirely or tentatively say that they were sure it wouldn't be much longer now. They were nervous to be around her, most of them. She appreciated the frankness and respect, the care, that she found here.

"If you and Alanna said something to them..." she begins, knowing they could have her removed from the facility but also knowing even as she suggests it that they would certainly not do so.