Pleins de Muses @pleinsdemuses - Tumblr Blog

Celeste didn’t look away from the photographs once Hannibal began speaking. Not even when the waitress set their food down. The diner around them had already faded into something irrelevant. What mattered now was the table between them, the scattered evidence, and the way Hannibal was seeing it, because he was seeing it and that pulled her in completely.

“I might have an idea…”

Her posture changed the moment he said it. She leaned forward, elbows coming closer to the edge of the table, eyes sharpening with immediate attention.

“Show me” she said simply.

A map... She’s sweet, in an endearing way that begs Hannibal to toy with her a little, pushing her around and pointing her toward unnecessary leads. She just looks adorable with curious eyes looking up at him as if he has the answer of all mysteries.

“I’m not sure of a map but..” he shrugs one shoulder “doesn’t hurt if we go take a look at the bodies. Or maybe the sight of the crime scene, everything can be a lead right now.” He idly draws the patterns of the cuts on the back of one of papers, a triangle here, a crud circle there.. two, three lines cross passing each other, making a vague shape..

“well, that’s weird.” The waitress says, apparently she hasn’t left their table after placing the orders there. Leaning over Celeste’s shoulder to have a look at Hannibal’s drawing, still chewing the gum.

She raises an eyebrow “I mean.. it can’t be that but it does look like some old thing we learnt back then in school.” And as if she just notices their eyes on her, blushes with a shy smile “sorry!” holding both hands up but still hovering above them “didn’t mean to bother! It’s funny how I even remember that old thing we used to draw in school when teacher taught us Crooked Man’s song.” She looks between the two. Blinking “okay, looks like you both don’t know anything about it!”

Then she reaches for the paper in Hannibal’s hand, grabbing it along with his pen. “here, let me..”

He’d say it’s just a miracle how a simple waitress at the diner solved almost half of the mystery but here she is, dragging the pen here and there while humming a song, casually winks at Celeste once she’s finished, handing her the paper.

“there you go! I know it’s so silly but erm, I guess it’s completing the whole picture better!” without another comment, she turns around after hearing someone calling her name from the kitchen. the red high heels take away the hero in frilly apron like nothing happened.

On the paper, it’s a basic drawing of a kid’s art book. the lines shaping into a vague figure of a man, the circle now is shaped into a cat and the triangle goes for the house, apparently.

#Celeste & Hannibal #this song creeps ms out tbh haha

Celeste stares at the drawing as the waitress disappears back into the kitchen, the crude figure of the crooked man staring up from the paper like a child's homework assignment gone wrong.

Her stomach tightens. If this was it....This wasn't just clever....it was theatrical. The killer wanted these symbols found. Wanted someone to piece them together. That level of ego, that need for recognition...

"Andy's going to love this," she muttered, pulling out her phone. She snapped a photo of the drawing, then started typing out a message to Andy. "Found potential symbol pattern linked to vic marks. Possible nursery rhyme reference. Need full autopsies ASAP. Look for additional markings."

She picked up her lukewarm coffee, taking a slow sip. What a day. It was incredible how much they could learn from different perspectives. Celeste looked at Hannibal, her smile a little less pronounced. That song had always been creepy but this? This was a whole new level. Actually she felt a shiver down her spine.

"The crooked man, the crooked cat, the crooked gate...If every victim gets one symbol, we might be dealing with a series. How many elements are in that rhyme?"

poohsources

🐝 * ― 𝑭𝑳𝑰𝑹𝑻𝒀 𝑻𝑬𝑿𝑻 𝑴𝑬𝑺𝑺𝑨𝑮𝑬𝑺.

