There’s little that comforts in times like these than the company of those you trust. Though the mansion is dark and the roof leaks more than one would like, it’s a safe haven from the outside world which seems to be crumbling in on itself. Luckily, Charles and Obi-Wan seemed not to be too affected by the madness which had plagued Hive City, at least for the time being.
Stanford had taken a brief pause from their fireside conversation in the study to check the window. The place had truly gone to hell all too quickly, and something about it formed a knot in his stomach that he couldn’t quite shake. He could have stared at the scene for hours, if the sudden silence from his two friends hadn’t drawn his attention back to them. Both of them were staring at him, and little did Ford know that in the past moments he’d changed drastically. Grey hair darkened to its former hue, wrinkles had faded and eyes had grown just the slightest tinge brighter with youth.
On Valentine’s Day you awaken to find a vase filled with glycine, acacia, and agrimony at your door! Upon further examination you find a card that reads:
TO: Obi-Wan Kenobi
FROM: Charles Xavier
The last thing he’d expected was anything at all for that strange holiday, so of course when he opened the door and discovered such a beautiful collection of flowers he was rather surprised by the gesture. He accepted them, taking the vase within his hands and later seeing to it that the display sat upon the centre of his table like a dinner decoration. “ How lovely. “
Meditation, it seemed, was perhaps the only method in which the General found any sort of sense, although it was neither scribed nor spoken as perhaps most might have appreciated. It came in the form of emotive responses, the Force aiding him as best it could though he felt more on par with that of a youngling’s skill than any master at all. The Force felt so apart from his seated place, sat alone within some lonely abandoned chapel within a sector he was not yet familiar with. He did not mind the quiet of the place, for with it came the blessing of concentration and with that came the true breath of his capabilities as hindered as they were.
It was within that state that something...prickled. Something disrupted the steady stream of breeding knowledge around him, so much so that his eyes opened and Obi-Wan glanced the length of the room before him. Alas, he was still alone as far as he could tell, yet something beyond the doors seemed to pry and poke, seemed so desperate to reach beyond and communicate perhaps. Although the notion was not at all similar to that of a nearing Jedi, the emotional twists of the discovery was enough to draw the man to his feet, to send him pacing across the stone tiles and to cast aside the beaten door.
Low and behold, there was but one man beyond that door, a man beneath golden sunlight as if it shrouded him in praised blessings. They shared a similar expression, one of bemused curiosity which saw Obi-Wan, at least, grow cautious yet unable to surpass that level of genuine interest. “ Afternoon. “ He simply said, blinking down from his higher ground as he placed a foot upon the topmost step of the building. Whilst the Force was indeed present in that moment, the stranger had yet to reveal any true understanding of what exactly had taken place, or perhaps he had. The static silence was unbearable in many respects, yet Obi-Wan remained talkative despite it all. “ Were you planning on introducing yourself before or after you tried to invade my thoughts? “
The location: a small coffee shop on a cold winter’s day. (It was winter, oddly enough, as mere hours ago it had just been the middle of August. He’d encountered stranger.)
A stranger: an unassuming man, more plainly clothed than many of the people he’d spotted on the street. Relatively normal, little to note about him from mere appearances. What caught Stanford’s attention was the apparent struggle the man was having over a small book. Discreet closer inspection he could see that the book was simply one of sudoku puzzles– not difficult per se, but time-consuming at the worst of times. Frankly, Ford was just impressed that the stranger was using a pen for that. Confidence, showing in the most subtle of ways.
So he takes the time to approach him, glance over the puzzle more closely. It only takes a few short moments for him to figure out the issue.
“I think what you’re looking for is a 3, right...” He taps the blank square in question– “There.”
Armour chimes with each stride taken toward the destination she seeks. That of a door, one which leads to the very office of someone familiar whom temporarily resides within the city itself. Long had it been since this particular citizen and herself had crossed paths, much to the dismay of this Ruler classed Eirei. For, with eve the slightest bite, did she come to believe the man she sought was someone she was to align herself with, an ally amidst six others had this been a genuine, holy war at hand.
❝ Master--! ❞
Earnest, laced with mild concern, is the tone of her voice which resounds upon the twist of the handle, unblocking the entrance so she might step in to examine the room. Before long, violaceous hues befall a figure sitting behind the wooden desk of choice, littered with papers she could only assume was the work he currently tends to. Slowly does she straighten herself, blinking once as she permits quietude to engulf them, her grip upon the knob soon easing upon realizing the professor is more than well. ❝ Forgive me, ❞ her words now quieter, lacking what urgent tone she had once maintained as she begins to explain herself.
❝ I could not sense the contract between us. I became worried that something might have happened to your well being in my absence. ❞
Feelings of affection that had already been sown seemed to abruptly become amplified within the very moment -- secured by a bond that immediately seemed to have existed for.. far longer than Lecter was truly aware of. Marriage; Such a concept had always seemed.. unlikely to Hannibal. Becoming so affixed to another being was, naturally, a risk. He had refrained from humoring such a concept out of security for his own life. Now, however, it seemed he'd.. almost magically accepted the fact that he had, indeed, become so connected to another.
Charles may have very well been the only person worthy of such a place in Hannibal's life.
Thus the doctor had set off with the aim of finding said companion. As far as he was concerned, that remained his primary objective. Even the concept of still being in Hive City no longer troubled him. After all, Charles was there, as well. If anything.. it may have even been a better place to reside within than even Europe -- arguably a considerable improvement from being on the run.
