Sixth little lie ♰ 'Cause the devil works quick, you know it don't take long

[beingdifferent]

(CW: gore)

Who did this?

[Today you don't get charm, Barge, you're in for something completely different. Esther's standing on the deck, eyebrows knit, mouth a thin line, looking troubled. The reason why becomes apparent when she swings her communicator around and captures an image of something becoming increasingly common on the Barge: a bloodied corpse, this one of one Hannibal Lecter. That in and of itself isn't so strange, and even a young murderess is clever enough to pick up on that. The strange part is that this death was obviously not due to a human attack; the claw and bite marks attest to that.]

This is the man everyone is angry with. Someone set a dog upon him, right? [She doesn't sound disturbed so much as disapproving, and the feed swings back to capture her face still wearing that frown.]

…A warden will need to bring him to the hospital. [By which she means infirmary.] I'm not going to stay here alone.

Comments

[deshabille]

[Mal doesn't bother responding; she just heads up on deck, preparing a message for the Admiral on the way. Once she sees them both, she sends the resurrection request and heads over to crouch by the body.]

Sloppy, isn't it.

[beingdifferent]

[When Mal approaches she steps back, still staring at the body but more than ready to transfer responsibility to somebody else.] It's gross.

[deshabille]

Well, yes, but it's also par for the course at this point. And it'll have to happen a number of times before he learns anything. You can't say he didn't deserve it.

[She blinks up at Esther, then, and holds out a hand.]

Mal. I'm a warden. He'll be back in a little while, I've already made the request. You're free to go if you like.

[beingdifferent]

No, I know he did awful things. But...

Nobody should have a dog like this here.

[She does not explain the addition of "here". Still looking a bit off-kilter, Esther takes Mal's hand with both of hers and shakes it.] Thank you. You're going to take care of him?

[deshabille]

[Mal's handshake is firm and brisk; then she tucks both of her hands into her pockets and straightens up, nudging the body with her toe.]

Nobody should have a dog like this anywhere. Dogs deserve better.

I'll make sure he comes back, yes, and get him where he needs to go.

[beingdifferent]

They should put it somewhere else. When we stop, it should stay there.

Are you going to hurt him? [She says it candidly, obviously expecting the same in response.]

[deshabille]

Once we find out whose dog it is, I supposed you'd have to take it up with them.

[She tilts her head at Esther.] Hurt him? No. I'll get him somewhere safe. If someone wants to go after him tomorrow, though, I probably won't stop them.

[beingdifferent]

But then their dog might go after me.

[This satisfies her, and she nods as if they've just come to an agreement.] I understand, but I don't want to see.

[deshabille]

Then you'll have to find someone stronger to take it up with them for you. I'm sure you can be persuasive.

[Mal nods, too, then shrugs.] A neat murderer would've dumped him directly in the infirmary. This is just rude. Uninvolved people shouldn't have to see revenge carried out. There should be a rule about that somewhere.

[beingdifferent]

It is rude! It's a horrible thing to do. Nobody wants to look at this.

[deshabille]

I'm sure someone here does. It takes all kinds to make a Barge. But most don't.

I do have to ask why you're here and still looking if you don't want to see it. [She's not even being rude, not this time. She's just curious.]

[beingdifferent]

Because I was supposed to stay until someone got here, and now I'm talking to you.

[deshabille]

[She laughs lightly.]

Well. I'm very fascinating, so that's fair enough.

[youwill]

[There isn't so much as a groan. One moment he's dead, torn apart gruesomely, and the next he is whole, breathing quietly and not moving. He notices the pain, first. Notices it abruptly and acutely, and tells himself, this is the death toll. He inventories; calculates the effects. The way it feels.

And he listens. A smile that is much more like a grimace pulls at his mouth, and he very - very - slowly pushes himself up.]

Very fascinating indeed. [Rude, not to at least bring him to the infirmary.]