[ 📲 sms: ] i hate everyone. but not you. [ 📲 sms: ] want to make a beautiful memory together? [ 📲 sms: ] i'd rather do nothing with you than something with anyone else. [ 📲 sms: ] netflix? chill? both? [ 📲 sms: ] can't stop thinking about you. [ 📲 sms: ] you're my favorite veggie. a cute-cumber! [ 📲 sms: ] i adore you. that's all. [ 📲 sms: ] you make me a better person and i'd like to keep improving. [ 📲 sms: ] it's cold today. can you warm me up? [ 📲 sms: ] i'm into curves, and my favorite is your smile. [ 📲 sms: ] my day is more fun when you're in it. [ 📲 sms: ] you were in my dreams last night. wanna hear? [ 📲 sms: ] you were the first thing i thought of when i woke up. [ 📲 sms: ] i already miss you and can't wait to see you again. [ 📲 sms: ] what would you do if i were with you right now? [ 📲 sms: ] hey stranger. stop being a stranger. [ 📲 sms: ] this is me asking you out. want to get coffee tomorrow? [ 📲 sms: ] nobody understands me like you do. [ 📲 sms: ] i wish you were here with me. [ 📲 sms: ] you never text first. i can’t tell if you hate me or if you’re playing hard to get. [ 📲 sms: ] which emoji makes you think of me? [ 📲 sms: ] want to have this conversation in person? [ 📲 sms: ] i don’t have anything interesting to tell you, but i really wanted to talk to you. [ 📲 sms: ] everything makes me think of you. [ 📲 sms: ] i can't sleep. i blame you. [ 📲 sms: ] surprise! i got you flowers: 💐 [ 📲 sms: ] i can't help but smile every time your name pops up on my screen. [ 📲 sms: ] you look so good right now. i can’t actually see you, but i assume you look good because you always do. [ 📲 sms: ] even over text you're so charming. [ 📲 sms: ] i'm smiling just thinking about getting to see you later. [ 📲 sms: ] my day would've been a lot better if i'd gotten to spend it with you. [ 📲 sms: ] i'm really glad to have you in my life. [ 📲 sms: ] i could talk to you all night. [ 📲 sms: ] just thinking about falling in love with you. i'd do it all over again and again. [ 📲 sms: ] you mean the world to me. don’t ever forget that. [ 📲 sms: ] i'm so incredibly lucky to know you. [ 📲 sms: ] you get more beautiful every time i see you. [ 📲 sms: ] you are my heart. [ 📲 sms: ] you’re single. i'm single. i feel like this is a problem we can solve together. [ 📲 sms: ] thinking a lot of things about you i can’t say … but i could text.

aurorarpresources

reblog this if you're fine with your mutuals sending you asks unprompted

#always #even if I'm slow af and take an eternity to reply

calisverse

SPICE GIF BASED PROMPTS / MEMES.

spice and nsfw roleplay meme based around gifs detailed different situations. send a number and a couple (ff/ mm / fm) and receiver will write a starter based around the gifs sent. this meme is nsfw and contains graphic sex*al content, do not interact with this if you are a minor. credit for the gifs goes to this , this, this and this. i did not make the gifs, i only selected those i wanted for this meme.

FF / MM / MF

GROUP :

MFM / FFF / FMF / MMM

MFM / FFF/ FMF / MMM

MFM / FFF / FMF / MMM

promptcalender

Soft Caretaking Dialogue

“Are you okay? Come here…”

“No, no, stay down. I’ll handle it.”

“Where were you? I was worried sick.”

“I made you some soup and tea…”

“Ssh… It’s okay…”

“You’ll freeze to death in that. Come, I have a change of clothes for you.”

“You look pale. When’s the last time you ate?”

“The ground doesn’t look very comfortable. Come on, put your head in my lap.”

“You’re freezing. Take my jacket.”

“Stay down, you idiot. You’re done for the day.”

“I got you.”

“Come on, let’s get you in bed.”

“What happened to you? You’re dripping! Did you not dress for the rain?”

“I got you flowers to aid in your recovery.”

“You look good like this. All careless and comfy…”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

[Prompt Calender: June 7th, World Caring Day]

Ooc: woke up feeling miserable. Body dysmorphia really is insane.

#ooc #Marie talks

"Oh hey Andy!"

Celeste's face brightened as she accepted the photographs from him, immediately drawn into the evidence he was presenting. "What did you find?"

She barely noticed his nervousness at first. When it came to cases, her attention had a habit of narrowing until everything else disappeared. The photographs spread between her hands as she studied the cuts he had highlighted. Her expression shifted from curiosity to concentration.

"These weren't included in the preliminary report." She stepped closer to the light.

The marks were small. Precise. A faint crease appeared between her brows, so focused on the pictures.

"If these happened before the fatal wounds, then the interaction lasted longer than we thought."

She looked from one image to another, then at Hannibal. Despite Andy's attitude around her, she was more focused on Hannibal's reaction to the pictures.

"This is really good work, Andy."

She looked up at him with genuine appreciation.

"Seriously. This could change the timeline completely."

The praise was sincere. Andy had always been thorough, even when others overlooked him. He looked very please with the praise, smiling wider at Celeste, proud.

Then his question came.

The coffee. For a brief moment, surprise crossed her face.

She had forgotten..The investigation had consumed every spare second she had.

Andy had asked her days ago, and between the investigation, paperwork, and far too many late nights at the precinct, she'd never properly answered him.

Immediately, guilt flickered across her face.

"Andy..."

Her gaze drifted on Hannibal then Andy who was looking at her with expectations. A faint blush touched her cheeks.

"I actually just agreed to have lunch with Dr. Lecter after we're finished here."

She glanced briefly toward Hannibal once more, a shy smile threatening at the corner of her lips before she turned back to Andy. "maybe some other time?"

There was no false hope in the offer. She wasn’t flirting or anything, just being kind.

The moment Celeste mentioned lunch with Dr. Lecter, something flickered across Andy's face. His eyes moved to Hannibal, jaw tightening. It wasn’t fair. Hannibal had been here for what? A few hours? His gaze lingered longer than it should have.

"Right." A nervous laugh escaped him and he looked back at Celeste. The irritation melted almost instantly because she was looking at him with that same gentle, apologetic expression, trying so hard not to hurt his feelings.

God. That somehow made it worse.

"No, it's okay. Some other time" He forced a smile, wondering what exactly the doctor had said—or done—to earn that smile from her.

“I might have an idea..”

Says Hannibal after finishing the first cup of coffee, the waitress fills it again as she’s passing by their table, chewing on the gum loudly. The diner is bathed in sunlight and not much people are hanging around, perfect place, quiet.

“see..” he pushes one of crime scenes pictures toward Celeste, leaning in with elbows on the old, plastic table. “the mark here.” One long finger is placed on a scratch mark on victim’s stomach that Andy earlier claimed to be a razor cut. “might look random, out of nowhere when you look at it without seeing the ‘details’” the steel blue eyes leaving the gore polaroid to land on Celeste’s freckled face “but when we put two of these together..” he picks the second picture that Andy had drawn a bright green circle around the mark to bold it, showing victim’s elbow, placing it by the first one.

“here, there’s some kind of vertical line that can be connected to..” he drags finger to the first picture “to this.. you see what I mean? A whole bigger mark, like stars.” He hums with himself, rubbing at his chin idly “the pattern is repeated here too, I think it might be some kind of alphabet. What do you say?”

The waitress approaches their table once again, their orders steaming on her small tray.

#Celeste & Hannibal #sorry that's very long lol

Celeste didn’t look away from the photographs once Hannibal began speaking. Not even when the waitress set their food down. The diner around them had already faded into something irrelevant. What mattered now was the table between them, the scattered evidence, and the way Hannibal was seeing it, because he was seeing it and that pulled her in completely.

“I might have an idea…”

Her posture changed the moment he said it. She leaned forward, elbows coming closer to the edge of the table, eyes sharpening with immediate attention.

“Show me” she said simply.

For a moment, Celeste forgot about the case. Forgot about the victims pinned to the board behind her, the endless paperwork on her desk, the fluorescent lights that never seemed to turn off in this building.

She was suddenly, painfully aware of the hand resting over hers.

The touch was light. Gentle.

