[while Hannibal had been expecting a conversation with Krouse, he hadn't been expecting him to be arriving so unkempt. he welcomes him into the foyer, jaw clenched as the familiar smell of rot and singes his nostrils. there's something else, too -- mixtures of cloying iron and decay. wet. it's heavy and pools into the air around Krouse like a sillage, though far less appealing. he wonders what he's welcoming into his home, but isn't dismayed by it.
he can tell that the young man had been waiting, sees the nerves and fatigue. he doesn't look well. Hannibal keeps to his suits, even while inside, though his suit jacket is hung up in a closet since he began baking.]
No problem at all.
[as he leads him to the living room, he wonders if it would have been better to have them meet in his old apartment. but that would have been less private and more noisy, given the circumstances. it would be difficult not to be interrupted there with the seekers forcing their way around Etraya. Hannibal has taken a quieter approach. he pats one of the chairs for Krouse to sit in, taking the opposite seat once the boy has sat himself.
he is, of course, welcome to help himself to the chocolates and tea that are presented.]
I'm getting the feeling that this isn't only about a theory.
[between Krouse's professional tone and poorly masked discomfort, he's pointing out the obvious to open the discussion.]
no subject
he can tell that the young man had been waiting, sees the nerves and fatigue. he doesn't look well. Hannibal keeps to his suits, even while inside, though his suit jacket is hung up in a closet since he began baking.]
No problem at all.
[as he leads him to the living room, he wonders if it would have been better to have them meet in his old apartment. but that would have been less private and more noisy, given the circumstances. it would be difficult not to be interrupted there with the seekers forcing their way around Etraya. Hannibal has taken a quieter approach. he pats one of the chairs for Krouse to sit in, taking the opposite seat once the boy has sat himself.
he is, of course, welcome to help himself to the chocolates and tea that are presented.]
I'm getting the feeling that this isn't only about a theory.
[between Krouse's professional tone and poorly masked discomfort, he's pointing out the obvious to open the discussion.]