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Hannibal: *compliments the Dragon in front of Will*

Will: hE Is UgLy AnD ImPoTeNt

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They were having sex during canon, a thesis.

Hannibal and Will were sexually intimate during canon, but due to censorship, the show's creatives relied on symbolism and metaphors to convey it. In fact, I believe this was outright confirmed through Bedelia’s lines, she essentially stated it as fact.

Yet, many viewers struggle with anything that isn’t explicitly shown.

Take Hannibal and Bedelia, for example. It’s obvious they were sleeping together, yet because it wasn’t depicted on screen, some still doubt it. The same goes for Hannibal and Anthony, despite it being made abundantly clear that they had sex. It’s frustrating, especially considering that no one questions whether Jack and Bella or Will and Molly are sexually active, even though their intimacy is never explicitly shown either.

Bedelia makes it unmistakably clear when she says she and Hannibal are not as passionate as he and Will, that he was visiting an "old flame," that he was naked, and that both she and Will have been his "bride." This is about as blatant as the show could be in confirming their physical relationship. If their connection were purely psycho-sexual, Bedelia (a highly intelligent woman) would have used different language. She wasn’t referring to murder; she was implying something else entirely. I believe the writers deliberately used her as a mouthpiece to reveal the truth without triggering censorship.

I have a few theories about this. One is that Hannibal and Will’s entire dynamic is a metaphor for sexual awakening, with everything symbolizing sex in some way. Another is that they became intimate around the latter half of season two, during those frequent late-night hang outs. Hannibal would never plan to run away with someone he wasn’t completely familiar with, psychologically, emotionally, and physically.

His choice to take Bedelia in Will’s place is revealing, because she was the only other person who knew his truth, whom he genuinely liked, was familiar with, and found aesthetically pleasing. He could have left alone or sought out someone new, and he knew that. But he lost Will, who had fulfilled every aspect of his needs, so he replaced him with the only person who had the same potential.

I believe their physical relationship likely started around the horse episode. For Will, it may have initially been just another element of his manipulation plan, but he didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as he did. Their bond in season two became so intense because they discovered a new way of communicating: one that didn’t require words. Physical intimacy became a space where they could exist in silence, transcending their usual mind games and pretentious language. Sex was an outlet for rawness, vulnerability, and openness.

This, I think, is why it devastated Hannibal when he realized Will had been lying. Hannibal believed he was making love for the first time in his life, and when Will betrayed him, he likely assumed their intimacy had been a lie too. “I let you see me” wasn’t about his identity as a murderer, he had let Bedelia see that side of him without hesitation, and in fact, he took pride in it. It was his strength. When he told Will, “I let you see me,” he meant something far more profound. He had exposed his most vulnerable, raw, and unguarded self, the version of him that had never been seen by anyone before. The version that opened up for affection.

Will, I believe, recognized his feelings through this. I also think they had a deeply intense final night together during that last dinner, where Will refused to run away. I imagine Hannibal allowed himself a goodbye, one last night with Will, which is why his eyes were so red and swollen.

I reject the idea that sex is somehow lesser or unnecessary for deep emotional connection, as some people (particularly those who identify as ace or have personal issues with sexuality) project onto these characters. Will and Hannibal are not asexual; they are deeply sexual, intensely erotic figures. Sex in this context isn't about hierarchy, about being superior or inferior to emotional intimacy, it is simply another layer of their connection. Given their personalities, it was also a necessary outlet. In many ways, I believe their violence stemmed from repressed sexual tension, and their physical intimacy became a means of release.

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post fall scars

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I need this magazine!

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In a normal year, @flourish & I would have made a list of five big fandom trends for our annual "Year in Fandom" round-up. But the podcast is on hiatus, and I was left with MANY THOUGHTS about fanfiction seeming to break containment this year and nowhere to put them. So this is a "Year in Fandom" segment of sorts, about a set of related fanfiction trends that I'm pretty unhappy about!

I get that sense that a lot of fandom folks are, like me, worried about the way the ground seems to be shifting beneath us: in meta after meta, I’ve seen frustration over a larger but increasingly passive fic readership; dismay that traditional publishing has a growing influence over a practice that partly exists in opposition to it; and anger that some guy can just copy-paste your work and charge money for it, and no one outside of fandom seems to care.

What happens when fanfiction scales—but participatory fan communities do not? Read or listen to an audio version via the link above!

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3x12 "The Number of the Beast Is 666"// 3x13 "The Wrath of the Lamb" "La mappa dell'Inferno" by Sandro Botticelli 

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Hey, remember that time when Hannibal had the ability to chill the fuck out for like three seconds about Will Graham, ever? Me neither...🤣😍

No Will at 7:30 = "Lacrimosa" immediately--

He pokes his lil' head out and looks around the entire waiting room as if Will might be hiding somewhere 🥺

(continued below)

Looks questioningly into the empty waiting room, as if the room should explain itself for not containing Will. Pulls back with a pridefully hurt expression. 💔

Mind you, this is Will not showing for one appointment. And Hannibal's been fucking around with Will's health and mind...does he not expect this to have consequences that might interfere with his own desire to see Will? 🤦🏻‍♀️

He really didn't expect his feelings for Will to even get to this point, so he's not remotely ready for how much crazier his obsession is gonna get...!

"You don't care. Stop acting like you care that Will isn't here. Who cares, I'm Mr. Super Independent Cool and Evil, I don't need anyone, least of all Will Graham. I'm not checking my watch. I only happened to glance at the time because I was fixing my cuffs, coincidentally." 😠

Are we 100% absolutely positive Will's not hiding behind a chair? FINE. 💔😔😡

Will, can't you sense how terrible it is for you not to show up? Are you here now??

hannibal 1x07: "Sorbet"

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Hannibal (2013-2015)

3x07 || 3x08

Will wearing his glasses after rejecting Hannibal + taking his glasses off when they're reunited

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Domestic fall themed Hannigram, with pets

My patreon

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🫀

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Hannibal (2013-2015)

2x09 || 2x12

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Hannister

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A big thank you to @sairobee for contributing the amazing fan art.

Will Graham’s legendary intuition might be failing him.

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Hannibal! Made by The Stitchy Button on etsy, home of collectible character bunnies and dolls, dragons, unicorns, merbunnies, and much more! Get coupon codes and monthly mailbags by joining my Patreon

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Am I the only one who finds this moment terribly intimate? I've never seen anyone focus on it. Just imagine if you remove the entire plot of Hannibal and add a certain pov: a policeman falls in love with a dangerous maniac criminal. Their eyes just speak for themselves.

GIFs credit: @hughdancybabyface

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post-fall Will: i wish i knew so much sooner what we could have had if i just accepted it...that we could be happy...god, i'm so sorry...you must have been so lonely all that time, weren't you? i promise, you'll never be lonely again. i'm not leaving your side

Hannibal, on enough antibiotics and painkillers to put down a horse: