InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Frank-N-Furter we meet at last"

Lestat de Lioncourt (i_liveforever) wrote in we_coexist,
@ 2011-02-03 21:16:00

Entry tags:

hannibal lecter, lestat de lioncourt

midnight in the garden of good and evil (hannibal)
In his escape from Arkham, with thanks to Frank Castle, Lestat drank seven orderlies and nurses nearly to death. He hadn't drained anyone *to* death. Just to the brink. He'd needed to replenish what the staff had taken out of him when they shackled him to the wall.

Despite himself, in his anger, Lestat had also snapped the neck of the unfortunate boy who'd tried on several occasions to make him drink dead blood. He viewed it as self-defense, nothing more, forgetting for the moment how broken he'd felt standing in the hall of his dead in Hell, his catatonia, his eye and the reason for the first set of shackles made of hair.

He'd been flying, literally and figuratively, often the last few nights, riding a kind of high of more human blood than he'd had in quite some time. In the absence of other vampires, though--specifically the absence of other vampires that'd allow him to drink their blood-- it was a necessity. And it made him feel... amazing.

He'd caught a familiar and enticing scent, near the City botanical gardens. He'd know it anywhere, since he so fixated on the person to whom it belonged. Lestat stopped in midair and levitated slightly above the ground, watching the young man walk through the greenery and the flowers.

Smiling.

When it became clear that he wasn't making enough noise, even for this person with heightened senses, Lestat let himself touch down on the ground.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

i_consume
2011-02-04 07:03 am UTC (link)

"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."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_liveforever
2011-02-04 07:19 am UTC (link)

"Oh."

A pause. "I feel better, then."

I didn't have any idea that there were others... well, others that I enjoy, in there with me.

The vampire became even more still, if such a thing were possible. It occurred to him that somewhere in this conversation, he might inadvertently hurt Hannibal. Lestat did not want to hurt Hannibal, for any reason. He'd forever be a child in his expectations of people, and his idealization of relationships.

The pleasant scratching had stopped.

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.

Lestat momentarily drove himself to distraction wondering what he should say, if anything. He knew River'd been in Arkham. He knew what had happened to her. He'd stopped following her, with his mind, after she'd tried to escape, sad she hadn't succeeded. He'd known when Hannibal had left. When others he'd met had left. He'd felt their minds further away, but had been far too weak to notice the details of how they'd actually gotten further away.

He smiled, slightly. "I think that would be more interesting for you than me, really. I've never had a problem finding blood."

Lestat considered, briefly. Then he decided.

"She was there." He took a small step toward Hannibal. It was silent. "She was there. Not quite as far up and forgotten as I was. I could feel her, there. I tried to find minds that... reached for people. To help, to pass the time. River was there."

And I couldn't do anything for her. I kept track of her until she tried to escape and then I didn't try anymore I'm sorry.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_consume
2011-02-04 07:29 am UTC (link)

The biggest reason he hadn't wanted to think about River being in the asylum was because it would make him angry. He would feel the need to track somebody down who was in charge of her and make them pay for keeping her locked up. Not merely because she was somebody he cared about, but also because River was not somebody who was to be kept like an animal. She needed her freedom.

This news from Lestat was disheartening in more than one way.

It proved to him that he had been fooling himself when he pushed away the thoughts of her in that horrible place. Knowing that she was there made the experience so much worse. He had been certain while he was in there that he could feel her there, that he just knew instinctively that she was present. When he'd been released he'd hoped that it was just him wanting comfort for himself. Now he was being told he'd been right.

Hannibal didn't respond to Lestat's comment about the blood. He couldn't even think about that right now.

"She was there." Not a question. A confirmation. A sad one, at that. Hannibal didn't really want to think about the possible torments that River had been through. Just being strapped down would have been horrible for her. But he discovered he couldn't stop his mind from going through the possibilities. Very quickly. In a loop. Every situation had her face, unhappy, in the forefront.

A sight he never wanted to see. He wanted River's face to always hold a smile. Always.

"Don't be upset with yourself, Lestat. I'm sure that you would have helped if you'd been able to. If they had me completely restrained, I can only imagine how your situation must have been. And if this," Hannibal indicated Lestat's appearance with a wave of his hand. "Is only a quarter of how bad you looked, I'm not entirely surprised you didn't keep track of her. She's a very complicated mind, and I can't even see into it."

He would need to look for her soon, he decided. He couldn't let her roam out there and not try to find her. He didn't want her to think he'd forgotten her.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_liveforever
2011-02-04 07:41 am UTC (link)

Lestat wondered if he was growing a soul.

