Triss enjoys - needs, even - her autonomy, and Hannibal has been very willing to allow her any and all outlets for it that are possible for someone her age to have. This isn't the first time she's refused the clear invitation to sit down with him, but she doesn't look like it's from feeling shy or embarrassed. It doesn't even seem to be that she's worried she's going to want comfort and is upset at showing vulnerability in front of him.
Is she...trying to scold him?
It's not appropriate to laugh. Not even to smile. Luckily, Hannibal has been perfecting his poker face for the last few decades. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, drawing his face even closer to being level with hers.
His voice is still even and calm, clearly not rattled by her pressing him. "I wanted to confirm my suspicions, if that was what they were. And I wanted them to know that I was not as far in the dark as they thought I was." Hannibal's head tilts bare degrees to the left. "Words have the power to hurt, yes, but this word is a secretive one. It's not nearly the same as insults you may hear in the street or at school. There are implications about what one would go through to have learned the word I used. It is no casual term."
Hannibal's gaze doesn't waver from Triss. "If I am to trust them with instructing you, I would rather know now about how they react to unpleasant surprises. A rash temper wouldn't do for teaching a child with telekinetic abilities."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2016-07-23 01:35 pm (UTC)Is she...trying to scold him?
It's not appropriate to laugh. Not even to smile. Luckily, Hannibal has been perfecting his poker face for the last few decades. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, drawing his face even closer to being level with hers.
His voice is still even and calm, clearly not rattled by her pressing him. "I wanted to confirm my suspicions, if that was what they were. And I wanted them to know that I was not as far in the dark as they thought I was." Hannibal's head tilts bare degrees to the left. "Words have the power to hurt, yes, but this word is a secretive one. It's not nearly the same as insults you may hear in the street or at school. There are implications about what one would go through to have learned the word I used. It is no casual term."
Hannibal's gaze doesn't waver from Triss. "If I am to trust them with instructing you, I would rather know now about how they react to unpleasant surprises. A rash temper wouldn't do for teaching a child with telekinetic abilities."