[beingdifferent]

[She doesn't notice he's returned at first, doesn't pick up on so much as a breath. So when he begins to move Esther clasps a hand to her heart, alarmed, and takes an instinctive step closer to Mal.

When she realizes what's going on she looks between them with wide eyes.] Is it always that fast?

[deshabille]

[The moment his breathing starts she tilts her head so she can hear him better. Only when he speaks does she look at him, and then it's with a raised brow, as if to say really, not sure what you expected.]

Not sure. First time I've brought someone back. It is very quick, though, isn't it.

I understand you were mauled, Dr. Lecter.

[youwill]

[He tilts his head at Esther's gasp, settles his gaze briefly on hers. It's difficult to focus. He forces it.] I did not mean to startle you.

[He doesn't clasp at his recently rent belly, doesn't clutch for intestines that are now inside him again. He keeps everything inside where it's meant to be, so that no lick of his anger slips through.]

I was indeed.

[beingdifferent]

It's all right.

[She's not sure quite what's passing between Hannibal and Mal right now, just that there's far more under the surface than she knows about. For now she'll watch, and she'll learn.]

[deshabille]

[The ideal would, of course, for him to show anger. It would be an excellent first loss of control. But little steps. The unfortunate truth is also that when he really gets angry it will probably be very ugly and bloody, so. Best not right at this minute.]

I'm sorry to hear that. [But she doesn't know what you were expecting!] Would you like an escort to the infirmary, or elsewhere?

[youwill]

[In an environment where his self-control is the very height of what he has, Hannibal is not going to give it up so easily. This was expected, though maybe the manner was not. He had hoped for a warden to snap first, but - concessions. Sometimes they must be made.

He lifts his right arm, stretching it and flexing his hand. At least the break has been taken care of; though it would have been better if this had come before he rebroke his arm.

Mal's offer makes him look up again, and immediately the mask is on. Pleasant, but pained, a face that easily insinuates itself into society and leaves no trace.]

If you would be so kind, I would appreciate company to the infirmary.

[He wonders if Banner will throw him out.

To Esther he offers a small smile; she is altogether something else.] I'm sorry you were the one to find me, dear, but thank you. I cannot imagine it was a pleasant sight. [Because he knows exactly what animal attacks and worse look like.

Just because they know what he is now doesn't mean he ought to abandon politesse.]

[beingdifferent]

[Esther can see the masks they put on, watches the little dialogue unfold in front of her like a scene from a play, but can only guess at precisely what is behind them at any given moment.

That intrigues her, and she resolves to see this little scene through to the end.] May I come along? [She asks Mal, then offers Hannibal a timid smile and a lie of her own.]

You gave me a fright. I'm not used to such things, but I hope you're all right now.

[deshabille]

[She looks at Esther carefully when the question comes, trying to gauge the reason for interest. Not that she can't guess - it's Hannibal, and it's her, and things are strained and dangerous which at least in her opinion equates interesting - but the reasons that are obvious to her aren't always the ones other people go for.]

[In the end, she determines that there's got to be a reason that someone who looks so young is an inmate, or several, one of which probably has to do with the fact that she's too clever by half. And Mal smiles at her, far more genuine than anything she's sent Hannibal's way so far.]

If you like. Naturally.

Let's go, then. [And she goes at a relatively brisk pace, especially for the recently deceased.]

[youwill]

[Too brisk, truly, and Hannibal watches her set off. He doesn't actually require her company, only enjoys gauging her reactions. Esther adds another layer, though, and he holds out his hand to her - a gesture any kind adult might offer a frightened or unsettled child. It doesn't matter that they are neither. It's to keep her at pace with him, and, hopefully, to slow Mal down.]

I will be quite all right, I'm certain. The infirmary is staffed well enough.

[It's praise, sort of: they're good enough, but would he ever choose them? Of course not. Banner, as he understands it, isn't even a medical doctor.]

[darknessb4me]

You carry him, then.