The Streets of Fandom, Wednesday Morning

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden wasn't sure where she was. That wasn't unusual and hadn't been for quite some time. It didn't bother her, but what did was that the kef she had taken was almost out of her system now, and the cold emptiness it left behind was taking over her mind.

She sat down, not paying attention to where There was a stone wall behind her and she leaned against it, resting her head in gloved hands. The gloves were dirty and torn, as were the rest of her clothes, but they had been of decent quality when new, when she still spent money on other things than kef.

Where had they dropped her off? That should be relevant to her, she knew that. She remembered boarding a ship heading for... somewhere.

"Fuck."

A few things she should do, such as eat, find somewhere to sleep, did occur to her, but right now she couldn't feel bothered to do any of them. Nothing she could do, anywhere, could bring the past back, and she was stuck in a future where she was nothing, hardly even an exotic relic.

In an attempt to do something, she tried to push herself to her feet, but fell back with a groan.

[Expecting one.]

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[sharp_man]

Coming back from some errands, Hannibal raised an eyebrow at the person slumped against his garden wall.

He eyed them, noted their newness to the island and apparent pain. "Pardon me."

[1000yearstoolate]

It took Seivarden a moment to realize she was being spoken to. When she did, she looked up, squinting.

"What?"

[sharp_man]

Hm. Hannibal added 'possible drug addiction or brain condition' to the person's information, then pasted on a pleasant smile.

"I was wondering if I could help you, as you seem to have fallen against my garden wall. Are you well?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"Fuck," Seivarden said, then mumbled something. She rubbed her forehead, and eventually said:

"I need something to drink." Either that or more kef.

[sharp_man]

"That I have," Hannibal said. He offered a hand up. "Would you care to come inside?"

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden reached up to grab that hand. No gloves. Not Radchaai. That might be just as well, as she had, after all, done her best to escape Radch space.

Once on her feet, unsteady, she blinked, frowning at the person in front of her, she said:

"Who are you?"

[sharp_man]

"Doctor Hannibal Lecter," he introduced himself. "I live and work here." As the plaque nearby said, but he wasn't going to assume someone new here read English.

"And you are?"

[1000yearstoolate]

In his current state, Seivarden wasn't likely to even pay attention to a plaque.

She supported herself against the wall, then replied, eventually:

"Seivarden Vendaai. Where am I?"

[sharp_man]

"You are on Fandom Island," Hannibal answered. "Off the coast of the United States of America, on the planet Earth, in the early twenty-first century of the Gregorian calendar. Does any of that help?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"No." Seivarden wasn't even going to try to take that in completely.

"A doctor?" Not a Radchaai one, at least.

[sharp_man]

"Yes," Hannibal answered. "Could you use a doctor?"

He had his own opinion on that, but he was being polite.

[1000yearstoolate]

"Maybe." It depended on what kind of doctor this was, but perhaps Seivarden could get something that would make things bearable until she figured out where to get more kef in this place.

Unless this was the kind of doctor that offered that too. That did happen.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal would offer just about anything if he felt like it.

"Well, why don't you come inside, then," Hannibal suggested again, gesturing toward the gate. "We can step into my office, and you can tell me why you might need one, and perhaps I can assist."

[1000yearstoolate]

That could be a really good or a really bad offer. Seivarden knew it was a risk, but at the moment she didn't much care.

"Fine. Do you have tea?"

Because why try to be polite when you have just been offered help.

[sharp_man]

Rude, Seivarden. Still, it was clear you weren't at your best.

"I do indeed; many sorts," Hannibal said, leading the way to the building that housed his office. "Do you have a preference?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"As long as it's good," Seivarden said, following Hannibal.

Hopefully she wouldn't end up being robbed, was the thought that passed through Seivarden's head. At least she had nothing of any value, which was a different problem.

[sharp_man]

Pfft. Please, Hannibal didn't rob people.

"Of course." Hannibal opened the door and led Seivarden into a nicely appointed waiting room and then into his office, which had a number of bookshelves, different styles of art on the walls, and several chairs and couches, with Hannibal's desk to one side.

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden might not be in a very good state, but she did notice that this place was expensive and tasteful. Well, at least some sort of tasteful.

She wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad sign.

Stopping for a moment, she leaned her back against a bookshelf, wiping her face.

"Nice place."

[sharp_man]

"Thank you," Hannibal said. "It's designed to be comfortable." He set about heating the water in a very expensive electric kettle. "I generally have hot water ready, but you've caught me," or the other way around, "before I see patients for the day, so I'm afraid we'll have to wait for it."

He picked up a box with a number of little tins of bagged and loose-leaf tea inside and brought it over to Seivarden. "Please, choose which tea you prefer."

[1000yearstoolate]

Her senses were dulled, but she could still smell the tea when she leaned forward. All of them smelled strange and unfamiliar, but not like the bad variety she had been forced to become used to.

"I'm not familiar with any of these. I'll leave the choice to you."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal nodded. "We'll start with a Nilgiri, then. Black tea, somewhat floral. It works well with a little sugar, or lemon if that's your preference."

He put the tea into a pot and waited for the water to boil. "Please, have a seat and tell me why you might need a doctor."

[1000yearstoolate]

It was a good sign when people knew the name of their tea.

Seivarden sank down on one of the couches and leaned her head back. "I feel like shit."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal chuckled. "That much, I could tell. Do you know the reason why, or aren't you certain?"

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden didn't reply immediately. She guessed the doctor would have some idea, unless this place was very unusual.

Eventually, she said: "Kef. I had too much, I know, but unless I find some more..."

If she was to get caught for it, it didn't matter if she admitted to it or not. And if she was lucky the doctor had some to sell, only she couldn't pay for it, which would be a problem.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal nodded, then came to sit close by but not too near. "I'm afraid I've never heard of this 'kef'. Can you tell me what it is or what it does?"