Normally, the overarching urge to do things like protect people came only when sex or blood were directly involved. Hannibal wasn't blood. He was not a fledgeling, and he probably would not be. River wasn't blood. River would never be sex. Hannibal wasn't sex. Yet he felt for the boy the way he had for others he'd made, others he'd wanted, others there had been that concrete connection with. There was no such thing here.

He felt pain on Hannibal's behalf for River, in addition to his own pain for River. It was maddening.

She was there.

Lestat nodded.

I can only imagine how your situation must've been. The vampire almost told him, then realized why exactly you didn't tell Hannibal Lecter such things, even if you were quite fond of him. If the kid ever wanted to tie him up and hold him, he could do the damn research as to how without being told directly.

"I lost track after the escape attempt. It all got too abstract to follow. Things about goblins. The Goblin King. I couldn't tell if that was real or just..."

Her cracking up. Yes. Best not anger the mass-murder.

"I think I saw death, while I was in there. Does that make any sense to you?"

Lestat leaned on a nearby bench now, boots crossed at the ankle, arms crossed, the picture of a normal young man.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_consume
2011-02-04 07:52 am UTC (link)

Hannibal understood. River's mental state was fragile. He didn't believe that she had broken completely in that place because he really didn't want to believe it. He couldn't stand the thought of her as anything less than she was the last time he'd seen her.

"It's quite rational to see death in a place like that. For anybody. Depending on how they treated you, you may have been very close to it. Of course, if you mean that you literally saw Death while you were in there, I wouldn't be surprised about that either. I have met more than one reaper while in this city. I have one of my own, assigned to me. I'm sure that doesn't surprise you in the least."

Hannibal wondered about Betty now. He hadn't seen her in quite some time. Of course, it had also been a little while since he'd last killed anybody. Something that might change in the immediate future in light of what he was learning about River.

If you can discover who did it to her, please tell me. Hannibal had no doubts the vampire would be quite able to pick up on the thought. If he would follow through with it, that was another question. They did both care for River, but he wasn't sure if Lestat was willing to be instrumental in the death or deaths of people who had mistreated her.

And Hannibal had convinced himself that she had been mistreated. He didn't need to, in order to work up the desire to kill anybody. He was just sure of it. The way he'd been treated in there, the way it seemed to him from appearance that Lestat had been treated. He didn't feel there was any way they would just leave her alone.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_liveforever
2011-02-05 03:44 am UTC (link)

"I mean Death with a capital D," Lestat said, eyebrow arching. "Pretty girl. Dark hair. Heavy on the eyeliner."

Lestat smiled wryly at Hannibal. He had his own reaper? The smile became a low chuckle.

"In Hell," the vampire began, voice almost a purr, "you have a building full of souls. I'm sure you do have your own reaper. I must have worn out a dozen."

Who? Specifically? The City did this. Now I'll grant you I took out the sonofabitch who was responsible for hurting me most, but the real culprit, Hannibal, not even someone like me can touch.

His violet eyes focused on the flowers Hannibal had been drawing. They reminded him a little of bourganvilla, the way it seemed to all huddle and climb. Clusters.

"I'll do what I can," he said aloud.

He more or less knew already what had been done, but he didn't want to pull the trigger on a loaded gun, so to speak. Hannibal looked ready to do some damage. Lestat could understand. "Alright?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_consume
2011-02-07 10:04 pm UTC (link)

Hannibal did not care what the City had done. He cared about those that had had their hands directly on River. The City might have put them all in that place, but it certainly didn't tell those people they had to harm her. It didn't control their actions as if they were puppets. They were merely it's sheep. Chattel. They were not significant enough to be puppeted.

On top of that, Hannibal knew that he couldn't get his hands on The City itself. That was an impossibility. Though he couldn't lie, if he'd been able to, he would have gone directly to the source. What he wouldn't give to be able to rip this place apart. Both to see how it might work, and also to torment it the way it seemed fond of doing to them.

"Well, I suppose if this God you speak of is real, then I'll be able to see that building of souls, won't I. I suppose they keep it there thinking it will make me feel sorry for the things that I've done. But I think I'll delight in seeing all of their faces again, reliving the things that I did to them. Perhaps I will be able to find new ways to bring about their torment." But Hannibal did not believe in god. Not even after being sucked into a different place. He believed this city had nothing to do with such things.

"You will do what you can." Hannibal nodded. "I can ask only that much. And thank you for it."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_liveforever
2011-02-08 06:32 am UTC (link)

"God isn't what you think he is," Lestat said, eyebrow rising and falling. He couldn't remember the specifics of the last conversation they'd had like this one. "He's pretty much a vindictive and cruel bad guy pretending to be good. I imagine you shall get to see everyone again, if only so He can continue torturing them."

