For lastvoyages: Hallway Spam for Level 3

[cannibalmind]

 [A tiny girl pushes open the door to Hannibal Lecter's room. She is barefoot, in a pale ragged jumper and , her face smudged. For some reason there is a chain around her neck, which she sometimes tugs at uncomfortably. She looks around, then walks over to Mr. Pink's door and starts to knock on it shyly with a rather thin little fist.]

Comments

[likeaprofessional]

What? [Called from what sounds like across the room. He had just settled in with his second cup of coffee and fucking hell, he needed a Do Not Disturb sign asap. Now he's getting up anyway.] Hey, I'm trying to relax here as-

[Opens door and WHOAH CENSOR TIME. In fact, he's just going to stare, completely at a loss for any words. After a long moment he manages just one.] Hi...?

[aubergine_cherub]

[She peers up at him very solemnly, and then her face crumples slightly. Wibble. She tugs at the chain around her neck.] Um...

Could you help me get this off?

[likeaprofessional]

[Only then does he glance down and notice the chain for the first time.] What the hell? Geez, yeah, sure.

[He kneels and very gently, more scared to touch the kid than the chain itself, removes it and sets it aside. After a pause, he quickly grabs his communicator from a nearby counter and records a message for his warden. That done, he turns back to her.]

You can come in, I guess. Don't have nothin' for ya, but it's better than the hallways.

[aubergine_cherub]

Thank you sir. [She rubs her chafed neck and makes a little face, but doesn't cry.]

[She follows him in, and peeks around only a little before blinking up at him.]

You are Brother's neighbor. I hope he's been behaving.

[likeaprofessional]

[The room is a typical hotel room that has seen better days, hell probably better decades. A recliner that has a fair share of duct tape attached, a bed and a small desk by the chair is all that decorates the room. On the desk he's tossed his small stash of smokes and there's one or two razors. Enough out of her reach, he figures.]

Brother... [Brain goes click.] You're Hannibal's sis? [Pause.] Kid, how old are you?

[aubergine_cherub]

[She nods eagerly, brightening at the mere mention of him.] Yes. Um...[she frowns, she knows this one.] I am three years old, sir.

[likeaprofessional]

[...Three. Holy shit. Don't take a genius to notice the incredible age gap between the siblings. Hell, he didn't even know the cannibal had a sister.]

Oh. Figured as much. Gotta say, you talk better than most three year olds I've meet. Most speak gibberish. [He was having a conversation with a baby. His mind couldn't get past this fact. What does one talk with a kid about, anyway? Christ, he could use a cigarette right now. But, shit, he remembers Hannibal threatening him... No, smokes can wait.]

So, uh... yeah. Hannibal has been doing good. I suppose.

[aubergine_cherub]

Papa said it was important to speak pro-p-properly. 'specially with grownups. [That makes her shy again, though, and she chews her finger and rocks slightly.]

[likeaprofessional]

Good advice. Your old man is a smart one. [He sits down at the side of his bed. If he didn't, he'd end up pacing.] You want to sit down or something? Feel free. [He indicated the chair with a wave.]

[aubergine_cherub]

Yes sir. [She frogs up obediently in the chair, knees tucked against her chest.]

May I ask something? Why is Brother an old man?

[some_kinda_hero]

[At which point, ta da! Claire shows up, knocking but not entering just in case the kid is napping (doubtful) or running around or something.] Pink, it's me!

[likeaprofessional]

Old? He's not exactly. Um. You know, there's a really good explanation for that...

[He has never been more thankful of Claire's arrival than now. A quick dash to the door and he's welcoming in his warden. She's a guest of honor right now.]

Oh look who came to join us! Claire, I'd like you to meet Hannibal's sister. I was just about to explain why her brother is a bit older than she is. Care to help out with that? [A bright, fake smile that doesn't quite reach his panicked eyes.]

[aubergine_cherub]

[Mischa stays politely seated right where the nervous man told her to, but turns her head to look at the newcomer. Little smile and a tiny wave. Her neck looks chafed but the chain is now removed.]

[some_kinda_hero]

[Claire shoots a quick 'you suck' glare at Pink when he puts it in HER lap to explain Hannibal's age. In time, but first, let's not be rude.] Heya, I'm Claire.

[She comes over and squats to make herself eye-level. She makes herself not look at the marks on her neck. Pink had already warned her.] What's your name?

[likeaprofessional]

[Pink just gives a helpless shrug to her look. He sure couldn't come up with anything, so she had to be better at it. He hoped. While she introduced herself, he distanced himself from the pair and lit up a half-burned cigarette from his desk. He exhaled to the side, as far away from the young girl as he could.]

At some point. On level 3.

[wemaketheworld]

[Rorschach's been wandering, getting a feel for the latest disruption. The new faces, the missing ones. The general increase in disorganization among general population.

...The child, however, catches him off-guard, and he spends a few long moments just regarding her with a combination of curiosity and a flickering sense of concern he tries to suppress.

It won't end anywhere good, he should quash the fleeting feeling before it settles.]

[aubergine_cherub]

Mischa, ma'am. Mischa Lecter. I have behaved, I promise. [She watches Pink for a moment, then leans in to his Warden and whispers] Is he ok?

At some point. On level 3.

[aubergine_cherub]

[She notices him, and looks back at him very solemnly, looking just as haggard in her own way as he. Then she raises her hand and waves hi.]

[wemaketheworld]

[The lines in his face tense, clearly uncomfortable, but he waves back, cautiously, a slight stiff twitch of fingers and a gruff "hello" to accompany it.]

[aubergine_cherub]

Are you lost, sir? [She can't maintain solemnface very long.]

[wemaketheworld]

No. Live here.

[A pause.]

Are you?

At some point

[washerlocket]

[Merope was wandering the halls with an expression that seems almost a little lost. So many of the people whom she like have changed and it's frustrating for her. When she spots the little girl, Merope moves onto her knees, so she's eyelevel with her.]

Are you alright?

At some point

[aubergine_cherub]

[Mischa blinks and then gazes at Merope's face very solemnly. She nods. Then asks] Did you get away from the bad men too?

[washerlocket]

[For a moment, Merope looks at the girl and just nods.]

Yes. They can't hurt you here. What's your name?

[aubergine_cherub]

No sir. I'm here for my brother. I need to leave him a message but I cannot write.