For most people, this would have been meaningless. Barely worth noticing. For Celeste, touch had always meant something else entirely. Pain.

Cuts. Burns. Fractures. Grief.

Every time she used her abilities, touch became a bridge. A burden willingly carried. Someone else's suffering flowing through her body until it became her own.

It was worth it, but it meant she'd long ago stopped thinking of touch as something simple.

Then Boschert's voice crashed through the moment.

Celeste blinked and looked toward the doorway, immediately grateful for the interruption and oddly disappointed by it at the same time.

"Andy?" she repeated, pushing herself back into professional mode. "If he's asking for me directly, then he found something."

She felt a little uneasy at the comment. It wasn’t the first time, nor the last that he made little comments like this. She was used to it.

Her gaze dropped briefly to where Hannibal's hand still rested near hers. She could feel warmth lingering beneath her skin, and she hated how obvious it suddenly felt.

Get a grip, Celeste. You met him this morning.

A shy smile tugged at her lips. "Looks like lunch will have to wait."

There was an odd softness in her voice. Not disappointment exactly but anticipation. For the first time in a very long time, she had experienced touch without pain following close behind and she wasn't entirely sure what to do with that feeling. Part of her wanted to hold onto it a little longer.

"Let's go see what Andy found" she stood and reached for her notebook, then, after a brief hesitation. "And afterward... I'd still like to go to that diner."

‘Andy’ pretty much turned to be what Hannibal expected and he found himself- not shockingly- that he pretty much hates this guy already who, once seeing his work partner, gasped delightfully as if he didn’t just ask for her directly.

“Celeste!! Hey!!” a little shorter than Hannibal with eyes like a mouse, he knows looks like that. Pretending to be innocent while they hear and see every single one of your secrets, his smell too, not cologne but some deodorant that tastes metallic and wooden at the same time under his tongue, mixed with sweat smell- and the way he keeps fidgeting around Celeste, pushing his glasses up then the next moment he’s pinching the handle to slide it forward, combing hand through his gel-coated hair. He didn’t miss the subtle spasm of his fingers as if he’s itching to touch the young detective.

“r-remember the second victim was murdered by some sharp weapon? I-I think it’s not a ‘weapon’ but simply a switch blade! Or- or something medical like what surgeons use! Here!” he holds up some pictures for Celeste “see? Small cuts here aaand..here. like killer got into a- uh- a brawl with her before killing her? he- he did finish the job with something big, but my guess is they were using small things on the victim! B-before they um- they kill her!”

Then, as if just noticed Hannibal’s present, he eyes him up and down with the obvious disinterest hiding behind the curiosity mask. “and you must be her new partner!”

‘her’, hm. Like him and Celeste are in the same team.

“pleasure to meet you, I’m doctor Lecter, here to help with the case.” He doesn’t extend hand to shake the guy’s already raised one which he drops awkwardly after looking at Celeste with a nervous laugh.

“I thought..”

But whatever he wanted to tell, vanishes in the air between them.

“n-never mind! Um.. you should have a look at these files too!” he hands one to Hannibal carelessly then draws his attention right back to the lady in the room.

“so! H-how’s the work?” he tugs on his already loose tie, Hannibal pretend busy with thumbing through the files while watching those two from the corner of his eyes. The guy’s really trying everything to attract Celeste.

“did- did you think about my offer too?” offer? That’s interesting. “about..letting me take you out for a coffee?” the guy really has a bad timing or maybe he’s just unlucky.

#loveeee #Celeste & Hannibal #wrong timing Andy

"Oh hey Andy!"

Celeste's face brightened as she accepted the photographs from him, immediately drawn into the evidence he was presenting. "What did you find?"

She barely noticed his nervousness at first. When it came to cases, her attention had a habit of narrowing until everything else disappeared. The photographs spread between her hands as she studied the cuts he had highlighted. Her expression shifted from curiosity to concentration.

"These weren't included in the preliminary report." She stepped closer to the light.

The marks were small. Precise. A faint crease appeared between her brows, so focused on the pictures.

