#what does will graham say when hannibal is eating him out?

[bmissyb]

hannibal reference on new (2025) coke cans? might as well scream "WE ARE RENEWING HANNIBAL" while they're at it

[gallavichsreddie1128]

Wife (Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham)

Description: Will and Hannibal have a wife that is just as crazy and messed up as they are.

Warning: Smut, Murder

Word Count: 2,556

Hannibal and Will shared many things. The urge and like to kill, intelligence, love etc. But the best thing they shared was a wife. Y/N. She was legally married to Will but they all had a wedding together and had rings so maybe not by law but all three were married. Y/N was just as dangerous as the two as well. She knew of what they did and what they were capable of and she joined in. She loved it too. It made things so much easier on Hannibal and Will. They didn't have to force her to help or hide what they were doing, she just did it all without a complaint. Like right now: They all had a guest over that wasn’t aware of the relationship they had. Hannibal invited this guy over and he was about to be a meal. Y/N sat on Will’s lap in a red dress, her hair was up in a bun and her makeup was a basic nude look. Why wasn’t she sitting in a chair? It’s more fun this way. They all ate the food that Hannibal cooked up for them. Y/N stared at the guy Hannibal invited as he ate the food not realizing he was eating another human. It made her chuckle. She observed the guy as he put the fork of food in his mouth. She looked over at Hannibal as he talked with the guy. Will sometimes interjected to be a smartass but Y/N hadn’t said a word.

The guy looked at Y/N on Will’s lap and she waved at him with an innocent smile. He smiled at her and Will glared at the guy. The guy looked away and Y/N looked behind her at Will. His glare went away and he squeezed her hips. She rolled her eyes and went back to eating. “So Mr. Lecter, I see a ring on your finger, you have a wife?” The guy asked. Hannibal nodded and set down his wine. “That I do. She was a real beauty.” Hannibal said.

Y/N hid the blush on her face. “Where is she tonight? If you don’t mind me asking.” Hannibal shook his head. “Not at all. She’s here with us.” The guy looked confused. Poor idiot. “Right over here.” Y/N said with her hand up. The guy looked over at her and at Will. “So those two aren’t married?” He asked. “No we are.” Will said. “So she’s married to the both of you?” He asked. “I am.” She said. “Is there a problem with that?” Will asked. The guy shook his head at the dark tone in Will’s voice. “No, not at all. You just don’t see that too much.” Y/N got up off of Will’s lap and sat next to the guy. She looked over at him with her chin resting in her hand. “What makes it special, ain’t it?” She asked. The man nodded. “Yeah I guess it does.” She looked at his hands and noticed there wasn’t a ring on it. She grabbed his hand and examined it.

He looks at her weirdly as she looks at his hand. “You don’t have a ring on your finger. You aren’t married. So you gotta girlfriend?” She asked him. He shook his head No. She dropped his hand on the table. Will and Hannibal watched the scene play out in front of them. “Well I guess that makes this easier.” She says and pulls at a knife. She quickly stabs him in the head. He gasps and groans in pain as he twitches from shock. They all watch him as he freaks out. “What the fuck?” He freaked out. “When that gets pulled out you die.” She tells him and takes a seat on Hannibal’s lap this time. They all watched the man as he was breathing hard and trying not to freak out too much. “Will take it out.” Hannibal tells him. Will gets up and the guy freaks out yelling No as Will grabs a hold of the knife and pulls it out of the guy’s skull. Blood pours out and the guy falls on the table. Will looks at the knife and smirks.   

Other times when they killed people it wasn’t always a known fact that they were married or at all. Y/N set down her wedding ring and gave a deep breath. She was in the skankiest dress she had and heels. The dress was a pretty dark purple, her hair was straight and she had a basic makeup look. She walked out of the bathroom and looked for a decent looking guy she could play with and the boys could kill. She saw one about 6’4 and in a suit. He looked really good. He had shaggy hair and green eyes. She walked over to him moving her hips catching his attention. He looked at her and smiled as she approached him. “Hello there.” she said with an innocent smile. “Hey there, beautiful.” He said to her and checked her out. Will and Hannibal glared as they watched the man’s eyes drag over their wife’s body like she was meat. They watched as she twirled her hair and flirted with him. Her hand on his arm as she led him away from the party scene and to her room. He chuckled as she leaned up to kiss him, only cracking the door. Will and Hannibal followed them and watched through the cracked door. Their lips moved together as she sent the signal for the boys to enter the room.

They pushed open the door with a dark look in their eyes. “Well well well, what do we have here?” Will said. The guy pulled away from Y/N and looked behind him at the guys standing there. “Looks like these two were about to have sex.” Hannibal answered. “Get out of here you creeps.” Y/N yelled. She went up to them and tried to push them out of the room when Hannibal grabbed her. She screamed. “Okay guys let her go. We can just leave and go somewhere else.” He said. Y/N struggled in Hannibal’s arms as Will approached the guy. “No you won’t.” Will said to the guy. The guy laughed at him. “What are you going to do about it?” He asked Will. Will shrugged and pulled out a knife and stabbed the guy. The guy bent over and groaned in pain. Hannibal let go over Y/N and she walked over to the guy. “Sorry about this, my husbands are a little crazy.” She said sincerely. The guy managed to look up at her like she was crazy. “Husbands? You’re married?” She nodded and took the knife from Will’s hand. “Yes but I'm crazier.” Y/N said and stabbed the guy again in the stomach and dragged it across.

The guy screamed in pain and Will and Hannibal watched as their wife killed the bastard. The guy fell to the floor dead. Y/N turned towards them and smirked. She handed Hannibal the bloody knife. He took and smiled at her. “You did good, sweetie.”  He tells her. “Do I get a reward?” She asked them, batting her eyelashes. They look at each other and smirk. “I think she should.” Will said. Hannibal nods in agreement. “Take off your clothes and get on the bed.” Hannibal demands. She nods and looks at the body. “What about the body?” She asked. “We will take care of it after.” Hannibal tells her. She nods and starts to strip. The two watch her with their lip between their teeth as her bare body slowly starts to show. Her hands were bloody from stabbing the guy. “Are you guys going to undress?” She asked them, standing in nothing. Hannibal turns to Will and kisses him causing Y/N to gasp.

Will kissed him back and wrapped an arm around him pulling him closer. His other hand took off his blazer. Hannibal’s hands unbuttoned Will’s shirt and helped him take it off. Y/N watched in awe as her husbands kissed. She was getting wetter by the second. Once Will was shirtless his hands moved to Hannibal’s blazer and took it off. Hannibal gripped his ass through the dress pants making Will moan into his mouth. Once Hannibal was shirtless they pulled apart from the kiss out of breath. They looked at Y/N who was rubbing her clit at the sight. They smirked at her. “Come remove our pants.” Hannibal told her. She walks over to Will first and unzips the pants.

She gets on her knees and pulls the pants down his legs revealing his hard on through his boxers. She grabbed the hem of his boxers and pulled them down letting his dick spring up proudly. “Now come remove mine.” Hannibal tells her. She gets up and moves over to Hannibal and does the same thing. All three stood bare in front of each other and the dead man on the ground. “Onto the bed, bunny.” Will tells her. She gets on the bed with her legs spread revealing her wet pussy. Hannibal took Will’s hand and they walked over the dead body to their little wife. “Look at how pretty our baby is.” Will said. She looked up at them with puppy dog eyes, waiting to be touched. “Who do you want first?” Hannibal asked her. She looked between the two of them. “I want Will’s tongue.” She said. Will was amazing at sex but even better at giving her head. Will smiled and dropped to his knees. He grabbed her legs and pulled her to the edge of the bed. Her dripping wet pussy now inches away from his face. He blew on her a little, making her gasp at the cool air. He took a finger and wiped her pussy gathering her wetness. She let out a little moan at the feeling.

He put the finger in his mouth and hummed at the taste. “You taste amazing, bunny.” He told her. Her face turned red and his words. He leaned forward and licked up her pussy gathering the juices on his tongue. “Stop teasing me.” She whined. He chuckled at her plea and dove right in . Her hands immediately went to his hair. His tongue explored her craven like a maze. Hannibal watched closely at how Will licked and sucked on her. Her moans were loud and pornographic as he pleased her. His name fell from her lips like a prayer. His hands gripped her thighs as he moved his head from side to side making her gasp. Her hips started humping his face making her whine louder. Each thrust of her hips she moaned out to the boys. Hannibal dropped to his knees and got closer to the two. “Good boy, Will.” He praised.

He leaned down and kissed the man’s neck. Will moaned into her pussy as Hannibal attacked his sweet spot. The vibration making her gasp and pull at the man’s hair. She was close. Oh so close. Her hips were going wild as was Will’s tongue. Her hole was clenching around nothing and her thighs started to shake. Hannibal pulled away from Will’s neck and looked at the girl. “Are you close?” He asked her. She nodded and moaned out a yes. He smirked and stood up getting on the bed with her. He played with her hair. “Are you going to cum for us?” He asked. She whined out a yes and gasped as she felt her climax hit. Her hips went crazy and her moans got so loud. “Good girl.” Hannibal said and leaned down kissing her neck.

Will let her ride out her orgasm before pulling away from her cunt. He had her juices all over his mouth. Hannibal pulled away from her neck and saw Will’s face. He leaned towards him and kissed him, tasting her juices. Y/N leaned up and watched them kiss. Hannibal pulled away from the kiss and licked Will’s lips, cleaning off his face. “You’re right she does taste amazing.” Hannibal says. Will stood up and switched places with Will. “Are you ready for my cock sweetheart?” Hannibal asked her. She nodded. He stood up and lined his hard cock with her entrance. Will watched as Hannibal entered her. She moaned his name as he pushed into her inch by inch until he was deep. Will started kissing Hannibal’s neck making the man’s breath pick up. He started thrusting deep and hard into her. She laid her head back and closed her eyes, moaning at the feeling of him deep inside of her.

Will was sucking and biting the man’s neck leaving hickies. Hannibal hated that and would have to punish Will for it later but right now he was enjoying the wetness and warmth of their wife’s pussy. His hips now slamming into her over and over again. “Does that feel good, Hanni?” Will whispered in his ear, biting it softly. Hannibal groaned out. His groan wasn’t loud enough for Y/N to hear over her moans. Will’s face was in Hannibal’s neck mumbling sweet nothings trying to get him to cum so he can be inside Y/N before she cums. Hannibal was so close just by Will’s words. He knew what he was doing and tried to hold off but he couldn’t. “Hanni.” Y/N screamed and that’s all it took for the older man to cum. She gasped as she felt Hannibal’s cum deep inside of her. “Yeah fill that pussy.” Will said and watched Hannibal’s face calm. Hannibal’s hips stopped after he came. Y/N looked up at him with a glare. “Relax darling we are switching spots.” He said and pulled out of her. Will quickly entered her and groaned.

Her pussy was like home to him. He loved it and never wanted to leave. Hannibal watched as he didn’t take a moment and started fucking Y/N like he waited his whole life too. Hannibal thought it was a beautiful sight. His two lovers becoming one. “Will.” She screamed as he hit her g spot over and over again. His head was back and his eyes were closed. He was making noise as well but Y/N was louder. If Hannibal didn’t know any better he would think it was a competition about who could be louder during sex. He himself wasn’t a loud person during sex but his lovers were. Will couldn’t help himself. Whether it was Hannibal sucking his dick or Y/N’s tight pussy he couldn’t help but scream. Y/N gasped feeling herself get closer to her release. Will felt it too. His hips lost their rhythm as he whined her name.

Hannibal watched the two lose their breath and shake as they cum together. Both of their eyes rolling back and hips moving as they ride out the blissful high. Both men filled her to the brink. Will pulled out of her letting their cum drip out of her hole. She looked fucked out and tired. Will collapsed on the bed next to her and sighed. “That always feels amazing.” He breathes out. Hannibal gets on the other side of her. She looks at the two men and smiles. “I love you guys.” They smile and say it back. Forgetting about the dead body until Y/N gasped remembering it. “Guys, the body.” She exclaimed sitting up.

Masterlist

[ficnation]

Chapter 10: The Big Bad Wolf

Series: “Eat Your Heart Out” Pairing: Hannibal Lecter x Female! Reader x Will Graham Word count: 5,0k+ Warnings: canon-typical warnings, canon divergence, gore A/n: I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did. This is also a bday present for my friend. Happy birthday!!! Don't freak out <3 Main Masterlist || Hannibal Masterlist

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“Every social worker enjoys certain aspects of the job more than others,” the man explains with a smile that seems almost too forced; it’s been glued to his face since the moment Alana greeted him. “There are cases that you reach and cases you don’t reach.”

You spin the pen between your fingers with a steady rhythm, your mind wandering and tuning in and out of the conversation between Clark Ingram and Alana Bloom. But something about his demeanor strikes you—the way his bright smile seems permanently plastered on his face. It’s off-putting, unnatural, as if he’s struggling to maintain the facade of a polite and helpful citizen.

“Peter’s had persistent cognitive problems. Confusion, paranoia, rage.”

“Peter’s a sheep,” you mutter to no one in particular. “He can’t hurt an animal, let alone a human being.”

“You really like sheep, don’t you?” Jack jokes, reminding you of your choice of words from not long ago.

You look at him with a raised brow before nudging him in the arm with your elbow. “And you don’t? At least sheep don’t bite.”

Jack chuckles at your retort, but his expression quickly turns serious as he turns his attention back to Clark Ingram. “So, what do you think, Agent Avant? Is Peter Bernardone capable of violence?”

You pause, considering the question carefully. “It’s hard to say,” you reply, your tone measured. “But based on what we know so far, it doesn’t seem likely. His cognitive issues suggest a lack of capacity for such brutal acts. If he was ever violent toward anyone, it’s likely he was pushed to his limits and lashed out.”

Will and Hannibal stand to your left, listening intently to the conversation between you and Jack, as well as the one taking place on the other side of the thick one-way mirror. Their expressions are unreadable, betraying little of what they might be thinking or feeling.

They’re silent until the moment when Alana reaches out to touch Ingram’s hand. The social worker does nothing to hide his discomfort as he quickly shifts his hands away and leans further into his chair.

