Watching the back-and-forth of the adults and Triss (Danae is not registering as an adult, not all the way, and she is certainly not included in this) keeps the good humor on Hannibal's face, although something else joins it. Curiosity, calculation - is this ragtag group going to just dump information and possibly a book-lending system on his front door and then huff away? Unlikely. So: are they thinking of a long-term relationship?
Is this a group of teachers, no matter how strange or untrained? Is that the environment Hannibal has invited into their home? It's...odd. More intimate than just the tutor Hannibal had been considering to help get Triss's young brain started on Italian. He wants her to learn about her powers, though, just as he wants to know more about them; he wants her to become something more. To grow as far as her abilities will let her.
It's possible some small, ignored part of himself wants her to have what he never did. But Hannibal has never confronted that part of his mind, and never intends to, and Patricia - however young and unfailingly rude in some of her questions - has yet to think to ask.
When the calm vibes are shattered, Hannibal remains still. His face is placid, loose, unthreatening, all except his eyes - which watch the angle of Danae's lunge, the way Ruth's face turns to stone, how Argus immediately becomes the voice of reason against everyone else's fear. Hannibal has had plenty of practice in not flinching - when you can smell the visceral root of someone's fearful anger, there is a good deal more to rattle you. Just to get to the point where he can breathe a roomful of terror and smile, not frown, was an uncoupling from normal reaction. This - in his own warded home, with people who want his child's education and safety so badly that they were willing to talk to a stranger about ancient magic - this isn't enough to frighten him. Not yet.
Triss's magic reacts poorly, however - powerfully, but poorly. Hannibal's face remains completely still and pointed at Danae, but his eyes flicker from side to side. He sees burnished pans to the left, salt and pepper shakers to the right, even his wheeled metal side table has leaned into his peripheral vision from the corner. She was frightened on his behalf...?
Which is logical. He's her guardian. This safe house that she values - if he was harmed, she might not have it anymore. And she likely is still on a knife's edge, ready to fall off and blame herself again at the slightest push.
There is still something a little small, a little vulnerable, in the expression Hannibal directs at Patricia. "That's some wonderfully impressive magic, Triss. Don't worry - I surprised them, that's all." He doesn't move his hands towards her to comfort. They stay on the tabletop, loose and ready, until Hannibal seems satisfied that Danae is done coming towards him.
Hannibal obligingly looks at Argus instead of staring down Danae, when Argus takes control of the conversation. There is still a thread of amusement in his face, a lack of repentance, although there shouldn't be any doubt that he's taking this conversation seriously. "Of course. It was a rash decision on my end." Hannibal doesn't look smug, but he doesn't look particularly apologetic, either. If anything, he looks very alert, even more than when they'd first showed up at his door. His eyes sweep to Ruth and Danae, but he settles back on Argus, and he's clearly speaking to him. "Your secrecy even while demonstrating made me curious. I wanted to know what you would do."
His eyes on Ruth are calculating, suspicious, and jarringly respectful - like he's spotted a jungle cat where he'd thought he'd been alone. His glance at Danae is alert but exasperated. Unimpressed, even if he remains cordial enough not to outright sneer. Clearly, he considers it a win - Hannibal got the answers he'd wanted.
It makes his gaze at Argus all the more pleasant, by contrast. He's practically smiling at him, even if his face barely moves. "I respect the paranoia and fear of your compatriots. I don't mean to insinuate a threat. Besides--" He reaches down for his sleeve, and pokes a glint of metal back inside. Patricia's tug of war with his metal appliances had nearly ripped it free of his sweater. Once the blade is fully back in, he flicks it out the end of the sleeve, one-handed, in a gesture that is all utilitarian movements and clearly practiced.
But he also puts it down on the table, willingly disarming himself, as soon as it's out. "--it's not as if I could hurt anyone with this. If I had known what you were when you showed up, and felt negatively about it, surely I would have picked a better weapon."
He stares at Argus, his own head tilting to the side as well. "Or. I couldn't have hurt Danae with it. I'm not so sure that extends to everyone else." His eye contact finally breaks for a moment, and he leans a few degrees further back in his chair. Physically, he's doing everything short of putting his hands palm-out for a truce. "Gladium linguas sounds much more fitting, however. I'm not such a hypocrite that I would call you abominations." It's a long-delayed olive branch - it's surely been an open assumption, but Hannibal will confirm he's not fully - or not simply - human, in the interests of perhaps calming everyone down.
