fandomtownies | A Clearing in the Preserve: Summer's Last Party (As A Student); Sunday Night [05/06].

It was a damn good thing Summer had a big party to get ready for, because it was just the thing for her to channel all her anger into so she just didn't blow up and go ballistic or something, because her family was seriously the worst. There was plenty to do, too, moving everything from the dorms to the spot in the preserve she found that would be perfect, putting up lights, tables, getting a music system set up, marking a path through the woods so everyone could find it without a problem. She could throw herself into the work and into the glitterfication of everything to try to forget about how mad she was at her parents right now, but it wasn't helping as much as she thought it was. It might have to wait until the kegs and the jello shots started flowing.

And, of course, it didn't also didn't help that she'd barely just gotten into it when a yellow-shirted teenager with too big of a head showed up, standing nervously at the edge of the clearing without saying anything. Summer tried to work past it, but she could feel Morty's anxiousness radiating off of him, distracting her. "What do you want?" she demanded.

Morty's fingers tapped together. "I, uh, I wanted to say sorry," he said. "For Mom and Dad. That...that was, that was a really shitty thing they did.* And I know you hate us all and that you don't want to come home, but...I just...I-I just wanted to tell you that...that I'm really glad you're coming home, Summer. It-It's been really hard, dealing with all of this by myself. It's just..it's just not the same. So I'm glad. I'm glad you're coming home. Even if you're a bitch. I...I miss you."

And Summer stopped what she was doing, stringing up lights into the trees. Her shoulders sunk and she sighed. "God dammit, Morty."

She stopped and she went over to wrap her arms around him and give him a hug. "I miss you, too."

They took that moment and they held it for a little longer, because nothing was going to interrupt it or ruin it this time, and that in itself was a rare, special moment. But moments like that had a time limit, and before it started to get awkward, Summer pulled away. "But if you're going to crash my party," she said, "you could at least help out."

Morty smiled, trying not to make it too big. "Y-yeah, yeah, sure. Anything you want. Y-You...you got it, Sis."

"Ugh. Gross."

But with that, they got to work, and, in no time, the party was all set up. Lights strung up in the trees, a bonfire crackling in the middle of the clearing. Tables set up with the usual offerings of pizza and chips, hot dogs and s'more stuff to go with the fire, jellos of questionable content, a rainbow of jello shots, and a couple of kegs with plenty of red Solo cups. She had some party mixes playing through some rented speakers, and so now she just needed other people, because how lame would it be if the only person at her last party as a student here was her dorky little brother?

It could have been worse, though, she supposed.

___________________
*Which will remain vague until it's played out later, la.

[[ PARTY TIME! Everyone's welcome! And let's be crazy and fly OCD-free, too, why the heck not?]]

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It was amazing how word got around of these things. At some point during the evening, Hannibal showed up. He wasn't planning on staying, no, but he had presents for his TA and wanted to make certain that she got them.

There was very much still a part of Summer's brain that saw an authority figure wandering in on a party and instantly wanted to scream out that it was the fuzz and make everyone scatter. And then another part of her brain reminded her that, hey, she wasn't a student anymore. She was a graduate. That, arguably, totally made them peers right now.

So when she spotted Dr. Lecter, she let out a whoop and lifted her drink.

"Yo, Dr. L! You come to paaartay?"

Yes...she was...very much into those cups at this point.

It hadn't taken long.

Hannibal wouldn't have said they were peers, but he also had no interest in stopping students from partying if they were so inclined.

The drunk welcome was amusing, though.

"I am not," he assured her. "Somehow I doubt this will be my sort of party. However, I would like to congratulate you once more on your graduation. How does it feel?"

There was the briefest of pouts that he might not be sticking around, because that would be weird but somewhat fascinating, but it passed on quickly enough.

"To be honest?" At the question, Summer shrugged a little, then looked around, leaning in to whisper a little as if this next part should be a secret. "I don't really feel any different. But I do have some...very mixed emotions about it."

Hannibal nodded. "That is to be expected. I hope you know you can speak to me about anything, though. I am a very good listener."

"I'll..." Summer drew in a deep breath, "keep that in mind. Probably a better way to handle things, I guess, talking about it and...stuff."

Much better than, say, running off with wild abandon into post-apocalyptic Earths and going all warlord on everyone...

Well, the cannibalism was a good start!

Hannibal smiled. "I didn't come tonight to make you talk about things, either. I've brought you gifts. A going-away present for my TA."

"Awwww, Dr. L.!" Summer gushed, because clearly that was a thing now. "You didn't have to do that!"

Said, of course, in a tone that made it every clear that saying so was merely polite and expected, because presents were freaking awesome, especially presents from one of your favorite teachers.

No, scratch that. Definitely favorite, and that wasn't even the booze talking there.

Hannibal was always happy to be someone's favorite, even if he dearly hoped that the "Dr. L." thing was the booze talking.

"Of course not," he answered, "but I thought I ought to encourage your further learning."

Because he was horrible.

Also because if she thought she had the market cornered on 'disgusting jellied things' she needed to buy some more cookbooks.

He opened the cooler bag he'd brought with him and took out two jellied...things. The first one involved meats and vegetables, the second had whole fish 'swimming' in it. "Kholodets," he explained, "meat aspic, made either with pigs' feet which naturally jelly the broth, or with fish and gelatin. Traditionally served cold with horseradish sauce." He smirked and handed over a neatly-bound journal. "I've brought you several recipes for each."

The further learning part got a little bit of a look, but Summer had a feeling she knew where this was going, so it was pretty half-hearted. And when her suspicions were confirmed with the reveal of those absolutely awful things, she had to laugh with a weird mixture of pure joy and complete revulsion.

"Ohmygod," she said, "those are disgusting. I wish I hadn't had so much beer so I could appreciate these more without my stomach turning, but this is amazing. Did you say pigs' feet?"

"Yes," Hannibal confirmed. "You must use something with enough collagen to create its own gelatin. These are actually both quite flavorful, but I'm aware they are outside the standard for most modern Americans." He smirked. "Feel free to reward or punish people with them as you see fit."

"Great thing about starting this business in another galaxy," Summer chirped brightly, still somewhat fascinated by these beautiful, terrible creations set before her, "no preconceived notions of what's considered acceptable or gross to human society. Of course, life is so diverse out there that I am going to be careful not to be pushing too much stuff that might wind up looking like someone's grandma or something..."

"That is the beauty of shredded or ground meat," Hannibal pointed out. "Nobody will ever know what it used to look like."

He was fond of the whole fish, but if it looked too much like a sentient species, that might put some people off. Unfortunately.

A Clearing in the Preserve: Summer's Last Party (As A Student); Sunday Night [05/06].

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