“That’s smart,” Will explains, hands tucked into the pockets of his pants. “She keeps pushing him on his feelings, not on the facts.”

Hannibal nods in agreement, his gaze focused on the interaction between Alana and Ingram. He casts a fleeting glance in your direction every now and then, his eyes catching your presence in his peripheral vision before returning to the scene before him.

“She’s trying to gauge how comfortable he is with emotion, if he has any,” Will adds, glancing at you too, curious to know your thoughts. “He couldn’t bear being touched by her.”

“It’s a telling reaction,” you remark, your voice calm and measured. “It suggests a deep-seated discomfort with emotional intimacy. Perhaps indicative of a psychopath?”

“Yes, his responses are typical of psychopaths during interviews, but could also indicate resentment,” Hannibal agrees.

“No, I don’t believe it’s resentment or hatred towards women,” you assert, your tone firm. Your eyes narrow thoughtfully.

“No, his eyes are dead,” Will concludes. “He’s a predator.”

“It’s the absence of empathy, of any real connection to the people around him. That’s what makes him dangerous.” You glance over at your husband, seeking confirmation or perhaps an alternative perspective, he acknowledges your words with a nod of his head.

The conversation between Ingram and Alana continues for a while longer, but your mind is too preoccupied to fully focus. You’re aware of their words, but your thoughts are elsewhere. You can’t shake the feeling that Ingram is hiding something. It’s the way he recoils from her touch, the way he conceals himself behind smiles and warm words. There’s an eerie resemblance to your father that sends chills down your spine; something in his demeanor triggers warning bells, a deep and primal instinct for danger.

You attempt to refocus on the conversation, but Ingram’s subtle gestures and body language keep drawing your attention. There’s something sinister about him, a feeling that resonates deep within your bones.

Suddenly, Jack’s voice pierces through the room, pulling you away from your thoughts. “Let him go,” he commands.

The panic in Will’s eyes prompts you to react, and you turn towards your boss with an annoyed expression. “Jack, don’t do that. You know he’s the one.”

“I’ve got nothing to hold him on,” Jack responds calmly.

“We can still get something out of him,” you insist, your eyes pleading. You couldn’t care less about the killer on the other side of the glass, but it’s evident that Will is invested in this case.

“Peter Bernardone is psychologically disadvantaged. He’s been manipulated,” Will argues, his hands clenching into fists by his sides. “As his social worker, this man is in a position of trust, and he has betrayed that trust.”

The realization hits you like a brick—this is personal. In a twisted, complicated way, this is no longer about catching the man responsible for killing sixteen women in cold blood. It might not even be about Peter anymore. The next sentence coming out of Will’s mouth confirms it.

“I know what it’s like to point at a killer and have no one listen.”

“You pointed in the wrong direction.” It’s all Jack says before leaving the room.

Your gaze instantly finds your husband’s face—his expression a mix of disbelief and powerlessness. You reach for his hand, and he doesn’t resist at all as you squeeze it reassuringly, nails gripping into his skin to keep his mind in the room with you and Hannibal. God, Hannibal. You almost forgot about his presence beside you with how quiet he’s become.

“We won’t let Peter Bernardone suffer for all of this, Will,” you assure him. It’s all you can offer—a useless promise that you might not be able to fulfill.

You find yourself in the BAU’s headquarters not long after, walking through the almost-empty corridors leading toward Crawford’s office. You can’t shake your husband’s heartbroken expression from your mind. It lingers hauntingly in the back of your thoughts, refusing to be forgotten.

The atmosphere is uncomfortably quiet, with only the echo of your footsteps breaking the silence as you make your way through the corridor. Your focus is consumed by the folder in your hands, flipping through its pages absentmindedly for at least half an hour. The world around you becomes a misty haze as you try to concentrate on the contrasting words printed on the white paper.

Suddenly, you’re snapped back to reality as someone grabs you by the arm and forcefully pulls you into the nearest room. The sequence of events unfolds so rapidly that it’s all just a massive blur.

“Hey, what the hell!” You react instinctively, swinging blindly at your assailant. Your hands make contact with their face, nails poised dangerously close to their eyes. It’s not the most efficient form of self-defense, but your reflexes have dulled since you’ve been out of the field.

As your vision clears, you recognize those dark, menacing eyes, though you’ve never seen them so up-close before. Their gaze is hypnotizing, compelling you to loosen your grip on their jaw. Despite the danger, you can’t bring yourself to let go entirely.

“It’s just me,” Hannibal’s voice cuts through the tension, tranquil and unaffected by the threat of your fingers near his eyes. His hands grip your elbows firmly, though not painfully, as he meets your panicked stare head-on.

“Why did you grab me like that?” you question him, a hint of vexation in your tone, though you notice how soft his skin feels under your palms.

“Do you prefer a gentler approach?” Hannibal responds calmly, his demeanor unruffled.

You blink slowly, confusion replacing your initial anger. You glance around the empty conference room behind him. “Why are we here?”

Hannibal’s grip on you loosens slightly as he looks over his shoulder before acknowledging your question. It appears he only just became aware of your location himself. “Coincidence.”

Hannibal’s eyes find yours again, and you both stare at each other in silence, unmoving. The tension between you is palpable, each moment stretched taut like a drawn bowstring. You’re not even sure if either of you is breathing, but you can still detect the faint fragrance of his cologne—notes of leather, cedarwood, and a hint of something darker and more mysterious, perhaps oud. The stillness of the air crackles with anticipation, and your shared curiosity poses the question: “who moves first?”

“Would it be rude of me to ask you to release me?” he finally breaks the tension, his tone almost reluctant, as if he secretly wished you would hold onto him a little longer.

You release him, albeit with some apprehension. “You wanted to see how I handle sudden threats, huh?” Your words are more of a statement than a question, delivered with a certainty that seeks confirmation.

“Yes,” he replies simply, catching you off guard with his honesty. It’s almost unnerving how straightforward his answer is.

You watch as a tiny smile quirks one corner of his mouth, the faintest twitch of his lips. It’s as if he was born to be intimidating yet effortlessly charming at the same time. Everything he does seems so well thought-through to the point of being eerie.

“And what conclusion did you reach?” you ask, striving to keep your voice steady. There’s an undercurrent of tension flowing between the two of you, and you can feel his eyes scrutinizing you, taking in every detail.

“More of a confirmation, really,” he replies, his gaze traveling from your face to your hands and back.

You know he noticed your hesitation before you let go of him. You know he’s still analyzing you, taking in every detail, every little movement you make. You can feel his eyes weighing you, measuring every ounce of your reaction, your breath, and your pulse.

“You reacted almost instinctively,” he concludes, not asking a question or suggesting that he expected anything less from you. “It’s a sign of strength.”

You can’t tell if he’s being serious or just saying that to be polite, and you feel compelled to challenge him on that statement, so you do: “And what would’ve been a sign of weakness then?”

“Not fighting back,” he replies simply, his eyes never leaving yours. “Not putting up a fight.”

Your mind struggles to process his answer. “So, what you’re saying is that someone showing weakness by letting themselves be attacked and possibly killed is worse than someone who reacts and fights back?” you reply, not hiding your disbelief at his words.

His response is almost immediate. “Precisely.”

You almost laugh at the straightforwardness of his reply. His words are as chilling as his demeanor. You want to challenge him, to call him out for his bluntness. But you can’t summon the energy, and your gaze falls away.

“What if someone doesn’t have it in them to fight back?” you ask, curious to see how he’ll respond. “Maybe they’re not capable of it.”

He considers the question for a moment, seeming to weigh a myriad of variables in his mind before giving you an answer. “The instinct for self-preservation is primal, ingrained in every living being. It doesn’t matter if they don’t have the physical ability to fight back; the urge to live overrides everything. Even a child will fight when pushed against the wall. Only the weak would let themselves be slaughtered without at least attempting to survive.”

You feel almost appalled by his words, their harshness sinking in. There’s a hint of sadness in your voice as you ask, “So you believe someone who doesn’t fight back is weak?”

“I don’t believe it, I know it,” he replies with a coldness you’ve never seen in his eyes before, a spark of something dark igniting in his pupils.

He’s serious, there’s no underlying joke or hidden meaning behind his words. You feel a chill run through you, the tiny hairs on your arms standing on end.

Hannibal raises his hand toward your face, dragging his knuckles over the skin of your jaw. He seems almost impressed that you don’t flinch at his touch.

“You’re as strong as they come, my dear,” he murmurs, his voice so low it almost blends with the hum of the wind outside the windows. He leans in, his soft lips pressing against your forehead, and then he leaves the room without another word.

You’re left there alone and stunned, your eyes staring ahead but not really seeing. Your body trembles, but instead of pure fear, there’s a hint of excitement running through your veins. Adrenaline rushes through you, and the feeling of his presence lingers in the air, both comforting and unsettling.

You wait in the conference room for a few minutes, trying to collect yourself, half-hoping that Hannibal will return. You feel like you’ve just been through a whirlwind of emotions, thoughts, and sensations.

But all you’re left with is the memory of his scent lingering in the room and the soft touch of his lips on your skin.

“You look like a man who has suffered an irrevocable loss,” Hannibal’s voice breaks through the quiet melody of the aria playing in the car. The psychiatrist’s choice in music doesn’t surprise Will in the slightest; he’s gotten used to his refined tastes.

“I’m trying to prevent one,” Will counters, gazing over his shoulder at your sleeping form curled up in the backseat.

“You look so peaceful—far more relaxed than he imagined you would be. Hell, just ten minutes ago the thought of you sleeping in the presence of Hannibal Lecter didn’t even cross his mind. It was different from the last time; this time you didn’t have anything to drink or soothe you—nothing. You just let your guard down so easily as if you didn’t see a threat in Hannibal anymore. Will didn’t like that at all.

“Do you think if you save Peter Bernardone, you can save yourself?” Hannibal’s voice breaks the silence, his words carrying weight in the confined space of the car.

“Save myself from what, Dr. Lecter?” Will asks, his eyes staring ahead yet again, but there’s a hint of annoyance in his voice—barely detectable.

“From who you perceive me to be,” the psychiatrist responds, his eyes briefly leaving the road to glance at you through the rearview mirror. Will swears he sees a subtle quirk of the man’s mouth at the sight of you.

“I’m afraid I need to be saved from who you perceive me to be.”

“Many troublesome behaviors strike when you are uncertain of yourself,” Hannibal observes, his focus returning to Will. Perhaps he senses he’s been caught. “Peter Bernardone lies in the same darkness that holds you.”

“No, I’m alone in that darkness,” Will replies without hesitation.

“You’re not alone, Will. You have me and her, standing right beside you through all of this.”

Will’s eyes find your figure again, and he bites the inside of his cheek, lost in thought. “I’m not sure if I want her to be. I don’t want to scare her off.”

“You won’t, Will. She’s not going anywhere, trust me.” Hannibal reaches for the other man and squeezes his arm gently—it’s strangely comforting, though it shouldn’t be.

When you reach Peter’s place, it’s eerily empty. All of the cages have been left open—no animal in sight. You can’t imagine the agony Clark Ingram must have put him through. The sight breaks your heart into a million pieces because you know Peter Bernardone has been pushed to his limit.

The three of you rush toward the stables, ready for the worst. Will is panicking inside and out, his hands trembling and breath coming out in shaky puffs of air, while you and Hannibal remain fairly composed. The contrast in your behaviors is visible from miles away.

As you find Peter, he’s kneeling on the ground beside the body of a dark-coated horse, his work nearly finished. The needle slides through the animal’s skin effortlessly, like gliding through soft butter.

Will is the first to break the silence as he steps toward the kneeling man slowly, with apprehension evident in his movements. “Peter…” he whispers hoarsely, his eyes glued to the sight of the blood-soaked animal before him.

The scene takes a while for your mind to process. The image of that defenseless horse lying lifeless on the stable floor, the smell of blood lingering in the air along with the subtle scent of death. All of you already know what has happened here—it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.

Hannibal catches your gloved hand in his and pulls you closer to himself. You feel his steady presence beside you, a calming force amid the turmoil. His touch is unexpected, yet it speaks volumes.

“Is your social worker in that horse?”

“Yes. I used to have a horrible fear of…” Peter speaks up, his voice trembling slightly but not out of fear. “Of hurting anything.”

You glance at Hannibal to gauge his reaction to the situation, but instead, you find him already looking at you—his eyes filled with a strange admiration. You were right after all; Peter couldn’t hurt a fly unless he was pushed to his limits.

Weirdly enough, this twisted reverence makes you feel just a little bit sick to your stomach. You shuffle forward, seeking proximity to Will and distancing yourself from Hannibal, forcing him to release his grip on your hand.

“But… He helped me get over that. Feels so abnormal.” Peter lets out a pitiful chuckle, tears rolling down his bony cheeks.

“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior,” Hannibal concludes, his eyes now cold and distant. You’re unsure whether it’s due to the situation before you or your withdrawal from his affectionate touch.

“I think he deserves to die,” the kneeling man says, his voice filled with helplessness as he looks between the three of you.

“He does,” you mumble, more to yourself than anyone else. You’re relieved when there’s no immediate reaction to your words, but the way Hannibal’s eyes bore into your back tells you he heard.

“But you didn’t deserve to kill him, Peter,” Will says, shaking his head. He crouches beside the man, offering a reassuring hand that rests gently on his back as Peter stares at the dead horse. “I want you to come with me.”

You and Will help the man stand up as his legs shake, threatening to give up beneath him. Only now do you see how much damage this situation has done to the poor guy. He didn’t deserve any of this, but the world has always been a cruel place—evil humans’ second nature.

When Will and Peter head toward the barn door, you and Hannibal linger behind. Will’s uncertain, but not worried glance your way is a testament that something has shifted between the three of you. You just have to figure out what.

“Cruelly poetic,” you say, standing a safe distance away from the man and the corpse.

“He’ll be just fine,” Hannibal murmurs in response to your statement as he watches Peter and Will slowly make their way out of the stable. His gaze is calculatingly cold, the smallest twitch of a muscle in his cheek betraying the emotions underneath—the genuine emotions he rarely lets others see.