It was best now to let the subject drop, unless he wanted to be responsible for upsetting Hannibal more. There was nothing to add about River that wouldn't enrage the boy. Did he want to hear about how they'd kept her restrained? They'd known--he'd heard their thoughts--that she once killed a doctor with a pen. They'd kept everything from her.

This boy who loved her beyond reason did not need to know such things. Lestat himself hated knowing them. The Dark Gift was not without its serious ill effects.

He nodded in acknowledgement of the thanks. "You've gone back to your usual haunt, then? And back to terrorizing Dr. Tam?"

Lestat had settled back into his rooms. The apartment was secluded and secret; no one would ever find it without Lestat allowing them to.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_consume
2011-02-08 06:41 am UTC (link)

"I've returned to my lodgings at Bates Motel, yes. But I have yet to return to work. I assume I should do so soon, however." Hannibal reached out and touched the flower gently, the stem, not the petals. The people who came here to see the beauty of it would likely not know of it's value as a deadly agent. In fact, there were quite a few flowers within this garden that could be used to harm and kill.

But he would not use them on the people that he stored in his mind, those that were nameless as of yet but would come to the light soon enough. No, Hannibal much preferred a hands on approach with matters such as this.

"I'm sure that life within this City will return to it's norm before too long. Then, just when we're comfortable, something else will spring up. I've come to enjoy the unpredictability of the place. It leaves one with a constant state of wonder. Very hard to ever be bored in a city like this one. Very hard to be lacking in amusements at all."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_liveforever
2011-02-10 03:56 am UTC (link)

Lestat wouldn't disagree. He'd thought of existence, when a younger vampire, as a garden. He'd been quite flowery with words, then. And now and then he knew he got carried away describing things like table legs or Tarquinn Blackwood's face.

It leaves one in a constant state of wonder.

The vampire started laughing, and it was a low, short chuckle. Then as Hannibal continued, the laughter grew. It was clear and almost ringing.

He drew a hand to his mouth to cover the laughter, to not be rude. The leather of his finely cut jacket creaked. His violet eyes twinkled without any mercy. The laughter was at Hannibal's expense.

When he'd regained his composure, Lestat smirked at the boy.

"You do realize you describe this city as I've described all cities in the world, specifically New Orleans? What you just said is why I'm too in love with myself and other people to ever allow myself to die."

The smirk grew into a smile. Are you really so similar? A constant state of wonder. I used to disgust others of my kind by falling in love with people in Wal-Mart. And then falling in love with various things inside Wal-Mart.

He suspected it wasn't quite the same. Lestat had only ever had the impulse to destroy anything around Armand, and the bastard always had it coming. His violence, his "folly," as David would say, always had to do with getting attention, and with causing trouble.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_consume
2011-02-16 12:14 am UTC (link)

Hannibal turned slightly to look at Lestat with a brow lifted. If he hadn't known the vampire as well as he did, he might have taken the laughter as an insult.

"Your world is much stranger than mine, remember. Where I come from, there are no vampires and fantastic things to keep one's mind occupied. To me this place is filled with the strange. It may be commonplace for you, but it is not for others."

He smirked and shook his head a little bit. "We also do not see human beings the same way, Lestat. I do not fall in love with them the way that you do. We are similar in many ways, perhaps. But in this, we differ."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_liveforever
2011-02-17 05:14 am UTC (link)

Lestat didn't believe there were no vampires in Hannibal's world. He believed Hannibal just had not encountered them.

The vampire shrugged. The shrug didn't fit him; it was too graceful, entirely, and far too bulky a gesture to work for something otherworldly. "I'll bet you don't even *like* Wal-Mart," he mused.

He arched a brow, scanning the flowers in the darkness.

"Are any others here worth sketching?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_consume
2011-02-17 11:20 pm UTC (link)

"I don't even know what Wal-Mart is." Hannibal admitted. He'd not seen any such place since he'd been in the City, and was pretty sure that one wouldn't pop up just for their amusement. "You come from time after mine, Lestat."

How easily the vampire seemed to forget some things at times. Hannibal wondered if he did it willfully. Purposefully. Or if he just wished that much that Hannibal could share in all the things that he knew.

"Many. But I came here for this one tonight." He indicated the flower behind him. "I think I will do a few more sketches of it, though. Perhaps a grouping of more than one of them. Different angles. I'm not quite ready to retire."

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -