Hannibal's only reaction to the word 'test' is to look for Patricia's face to see how she's faring; and sure enough, she startles hard enough to jostle her chair legs against the floor. It's a cascade of disconnected reactions, looking after her emotional health - he wants her receptive and trusting, although his own emotions tend to be distanced from hers.
(This morning is a tangle in his mind, a thorny hedge that he can't examine too clearly, only peering at the facts through the vines. If he thinks too hard about her being gone from his home without knowing why or by who, he feels the thorns catch at his ribs, get stuck behind his heart.)
Argus takes it upon himself to salvage the moment, though, and Hannibal continues pouring out servings of tea without comment.
Triss's own serving was made first, poured out from the boiled water before he added the leaves - hot cocoa, a special treat which seems both appropriate and a possible way of using sugar to help stave off the way her eyes are a little puffy and dark underneath. She's not drooping, not yet, probably due to all the action going on, but it's surely a matter of time--
Hannibal's thoughts grind to a rude halt. He pauses while holding Triss's cup out to her. When he reanimates and finishes handing it over, he gives Patricia a 'wait just a moment' finger, low at the level of his waist.
Holding his own cup, he now joins Patricia and Ruth at the table. His gaze settles on Ruth, and he looks as considering as he feels. "I'm sure all three of you realize what your request sounds like. It's neither particularly dangerous, nor is it particularly innocent. It's the sort of request that could easily be assuaged with trust - of which we have very little. Unless I'm misreading Danae's body language." His brief smile at her is not as discourteous as his words are, however.
"Is this substance meant to trigger something in the user? Or merely mark them for you? If the former, I think you may find Patricia will be very unwilling to participate in a demonstration."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2016-06-06 12:28 am (UTC)(This morning is a tangle in his mind, a thorny hedge that he can't examine too clearly, only peering at the facts through the vines. If he thinks too hard about her being gone from his home without knowing why or by who, he feels the thorns catch at his ribs, get stuck behind his heart.)
Argus takes it upon himself to salvage the moment, though, and Hannibal continues pouring out servings of tea without comment.
Triss's own serving was made first, poured out from the boiled water before he added the leaves - hot cocoa, a special treat which seems both appropriate and a possible way of using sugar to help stave off the way her eyes are a little puffy and dark underneath. She's not drooping, not yet, probably due to all the action going on, but it's surely a matter of time--
Hannibal's thoughts grind to a rude halt. He pauses while holding Triss's cup out to her. When he reanimates and finishes handing it over, he gives Patricia a 'wait just a moment' finger, low at the level of his waist.
Holding his own cup, he now joins Patricia and Ruth at the table. His gaze settles on Ruth, and he looks as considering as he feels. "I'm sure all three of you realize what your request sounds like. It's neither particularly dangerous, nor is it particularly innocent. It's the sort of request that could easily be assuaged with trust - of which we have very little. Unless I'm misreading Danae's body language." His brief smile at her is not as discourteous as his words are, however.
"Is this substance meant to trigger something in the user? Or merely mark them for you? If the former, I think you may find Patricia will be very unwilling to participate in a demonstration."