"If these happened before the fatal wounds, then the interaction lasted longer than we thought."

She looked from one image to another, then at Hannibal. Despite Andy's attitude around her, she was more focused on Hannibal's reaction to the pictures.

"This is really good work, Andy."

She looked up at him with genuine appreciation.

"Seriously. This could change the timeline completely."

The praise was sincere. Andy had always been thorough, even when others overlooked him. He looked very please with the praise, smiling wider at Celeste, proud.

Then his question came.

The coffee. For a brief moment, surprise crossed her face.

She had forgotten..The investigation had consumed every spare second she had.

Andy had asked her days ago, and between the investigation, paperwork, and far too many late nights at the precinct, she'd never properly answered him.

Immediately, guilt flickered across her face.

"Andy..."

Her gaze drifted on Hannibal then Andy who was looking at her with expectations. A faint blush touched her cheeks.

"I actually just agreed to have lunch with Dr. Lecter after we're finished here."

She glanced briefly toward Hannibal once more, a shy smile threatening at the corner of her lips before she turned back to Andy. "maybe some other time?"

There was no false hope in the offer. She wasn’t flirting or anything, just being kind.

The moment Celeste mentioned lunch with Dr. Lecter, something flickered across Andy's face. His eyes moved to Hannibal, jaw tightening. It wasn’t fair. Hannibal had been here for what? A few hours? His gaze lingered longer than it should have.

"Right." A nervous laugh escaped him and he looked back at Celeste. The irritation melted almost instantly because she was looking at him with that same gentle, apologetic expression, trying so hard not to hurt his feelings.

God. That somehow made it worse.

"No, it's okay. Some other time" He forced a smile, wondering what exactly the doctor had said—or done—to earn that smile from her.

mcflymemes

PROMPTS FOR A LITTLE JEALOUSY * assorted dialogue for when you see the person you're interested in with someone else and go... hey wait a minute, adjust as necessary

are you two... together?

i should probably ask if you're single first.

who was that you were talking to?

did you two have a nice chat?

are we really doing this now?

what was that all about?

i don't like it when they touch you.

they need to learn to keep their hands off you.

are you trying to make me jealous?

you just gave me the impression we were exclusive.

who was that, anyway?

was that someone you know?

it's completely innocent.

were you flirting with them?

that was a little bit excessive.

they were flirting with you.

i'm not jealous.

i'm upset with you.

they didn't mean anything by that.

i just thought we had something going on.

they know i have feelings for you.

i hate it when you get jealous.

i'm two seconds away from throwing a punch.

they did that on purpose.

wait a minute... are you jealous?

you have no reason to worry.

i'm not interested in them, i promise.

they do get a little touchy-feely, i'll admit.

they don't mean anything by it.

did they just try to kiss you?

we're just really good friends!

you know i only have eyes for you.

please ignore them, okay?

it's not like i'm in love with you or anything.

they're just trying to upset you.

i just don't like it when someone else flirts with you.

i don't blame them, of course, but you're mine.

next time someone tries to hit on you, call me over.

i'll give them a piece of my mind.

they know you're taken, right?

i didn't want to get in your way.

clearly your mind is elsewhere.

if you'd rather be with them, then just tell me.

i need to know where we stand.

can we be more exclusive?

i just don't like it when they talk to you like that.

you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

if they make you happy... i can't stop it.

maybe i have a crush on you. so what?

there was a better way to go about this, you know.

you could have been a little bit nicer.

did you have to be so nasty about it?

i'm going to scream.

i don't want anything coming in between us.

you trust me, don't you?

if you trust me, you have nothing to worry about.

this jealousy of yours is getting a little bit out of control.

i love only you.

why do they have to hold your hand like that?

they couldn't keep their hands off you.

i hate watching you deal with that.

i should give them a piece of my mind.

what? me? jealous? never.

i think i'm allowed a little jealousy every now and then.

you're mine, and i want everyone to know that.

did you just... get jealous over me?

you said you weren't the jealous type.

wildwhims

𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐏 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒

A collection of texts that could be considered dirty or nsfw. Able to be edited accordingly but please do not add or take away prompts.

