Hannibal prepares meals like they're works of art; that never makes sense to her since it's going to be eaten. Food can look decent, but it isn't really around long enough to be enjoyed, she thinks. Watching him now, his hands moving swiftly yet cautiously and meticulously, she can't help but picture a sculptor attempting to carve a delicate statue. "Why make it look so nice, when it's only going to be eaten anyway?" She asks innocently, his eyes glancing up from his work to meet hers.
"Ah, Abigail," he smiles his charming smile at her, and her lips automatically pull into a smile of her own, "Food is much more than just taste, the nicer it looks, the better it tastes. The quality of the meal goes beyond the taste, it's the presentation. It's something you cut into and savor each piece; a meal should be enjoyable for each sense. Texture, smell, the presentation, the taste, even the sound of it sliding off the fork." Never in her life has she met someone who can make the most simple thing sound like an elaborate poem.
His eyes leave hers and glance down at her hands, she hadn't realized she was subconsciously running her fingers along the blade of a sharp knife, "Please do be careful not to cut yourself." His voice is concerned, yet he doesn't move the blade from her. He's interesting like that, he'll remind you not to do something, but he never outright tells you not to. He never stops her from doing anything, he leaves the choice completely up to her. He suggests she stays at the hospital, or with her group, but that's just it; it's a mere suggestion. If she declines, insisting coming to his house is what she wants, he doesn't say no. He wishes for her to eat what he cooks, but if she'd rather something else he'll take her to get whatever she wants, he'll even pay for it.
She keeps stroking the blade, watching her fingers now. When she glances back up at him, he's back to looking down at his work; his own hand wielding a blade of it's own. "I really want some chocolate." She's not sure where the craving came from, but she can only assume it's for one reason. She wonders if he'll understand that.
"I have some I prepared myself, I can make you chocolate covered strawberries if you'd like," he says kindly, his eyes never looking up.
"Like a chocolate bar," she continues, picking up the blade and examining the edge.
"I'm afraid I don't have those, but I'll gladly take you to get one after we eat," he never gets angry. He never says no, he never doesn't answer. He never gets tired of explaining things to her, he never tells her to stop asking him questions. She's made it her goal, to see where his patience ends; to see how much she can push him until he cracks. Her parents used to have no patience, a few questions to her mom and she got 'not now, Abby.' Hannibal never didn't have time for her, she could show up whenever and he welcomed her with open arms. She could ask him a million questions about his food and his books and himself and he'd answer each of them. Sort of, at least. Some answers weren't really answers, answers that actually answered anything at least.
"I don't really know anything about you," she says, looking up from the blade just as he looks up at her. He's smiling slightly again, she loves that she makes him smile.
"You're train of thought travels very quickly, Abigail. You know very much about me."
She finally puts the knife down, and his eyes follow her hands for a moment before looking back up at her, "I only know the same stuff everyone else knows about you, and a little bit more. Nothing about you, personal stuff."
He looks thoughtful for a moment, "What is it you'd like to know, then?"
She is slightly surprised he'll allow questions, she's even more surprised she has so many to ask. Maybe it's the fact that he treats her like an adult, he even lets her drink wine with him. She doesn't like the taste, but she drinks it anyway, every time she's with him. Tonight she's had nearly four glasses, and a few sips of her fifth. Her face is hot and she's sure it's flushed. She doesn't feel young around Hannibal, he doesn't treat her like a traumatized child. He lets her speak and make up her own mind, instead of acting like she doesn't know what she wants out of life. He lets her have control of things, and now she wants to know about him. She wants to know why he's so very different than everyone else. Will and Alana are simple, though she knows they have her best interest at heart. They treat her like their child, or more like a wounded animal, maybe even a delicate teacup that will break if they speak too loud. Not Hannibal, not once had he made her feel that she wasn't her own person, a person that wasn't destroyed by everything that had happened.
"Why do you let me spend so much time with you?" It seems like a safe place to start. He looks back down at his work.
"You enjoy being with me and I enjoy your company," he answers simply, his eyes not looking up.
"You don't have any f