“It was necessary,” he adds softly. “He needed to rid himself of that darkness within.”

“Necessary?” you question, your eyes still glued to the two men walking away and not the psychiatrist standing before you.

Hannibal’s eyes move from Peter and Will to you, the corner of his mouth twitching into a slight smirk. You feel like he’s expecting you to say something more, but you can’t think of anything to reply.

“Necessary,” he repeats, and now his eyes find yours with that same calculating stare.

“The way you view life and the world itself... It’s peculiar,” you notice, sticking your hands into the pockets of your coat.

Hannibal’s gaze never leaves yours, and he doesn’t reply at first. There’s a slight smirk playing on the corners of his mouth again, and for a brief moment, you wonder if he’s judging you or if he agrees.

“I find my way of viewing life perfectly reasonable,” he finally says quietly, the words almost whispered. You notice a small twitch of the muscles beneath his eyes, and you wonder if you said the right thing or not.

“You do?” you ask, still searching for his gaze, but you can tell that he’s no longer looking at you. He’s staring at something in the distance instead then heading toward one of the stalls that holds white sheep.

“In life, we need some form of guidance to help us navigate the unknown,” he adds quietly as he pets the woolly animals. They’re not afraid of him. “I’ve found mine. What about you?”

Before you have a chance to respond, you notice Clark Ingram’s bloody fingers, ripping the stitches on the dead horse’s stomach. He tears through them from within, letting the guts spill out of the corpse as he crawls out of it.

Hannibal strolls toward him so casually, his hands dipped into the pockets of his perfectly pressed pants as he looks at the man’s struggle. You join him by his side as an involuntary smirk crawls up your face at the sight of the social worker coughing out blood and stumbling over his own legs. It’s amusing.

The psychiatrist admires your expression, slightly astonished by your reaction. He certainly didn’t expect you to show your true colors so fast. Not a care in the world of how your satisfaction might come across to others.

When Ingram reaches for the bloody hammer, you feel Hannibal’s hands tugging you closer yet again. You let him, leaning on him like an old friend—hip to hip. The warmth of his body is comforting, stirring something insatiable deep inside you.

“Mr. Ingram. Might want to crawl back in there if you know what’s good for you,” Hannibal says casually as he steps aside, taking you with him.

You didn’t even realize that Will had entered the stables. He holds a gun steadily in his hands, pointing it straight at Ingram’s head. Your smirk disappears just as quickly as it appeared, slight shock taking its place on your face.

“Will…” you mumble breathlessly.

You try to reach for him, but Hannibal doesn’t let you step away from him as he tugs you even closer into his side. He presses his lips to your temple and whispers, “He won’t do anything. Don’t worry.”

You’re not sure you believe him. You’ve seen how personal this was to Will, how panic and pure anger took turns in taking over his body since the moment he met Peter. The emotions were controlling him in a way nothing and no one else could.

Ingram drops the sledgehammer to the ground, falling to his knees with arms open and raised like wings—like a blood angel. “Officer… I’m the victim here,” he breathes heavily, but the smile that flashes over his features tells a different story.

“I’m not an officer. I’m Peter’s friend,” Will counters, ignorant to your begging eyes.

Don’t do it, Will. Please, don’t do it.

“Peter’s confused.”

Will feigns hesitation as he lowers the gun just slightly. But the way he grips the weapon tells you easily that he’s far from done with Ingram—his hold doesn’t loosen even for a mere second.

“I’m not.” He raises it back up with an air of palpable confidence. He knows what he wants. He wants to see Clark Ingram begging for life, drowning in the pool of his own blood, choking on it.

You squeeze Hannibal’s fingers so tightly, you’re surprised when he doesn’t even flinch. He just observes Will expressionless.

“Please, Hannibal,” you beg him under your breath, barely audible. You know he hears you, even if he pretends otherwise.

“Pick up the hammer,” Will throws the command, gesturing toward the bloody object that was just thrown to the ground moments ago.

Hannibal glances at your horrified expression, then at Will’s lips pressed tightly in anger. “Will,” he finally interjects with so much stoicism in his voice. His stare alone is insistent enough to make just about anyone listen to him.

But not Will. Will is deaf to Hannibal’s words—especially right now. He doesn’t want to hear him, he doesn’t want to be heard by him. He has a chance to make it right for Peter’s sake, maybe even for his own sake.

“Pick it up,” Will keeps insisting, now, even more agitated. He pops the safety off and puts the pistol almost directly in front of Ingram’s face.

“It won’t feel the same, Will,” Hannibal tries again, stepping toward Will. “It won’t feel like killing me.”

“It doesn’t have to.”

“You did the best anyone could do for Peter, but don’t do this for him. If you’re going to do this, Will, you have to do it for yourself.”

You blink slowly in shock before you push Hannibal away from your husband. You take his place and move so close to Will, you can almost feel his shaky breath on your skin.

“Will, please,” you beg softly, “don’t ruin your life. This isn’t going to fix anything.”

“How do you know, huh?” he spats out, his voice mean—meaner than he ever was toward you.

The adrenaline and the rush of the situation are threatening to derail any semblance of calm you’ve managed to keep over the past hour. You grit your teeth and murmur so quietly, in hopes only he can hear you, “Trust me, I know.”

That seems to awaken him temporarily as he looks at you for a second, confusion written all over his face. His eyes are wide open, searching your face for answers—he finds nothing.

Hannibal’s gaze never leaves you two, watching you carefully. Will is so focused on this mystery, he doesn’t even notice when you take the gun out of his hands and point it at Ingram yourself.

“What?” Will asks, his eyes snapping back to you as you push the gun towards Ingram.

“P-please… Please don’t,” the social worker begs as you step closer and press the gun harshly to his left temple.

“Oh, would you like me to be gentler?” you ask, tilting your head. There’s something deeply attractive about the way you hold the gun with unwavering determination, a fierce protectiveness radiating from you. There’s not an ounce of doubt in your expression; you really do look like a cop now.

Will, amidst the chaos of his thoughts, finds himself strangely drawn to you in this moment. His gaze is fixed on your face, and he can’t help but admire the way you look with that gun in your hand. It’s such a contrast to the innocent woman he married—it’s a side of you he never knew existed. There’s a primal allure to your fierce stance, a primal instinct that resonates with him on a level he can’t quite comprehend.

Hannibal notices the expression on Will’s face, and a smirk plays across his lips. He understands the magnetic pull that emanates from you—the allure. He shares the sentiment with Will, recognizing the primal attraction you exude as you hold the gun with a steady hand.

Your complexity intrigues and captivates them, drawing them in despite the inherent danger. They find it both thrilling and unsettling. The darkness hiding in them stirs with your presence, awakening that primitive instinct that’s been lurking in the depths of their souls. You have them completely entranced, and they can’t tear their eyes away.

Will once thought you were quite simple. He learned to read you like a book, then you disappeared and came back after almost ten years with no contact and he still felt like he knew you well enough. But lately? You’ve been unpredictable, complicated and twisted in your own particular way.

All of them hold their breath, the tension thick. The only sound heard is Will’s breathing—heavy and slow.

Ingram’s eyes are glued to yours. Something in the look he gives you makes all the anger and resentment wash away from your mind, and it takes you a moment to remember why you’re standing there with the gun.

You lean over Ingram and whisper something in his ear that no one else other than him can hear. Judging by the puddle of his own piss that pools on the floor, no one else would want to hear it. His eyes bulge with fear and shock, and he can’t make a peep in response.

Then, you pop the safety back on and hit the social worker in the temple with the butt of the gun. He tumbles over to the floor with a thud.

“Temporal region,” you conclude, straightening up. “You hit it with enough force and you can either kill someone or make them pass out.”

“Good to know,” Will mutters, looking at you again with newfound appreciation and respect.

Hannibal is also staring at you, with a newfound sense of admiration. He’s suddenly aware of your own power over others. As a psychiatrist, he’s learned what kind of tactics are used to break people down, and he knows that you used them against Ingram with devastating precision.

“What did you say to him?” he asks quietly, the rage still lurking just beneath the surface.

Hannibal watches as the two of you stare at each other intensely. He can’t help but feel a strange excitement rising inside of him as he watches the two of you square off against each other.

Will’s intensity is almost palpable—there’s a primal instinct within him that craves power, and he’s fascinated by the way you wield yours.

“Nothing that you need to know,” you reply simply, not about to divulge the details of your threat.

When Hannibal sees the intensity in both of your gazes, he can’t help but feel a strange stirring within him. He’s never seen the two of you so intense about anything before.

Will’s eyes narrow as he stares at you. He wants to know what you said, he wants to know the darkest depths of your mind. But he respects that it’s something you don’t want to share and lets it go.Hannibal can’t take his eyes off the two of you. It’s almost like he’s staring at a trainwreck he can’t look away from. He might just be right.

Taglist (I tag ppl that leave a comment or ask me for it): @strrvnge @raininhell @crowsoundsonly @gabriella-aesthetic @gayschlatt69 @russian-soft-bitch @lokittyy @hellouseemc00l @justaproudslytherpuff @it-s-tickety-booh @r4diocabeca @sanriogarbage @zoleea-exultant @h0n3y-l3m0n05 @emily-roberts @unsolvedghoulboyz @00hellohello00 @narwhal-swimmingintheocean @jadenblueberry @slashercupcake @octobermania @magdalenmillicent-blog @unsolvedghoulboyz @gabbyonjupiter @lanklr @oliviathecat06 @fatkissers

[juude7]

bedelia's angle and other thoughts

so what was bedelia trying to accomplish by trying to make hannibal eat will? i've mulled it over my head over and over but can never seem to reach a satisfying conclusion.

bedelia plants the idea of hannibal eating will after will tells him he "forgives" him. there she sees how much the event had shaken hannibal, to an extent, and uses her opening to say "betrayal and forgiveness are best seen as something akin to falling in love." she doesn't need to make hannibal realize he's in love with will, because he knows that already. what she needs is to steer hannibal towards what this love implicates given his history.

i believe that hannibal was going to break the pattern. he wasn't going to eat will like he did mischa; there was no need, and not once does he attempt it despite will's transgressions, over and over. she plants the idea, "i would suggest what will graham makes you feel is not dissimilar [to what your sister made you feel]", and hannibal comes to the conclusion on his own, "i have to eat him."

now, when they reunite, hannibal makes no move to do this. this could mean that he was aware of bedelia's manipulations and was only feigning agreement to see where it would lead, or the fact that will intending to kill him again, thus dropping his forgiveness, also made hannibal drop his. it's heavily implied that hannibal initially forgave will for changing him and making him "betray himself", much like his sister, so when will nearly drew the knife, hannibal made to give him the same fate as mischa.

(i would also like to add that according to the original script, both of them were drawing their knives at the same time, but chiyoh only shot will. it would make more sense for will to want to attack, not hannibal, but i honestly understand why bryan might have put it there in the first place. both of them felt like they were losing control of the situation. they both stirred feelings within each other. will would have felt more comfortable having hannibal at knifepoint, because it looks as if he has him cornered, which might be a byproduct of some separation anxiety but i may also be getting ahead of myself there. as for hannibal, it might've been a defensive measure. he might have been squaring for the fight he was expecting. honestly, i don't think will was entirely sure what he was doing.)

so that brings us to my main discussion point here, which is why on earth bedelia thought that hannibal eating will was a good idea? was she so tired of him sulking about it that she thought him eating him was a good idea? and i know it's not "professional curiosity". in fact, i think bedelia is too much of a coward to be fully curious, because just as things were about to get interesting after hannibal met antony dimmond, she freaked out and wanted to up and leave. she doesn't attempt it again, knowing it's futile.

i think bedelia miscalculated. had hannibal actually went through with eating will, it would have severed his last link to humanity. with will gone, hannibal would have succumbed to his instincts. separation made him reckless and sloppy. he self-destructed to solidify his pain into a physical thing rather than an internal feeling. he would have went on to kill bedelia, then probably jack. he might have gone back to the states and finished off alana and mason. he would leave evidence behind because he doesn't care anymore, and because the world now knows what he is and he doesn't have to hide anymore, but rather than bring him the joy and elation he'd shared with will graham, he sees them all as unworthy and undeserving of him in his true, real form.

will remains, until the very last frame in the show, the epitome of indecisiveness. will wants to have his cake and eat it too. he throws them both off the cliff, unsure if he's saving them or killing them. unsure which outcome he wants. he arranges with the dragon to kill hannibal, but can't stand to watch. he arranges with mason to kill hannibal, but can't stand to participate. he arranges with matthew to kill hannibal, but feels empty after he thought he'd succeeded. he remains hesitant when choosing between jack and hannibal, he has "one foot firmly planted on either side". he wants hannibal but he can't have him without the fbi, because fully choosing hannibal would obliterate the lie he'd been telling himself for years. still being somehow connected to the fbi would help him maintain the delusion that is his non-existent morality. he would be with hannibal, but he would also tell himself "if i were so awful, i wouldn't be helping jack catch these killers, wouldn't i? i wouldn't be saving lives."

when he sailed to europe (nearly a two week long journey by the way), did he not have time to contemplate what he wanted on the way there? yet when he's in the church, he tells pazzi he's not entirely sure what he wants to do. he tells pazzi "you don't know whose side i'm on." doesn't outright say he's on hannibal's side, just that pazzi doesn't know. my belief is that he did figure out what he wants, but the pieces didn't fit together. probably something along the lines of "hannibal fbi dogs safety forgiveness power becoming" and he couldn't bear the possibility of compromise. yet he remains in search of it, not knowing when to stop or how, leading himself to his own demise. he does not display a single trait in moderation, teetering the balances back and forth, never settling. will is, put quite simply, a glutton.

[cedarxwing]

What was the most romantic scene in Hannibal for you?

The end sequence of Antipasto, hands down. Just everything about it. It makes me tear up every time.

The way Hannibal, heartbroken at Bedelia's rejection and betrayal, sits alone on the train en route to Palermo with Antony Dimmond's corpse in his trunk, recalling his last dinner with Abel Gideon while Ravel's Pavane plays.

The way even Gideon, who was always the Ripper's biggest fan, now finds Hannibal banal and tiresome, calling him pathetic and lonely to his face. The way Hannibal is disgusted by Gideon's poor manners, but puts up with him because he's that desperate for connection.