「 📱」 — ❝ I’m craving you ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ send something , I want to see you ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I had a dream about you ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I could use some pussy ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I could use some dick ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ you up ? ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ can you ride my face ? ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ spit or swallow ? ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ that’s daddy’s girl ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I’m gonna fuck your brains out ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ you’re the best I’ve had ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I can’t stop thinking of you / your body ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ come touch me ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I want you to wear nothing but my shirt / hoodie while I fuck you ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I’m so wet/ hard right now ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ you should be inside me right now ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I want you moaning in my ear ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ this pussy is yours ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ you make me so horny ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ I need you so bad ❞

「 📱」 — ❝ we can make our own videos ❞

「 𝐁𝐔𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒 」 — to send the receiver a nude with bubbles covering the explicit parts.

「 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐘」 — to send the receiver a nude in a steamy mirror, blocking a clear visual of the body

「 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐄 」 — to send the receiver a nude

「 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄 」 — to send the receiver a nude with lingerie on

「 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐌 」 — to send the receiver a video of the sender masturbating

「 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 」 — to call the receiver to initiate phone sex

「 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 」 — to accidentally send the receiver a nude

🎯 the starter @pleinsdemuses never asked for

It had to be a coincidence. Dex didn't see how it could be anything else. He was still getting settled after being transferred to the Los Angeles branch of the FBI. The city was a stark contrast to New York, bright and busy and full of utterly strange, incomprehensible things like dogs in strollers and fad diets, things Dex had never even heard of and didn't care to.

Like with everything else in his life, he was fairly religious about what he put in his body though. He had that much in common with Californians, at least, and it had initially brought him to Anavrin. Though he didn't excel at striking up conversations with strangers, the girl there--Love Quinn--had been friendly to him. Though he hadn't seen her since, she stood out in his mind. He needed a North Star to replace Julie, someone he could admire from afar who would keep him moral, but it was nothing that could happen overnight.

And now, as if by magic, here she was, right in front of him. Causing a scene at the DMV, in fact, while she berated the man behind the desk. It took a moment for him to catch on to why, his heart leaping in his chest when he realized. She was defending her, that woman standing off to the side. He rose and approached slowly, briefly flashing his badge, but his smile was all for Love. "Is there a problem, ma'am?"

"It is though. I don't think you realize how rare." He couldn't keep the admiration out of his voice, his gaze, as he looked at her. He wasn't really talking about kindness anymore. It was Love who was rare, and he would know. He'd been looking for someone like her since he arrived in L.A.

He waited patiently while she wrapped things up, not at all surprised she didn't leave a job halfway done. Dex couldn't bring himself to genuinely care about the situation, but that was par for the course for him. He genuinely cared about very little. That was why he needed someone like her, to show him how it was done.

"Not nearly as fun as watching you shame one," he chuckled quietly, knowing the scene would live on in his memory. "This might be forward, but can I buy you a cup of coffee? When you're finished here, that is." He'd almost forgotten his own business at the DMV and suddenly didn't care much if he got it done today. Unprecedented for him. Order was everything to Dex.

"Well," she said lightly, "if kindness is rare, that's a pretty depressing review of humanity"

Love's smile softened despite herself. There was something in the way Dex looked at her that made it difficult to look away. Most people glanced. Judged. Assumed. Dex paid attention. Really paid attention. And she found herself liking that far more than she probably should. Nobody had stepped him to help that poor woman before she did, but Dex did.

"And I wasn't really shaming him..." she added with a laugh. "I was educating him. Public service is basically my civic duty. These men need to learn"

Her eyes met his again, warmth immediately blooming in her chest.

A coffee. Simple enough, yet somehow it felt like more.

"Yeah" she said easily, unable to stop her own smile from growing. "I'd like that."

She slipped her bag onto her shoulder Love stepped closer, falling easily into stride beside him as they headed for the exit.

