[Everyone knows who Hannibal's warden is; Mal and Slevin have never so much as spoken, but he knows who she is, what she is. He combs the networks meticulously even as he strives to stay under the radar. He may not know all the ins and outs, but one rule is common, and when he sees the red in her eyes he is satisfied.
But the murder itself, the vengeance, necessitated the blood around the room as well. His fervor let him get his hands dirty, let him lay hands on the dead best behind him as was done to him. It is unclear at best whether everything here is as intentional as it could be.
Slevin makes it no clearer. He expects to be killed, and when Mal blows through the door and throws herself right up against him, he backs a step but neither flees nor attacks. It's instinct alone that brings his hands up to hers around his throat, fingers trying to wedge into the gaps, choking on the air that can go neither forward nor back through his closed throat.
He swears but it only comes out as a cough, held spine-straight and tense-limbed, unyielding but cowed before her, wondering if she'll apply the last pound of pressure and everything will go dark. He doesn't try to stop it, but paints her skin with the blood on his instead.]
spam
But the murder itself, the vengeance, necessitated the blood around the room as well. His fervor let him get his hands dirty, let him lay hands on the dead best behind him as was done to him. It is unclear at best whether everything here is as intentional as it could be.
Slevin makes it no clearer. He expects to be killed, and when Mal blows through the door and throws herself right up against him, he backs a step but neither flees nor attacks. It's instinct alone that brings his hands up to hers around his throat, fingers trying to wedge into the gaps, choking on the air that can go neither forward nor back through his closed throat.
He swears but it only comes out as a cough, held spine-straight and tense-limbed, unyielding but cowed before her, wondering if she'll apply the last pound of pressure and everything will go dark. He doesn't try to stop it, but paints her skin with the blood on his instead.]