Hannibal's house, Saturday

[sharp_man]

Hannibal had been up late, talking with Mischa. Mostly listening to Mischa and watching her play with the cats, really.

Fortunately small children got about as little sleep as he did, so they were up again reasonably early. After a solemn discussion, they had agreed that lots of people might need breakfast, even if it was early or late or they'd already had it or they only ate weird food, so Hannibal sent out a text to everybody he knew.

Breakfast for you and any guests today, if you'd like. There will be plenty of coffee.

Then he headed into the kitchen, Mischa in tow.



[OOC: If you know Hannibal and/or are a teacher and/or anybody else might have mentioned it to you and/or you happen to be wandering by, there will be breakfast and brunch foods and drinks! Open post!]

Comments

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight had texted back and he and Lizzie made their way over. Lizzie stared up at the mansion as they waited on the porch- it was definitely one of the biggest buildings she had ever seen.

"Thanks for the invite" he said as when the door opened.

[sharp_man]

"You're quite welcome," Hannibal said as Mischa darted over, wide-eyed, to peek out from behind his legs and wave. He gave her a fond look. "This is my sister, Mischa. Please, come in." He held the door for them.

[alwaysonguard]

Lizzie waved shyly as they walked in and Dwight smiled at the adorable face peering out from behind Hannibal.

"Nice to meet you, Mischa" he said with a smile as he glanced over at Lizzie. "This is my daughter Lizzie."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal nodded to Lizzie. "Welcome, Lizzie. You're here for the weekend like Mischa, then?"

He led the way to the kitchen and waved them at the table in the oversized breakfast nook. "Pancakes or crepes?"

[livingdream]

"Pancakes please!" She said with a smile. "We make pancakes all the time for breakfast don't we Daddy?"

"Aye, though I am sure mine pale in comparison." Dwight gave a chuckle as they sat down. "There's no breaking the habits of an eight-year-old." He looked at Lizzie with a smile then turned to Hannibal. "Crepes for me, thanks."

[sharp_man]

"One pancakes, one crepes," Hannibal acknowledged, tying his apron on. "Blueberry? They're quite good this time of year."

Mischa climbed up into a chair at the kitchen bar to watch him as he stirred the batter and checked the heat on the pans.

While they started cooking, he pulled a platter out of the oven where it had been left to stay warm. "There is also bacon."

Mischa reached toward the platter, and Hannibal carefully picked up a piece for her before setting the rest on the table between Dwight and Lizzie. "Please, help yourself. Coffee? Hot cocoa? Tea?"

[alwaysonguard]

"Blueberries would be perfect."

Dwight watched Mischa for a moment. The way she and Hannibal interacted, it was like there was nothing at all odd or strange about what the island had gifted to them. It was then he realized this had probably happened before and this was not the first time Mischa had been to visit.

That thought gave him a moment of hope, the idea that this might not be the last time he would get to see Lizzie... But it still didn't make him want to think about having to wait until whenever that next time happened to roll around... and his heart skipped a little as the realization dawned that just because it happened for Mischa, it didn't mean it would happen again for Lizzie. Dwight quickly pushed that thought out of his mind. He gave a smile to Lizzie as she started in on a piece of the bacon and turned to Hannibal.

"Coffee and a Hot cocoa would be good I think" he said, earning an enthusiastic nod from Lizzie.

[sharp_man]

"Coffee and hot cocoa, then." Hannibal smiled at Mischa. "Mischa, this is Dwight. Would you get him the cream and sugar, please?"

She nodded vigorously and headed to the refrigerator, which Hannibal helped her open on his way to the stove.

"Mischa spoke only Lithuanian and a few words of Italian when she passed," Hannibal explained to Dwight and Lizzie. "She's learned a few words of English since, but she hasn't had much time." He ran a fond, sad hand down her hair as she set the little pitcher of cream on the service and started very carefully bringing it to the table.

[alwaysonguard]

"Mischa is a very smart girl. Much smarter than I am" Dwight said with a smile. "Tried French multiple times and yeah... didn't stick at all."

He gave her a broad smile as she brought the cream and sugar over. "Thank you, Mischa" he said kindly.

[sharpened_him]

Mischa bit her lip and squinted, then managed, "You're welcome." She nodded decisively and looked over to Hannibal, who smiled and nodded.

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight gave her another smile and Lizzie clapped her hands encouragingly.

"Smart as a whip too," Dwight said looking up at Hannibal. "The brain power definitely runs in the family it seems."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal chuckled as he got the coffee and cocoa. "I'll take that as a compliment on behalf of us both."