#Love & Dex

rkomi

we were lovers in a past life but in our first life i killed you to protect you (and because i love you) and you cursed me and my next lives to never find love until i find you again

#wishlist #gimmeeee

[ BEG ] ; the sender begs the receiver to touch them.

@pleinsdemuses

"You're so perfect like this," he whispered. His gaze traced over her, memorizing all the lovely lines of her, the way her body trembled and her chest heaved for breaths, the way the ropes bound her into the most exquisite shapes. She was a work of art, only better because she lived and breathed, and she was his for the taking.

"You are such a good girl. I'm going to give you everything you want, angel," he murmured, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was soft and reverent, her body the altar he worshipped at. She hadn't used her safeword, but he wasn't sure she could stand it if he continued to edge her. He'd come to know her in a way he'd never thought possible, her body like a language only the two of them spoke.

It was affecting him too, his cock almost painfully hard, and he could feel the temptation to give in and ravage her. The restraint was part of the appeal for him though, seeing how long he could hold out before he snapped and gave them what they both wanted, knowing that he would eventually and that it was okay. In this context, he could afford to lose control, but not just yet.

He lowered his body over hers, a soft groan escaping his lips as his length brushed along her entrance. She was already soaking wet and ready for him, and he braced himself on one elbow so he could watch her eyes as he slid inside her, slowly, one agonizing inch at a time.

#tw: nsfw #Love & Dex

When he placed the coffee on her desk, she felt a genuine flutter of gratitude. Most people in this precinct treated her like a glorified filing clerk because of her age; to have someone treat her with such refined courtesy felt... different.

"Thank you, Dr. Lecter. Truly," she said, her voice softening as she reached for the cup. She took a sip, the warmth grounding her. "And please, call me Celeste."

When his fingers brushed her shirt, a touch so light it could have been accidental, yet so deliberate it felt intentional, a tiny, electric jolt went through her. She felt the heat of him and she didn’t mind it one bit. Hannibal was quite handsome and from what she's been told, a brilliant mind. What wasnot to like?

She turned her chair slightly toward him, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of a new collaborator. "My family roots are actually quite scattered, but the name is a legacy from my grandmother's side," she explained

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, mindful of the officers passing by.

"You're right. The lack of transparency is... frustrating. But if we can't see the full picture, we have to build the pieces ourselves." She pointed to the board, her finger hovering over a Polaroid of the second victim. "The second case is the key, Dr. Lecter. The killer didn't just strike; they performe. It wasn't just about the kill; it was about the ritual."

Celeste leaned back, running a hand through her hair, the gesture revealing exhaustion beneath her enthusiasm. "Three victims, four months. If we're lucky, we have time to catch them before they strike again. If we're not..."

She trailed off, then suddenly remembered his earlier comment about lunch. Her cheeks flushed pink. "Oh god, you're right. I haven't eaten since breakfast." She glanced around the precinct, as if seeing it for the first time today. "This place doesn't exactly inspire regular breaks. Everyone runs on coffee and spite."

The whole time that she was talking, Hannibal was looking at ‘her’ instead of the pictures. The way she lights up, eyes shining when she goes briefly through explaining the cases to him. She painfully reminds him of Mischa, the way she used to look up at Hannibal like he was the only star in her sky, her big brother. Always soling problems, always looking after her until it was too late…

“if the place forces you into picking a bad habit then you should change it when you’re on the break.” The doctor dares to reach across the desk, tip of his fingers caressing Celeste’s sleeve, as if he’s approaching with caution before gliding down to gently brush a thumb on top of her hand, lips stretched in a closed-lips smile “allow me to take you away for awhile. I saw a nice diner not too far from here, we can walk there and you can tell me all your theories and plans on our way.” It’ll be less than half an hour drive though hopefully he can get enough privacy and time with Celeste to see what she really is, what she’s really hiding. wearing the mask of innocence, maybe she really is naïve.. or maybe just running from some past, darkness following her closely_

“yall getting friendly already?” the lieutenant Boschert knocked on the ajar door, peeking inside with a meaningful smile “Celeste, that Forensic guy Andy wants to see you, telling it’s important for the case.” He shakes his head “youngsters, so energetic over nothing. Keep this up and we’ll see where you’ll end up at your forties.” The man turns to leave, leaving the two alone once again.