Well. Calming the other two down. Hannibal clearly approves of Argus's commanding patience throughout this.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2016-06-07 03:57 pm (UTC)Is this a group of teachers, no matter how strange or untrained? Is that the environment Hannibal has invited into their home? It's...odd. More intimate than just the tutor Hannibal had been considering to help get Triss's young brain started on Italian. He wants her to learn about her powers, though, just as he wants to know more about them; he wants her to become something more. To grow as far as her abilities will let her.
It's possible some small, ignored part of himself wants her to have what he never did. But Hannibal has never confronted that part of his mind, and never intends to, and Patricia - however young and unfailingly rude in some of her questions - has yet to think to ask.
When the calm vibes are shattered, Hannibal remains still. His face is placid, loose, unthreatening, all except his eyes - which watch the angle of Danae's lunge, the way Ruth's face turns to stone, how Argus immediately becomes the voice of reason against everyone else's fear. Hannibal has had plenty of practice in not flinching - when you can smell the visceral root of someone's fearful anger, there is a good deal more to rattle you. Just to get to the point where he can breathe a roomful of terror and smile, not frown, was an uncoupling from normal reaction. This - in his own warded home, with people who want his child's education and safety so badly that they were willing to talk to a stranger about ancient magic - this isn't enough to frighten him. Not yet.
Triss's magic reacts poorly, however - powerfully, but poorly. Hannibal's face remains completely still and pointed at Danae, but his eyes flicker from side to side. He sees burnished pans to the left, salt and pepper shakers to the right, even his wheeled metal side table has leaned into his peripheral vision from the corner. She was frightened on his behalf...?
Which is logical. He's her guardian. This safe house that she values - if he was harmed, she might not have it anymore. And she likely is still on a knife's edge, ready to fall off and blame herself again at the slightest push.
There is still something a little small, a little vulnerable, in the expression Hannibal directs at Patricia. "That's some wonderfully impressive magic, Triss. Don't worry - I surprised them, that's all." He doesn't move his hands towards her to comfort. They stay on the tabletop, loose and ready, until Hannibal seems satisfied that Danae is done coming towards him.
Hannibal obligingly looks at Argus instead of staring down Danae, when Argus takes control of the conversation. There is still a thread of amusement in his face, a lack of repentance, although there shouldn't be any doubt that he's taking this conversation seriously. "Of course. It was a rash decision on my end." Hannibal doesn't look smug, but he doesn't look particularly apologetic, either. If anything, he looks very alert, even more than when they'd first showed up at his door. His eyes sweep to Ruth and Danae, but he settles back on Argus, and he's clearly speaking to him. "Your secrecy even while demonstrating made me curious. I wanted to know what you would do."
His eyes on Ruth are calculating, suspicious, and jarringly respectful - like he's spotted a jungle cat where he'd thought he'd been alone. His glance at Danae is alert but exasperated. Unimpressed, even if he remains cordial enough not to outright sneer. Clearly, he considers it a win - Hannibal got the answers he'd wanted.
It makes his gaze at Argus all the more pleasant, by contrast. He's practically smiling at him, even if his face barely moves. "I respect the paranoia and fear of your compatriots. I don't mean to insinuate a threat. Besides--" He reaches down for his sleeve, and pokes a glint of metal back inside. Patricia's tug of war with his metal appliances had nearly ripped it free of his sweater. Once the blade is fully back in, he flicks it out the end of the sleeve, one-handed, in a gesture that is all utilitarian movements and clearly practiced.
But he also puts it down on the table, willingly disarming himself, as soon as it's out. "--it's not as if I could hurt anyone with this. If I had known what you were when you showed up, and felt negatively about it, surely I would have picked a better weapon."
He stares at Argus, his own head tilting to the side as well. "Or. I couldn't have hurt Danae with it. I'm not so sure that extends to everyone else." His eye contact finally breaks for a moment, and he leans a few degrees further back in his chair. Physically, he's doing everything short of putting his hands palm-out for a truce. "Gladium linguas sounds much more fitting, however. I'm not such a hypocrite that I would call you abominations." It's a long-delayed olive branch - it's surely been an open assumption, but Hannibal will confirm he's not fully - or not simply - human, in the interests of perhaps calming everyone down.
Well. Calming the other two down. Hannibal clearly approves of Argus's commanding patience throughout this.