"I didn't exactly walk out of the front doors, if that's what you mean. But I was placed in the exact spot I'd last been before I was in there. I consider that a release. From what I've seen, everybody has been set free that was in there under the same duress. The City slowly came to life outside my window. Very strange thing to see."
He glanced up at the vampire, taking in more in that brief look than many humans would have seen in an hour of intense study. "A large man blew things up around you. Well, I suppose if nothing else, it gives you a very interesting story to tell. I'm glad to see that you're out. I didn't have any idea that there were others... well, others that I enjoy, in there with me. They didn't exactly allow me out of my room. Or my restraints. I could hear, but not much. I certainly couldn't see anything."
Except for the things that he'd kept in his head, of course. But it wasn't the same thing as seeing the faces of the people you cared about in real life. Nothing would ever compare to that.
"River?" He stopped sketching. "I don't know. I hope that she wasn't in there. I haven't sought her out yet. I was enjoying my freedom a little too much, I think. I haven't spoken to anybody. I know that Norman isn't at the hotel only because he wasn't there when I walked past the office. I hope that he didn't find himself in there as well. Though, at this point I think that hoping for such things for him and River are deluded. Most assuredly they were both inside. Most assuredly they were both in very unpleasant situations as well. Perhaps I don't wish to think of such things."
Hannibal finished the flower sketch and put the book down on the bricks nearby. The pencil tucked neatly into the binding.
"It was a joke, my friend. There isn't anything I truly think a doctor could do for you. Although, perhaps I could set you up with a sort of blood transfusion. Instead of changing the blood, however, I could just pump it in. I'm sure we could find a living donor to make it better for you."