HANNIBAL: Why do you think I'm allowing this? GIDEON: Snails aren't the only creatures who prefer eating with company. If only that company could be Will Graham.

The way Hannibal is speechless at that. Not only does Gideon call out his obsession with Will, but he compares Hannibal, Mr. Firefly himself, to a snail. That's what Will's reduced him to.

Side note: LOVE how Gideon becomes a prophetic figure as he approaches death, "becoming brighter" as Hannibal puts it. Remember, this exchange takes place before S2b, sometime between Futamono and Yakimono.

Gideon can see how Hannibal longs for the kind of cannibal date night Will gives him at the end of Naka Choko, but refuses, out of sheer pettiness, to be his perfect dinner partner, snarfing down those snails with the utmost incivility. Love him. <3

"I'm just fascinated to know how you will feel when all this... happens to you." <- referencing how Mason will try to eat Hannibal, but on a deeper level how Hannibal's heart will be eaten as in the first sonnet of Dante's La Vita Nuova (which he quotes earlier in the episode):

Joyous love seemed to me, the while he held My heart within his hands, and in his arms My lady lay asleep wrapped in a veil. He woke her then. Trembling and obedient, She ate that burning heart out of his hand; Weeping I saw him then depart from me.

The way Hannibal looks SO SAD as he folds the Vitruvian Man into an origami heart, obviously still thinking about La Vita Nuova and how Will's eaten his heart. The way he extends the heart metaphor into the Three of Swords tarot presentation in the Norman Chapel to signify betrayal. The way the soundtrack swells with violins and the solemn heartbeat of a drum over beautiful close ups of Dimmond's skinned carcass.

Side note 2: I have searched high and low for the track that plays during the Vitruvian Man folding, but it doesn't seem to have been published anywhere. Tunefind says that it was adapted from Hayley Westenra's Never Say Goodbye (which is sooo romantic lol), but it doesn't sound anything like that song to me.

Finally, this is the most insight we, the audience, get into the conception of any Ripper tableau and it's a valentine for Will. Oughhhh. I'm going to cry just thinking about it.

[The Naka Choko dinner scene is a close second tho! The audacity they had to score it with Mahler's Adagietto... And the end of TWOTL would be my third pick.]

[grumfy]

what do you mean Will is an apex predator? curious about your perspective.

Here i'll just post a meta about it i never put up on tumblr from like, 8 months or so ago about this question...I basically think of him as like a wild animal:

Will is interesting to me because I see a lot of memes/videos/posts about Hannibal being horny/falling for Will etc. (sparkle eyes, turning himself in, etc.) but I realized there wasn’t much of this kind of thing for Will other than his sort of calculated seduction attempts or incidental, vaguely sexual moments like the ladder scene. There is not much casual dialogue online about his internal workings or motivations, or affection. And I was like…huh. And I just had this realization where I looked at him in my head and just felt like…white noise, the way I would if I was trying to understand the thoughts of a wolf or something. I’ve watched this show going on maybe eight times and had never really given much thought to how little I actually knew about him or his motives/desires, and I was just kind of hit with the feeling that this guy is very, very unlike me and exceptionally dangerous.

For a show all about profiling and understanding people, it's interesting how little we are allowed into our main character’s inner thoughts. Hannibal as a show is thought of a lot as like, the seduction of Will Graham and the pull between Hannibal and Jack, but really I feel like I’m watching Hannibal and Jack in a bike race while this random beautiful guy stands off to the side and is trying to pick which bike he’d rather put a stick between the spokes of. And you ask him why and he just stares at you with his big blue eyes and you're just kinda like alright whatever you say gorgeous.

We’re given emotional closeups to Jack and Hannibal, but Will, much like he is with other people, is kind of kept at arms’ length. We don’t need an exposé on who Hannibal is because of the mythology around him. We know who he is, but the first stated theme of the show (which Will says in S1E1) is “Tell me who you are”. 

We know Hannibal, we know Jack. Aside from building off the audience’s knowledge of these characters and their morality, Hannibal’s motivations and emotions have always been apparent in the story. All of them can be sort of summed up as curiosity, eating the rude, loneliness, and love. 

We know a lot about the other killers he profiles. Their motives, their pathologies, their wants. He takes them on, but every time he does, we know less and less about him.

We don’t know who Will Graham is. Alana mentions making an effort to not be alone with him, and we aren’t ever really alone with him either, especially early on: there’s always dogs there, or hallucinations, or actual people to reflect off of. And because his empathy disorder sort of makes him a vessel for the wants, desires, and thoughts of others, we only ever see a construct a person suit that looks person-shaped, potentially caused by being in proximity to other living things.

We know things about other people and can kind of construct an idea of him based on what others think about him--fine china Will, wounded bird Will. And when Hannibal goes to his house we learn the same things he does about him: he lives far from society, in the woods, the outdoors, etc. We are privy to the real Will as much as anyone else is, including himself.

A lot of Hannibal’s dialogue with him can be summarized as that. It’s about getting Will to understand what he is outside of the influence of other people. Who are you?

In the way that Hannibal is a fallen angel and makes a lot of choices due to his emotions, I find him to be as human as it gets in a lot of ways. He’s a killer but he’s exceptionally relatable and kind of hosts the most extreme versions of wants and desires--wow, this person sucks, I totally get eating them! Wow, turning yourself in out of love! And if we’re running with that, Will on the other hand, I feel like is the opposite. 

I never once was like “wow, you’re doing x because of y”. He just does things. There’s logic and calculation to them, but especially later, beyond revenge or whatever, I feel like trying to understand their reasoning is a futile effort. It’s a very scorpion/frog parable thing: just as the scorpion stings the frog, so too does Will have the urge to kill. It’s in his nature. Which we hear a lot, but viewing it not as “a deep desire to kill” (because he arguably embodies the desires of others) but as some kind of integral element of his existence is interesting. He even goes outright and says it in Season 2: "I've given up good and evil for behaviorism"

He is extremely inhuman and reminds me more of an apex predator than an actual person. Where Hannibal’s perspective towards killing has a certain level of civilized dialogue to it (ie. people as livestock) Will’s definitely strikes me as something different, and wilder/less cultured, in that he seems to view people more as prey--it’s not that they aren’t equal to him like for Hannibal, but more that they are weaker than him. He hunts/fishes/lures, he uses his hands, his teeth. And Will’s urge to kill seemingly has no true motive other than a primal instinct.  His empathy disorder then started striking me less as a disorder and more as an angler fish’s light—it’s a hunting mechanism.

Another thing I think is interesting that kind of plays into this whole hunter Will is that I never really got the sense he had an explicitly “save people” but rather a “hunt killer” instinct which kind of plays into him being a predator. If he really cared about saving people he would’ve given a shit about the people Hannibal killed. But, like, he liked Beverly but his motivation to proving Hannibal was a killer wasn’t like “I need to stop this man from killing and avenge Beverly”, like it was for Jack (who very explicitly has a save people instinct, it’s kind of reflected with his wife’s cancer) it’s, “I need to give him a taste of his own medicine”. He has a hunting drive like a bloodhound—truly, when the fox hears the rabbits scream, he doesn’t come to help

Like an animal, he brings Hannibal his “prey” to the table (Randall Tier, another person who thought he was a predator and paid the price going up against a real one) the way a cat brings dead animals to the people it’s bonded to. 

It’s why it’s kind of impossible to know what he’s going to do at any given time. I think he makes decisions for himself not really in any conscious logic path (today I will x and y) but kind of the way an animal might: he just does it, because he does it, and everything stopping him is outside influence. Sure, if you muzzle a wolf, it can't bite, but that doesn't mean it's not in its DNA to.

I could never really articulate Will’s feelings towards Hannibal in any way that really felt like it encapsulated his character until I kind of thought of him more like a predator than a person. Hannibal very explicitly loves Will in a recognizable way, and shows moments of sexual desire (feeling paternal?) but Will’s feelings towards him kind of seem abstract and unknowable. He certainly feels something. But it always felt more like some kind of pack bonding thing than explicitly an “I love you”. 

People always kind of poke fun at the whole “is Hannibal in love with me scene” but I actually think the way Bedelia’s frames her response is super interesting for how Will is portrayed. Will knows what Hannibal feels, he’s a profiler, but the actual conversation says a lot.  Bedelia frames love not in the same way she talks to Hannibal about it (with Hannibal she uses the words love and extrapolates on his emotions). When she talks to Will, she presents what he feels not as love the way me and you might say it, but in primal language: hunger, ache. Things that he would understand. Both Bedelia and Hannibal are kind of the only ones to recognize this (Hannibal calling him a mongoose).

Anyways. That’s it.

[i-arch-my-backula]

Make him dog food: Hannibal x gn reader

This is more of a personal thing based on a non-fan fiction thing I'm writing. I've been thinking and processing a lot of stuff and I am just feeling a lot of things. I love horror revenge stories so I felt this fit well.

Content warnings: Talk of cannibalism, murder, mentions of past abuse and sa, dogs being fed human meat, reader is kinda unstable, reader breaks down a bit

"Y/n. What are you doing here?" Hannibal asks, seemingly ignoring the fact you're covered in blood, but he knows it's not yours. Your face is tear stained and bloody along with the rest of your body.

"I killed him." You say cryptically walking into his house. He shuts the door behind you and guides you to his bathroom.

"Who did you kill?" He asks calmly, sitting you down and taking off your shoes.

"My ex-boyfriend." You say, running a hand over your hair. You look down at your hands covered in dry blood and just stare at them while Hannibal takes off your socks. "I've told you about him before. He's the one who never took no for an answer, you know who I'm talking about." Hannibal nods.

"Did it feel good?" He asks, standing back up and looking at you. He knows what your ex-boyfriend did to you when you were dating. How he abused and assaulted you over and over again. You'd mentioned your feeling about what should be done to him, Hannibal only encouraged them. "Did killing your ex-boyfriend make you feel like you finally got justice?" He asks, turning on the shower.

You shake your head and look over at him, finally picking up on the scent of the dried blood all over you. Before you killed him you paralyzed him. You took your time killing him. He didn't deserve a quick, painless death.

"It made me feel better. But it's not justice. I brought the body here. It's in my car. I know you eat people Hannibal. But eating him is too good for his body," You say, standing up, "Are you visiting Will Graham anytime soon? At his house in Virginia?" You take off your coat and hand it to Hannibal.

"Yes I am, in a couple days." He smiles slightly and motions for you to go into the shower. "What does Will Graham have to do with your plans?" You put your hand under the shower head and feel the temperature of the water.

"Let's feed him to dogs. I want to make him dog food." You say, watching as the dried blood starts to wash away from your hand slowly.

Hannibal nods and opens the bathroom door. "I can have that arranged. Shower first, I'll get the body ready." He shuts the door and you peel off your bloody sweater and pants. You get fully undressed and walking into the shower, the run off water going from clear to pink.

You start to clean yourself with soap when some tears roll down your cheeks. You got your revenge, he can't hurt anyone anymore, but it still hurts to even think of what he did. You start to quietly sob as you keep washing yourself, scrubbing your skin harder and harder, maybe hoping you'll reach a layer of skin he never touched.

When you leave the shower your skin is hot and irritated from the water and the scrubbing you did. You wrap yourself in a towel and gather your dirty clothes before leaving the bathroom. You find clothes laid out for you from Hannibal. You put your dirty clothes in the hamper in the room and put on the clean ones. You dry off your hair and take a couple deep breaths when it all hits you.

This entire time you've felt detached from what he did to you but now, after killing him it's all coming back. You start to break into a sob, a loud, guttural sob. Hannibal comes back into the room and helps you stand up. He holds you in his arms while you sob, your head throbbing with pressure and your cheeks becoming wet.

After a good ten minutes of you sobbing you finally calm down. You wipe your eyes and pull away from Hannibal.

"Make him dog food." You say seriously to him, your voice still choked from the sobbing. Hannibal just smiles slightly and nods.

"I will." Is his reply.

[littlespacereader]

hai! saw that you write for hannibal, could u do headcannons of him with a baby regressor reader?(i'll lead the details to u ofc i'll read anything u write!♡) i feel like he would be the most gentlest cg ever!!

A Hannibal request!! You have no idea how excited I was to write this! I’ve always felt Hannibal would be the sweetest and gentlest Caregiver ever just like you said! Definitely gonna have to make a Will one or a Hannibal and Will couple one after this. If that’s something you want to see let me know! With that being said, please enjoy!

Caregiver! Hannibal Lector Headcannons (Sfw)

Tw - (I’m making him not the criminal he is in the show so no cannibalism at all), mentions of diapers, mentions of pacifier.

After looking over his sister when he was younger he knows perfectly how to be the gentlest and softest Caregiver anyone has ever known.

He is all for his little one. He says he doesn’t spoil them…but of course he does.

He NEVER judges his little ones needs. You want a pacifier? Of course! You want to wear diapers? He’s all for it. Whatever you want or need he’s all for it. Never once judging you or seeing you differently. He loves you unconditionally.

He takes them with him everywhere, to the opera, to his office, but he also loves to take you out on little outings like the museum or the aquarium.

While he is strict with his rules, he’s also a softie when it comes to his little one. The puppy dog eyes are his weakness.

But when he does have to correct his little one he NEVER raises his voice. He calmly explains what they did wrong and what they should do instead next time.

He LOVES having his little one in their high chair in the kitchen with him while he cooks.

He ABSOLUTELY DIES when his little one wants to help him out with the cooking. He makes sure their utensils are safe, or he just lets them mix the ingredients in. Always closely watching and making sure they’re safe.

He always sits across from you at the table. While he is very neat and clean when he eat, he doesn’t mind you making a mess eating. He just smiles at you, honored you love his cooking so much.

He’s always super gentle when it comes to bathtime. He gives the BEST head massage when he washes your hair. It never fails to put you in a sleep state.

He can never put his little one down. He LOVES to carry them around, cuddle them or gently rock them in his arms. There’s no better feeling to him than his little one sleeping in his arms with their head resting on his shoulder.

Such a protective papa bear.