Ringing the doorbell, he gazed upon the manor once again, a deep exhale loosening from the doctor's frame. It felt as though nothing had changed, the scenery, scents, and sounds all nostalgic in essence. Hannibal could not help but feel a certain thrill deep within at the thought of facing Charles once more. Possessiveness certainly came along with the sensation, though he looked upon it all with mere fondness. This was affection.
The door opened and immediately, a true smile, minimal or not, came to the doctor's features -- a rare sight, indeed.
"Charles..." he uttered, tone deceptively casual for all the wonder and relief displayed in his dark gaze, "It's been too long." For a moment, he felt nearly frozen in time, taking in the sight of the man before him, memorizing each and every detail. Was this what fulfilment felt like? No. Not yet. Stepping forward, he gazed upon the brunet, russet hues softened while he found himself yearning for contact. "I missed you.. far more than I find myself able to express with mere words."
To have been housed as a neighbor of the professor was, indeed, a treat. Hannibal had been pleased to discover such arrangements, a considerable measure of relief produced as a result; However, this all remained under the assumption that Charles was still kept within Hive City. While months previous, it would have seemed impossible to escape from the scientists, Lecter had reason to wonder if his friend still remained. After all.. he, himself, had only just returned to the metropolis, taken back for reasons that were still unknown.
Ironically, he felt a sense of appreciation.
Hannibal had spent time debilitating how to approach the professor. A gift of sorts -- a surprise -- was, naturally, in order; and so he had prepared food. Aware of how sensitive Charles was towards his cookery, Lecter had been careful to select a recipe that would allow the man no reason for alarm-- at least past the initial shock that would come with receiving such a gift from the doctor. Thus he'd prepared a small cake, still warm from the oven as he packed it carefully. It was similar to Sachertorten, delicacies which originated from Vienna. Lecter had been fortunate to learn some of the recipe's secrets during one of his own visits... and so he'd chosen the dessert with something more unique in mind for Charles.
In due time, he found himself standing outside the man's house, having just rung the bell. The days were gradually turning cooler, requiring citizens to don warmer attire. Typically, such shifts in weather were unwelcome, though Lecter received it all with vague satisfaction. Change was gradually becoming a more familiar prospect to him; and so he remained open-minded. Nevertheless, as he waited for the door to be opened, the seconds themselves seemed to grow longer, dragging by with certain pain. The longer he waited, the more he thought of the possibilities at hand: Perhaps Charles was no longer there. Perhaps he, too, had been returned to his home world.. without being taken back.
Such a thought drove that thorn of bitter hurt only deeper into his cognizance, summoning a caustic zest to the back of his mouth.
The cool Autumn wind brushed past him again, giving Lecter reason to reconsider his thoughts while a soft sigh escaped his thin lips. Holding the still-warm container close, he kept the door under sharp scrutiny, as though daring it to disappoint him. Daring the city itself to provide him with more reason to feel sorrow. While he had shaken off recent events regarding Will Graham, there came a certain danger in being deprived of yet another companion.
He had already endured one great loss. Surely another remained undeserved.
"As per requested by Gray-chan, this here's the top five most dangerous folk in Hive City. Now, this is gonna be based on several factors, includin' ranks and their personalities. Let's face it. There's several people here that are quite scary with their strength, but even so ... they are 'bout as harmless as a lil' kitten. So ... Shall we get started ~? Comin' in at number five."
"The founder of the X-men, Charles Xaiver. This guy has the ability to mindfuck ya in an instant. He's comin' in at number five, cuz he's not really the fighter type. If he had the personality of a lunatic like a couple o' folks in this city, then he'd be quite higher up, I'd say. He's still a powerful psychic and truly someone yer not gonna mess with. Avoid hurtin' his family, and yer gonna be fine ~"
"Number four ~"
"Don't let her looks fool ya. A servant with quite the strength, Jeanne d'arc comes in at number four for the same reason as Charles. She's quite the pacifist and would prefer not ta be fightin'. Even then, her strengths and speed really are insane. Pro'lly faster than my Kamishini no Yari. Scary, eh? We ain't even gonna talk 'bout that noble phantasm she possesses. It's been a common trait, I think. The more beautiful ya are, the more yer gonna kick ass. Yare-yare.."
"Rankin' in at number three.."
"Lookie ~ It's my dear ol' Kuro-chan, again. Seras Victoria comin' in because of her sharp shootin' along with the abilities of bein' a scary vampire. Regeneration, able ta suck the soul right outta ya, and she's got that shadow arm thing. That's why I call her Kuro-chan, y'know? Creep shadows are fittin' fer a vampire, but the nickname is cute. So that fits her quite well, too. By the way, she also has a wicked right hook. Don't piss her off now ~ ... Believe me. I ain't kiddin'."
"These next two were a headache ta deal with. Hard ta rank'em 'cuz their strength, personality, history, and abilities are quite up there. So these two can be considered as equals until they decide ta get in a fight in this city ... which could pro'lly kill us all. So... The top two for most dangerous ~"
"Someone I know quite well, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. The Sexta Espada and the most destructive member of the Espada, this kitty has some claws that'll rip ya ta shreds. He loves a good fight, and he can bring that fight with his strength, his ceros, and even the use of the Gran Ray Cero. His release gives him some extra durability and the use of his Desgarron. Only reason he lost his fight is 'cuz Ichigo is quite the unfair opponent. And finally are last one for this segment..."
"Another servant that has so many swords that even his swords have swords. Gilgamesh makes it to the top of the list for the reason that his abilities are so destructive that it can rip worlds apart. He is truly a scary opponent, and it makes me glad I haven't met him before, myself. He'd pro'lly kill me before I had a chance ta get a tease or two. Did I mention he has a lot of swords? Well, if we can take anythin' from this list ... People die when they are killed."