He brought over the mugs and set them down, then took a bowl of homemade marshmallows and set it in front of Lizzie. "How are you enjoying the island, Lizzie?"

He headed back to flip the pancakes and start on the crepes.

[livingdream]

Her eyes went wide as she looked at the hot cocoa and marshmallows. Dropping a few into the mug she watched them melt, a big grin on her face.

"It's really nice here" she said simply. "Not like back home in Haven, but Daddy is happy and likes it here. And we can still bake cookies together so that makes me happy" she added with a smile.

Dwight smiled at her and took a sip of the coffee.

"One of the few things I am half-way decent at making" He said with a chuckle. "It's been something we've done together a lot, right Lizzie?"

"Right" she said with a smile looking up from the mug of cocoa. "Except for the time when you burned your hand and couldn't hardly use it for a few weeks" she said in an innocent matter of fact tone.

"Oh hey! Traitor" Dwight said with a laugh. "That was supposed to be our secret!"

[sharp_man]

Hannibal chuckled. "There are no secrets around children. I'm fortunate Mischa can't tell on me." He squeezed Mischa's shoulder as she came back to stand by him. "You won't tell my secrets?" he teased her.

"Never, Hannibal!" She shook her head, smiling up at him. "Can I go sit with Lizzie?"

"Of course, darling. I'll be right here."

Mischa hugged his legs and ran back to the table, kneeling up on the chair next to Lizzie and stealing a marshmallow. "Hi!"

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight laughed and nodded. Lizzie had definitely reached that age where secrets were hard to keep for her and from her as well.

He smiled as he watched Mischa and Lizzie dig into the marshmallows. Seeing Lizzie laugh and smile made him happy as he remember all the times they had had together. But it also was a stark reminder of what they would miss out on as well.

"Hope that's not your entire stock" he said with a somewhat apologetic glance towards Hannibal as the two girls giggled.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal chuckled. "Not at all, never fear." He finished both pancakes and crepes and brought them over to the table. "But here is something else to eat. Mischa? More pancakes?"

Mischa thought about it and shook her head, reaching for another piece of bacon.

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight and Lizzie said their thanks and as Lizzie stared at the pancakes, Dwight reached over and snatched one of the marshmallows from the small pile she had set beside her plate. He popped it into his mouth with a smirk as Lizzie stared at him in horror.

"Daddy!" she said with a half whine half laugh.

"Oh you have had plenty" he said teasingly. "Besides, you got that amazing looking stack of pancakes there!"

Lizzie smiled and started on the pancakes but not before looking over at Mischa and with a mix of a few simple words and hand signals got another piece of bacon as well.

[sharpened_him]

Mischa put another piece of bacon on Lizzie's plate, then stretched to put one on Dwight's plate, too, then took another for herself.

Hannibal checked the stove, made himself another cup of coffee, then came to sit with them. Mischa immediately hurried to sit on his lap.

"These weekends may be occasionally bittersweet, but I enjoy them immensely," Hannibal said.

[alwaysonguard]

"I can imagine" Dwight said simply. "Bitter to know it cant last but sweet to have these moment until next time."

Provided there was a next time in store for him and Lizzie. He didnt want to think about how long it could be before they could be together. It was a very conflicting feeling, wanting to know how long a wait it might be but then also being at the same time absolutely terrified to know.

"It is a gift though, and one I will treasure always."

[sharp_man]

"Yes," Hannibal agreed. He ran a hand over Mischa's hair, and she spared one hand from her bacon to hug him. "Better last memories to hold on to."

[alwaysonguard]

"A second chance," Dwight said simply as Lizzie scooted closer and leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment and wrapped her arms around him."A chance to actually say goodbye."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal nodded. "And a chance to spoil them rotten as well." He leaned down and whispered to Mischa, who grinned and climbed down, tugging at Lizzie's hand.

"Come," she said, "Joni!"

"We have a kitten," Hannibal explained.

[alwaysonguard]

"Remember," Dwight said as he gave Lizzie a nod. "Joni is little so be gentle with her."

"I will Daddy!" she said as she slid off the chair.

Dwight smiled as he watched Mischa lead Lizzie excited into the next room and heard the delightful giggling and laughter coming from them both.

"Lizzie has always loved animals, especially cats. Joni might actually get worn out with the both of them?"

[sharp_man]

"They're welcome to try," Hannibal said, smiling. He sipped his coffee. "How are you doing?"

[alwaysonguard]

"Me? I'm good" Dwight said a little too quickly as he took another long drink of the coffee. "Doing just fine" he said, as he stared into the empty mug.

Yeah, he was anything but ok, despite his best efforts to put on a convincing façade.