He is such a show off too, always showing colleagues photos of his little one and/or bragging about them.

He loves to play hide and seek with his little one. “Now where did Y/n go? Are they under the couch? No not there. How about here! No, not there.” All while their little one giggles and watches him walk past their spot.

At night he always makes his younger Regressor a bottle and read them a story, and then another story, and then another until he knows they’re in a peaceful sleep.

He sometimes reads bedtime stories in his native language because he knows his little one loves to hear it, even if they don’t understand it.

If his little one gets hurt or sick he immediately switches into Doctor Dad mode. He is tending to their ever need and nurses them back to their healthy self.

While he keeps his and his little’s life very regimented, that all goes out the window when he meets Will Graham. Will brings a whole new life to his and his little’s life.

He makes sure to have a good balance of having alone time with his little and having time with him, Will and his little.

The three play a game called “Monster Hero” where one of them is the monster trying to get the little one and the other is the hero trying to protect them. The two swap the roles so one of them isn’t always the hero. The three run around Will’s big backyard chasing his little one around. And Hannibal’s little one absolutely adores this game!

You like little kisses here and there? Well he likes it more. He’s always giving little kisses to his little on their head or on their hand.

He loves to sketch pictures of you. He sees you as a work of art irl.

He also adores when the two of you draw together. Him with his sketch pad and you with your crayons.

If you color a picture or draw a picture for him he considers it art work worth of the museum. He makes such a big deal over his little artist! The fridge is running out of room with all his drawings.

He’s always praising them, letting them know how good of a job their doing or how proud he is of them.

When he drives them anywhere he always buckles them himself and makes them sit in the backseat. He can’t have his little one getting hurt sitting in the front seat now can he? Plus you’re too young for the front seat anyway.

Are you upset about something and start crying? He will always be there to comfort you. While he is a therapist he will never ever play that card on you. He’s your Caregiver first and foremost. But if you want advice or to talk to him he’s always available and there to listen.

Wherever you are with him he’s always holding your hand. He loved the comfort of having his little one close.

He would never admit it to anyone but his biggest fear is losing his little one. While he has a lot of people in his life, his little one is one of the few people who he truly cares about unconditionally. He’s his most vulnerable self around them.

If you guys want to see a Will Graham Headcannon or one with the both of them being Caregivers let me know:)

[thatswhatsushesaid]

ok so i understand why it's appealing to read junlian (like i'm literally in that camp with all the respectable fans with impeccable tastes) but. but i think it's Important for the sake of fully Understanding their dynamic and representing it in the most accurate way to keep in mind - at all times - that it was always meant to be a (pseudo)parental relationship first and foremost.

JW is not the representation of a toxic jealous ex. he's the representation of a toxic parent who will traumatise you in the most horrific ways while saying (and genuinely believing in his own mind) that he's only doing it for your own good. he loves you because you remind him of all the good parts of himself. he can't stand seeing his own reflection in you. he won't ever let you go. it breaks his heart to have to break you, but what choice does he have? the outside world is cruel and it's his job to prepare you for suffering.

yeah i don't think the source material supports a read of jun wu's relationship with xie lian as an ex of any kind tbh, that's not the vibe i got at any point while reading the books. my shipping goggles aside, i hope i haven't conveyed that through my of my commentary, and if i have--oops! was it the comparison i drew between junlian and hannigram in my meme? i mean, even though by s3 the question of hannibal being explicitly in love with will graham is broached on screen by bedelia du maurier (to say nothing of their overtly intimate embrace before they tumble off the cliff together), s1 is where the comparison between the two dynamics really works for me. because imo hannibal's fascination with will at that point is at its most paternalistic, and will's rejection of him at the end of s1 when he finds out (or believes he's found out!) what hannibal did to abigail is analogous to xie lian's complete rejection of jun wu the moment he sees his reflection in the sword. end-of-s1 will is about as interested in hannibal romantically as he is in voluntarily eating abigail's ear: he isn't, he didn't ask for this, he's in hell, etc. similarly, xie lian's entire understanding of his relationship with jun wu, the rock and fundament of his time in the heavenly court, has just been irreparably destroyed. from his perspective, everything he thought he knew and understood to be true about their relationship was built on lies, and he's not wrong.

all that to say, while i do think that the text can support a romantic read of jun wu's feelings towards xie lian without ever explicitly confirming it as such, i for sure agree with you that that wasn't mxtx's intention when writing the dynamic. she's pretty clear, again and again when describing how xie lian sees jun wu, that his behaviour is seen and interpreted as parental and fatherly.

[most-screwed-by-writers-tourney]

Propaganda:

Hannibal: Immediately takes interest in will graham upon meeting him, and during season 1, he plans an elaborate way to frame will for murder for his Becoming, and believes he's doing what's best for will to bring out his dark side, via gaslighting, manipulating, drugging him, enducing seizures, making his encephalitis symptoms worse etc. He forcibly shoves a tube and a ear down will's throat while sensually caressing his face and neck. In season 2 hannibal constantly encourages will to embrace his violent side, and gets delighted when will says he wants to kill hannibal. He sends a guy to kill will so will can kill that guy with his bare hands, like a courtship, and then tenderly bandages will's bleeding knuckles. Will and hannibal planned to flee the country together, but after hannibal senses will's betrayal, he gets heartbroken. He holds will's cheek before he guts him, and then embraces him and strokes his hair, and then kills their adopted daughter figure in front of him. In season 3 hannibal flirts with a guy that looks like will and then kills him and mutilates him into the shape of a broken heart for will to find. Hannibal drugs will(again) and attempts to saw open his skull to EAT HIS BRAIN. When will rejects hannibal he turns himself in so will would know where to find him, and then proceeds to stay in the mental hospital/jail for three years waiting for will to visit him. Sometime during the years will was married, and hannibal got upset that will has a new family, so he sics a guy after will's family to kill them. He's absolutely ecstatic after he and will kill someone together in cold blood and lets will pull them off a cliff in an embrace. (And that's just the baseline of what he does, he is literally the definition of a yandere, albeit his character is a lot more complicated than that) TLDR: Hannibal is Obsessed with Will and has the most fucked up ideas of love and courtship

[autobot2001]

A Visit from Hannibal

Rating: E Warning: None Pairing: None Description: Jamie is sick with strep throat. Hannibal brings her soup.

Day 1: @feveruary: "How did you end up like this?" @febuwhump: Vocal cords @fluffyfebruary: At first sigh @fluffbruary: dark

Ao3 or under the cut.

Will Graham waits for Jamie to walk into his office like she does every morning. They’ve gotten into the routine of havcing offee together before tackling whatever they need to solve a murder case. He waits ten minutes before questioning where Jamie is. He calls her, but Jamie doesn’t answer. This worries the man. Will sends a text, relieved Jamie answers quickly until he reads it. Jamie: I’m not coming to work. Will: Heck, you have twenty-five vacation days. Jamie: Yeah, well. I was going to work today. Will: Why? Did a doctor advise you to stay home? Will wonders what Jamie could be sick with to result in her having to stay home? Will: What is it? Jamie: Strep throat. Will: That explains it. We can assume someone came to work when they shouldn’t have. At least you’re being responsible. Jamie: It’s bad. I’ve lost my voice. Can you tell Jack I’m not coming in today? Will: Sure.

Will informs Jack that Jamie won’t be coming in today and explains why. He then calls Hannibal. “Hello, Will,” Hannibal says. “What’s with the early phone call?” “I just found out Jamie is sick, and I’m hoping you’re not too busy today and can check on her,” Will explains. “I’m unable to until late afternoon.” Will tells Hannibal what Jamie has. Hannibal agrees to check on Jamie. The man is relieved not to have a busy schedule today.

Hannibal was still at home when Will called. He started preparing ingredients for a soup. He’d have to wait until he returned home to cook the chicken and make the soup. Hannibal went to his office after refrigerating the remaining ingredients.

A few hours pass. Using the spare key Jamie gave him, Hannibal enters Jamie’s house. He sets the pot of soup he carries on the kitchen counter and goes upstairs to Jamie’s room.

Hannibal walks into Jamie’s dark bedroom. He leaves the door open enough to provide light to see Jamie asleep in her bed. At first sight, she doesn’t look sick, but he knows she wouldn’t lie. He feels her forehead for a fever. Knowing it’s possible with strep. She has a mild fever. Hannibal thinks. He doesn’t want to wake Jamie but believes she hasn’t eaten all day. “Jamie? You need to wake up.” Hannibal says while gently shaking her shoulder. Jamie groans and shoves his hand away. Hannibal sighs and tries to wake Jamie until she wakes up. “Finally,” Hannibal says. “I made soup. I know you haven’t eaten all day. “Come on, or I’ll carry you,” Hannibal says. Jamie gets out of bed. Hannibal towers over her, “Go on. I want to get your thermometer.” Hannibal goes into the bathroom while Jamie goes downstairs.

Hannibal sees Jamie sitting at the table. He takes her temperature before getting her soup. “101°, a mild fever,” he says as he cleans the thermometer. “Some soup will help with your throat. How did you end up like this, anyway?” “Obviously, someone with strep went to work,” Jamie says, though it hurts to talk. Hannibal can hear how hoarse her voice is. “I see. At least you’re responsible enough to know to stay home.” Hannibal takes two bowls from the cabinet and fills them with soup. He then takes two spoons and sets the items on the table. “Eat, it’ll help.” The two eat in silence. Hannibal has already decided to check on Jamie as much as possible while she’s sick.

[ficnation]

Chapter 5: Bait

Series: “Eat Your Heart Out” Pairing: Hannibal Lecter x Female! Reader x Will Graham Word count: 4,0k+ Warnings: canon-typical warnings A/n: It's been eighty-four years... (unedited)

Main Masterlist || Hannibal Masterlist

PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER

The silence in the room is deafening as you stare at Jack Crawford with wide eyes. The tea you just made would already be nothing more than a puddle on the wooden floor if it wasn’t for Will, who took it from your hands when they began to shake. He doesn’t even blink when a few drops spill out over his fingers and burn his skin.

“You can’t be serious,” you mumble in disbelief, your gaze shifting to Will, who stands steadfast by your side, unmoving. He casts a glance between you and Jack, once, then twice, grappling with the weight of his allegiance. It doesn’t require a genius to connect the dots. “Did you know about this, Will?” Your voice carries a tone of betrayal, leaving Will feeling like Brutus to your Julius Caesar—as though he just plunged a metaphorical dagger into your back.

Jack Crawford stares at you long and hard, and a little guilty. “You’re our best chance.”

“You want me to be the bait.” You cross your arms over your chest and take a step back, furiously shaking your head. “I’m not— I won’t do that,” you protest.

Even if you never expected anything less from Jack Crawford, the feeling of treachery is almost crushing. Will takes a step towards you, and then another. He approaches you cautiously, with his hands extended in a calming gesture, almost as if he were approaching a scared animal ready to bolt any minute now. You’d consider it a pretty funny sight if the situation were any different, but right now, you might just be a skittish doe surrounded by wolves.

When he places a hand on your back, his touch lacks the usual reassurance it once held. Despite any grievances you may have harbored against him, he was always your sanctuary. Yet today, that sanctuary feels distant. You gently shrug his hand off and take a step back. The pain in Will’s eyes is palpable—a deep, sorrowful abyss that mirrors your own heartache.

“I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think it was the right thing to do,” Will says in response. “You’re the best shot we’ve got.”

“What makes you even think that Hannibal Lecter will pursue me? I find it hard to believe.”

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?” Jack raises a brow, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm that makes you itch to punch him square in the face. Sure, you’re breathing, but your sister lies six feet under the very ground you’re walking on. “I’ve seen how he looks at you.”

You’ve felt it too—the lingering gazes trailing you as you tread the corridors of the BAU’s headquarters, the enigmatic curve of his lips as you cross his path. It’s a sensation that crawls beneath your skin, a disconcerting dance of shadows in the depths of your soul. What strange game is he playing with you? 

Will’s face contorts into an indescribable grimace when he hears those words spoken aloud, as if each syllable is a sharp knife twisting deeper into his already troubled conscience. 

“I’m not going to throw you into the lion’s mouth and just sit back and watch,” Will says after a few seconds of silence. “He’s intrigued by you, just as much as he’s intrigued by me. I don’t think he’d hurt you.”

Jack seems satisfied with that. He knows that if Will is on board, it won’t take much persuasion to get you there too. He genuinely believes that you can help them. Yet, you surprise him once again, and he wonders who snuffed out your will to fight to make the world a better place.

“Do you even hear yourself, Will? I very much like being alive. I won’t do this, and that’s my final answer,” you huff out, stepping away from him, even though it hurts—burns your soul.

Will can’t bring himself to be upset with you because your reaction is completely understandable. Your sister—your flesh and blood—has been taken from you, and you’re just exhausted. You don’t have the energy to risk fighting a man like Hannibal, and he understands that better than anyone else ever could.

“I’m only asking for your help, not your life,” Jack says. Deep down, he knows he’s not winning this if Will doesn’t, and one glance at the green-eyed man confirms they’re at an impasse. So, he steps back, granting you the much-needed space. “Take some time to think about it.”

“No, thank you. I won’t be thinking about it,” you assert firmly, your resolve unyielding.

Jack sighs and shakes his head, almost in awe of your stubbornness, but surprisingly not in a condescending way. “Suit yourself,” he says before turning around and walking out of the kitchen.

Will makes sure that Jack is out of the room and out of hearing distance before he sets the mug on the counter and lets his frustration come out. He lets out a long sigh, moving close to you once again. You can see that all he wants is to kiss you, to drown you in his touch the way only he can—but he’s holding himself back, and you know it’s not easy. 

“I didn’t want this,” Will’s words are sharp, his voice tinged with bitterness. “I don’t want any of this, but I do know that Hannibal needs to be taken down,” he adds, his gaze hardening with determination.

You don’t answer, and you can see that Will is disappointed by your response, or rather the lack of one. His disappointment doesn’t hurt as much as it should, and that realization pains you even more. While your brain insists it’s for the greater good to apprehend Hannibal, you can’t ignore the persistent voice whispering in your ear, urging you to prioritize yourself above all.

If you let yourself accept this, if you become the bait that Jack wants you to be, it’s as if you’re letting yourself go once again. Everything you’ve buried in the darkest cranny of your mind will come back to haunt you. And you can’t go through it all again. You can’t.

Will takes your hand, and you can feel his body shaking slightly, his breath quickening. He’s nervous, but there’s something else at play here, and it’s hard for you to discern exactly what it is. His hand tightens around yours until all your fingers are securely in his grasp, and he doesn’t let go. It’s as if he’s trying to communicate something by the intensity of his grip, as if his emotions can no longer be contained by mere words. And when he finally speaks, his voice is so soft that you can barely hear him even in the silent room.

“Can I ask you a question?” Will’s voice is tentative, his grip tightening on your hand.

“You ask a lot of them lately,” you say lightheartedly.

He chuckles at your jab, his hand still intertwined with yours. “I’m serious,” he mumbles, his tone becoming earnest. “Would you trust me... enough to believe that Hannibal won’t harm you? I will protect you from him. I swear on my life.”

Will holds your gaze, and your mind turns blank—his question leaves you mute. It’s been a long time since you’ve trusted someone so much. He’s so important to you that it hurts more than you would like to admit. This isn’t the Will Graham from just a few minutes ago—loyal to Jack’s dictations and ideas. This is Will Graham—your love, your best friend. And right now, you’d trust him with your life.

“I will do it,” you mumble out, chewing nervously on your bottom lip. You look him straight in the eyes and repeat it a little louder. “I will do my best.”

Will lets out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding, and he pulls you close to him once more so that your lips almost touch his jaw—almost. His fingers travel through your hair, and his other hand grips at the back of your sweater. There’s nothing more intimate than this—the quiet understanding between you two. You wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Thank you,” his voice is a murmur—a promise, a secret shared, something intimate amidst all of this madness.

“I’m not doing it for Crawford or anyone else. I’m doing it for you, for my sister…”

“I know, love,” Will mumbles, his voice still as soft as ever. “I know.”

Silence sets in, with only the sound of you and Will breathing—in tandem with each other. It’s like a peaceful moment in between the chaos, where a thousand thoughts are all trying to fight for space in your head, but your focus is right here, right now, and it’s only you two.

The world doesn’t feel quite so dark when you’re here—when you’re with Will.

That night Will tells you to wear something nice and elegant, not too revealing. You don’t question him, changing into one of the few dresses you have in your suitcases. It’s pine green, the satin fabric fits almost like a second skin. There’s something about wearing this dress that makes you feel like you’re ready to take on whatever comes your way.

There’s also something about it that makes you excited to see Will’s face when he lays eyes on you. You know that he’ll love it and just a few minutes later his expression proves you were right.

“You look... ravishing,” Will whispers, his eyes locked on you. You can tell that he’s speechless by the way he blinks, almost too surprised by your appearance. 

“You don’t think it’s too much?” you mumble, feeling slightly embarrassed by how much you anticipated his reaction. 

“It’s perfect,” he tells you, and you take a deep breath and walk across the room to kiss his lips. You take it slow and give a little bite at the end—just to see his reaction.

“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?” Will mumbles, his voice already a little lower than before. He can feel your lips sliding away, as if they’re a temptation that’s almost impossible to resist. The kiss was short, but Will knows he enjoyed it more than a little bit. 

“I might just do it again,” you warn him, and you move close to his ear to whisper some words that make your body shiver and his skin break out in goosebumps. “We need to finish that dinner fast. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sit next to you and keep my hands to myself.”

Will swallows hard, his heart beating quicker, as he looks down at you. Your words are enough to render him speechless. He can’t find his voice to reply. It’d be too easy to pull you into his mind and act on both of your instincts. The mere thought of it makes him so nervous, so hungry, and so eager. When he finally speaks, it’s in a low, desperate tone that sounds far away. 

“You make my blood boil.”

Standing in front of Hannibal Lecter’s house, flanked by Will and Jack, feels like the most daunting task you’ve ever faced. The weight of impending decisions hangs heavy in the air, and you can’t shake the feeling that you’re on the verge of unraveling your own life once again. Your nerves are frayed, betraying the facade of composure you strive to maintain. Fear grips you tightly, its icy fingers coiling around your heart, as uncertainty clouds your thoughts. Every step closer to that imposing threshold feels like a leap into the unknown, leaving you teetering on the edge of a precipice. You steel yourself for what lies ahead, hoping against hope that your resolve won’t crumble under the weight of doubt.

Jack stands silently next to you, his expression cold and his eyes piercing you from time to time in a way that’s unnerving. His mere presence sends shivers down your spine. You glance at Will, who appears just as uncertain as you, if not more so. While the decision to help take down Hannibal doesn’t seem to trouble him, the thought of involving you in this dangerous endeavor clearly weighs heavily on his mind. What he’s asking you to endure and the risks involved make him flinch as much as they make your stomach churn with dread.

Will’s fingers slide in between yours, a silent promise that he won’t leave your side. You can almost feel his heart beating wildly, mirroring your own, and you take a deep breath to calm yourself down, focusing solely on the person about to open the door.

The door swings open, welcoming you into a home that’s as stunning inside as it is outside. But the beauty of the surroundings fades into insignificance as you lay eyes on the Hannibal Lecter standing before you. Suddenly, you find it impossible to meet anyone else’s gaze but his, your surroundings fading into a thick fog as his presence commands your attention.

Hannibal looks at you—your body, your hair, your face, everything. His gaze sweeps over you with an intensity that makes you feel exposed, as if he’s peeling back the layers of your carefully constructed facade. You swear he sees right through you, leaving no detail unnoticed and no fraction of space untouched by his scrutiny. It’s unnerving, the way he seems to perceive not just the person in front of him, but the one behind the delicate mask you’ve crafted.

Your heart rate skyrockets as his gaze lingers, and it takes all your willpower and courage to maintain a neutral expression, to keep the tremor of fear from showing on your face.

Before you can fully absorb the image of him, Jack steps forward, breaking the painful silence. “Dr. Lecter,” he speaks in a stern voice, then turns to look at you, acting as the bridge between you and the stranger.

“Ms. Avant,” Hannibal’s voice is as smooth and elegant as you’ve always heard it to be. His tone is polite but distant, prompting you to remember to smile in order to appear normal. Will’s fingers squeeze yours in a silent display of support, conveying his discontent with the arrangement. But you both know there’s little you can do about it.

“It’s actually Mrs. Graham now,” you correct him, but immediately regret it when his eyes widen subtly—a reaction you barely catch. It seems Will has kept this information to himself. “But you can still call me Agent Avant. It’ll save the confusion around the BAU.”

Hannibal gives you a small smile, but your comment seems to have thrown him off balance. Your response is far more cordial than he was expecting, and he appears almost amused by the unexpected turn of events. He exchanges a glance with Jack before turning his gaze back to you.

“I’ll do as you ask,” he replies, his tone tinged with curiosity—but beneath the surface, there’s an undertone of something darker lurking. As he takes your hand in his and squeezes gently, a shiver runs down your spine.

You feel like you can’t breathe. Your hands are damp, your throat feels sore and dry, and you struggle to calm your racing mind. “Thank you for the invitation, Doctor Lecter,” you manage to say, your voice barely above a whisper.

Hannibal takes in your statement but doesn’t offer any reply. He maintains his hold on your hands, his grip slightly tighter than before. Despite the warmth and firmness of his touch, you can’t shake off the unsettling feeling that lingers.

His gaze locks onto yours, and you feel yourself being drawn into the depths of his eyes. It’s as if he’s peering into your very soul, and you find it difficult to tear your gaze away. You’re on the verge of melting under his intense scrutiny when you manage to spare a quick glance at Will, whose expression remains impassive, betraying little of what he might be feeling. 

A moment passes as you struggle to fend off the creeping anxiety, attempting to find some semblance of calm within yourself. Then, Will releases a breath and strides forward, heading towards the open door. Without hesitation, you follow in his footsteps.

Hannibal casts one last glance in your direction before turning away, ushering you into his home. As you step inside, you’re greeted by the sight of luxurious furniture and intricate decorations adorning the space. The room exudes opulence, almost resembling a palace rather than the abode of a mere man.

“He’s a man of taste,” Jack remarks, his words breaking the silence. You sense that he’s directing the observation at you, a detail that would be inconsequential under different circumstances.

You nod in acknowledgment, allowing your thoughts to drift as you proceed further into the house.

“It’s all very... extravagant,” is what you say next, and what you don’t add is how there’s a faint sense of emptiness in this house despite all the details and decorations. It’s almost chilling.

“I do favor extravagance and elegance in my lifestyle,” Hannibal agrees, his gaze darting carefully between you and Will. Surprisingly, he doesn’t appear to be perturbed by Jack Crawford’s presence as much as you anticipated.

“I’ve noticed that,” a whisper slips from your lips inadvertently. The comment was meant to remain in your thoughts, but the words escape on their own accord. You glance away momentarily, hoping the remark will go unnoticed, but Hannibal catches it without hesitation. He smiles at you, almost as if you’ve just paid him a compliment.

“Oh, you have?” Hannibal’s voice is smooth and pleasant, its seductive undertones causing a flush to rise to your cheeks.

You offer a delicate smile in response, opting not to elaborate further as Hannibal leads you to the dining room. The table is expansive, perfectly set to accommodate everyone present. A bottle of wine rests in the center, surrounded by meticulously arranged plates, utensils, glasses, and other accouterments—everything impeccably placed without a single detail out of order.

As Hannibal offers you a seat, the mere thought of sitting so close to him sends a shudder down your spine. It’s as if you can almost feel the heat radiating from his body as he settles into the head of the table. Your breath becomes heavy, your heart quickens its pace, and your mind races with a flurry of thoughts and emotions.

You notice every detail of his demeanor—the elegant curve of his fingers around the stem of his glass, the subtle curl of his lips, the intensity of his gaze when it lingers on yours for just a moment too long. It’s all so captivating, yet simultaneously overwhelming, causing a weakness to settle in the pit of your stomach. You find yourself averting your gaze multiple times, attempting to break free from the enchanting spell he seems to cast over your mind.

Beside you, Will’s expression remains impassive, but you can sense that he, too, is attuned to every nuance of Hannibal’s behavior.

As Hannibal disappears into the kitchen to bring out the food, you exhale a sigh of relief, though you can’t shake the fear that he might hear it all the way from the kitchen.

You cast a glance at Will, hoping for some distraction from the overwhelming intensity of the moment. However, his expression remains unchanged, revealing nothing of what might be running through his mind. It’s as if he’s closed off his thoughts, leaving you with no insight into his inner turmoil.

You feel trapped in the most claustrophobic way imaginable. Hannibal’s presence consumes your thoughts entirely—his smile, his breath, his voice, his touch—all of it overwhelms your senses. Even the mere scent of him sends shivers down your spine. You’re engulfed by the intensity of the situation, wondering how you’ll manage to make it through the dinner.

When Hannibal returns and places the fish on the table between Jack and Will, you notice a flicker of relief pass between them as they exchange a glance.

“Truite saumonee au bleau with vegetables and broth, served with hollandaise sauce on the side,” Hannibal presents the dish with a flourish, the delicate aroma wafting enticingly through the air. “Beautiful fish, Will,” he adds, his tone carrying a hint of admiration for the culinary creation before you.

“It was my turn to provide the meat,” Will interjects, his words carrying a deeper meaning than mere culinary discussion.

“More flavorful and firm than farmed specimens. I find the trout to be a very Nietzschean fish. Trials of his wild existence find their way into the flavor of the flesh,” Hannibal comments, before serving the food and taking his seat at the head of the table. “I hope ‘providing the meat’ doesn’t mean you still harbor doubts about what I serve at my table.”

You try to maintain an appearance of composure, despite feeling like a nervous wreck. Taking a deep breath, you hold it in for a moment before releasing it slowly. Casting your gaze down at your plate, you decide to focus on eating—it’s the least you can do to occupy yourself in this tense atmosphere. Picking up your fork, you take bite after bite of the fish, though you find that everything seems to lack flavor, despite its deliciousness.

Will remains silent, his expression unreadable.

Jack chuckles dryly before speaking on Will’s behalf. “No doubts, Dr. Lecter. Only the wounds we dealt each other before we got to the truth.”

You can’t fully grasp what either of them has said, as your mind is consumed by other thoughts. You feel Hannibal’s gaze fixed on you as you eat, his eyes attentively observing your every movement.

He doesn’t appear irritated by your slow pace or lack of enthusiasm, yet there’s something about his stare that compels you to rush through your meal just to make it stop. The scent of the food is almost like his breath in your nose, the taste of it feels like his lips, and when you take a bite, you almost expect him to lean over and take it from your mouth.

“Which is why we need to move past apologies and forgiveness,” Hannibal responds finally, his voice carrying a weight of conviction. As Will’s eyes catch his stare on you, Hannibal continues, “Chilton has many victims besides the dead.”

“That’s precisely our intention,” you assert, drawing all eyes towards you as you speak up with determination.

Everyone falls into a momentary silence, the weight of their gazes palpable as tension simmers in the air. Will’s eyes remain fixed on you, his expression one of approval as he acknowledges your firmness and confidence.

“We will absorb this experience, and it will change us. We are all Nietzschean fish in that regard,” Hannibal continues, his words punctuated by a subtle undertone of philosophical reflection.

“Makes us tastier,” Will interjects with a touch of humor, prompting you to gently kick him underneath the table.

Hannibal cracks a dry smile at Will’s comment, his demeanor retaining an air of sophistication as he sets his cutlery down on the plate and folds his hands in front of him.

“I would say it adds depth to our flavor,” he remarks, his words flowing from his lips with a smooth and velvety ease that seems to echo the rhythm of your heartbeat. The air in the room seems to pause for a moment, awaiting a reaction from someone, but you remain focused on your plate, determined to ignore the intensity of his stare until the end of the dinner.

The rest of the meal passes by in a blur. Hannibal maintains his role as the perfect host, his demeanor poised and gracious. Jack remains true to his usual self, engaging in conversation and observing the proceedings with his characteristic vigilance.

However, you can’t shake the feeling that something is amiss. Will, typically a key player in any plan, seems oddly detached, failing to fully engage in his part of the strategy. His silence speaks volumes, leaving you with a sense of unease as you try to decipher his intentions.

Reluctantly, Jack gathers his things and bids his farewell, leaving you and Will alone with Hannibal at the table. Hannibal, ever the gracious host, proposes another glass of wine, his gaze lingering on you both with a hint of intrigue.

[arkashas]

Will Graham’s Death and Rebirth: S1 Edition

in hannibal, death and life are two sides of the same coin, and death leads to new life. now let’s see how that factors into will graham’s own journey, in season 1.

i wrote this post after i thought long and hard about how it was strange that we don’t have a “death and rebirth” for will in season 1, when we do for all the other seasons, and turns out i was wrong and it does also happen in season 1 (you might want to read my post on the other times to clarify some of the ideas expressed here).

anyway, let’s start (warning: veeeery long).

hannibal: do you feel alive, will?

will: i feel like i’m fading.

and

will: i feel like I’m seeing a ghost.

hannibal: regarding this killer or yourself?

will: both.

and

hannibal: have you considered cotard’s syndrome?

hannibal: it’s a rare delusional disorder in which a person believes he or she is dead.

will: are you talking about the killer or me?

the idea of will being dead, or feeling like he is dead, is brought up from buffet froid onwards, which suggests his worrying mental state. why does will believe he’s fading from reality/becoming a ghost/dead though? a conversation in roti gives further insights:

will: i don’t know how to gauge who I am anymore.

will: i don’t feel like myself.

will: i feel like I have been gradually becoming different for a while.

will: i just feel like somebody else.

hannibal: what do you feel like?

will: i feel crazy.

hannibal: and that is what you fear most.

will: i fear not knowing who i am.

will believing he’s dead goes hand in hand with him believing he’s going insane and that he’s becoming garret jacob hobbs, given that hobbs is also dead. will becomes subsumed by hobbs’ identity in the first season, owing to the encephalitis and hannibal’s manipulations.

i’m going to list some dialogue which shows will being more and more entrenched in hobbs’ identity.

oeuf:

will: i got so close to him. sometimes, i felt like we were doing the same things at different times of the day. like i was eating or showering or sleeping at the same time he was.

hannibal: even after he was dead?

will: even after he was dead.

hannibal: like you were becoming him.

trou normand:

hannibal: i’m your friend, will. i don’t care about the lives you save, i care about your life. and your life is separating from reality.

roti:

jack: you’ve got to keep things in perspective. you’re got to keep yourself in perspective.

will: well, myself is a little hazy at the moment.

roti:

gideon: i don’t know if i will ever be myself again.

gideon: i don’t know if i've got any self left over.

gideon: i spent so long thinking i was him, it’s gotten really hard to remember who i was when i wasn’t him.

will: who are you now?

gideon (who has turned into garret jacob hobbs in will’s imagination): now i’m you. 

releves:

jack: this dissociative personality state you say he goes into…whose personality is it?

hannibal: he said he got so close to garret jacob hobbs and what he had done that he felt he was becoming him.

jack: and now he has hobb’s daughter.

hannibal: who hobbs intended to kill.

will’s descent into madness culminates into him hallucinating he’s killed abigail by slamming her into the wall of antlers in hobbs’ cabin. with this, will’s greatest fear has become reality - he’s become garret jacob hobbs and killed his daughter just like hobbs would have done. there is no more will graham, he is dead.

now i’m going to further narrate what happens to will and parallel the events with georgia madchen’s own arc along the way, because it’s talking about georgia which first allows will to give voice to his own fears of feeling like he’s dead, and so i believe that comparing their experiences will also show how will is brought back from the dead.

after the hallucination and arriving back at his house, will calls hannibal and tells him what he remembers:

will: i don’t remember going to bed last night. but i must have.

will: i hallucinated that i killed her. but it wasn’t real. i know it wasn’t real.

vs.

will: you know what you did, georgia.

georgia: but i don’t remember it. it feels more like a horrible dream where i killed my friend.

both will and georgia kill someone close to them in a dreamlike haze, abigail for will, beth lebouf for georgia. only, in will’s case it was a hallucination, while georgia killed her friend in reality.

will is taken to jail after he throws up the ear, but escapes from the prison van after learning that he’s also accused of the copy cat murders, not believing he could have murdered them all, and goes to hannibal’s office.

in roti, jack talks to will after sutcliffe’s body is discovered, asking why georgia followed him to sutcliffe’s office.

will’s answer:

i don’t know. i have a habit of collecting strays. i told her, tried to tell her the night i saw her, i tried to tell her she was alive. maybe she heard me. maybe that hadn’t occurred to her in a while.

and

will: it’s 1:17 AM. we're in greenwood, delaware. my name is will graham. and you're alive. if you can hear me, you're alive.

vs.

hannibal: i imagine abel gideon would want to find the chesapeake ripper to gauge who he is. and who he isn’t.

hannibal: will. you have me as your gauge.

(abel gideon is another character who can be paralleled to will with re: the loss of identity and medical abuse)

and

hannibal: i’d like you to draw a clock face. numbered. large hand indicating the hour, small hand the minute.

will: why?

hannibal: an exercise. i want you to remember the present moment. the now. often as you can, think of where you are and when. think of who you are.

will: it’s 7:16 PM. i’m in baltimore, maryland. my name is will graham.

hannibal: a simple reminder. a handle to reality for you to hold onto, and know you’re alive.

just like georgia goes to will because he’s the one source of surety and stability in her life, the one giving her a handle on reality, will goes to hannibal for the same reason when he is framed for murder.

will then goes back to hobbs’ kitchen with hannibal to see if he really did kill abigail, just like georgia goes back to beth lebeau’s house to see if she really did kill beth lebeau.

will: if she did kill beth lebeau, she might not even know she did it.

beverly: then why did she come back?

will: to convince herself she didn't.

vs.

hannibal: if we're to prove you didn't commit these murders, perhaps we should consider how you could have.

hannibal: and then disprove that.

and

 will: then take me to minnesota. i want to see where abigail died.

to make things simpler, i’m going to list all of the dialogue that occurs when they arrive at the hobbs’ kitchen, and cherry pick some parts for further analysis.

hannibal: it’s as if abigail was supposed to die in this kitchen.

will: her throat was cut. she lost great gouts of blood and there’s an unmistakable arterial spray.

hannibal: they haven’t found her body.

will: just the one piece.

hannibal: if you were in garret jacob hobbs’ frame of mind when you killed her, they may never find her.

will: cause i honored every part of her?

hannibal: perhaps you didn’t come here looking for a killer. perhaps you came here to find yourself. you killed a man in this very room.

will: i stared at hobbs and the space opposite me assumed the shape of a man filled with dark and swarming flies. and then i scattered them.

hannibal: at a time when other men fear their isolation, yours has become understandable to you. you are alone because you are unique.

will: i’m as alone as you are.

hannibal: if you followed the urges you kept down for so long, cultivated them as the inspirations they are, you would have become someone other than yourself.

will: you’re not alone. we are here together.

vs.

hannibal: you are alone because you are unique.

though these might seem like different scenes (will says georgia is not alone, hannibal says will is alone) ultimately they’re one and the same. hannibal telling will he’s alone makes will realise hannibal is as alone he is, which later makes him realise he’s not alone because they’re together in their alone-ness.

dialogue from tome-wan to support this:

will: you're right. we are just alike. you're as alone as i am. and we're both alone without each other.

will says hannibal is as alone as he is, and then goes on to say they’re both alone without each other, i.e. being with each other makes them not alone.

dialogue from savoureux continued:

will: i know who i am. i’m not so sure i know who you are anymore. but i am certain one of us killed abigail.

hannibal: whoever that was killed the others.

hannibal: are you a killer, will? you. right now. this man, standing in front of me. is this who you really are?

will: i am who i’ve always been. the scales have just fallen from my eyes. i can see you now.

hannibal: what do you see?

will: you called here that morning. abigail knew. you kept her secrets until she found out some of yours.

hannibal: you said it felt good to kill garret jacob hobbs, will. would it feel good to kill me now?

will: garret jacob hobbs was a murderer. are you a murderer, dr. lecter?

hannibal: what reason would I have?

will: you have no traceable motive, which is why you were so hard to see. you were just curious what i would do. someone like me. someone who thinks how i think. wind him up and watch him go. apparently, dr. lecter, this is how i go.

will begins to realise hannibal is the one who killed abigail, and turns on him, raising his gun and steadying it at him. there’s a final parallel of georgia’s arc with will’s, and it’s how they’re both brought back from the dead.

how is georgia brought back from the dead? by someone seeing her and by her thinking of who she is/realising who she is. which also is what happens with will.

 will: i see you, georgia.

 will: think of who you are.

and

georgia: am i alive?

vs.

hannibal: perhaps you came here to find yourself. you killed a man in this very room.

and

will: i know who i am.

and

hannibal: are you a killer, will? right now. this man in front of me. is this who you really are?

and

will: i am who i’ve always been. the scales have just fallen from my eyes.

and

hannibal: you said it felt good to kill garret jacob hobbs, will. would it feel good to kill me now?

i subscribe to the idea that, from releves onwards at least, hannibal actually wanted will to figure out he was the copy cat killer (too long to get into it right now, but suffice to say hannibal didn’t need to frame will for all the killings, abigail was enough and will was complying with his arrest. i believe hannibal had a change of heart and didn’t want will to believe he’s become hobbs and framed will for the copy cat murders as well to make will doubt that he killed at all, and so that will would continue profiling the copy cat killer, which would lead to him seeing hannibal. hannibal misdirecting will is a test, which will passes.)

hannibal follows “perhaps you came here to find yourself” with “you killed a man in this very room”. hannibal wants will to find himself through his killing of garret jacob hobbs, not his apparent killing of the copy cat victims. hannibal wants will to find himself through his preferred choice of kills - murderers. hannibal also doesn’t attempt to talk will down or make him hand him the gun, instead he goads him into killing him, because he is so very close to making will accept that he’s a killer.

notice how will doesn’t deny that he’s a killer, and answers hannibal’s question of whether it would feel good to kill him with, “are you a murderer?” it would feel good to kill hannibal if he killed abigail, because to will, doing bad things to bad people feels good.

most see this scene as hannibal finally taking the mask off and being seen for who he is, but the seeing goes both ways. hannibal sees will for who he is as well, someone who kills for righteous reasons, not a killer who’s subliminally acting out hobbs or any other killer’s wishes (even if hannibal did actually want will to believe he killed the copy cat victims and miscalculated on will’s tenacity and strength of character, it still holds true that in this moment he’s seeing will as a righteous killer). will is also affirmed of his identity, he didn’t get lost inside anyone’s head, he didn’t kill anybody because of his illness, he’s not garret jacob hobbs, he knows who he is. will, feeling betrayed and furious, brings the gun up to shoot hannibal, who is saved by jack at the last minute. this is will’s rebirth, or at least a return from the dead, a throwback to georgia being brought back from the dead by will.

and consider will’s last words before he blacks out, a fitting addendum to all that just went down:

see? you see?

EDIT : to add to all this, i was informed by someone’s tags on one of my posts that “the scales have fallen from my eyes” is a biblical reference. “And immediately there fell from his eye as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” (Acts 9:18)  

baptism is seen as a kind of rebirth in the christian faith, which adds further support to the idea that will was born anew after being freed from garret jacpb hobbs ghost. further, hannibal is will’s own personal “god”, and this is the start of will’s initiation into hannibal’s doctrine and set of beliefs.

BONUSES

THE MOTIF OF FIRE

throughout the show, fire is transformative in nature. in ko no mono, as will says, “fire destroys and it creates. it is mythical”.

as will comments when he and the science team discuss her after she is seemingly burnt in the wheelchair, “freddie won’t rise from the ashes, but her killer will”. freddie’s death would have triggered will’s rebirth into a killer, had it have happened, and it’s not a coincidence that it’s in this episode that will’s “coffin birth” happens, when he emerges from the ravenstag’s womb into a half-formed manifestation of the man stag. half-formed, because will didn’t actually kill freddie, and so didn’t actually transform into the stagman, or hannibal’s monstrous alter ego.

in mizumono, hannibal burns his patient files, and we see will’s files and the disfigured clock amongst the flames. as hannibal says, “i’m dismantling who i am and rebuilding it brick by brick”. the burning of the files symbolises the death of hannibal and will’s previous lives as therapist and patient, and the start of their new lives as equals and partners.

we also have the repeated imagery of the burning wheelchair in season 3, this time with frederick chilton. setting up chilton is the start of will’s rebirth in the S3b arc, the climax of which is his slaying of dolarhyde together with hannibal.

finally, francis dolarhyde also gets a cameo, in the number of the beast is 666, he kidnaps reba to tell her who he is and burns down the house they’re in, and though he’s unable to kill her, he emerges from the ashes with the dragon fully taking over and with all traces of humanity gone with the severing of his relationship with reba. reba is also changed, from an innocent to a survivor.

in season 1, we see this fire symbolism as well. in coquilles, will hallucinates his head burning in the gaze of the angel maker, as the angel maker tells him he can give him the majesty of his becoming. will’s head burning is a stand-in for the encephalitis, and the angel maker a stand-in for hannibal, as hannibal is utilising the encephalitis as a tool to bring about will’s becoming.

in buffet froid, dr. sutcliffe also tells hannibal that he set will’s mind on fire by letting will’s encephalitis go unchecked. will is reforged in the flames of his illness into a brighter, clearer version of himself.

georgia’s painful death by immolation in season 1 also represents a rising killer - the copy cat killer. it’s with georgia’s death that will begins putting the pieces together and starts connecting the copy cat murders.

