OOM: Concert, part 2

[electro_kinetic]

The stage itself is backed by a huge screen, big enough to nearly be an IMAX presentation, and the orchestra is in front, chairs empty. They're fashionably close to the starting time, because Noriko hates being late, and she didn't want to be too early: tucking her free hand in her coat pocket she walks with Hannibal, trying to keep her heels from clicking too loudly on the floor.

The seats printed on both tickets are quite good, being the center of the closest balcony, where the sound will blend and amplify without too much distortion, and a clear view to both the screen and the plalyers, but before they see any of that, there's the lobby to get through.

"Wow," Nori says, looking up at the starburst lights. "This place is pretty huge."

Comments

[electro_kinetic]

"Nothing says debts have to be monetary," she says. "And there's no mention of family other than a name. And you pride yourself on your name more than anyone I've ever met."

[cook_the_rude]

"I don't forgive rudeness lightly," Hannibal admits, "and what name, please, do I pride myself on? The Doctor, the Hannibal or the Lecter?"

[electro_kinetic]

"All of it," she says. "It's not a portion of your name but all of it, because all of it is individually you. And you take pride in being different from everyone else, much like I do."

[cook_the_rude]

"So how are you not Tywin, then?"

[electro_kinetic]

"Do I kill people because they've insulted me?"

[cook_the_rude]

"He doesn't do that, either," Hannibal says. "He kills people because they make his family look bad."

[electro_kinetic]

"Which is a form of insult, I know you're not that dumb."

[cook_the_rude]

"I don't mind a civilised insult, or being made to look bad," Hannibal says. "I just can't stand rudeness."

[electro_kinetic]

"A civilized insult. Which is what, exactly?" she asks.

[cook_the_rude]

"Something with an actual point and poise, and not using scatological language," Hannibal says. "I don't even require it to be Shakesperean."

[electro_kinetic]

"That defies the point of insulting you," she says. "In particular."

Noriko would have given an example herself, but the lights dimmed and brightened in rapid succession, and she hadn't been the cause: the concert was starting.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal leans back and just listens to the music, motionlessly.

[electro_kinetic]

Noriko eases back into her seat to listen, and finds herself watching Hannibal's expression while the music plays. She likes this kind of music, and it's a nice concert setting--and an excellent orchestra doing it.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal sits quietly and pays intense attention to the music.

[electro_kinetic]

Noriko finds herself enjoying it; the music is relaxing, and brightening, and all kinds of other things that play with her emotions in a way she's surprisingly okay with. But all of that tanks when someone in the row behind them leans in the whisper at Nori that freaks like her shouldn't be in public.

It's unbelievably rude, and she flinches when she hears it, but there's nothing she can say. She does glow a little brighter, flaring before she pulls it back in, shoulders and back set.

[cook_the_rude]

In the glow, Hannibal turns and looks at the man.

[electro_kinetic]

Noriko is used to comments like that; she's used to far worse, to be honest, but it's never happened before in public when someone's with her. She just ducks her head and tries to ignore everything but the music, with varying levels of success at any second.

"What?" says the man behind them, "She doesn't belong here, she's a mutie and needs to be in a pen like the rest of them."

[cook_the_rude]

"Please be quiet," Hannibal says under his breath, "these people are playing live music, and we are all here to listen."

[electro_kinetic]

"Hannibal, don't," Noriko whispers, but he's already talking.

Unfortunately, their unintentional third-wheel isn't listening to either of them, and keeps going. "That's disgusting, you're gonna let a her sit next to you?" he asks, derisive at best, and Noriko just closes her eyes again, and her posture gradually hardens into a stiff unhappiness.

[cook_the_rude]

"Do I have to get an usher to escort you out?" Hannibal answers, exasperated.

[electro_kinetic]

"Fuck you," the man replies, as Noriko just sighs, and her shoulders straighten and set. "She's the one that doesn't need to be here."

Noriko doesn't blush much or often, but the back of her neck is beginning to turn red.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal stands, and whispers 'Excuse me' to the person on the other side of him.

[electro_kinetic]

"Where are you going?" Noriko asks in a whisper, legs tense as if to stand.

[cook_the_rude]

"Get an usher, of course, to stop this nuisance," Hannibal whispers back

[electro_kinetic]

Noriko sighs and lays her head back. She can hardly stop him, not without making a bigger problem.