Hannibal hasn’t moved his hand even after the unpleasant interruption. Though Celeste might not be so interested in leaving the department now that there’s some newly found lead waiting here for her to see.

“shall we see what your colleague has for us?” the lunch can wait for now. Hannibal just doesn’t want her out of his sight.

For a moment, Celeste forgot about the case. Forgot about the victims pinned to the board behind her, the endless paperwork on her desk, the fluorescent lights that never seemed to turn off in this building.

She was suddenly, painfully aware of the hand resting over hers.

The touch was light. Gentle.

For most people, this would have been meaningless. Barely worth noticing. For Celeste, touch had always meant something else entirely. Pain.

Cuts. Burns. Fractures. Grief.

Every time she used her abilities, touch became a bridge. A burden willingly carried. Someone else's suffering flowing through her body until it became her own.

It was worth it, but it meant she'd long ago stopped thinking of touch as something simple.

Then Boschert's voice crashed through the moment.

Celeste blinked and looked toward the doorway, immediately grateful for the interruption and oddly disappointed by it at the same time.

"Andy?" she repeated, pushing herself back into professional mode. "If he's asking for me directly, then he found something."

She felt a little uneasy at the comment. It wasn’t the first time, nor the last that he made little comments like this. She was used to it.

Her gaze dropped briefly to where Hannibal's hand still rested near hers. She could feel warmth lingering beneath her skin, and she hated how obvious it suddenly felt.

Get a grip, Celeste. You met him this morning.

A shy smile tugged at her lips. "Looks like lunch will have to wait."

There was an odd softness in her voice. Not disappointment exactly but anticipation. For the first time in a very long time, she had experienced touch without pain following close behind and she wasn't entirely sure what to do with that feeling. Part of her wanted to hold onto it a little longer.

"Let's go see what Andy found" she stood and reached for her notebook, then, after a brief hesitation. "And afterward... I'd still like to go to that diner."

#Celeste & Hannibal

Celeste didn't look up immediately when the footsteps approached, too absorbed in reorganizing her notes. The coffee cup she'd abandoned hours ago had gone cold beside her keyboard. When she spotted him in the corner of her eye, Celeste's demeanor shifted the instant she stood, a genuine warmth breaking through the professional mask. She extended her hand with a smile that reached her eyes.

"You must be Dr. Lecter! I'm Celeste.. Celeste Arlen." She shook his hand firmly but gently "I've been pulling together everything we have so far. I know Boschert said you'd be coming, and honestly? Having someone with your expertise is..." She caught herself, cheeks coloring slightly. She's never worked with a Doctor by herself before. Her former partner handled everything, all she had to do was watch ."Sorry, I'm rambling. Come in, sit down. I'll show you what I've got."

She pulled a second chair closer to her desk, the one usually occupied by her partner before he transferred and began gathering her notes into a coherent order. Her hands moved quickly, arranging case photos and timelines into a visual spread that was impressively detailed for someone who'd only been assigned to the case a few hours ago.

"The first three victims all lived within a fifteen-mile radius, but the geographic dispersion has expanded over the past month," she explained, pinning a map to the board behind her. Red dots marked each incident location. "What's interesting is the shift in methodology between victims two and three. First one was blunt force trauma.... Second involved staged scene elements that pointed to someone who wanted us to think it was a burglary gone wrong." She traced the lines connecting the dots. "Third was... different. More intimate violence. Which tells us either we're dealing with multiple offenders, or one person who is rapidly decompensating."

She turned to him, blue eyes bright with intellectual energy. "So...where do you think we start?"

Celeste was a little too excited to be out in the field alone. Well, not alone but she didn’t have a supervisor this time. She'd proved herself to be trustworthy and capable.