SEEING AND BEING SEEN

the concept of “seeing” is a repeated motif in the show.

we’ve already covered how for will and georgia, that being seen is what brings them back to life, but I’d like to further explore the concept in support of the theory.

in roti, will goes to hannibal’s office with gideon in tow (who he’s hallucinating as hobbs), and tries to confirm that what he’s seeing is real.

will: who do you see?

hannibal: i don’t see anyone.

will panics and finally sobs, “what is happening to me?” after pleading with hannibal not to lie to him. the language used here is very important, it’s hannibal saying he doesn’t see, which leads will to believe he’s going crazy, and will believing he’s crazy, as we already know, makes him believe he’s garret jacob hobbs, which further makes him believe he’s dead, or non-existent.

hobbs/gideon even disappears from his seat at the table after hannibal says he doesn’t see anyone. why? because now will believes he’s hobbs, which is further evidenced when he tracks down gideon outside alana’s house and sees hobbs in place of gideon, telling him, “now i’m you” (i just want to point out the brilliancy here. as soon as will believes he’s hobbs, hobbs disappears, or will disappears because will believing he’s hobbs makes him disappear from reality).

hannibal: there’s no one there will. we’re alone. you came here alone.

after hannibal says he doesn’t see anyone, he also says will is alone. i don’t think i need to explain the connotations here.

this might also be why will repeating his name and the time to himself like hannibal told him to to help him get a grip on reality didn’t help at all, because one’s existence cannot be asserted by oneself, we need other people to make sense of our place in the world.

in sakizuke, as will re-enacts the making of the eyeball mural, he lays out the muralist’s thought process:

i made you pliable. molded you. set and sealed you where you lay. this is my design. a dead eye of vision and consciousness. i am fixed and unseeing ... unless someone else sees me.

will says the eye at the centre of the mural is a “dead eye” which is “fixed and unseeing” up until someone else sees it.

will then says the muralist being there is “not my design”, meaning it was not the muralist’s intention to be in the centre of his masterpiece at all.

and in a flashback, we’re shown what happened. it was hannibal who interfered:

hannibal: when your great eye looked to the heavens, what did it see?

muralist: nothing.

hannibal: not anymore.

muralist: there is no god.

hannibal: certainly not with that attitude. god gave you purpose. not only to create art, but to become it.

muralist: why are you doing this to me?

hannibal: your eye will now see god reflected back. it will see you. if god is looking down at you, don't you want to be looking back at him?

previously, jack had said the muralist must have had an existential crisis. hannibal sewing the muralist into his own mural was him fixing that for him, so that the muralist can be affirmed of his existence and purpose in the world by seeing god and being seen in return.

the eyeball mural is also supposed to represent will and hannibal’s relationship, which is why in will’s visualisation of the scene he’s in the place of the muralist and hannibal in the place of god - as will says, “a challenge of equals”. and think of what it means to be seen by god - that doesn’t imply a normal, ordinary state of being seen, god is omniscient, he sees all of you. just like hannibal sees all of will, the good and the bad.

in secondo, when will meets the prisoner, chiyoh forbids will to even look at him, saying he lost that privilege with his act of killing mischa. chiyoh further goes on to say that he’s only allowed “the sound of water. it’s what the unborn hear”. we’re given the sense that no one looking at the prisoner, no one seeing him, renders him into a state of non-existence, to an embryonic state.

(with re: chiyoh saying the sound of water is what the unborn hear, this also relates back to will, in roti, an episode leading up to will’s rebirth, there’s a lot of water imagery - will dreaming about glaciers crashing down and flooding the beach where the  totem pole was, imagining his bed being submerged in water, telling jack, “i feel like i’m fluid, like i’m spilling”, hallucinating the morgue filling up with water, etc)

after chiyoh kills the prisoner, will makes him into the firefly tableau. just like with randall tier, this is will’s empathy granting his gift of being seen to the prisoner after his death. the prisoner lived a dark, confined existence, so with his new wings and the lights reflecting off of him and surrounding him, will, as much as he is able, sets him free after his death, giving him what he couldn’t have in life. the firefly is also the final stage of transformation from the pupal form, and therefore also represents the prisoner’s rebirth, after being “unborn” for all those years.

i’m sure i missed some more examples, but we’re shown, over and over again, that a major theme of the show, or the major theme, is that being seen and understood for who you are is what gives meaning to your existence.

[mybleedingboy]

Hannibal Fic Recs

for @raniofzepuchas (I'll make this short and only include my very favorites so I'm not overwhelming you with fics) (no particular order)

A Clutch at Balance by Devereauxs_Disease

Rating: E | Word Count: 25,466

When Will Graham storms into Hannibal's house muttering about kissing Alana Bloom, the good doctor makes Will an offer: Pretend to date Hannibal in order to prove to Alana that Will is not only stable but capable of being in a relationship. When Alana is convinced Will is the man of her dreams, Hannibal will step aside and Will can get his girl. What could possibly go wrong?

Really fun and balances that fun with some excellent writing. Spot on dynamic, fantastic chemistry.

highway 190 by occultiism

Rating: M | Word Count: 10,343

He has found the Devil and wants to live inside of him. There is no more room for God. / Chronological snapshots throughout Will Graham's life.

Arguably one of the best-written Hannibal fics (and fics in general) ever. Hard-hitting, painful throughout but like a punch that hits the knots right out of you. If that makes sense?

Five Times Hannibal Visits Will and One Time He's Already Home (or: Coffee Cake) by bones_2_be

Rating: E | Word Count: 82,385

When Will tells Hannibal to leave at the end of Digestivo, he goes. And then, a few years later, he shows back up. They have long conversations, drink a lot of wine, at the end of it all they find something that works.

Excellent progression. Love the characters in this. Again, great fucking writing. Restricted fic, so you'd have to be logged in.

The Mongoose and the Mouse by Hiding Now

Rating: E | Word Count: 109,582

With Mother's and Father's Day impending, Will has been feeling particularly irascible. He has parent issues (as do we all) so as a therapeutic exercise, Hannibal suggests something novel: a vacation together to recapture the childhood he never had. His caveats: Will must choose someplace he's never been, someplace he always wanted to go as a child. The idea is ridiculous. Will can only think of one place. But there is no way Hannibal will agree to go to a place where turkey legs are a staple, and cartoon characters offer hugs on every corner. Will calls his bluff. Hannibal calls it right back. OR ~Will and Hannibal spend a week at Walt Disney World for perfectly sound psychological reasons~

It's the disney fic! Always fun to read back.

each according to its kind by chaparral_crown

Rating: M | Word Count: 192,571

Will does the only reasonable thing that someone fresh out of a mental hospital with no support system does - he leaves, and goes on a road trip to the Pacific Northwest.

AU of Season 2. This is my favorite Hannibal fic, and one of the best-written at that. Every paragraph is rich in flavor. I would definitely eat this. This is the fic I recommend the most often.

their beaks not yet turned red by chaparral_crown

Rating: M | Word Count: 134,420

Will stares at the bird. The bird stares back. In its beak, a very finely embroidered cloth, and in that, the tiniest of soft fists pushing forward from a folded corner. “Don’t you dare,” Will says, crouching, hand that is not currently cradling an overly large pour of whiskey pointed at the bird to ward it off. --- After Hannibal is arrested and the trial dates are set, the stork visits Will Graham. With it, it brings a baby, a legally binding birth certificate, and a hope chest full of gifts for her. Nobody except Will thinks this is weird. (Alternatively, what if the Scarlet Letter was a dark romantic comedy?)

So good and heartfelt throughout. I wished this was canon.

Ravenous by rageprufrock

Rating: M | Word Count: 38,448

Whenever I go into a new fandom, I look for pru's works first. This was no exception, and it's so fucking good. It's a genuine thriller. There's no description, and pru doesn't tag, so I will let you go in blind. An exciting read, brilliantly written both stylistically, plot-wise, and character-wise. The dynamics here are wonderful !! Hard-recommend.

[cringekind]

hannibal s1e5 "coquilles" rewatch thoughts!!!!! liveblogging style!!!! again!!!!!!

the episode opened and my sibling immediately went "that fuck ass bird deer my god" lmaooooooo

hes so chilly and miserable in his slutty little boxers😭😭😭

going to Hannibal for comfort immediately!!!!!! already Will trusts him so much it's crazyyy

hannibal savoring his fancy coffee versus will taking huge gulps

hannibal is doing jack so dirty and the Worst part is he's a little right!! it is hurting Will to work for Jack, but Jack isn't some villian pushing Will, will doesn't know how to stop!! and mind you this entire time hannibal is purposefully making will worse, don't piss me off girl

'soup isn't good for the soul' who talks like this girl !!! you and hannibal both love to have a bit of whimsy in ur speech huh

"not nervous, righteous" yes will graham tell me more about that

"no unnecessary suffering" well Hannibal you consider quite a lot of suffering necessary when you decide they're worth eating so I'm not sure how much that's worth to someone not eating your food for moral/ethical reasons

Bella deserved to slap Hannibal, and I know she does eventually but she should do it now

"unorthodox but not unheard of" nah girl it IS unethical but I know you love that shit

will laughing at Hannibal yes girl yes do it more often, and calling him out for trying to alienate him from Jack like yes yes yes don't let that man rest for even a moment!!!!!!

jack trying sooooooooo hard my man loves his wife so bad I could cry

Will calls out Hannibal for trying to isolate him from Jack but then believes him and starts to take his anger out on jack! ik ik it's all about hannibals manipulations but Will puts up such a facade like he's barely humoring Hannibal but he clearly takes what he has to say to heart

Beverly my baby she's literally such a good friend, trying her best with the bits of Will he allows her to see!!!!!!!!!!!

I love love love how often the killers have something in common with Will. I know that's the point, but it's always so good!! the way Will is also sick, hallucinating, sweating etc like the angel maker is delicious

will saying "my brain is playing tricks on me?" while looking at the stag statue yeah uhuh exactly that's Art

hannibal being SO unsublte when he smells will makes me giggle so hard, he knows how to be subtle and chose not to

jack realizing and like immediately disassociating (and leaving will to be in charge in a way he never normally would) is so devastating. that poor man fuck dude

Will trying to do the right thing and pull away because he's ill but Jack just can't. his sense of justice is too strong he can't relate to ever putting your health before duty, even in the face of knowing his wife is now dying!!!! and him guilting Will about going back to teaching, not because he's evil but because he would feel the guilt!!! but the way he tells Will to quit is still wrong, still unhealthy and unhelpful for Will ugh its so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will alreading thinking about Becoming in his hallucinations yeah uhuh exactly

Jack and Bella make me cry so much my GOD. they love each other so much and hurt each other so much but in the way normal regular people love and hurt each other. I'm literally about to tear up watching them talk

"it's your fight baby but I'm in your corner" KILL ME THATS SO !!!!! about her death like ik she says it isn't comforting but it did make me feel things

love this underappreciated moment of Will comforting Jack in the way he can, saying the same words Jack has said to him at crime scenes.......... they are friends they are it's just duty that gets in the way most of the time my GOD

AND AND will trying to be a better friend in general after Beverly like corners him about not doing well and reminds him that people care 😭😭😭 guys I'm dying I love them so much

I'm barely coherent but love this episode, love how much of it is about jack and Bella, love that Will sees himself so much in the killer and that's what prompts his doubt even though he's been struggling before this, love the way Hannibal is tightening his grip on Will and Will let's him because he genuinely trusts him still, love the moments of Will almost noticing and looking away, love it. I doubt I would've called this episode my favorite before the rewatch but it has so much good stuff in it. I'm so used to loving Hannibal that sometimes I forget how genuinely good it is, just extremely well made

[deerabigailhobbs]

Youre stuck on a deserted island with your 5 favorite people and your 5 least favorite people. What goes down? Whos dying first? What order are you cannibalizing them in? /hj

Oh boy, what a question to get on a quiet Thursday evening! I think realistically, I'd be the first to go. I'm terrible at survival situations and plus, have an abhorrent resistance to hot weather. Anything above 15°c (59F) and I melt. So yeah, I'll be on the Barbie first.

But let's say that the powers that be grant me extra strength and heat resistance in these trying times...

I'm not sure whether you meant real or fictional people, but let's do a mix of both shall we?

Most favourite:

Abigail Hobbs (for reasons which are obvious)

My best friend (hi I know you're reading this)

Adam Stanheight (I love a man who looks pathetic)

My mum (love my mum <3)

Ashley Graham (the previous fictional woman I was obsessed with)

Least favourite:

Hannibal Lecter (for reasons which are obvious)

Rishi Sunak (fuck the tories)

Young Sheldon (it's a long story)

Next door neighbour (too loud)

The twat that humiliated me during sports day training (he was a twat)

Introductions out of the way, here's how it goes down:

Rishi Sunak dies first due to being unable to fuck over the British people, and therefore having no purpose in life. Also having to mingle with commneners? Yeah no, he exits the situation himself. We don't dare eat him, he may have been infected by absolute wanker-itis, which can be deadly.

This is followed closely by Young Sheldon, who is adamant he can find a way off this island. He creates a small makeshift boat (which is quite impressive) and sails out to sea. Unfortunately, the idiot forgot he doesn't know how to sail, so aimlessly drifts off, s shakey "Bazinga" the last thing to leave his lips.

Next up is Ashley Graham, who without Leon Kennedy to help her, dies from getting her foot stuck in a bear trap. What's a bear trap doing on a deserted island, I hear you ask? My answer; uhhhh, island bears. She is our first meal.

Alas, Abigail dies next because Hannibal just cannot help himself in making sure this poor girl is murdered. This is quickly followed by me killing him painfully and slowly with my two bare hands <3. I eat Abigail, because I won't let her go to waste unlike some people.

Best friend is next up on the chopping block. He realises that he missed the Hades 2 full launch, which causes him to go into a deep depressive state and die from sadness. Rip bestie, I made sure you were cooked with extra seasoning.

The twat that humiliated me dies from mysterious reasons. Wow, who knows what could have caused his death... We eat him and he's delicious.

My neighbour decides they haven't been shouting at the top of their lungs in a while, and does so during the middle of the night when the rest of the us survivors are asleep. Unfortunately the island isn't like back home, and their massive gob catches the sight of a massive eagle, which snatches them up by their shoulders and flies them away into the night sky.

Adam decides to explore the island deeper, and finds a cave which could be a great use of shelter. Unfortunately, he didn't move the massive boulder far enough away from the entrance, and it moves, sealing him away forever. He is left to starve in darkness.

I choke on a peanut.

My mum wins as she deserves to, found and taken away to a huge mansion where she lives the rest of her life in peace <3