OOM: For Sinric

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal's office is brightly lit today, the windows open to let in grey wintery light which washes palely over the furniture and art.

The pictures are Tang dynasty landscape paintings today, interspersed with court scenes of officials wearing complex hats.

Hannibal politely gestures at the couch, then goes to fetch the wine glasses.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods his thanks and wanders towards the couch, via the art on the wall. "The hats really are ridiculous." He sighs, moving to the couch and shedding his little felt slippers so he can fold his legs under himself. "But with their system of governance, some badge of honour is required."

[cook_the_rude]

"There is that system of universal exams for all officials, isn't it? And the hats then denote the ranks as they climb through them?" Hannibal says. "It is at least a sensible and fair attempt at general standards."

[thewidewideworld]

"There is. So, in theory, those of even the most humble of birth can rise the positions of power if they have the aptitude. However the test do favour the well educated and therefore, the more noble of birth."

"It is one of the reasons Zhi, Yan's wife, tolerates me. I tutor their sons in Latin and Greek, and the ways of the western courts. It will bring them great advantage when they seek official positions."

[cook_the_rude]

"In theory, if they can get the education, anybody can rise," Hannibal says, "and as far as I know, some people actually did."

[thewidewideworld]

"True and some do. But there is still something of a divide between the education and the uneducated, even within families."

[cook_the_rude]

"There always is," Hannibal says. "The rich can always give their children a better start in life."

[thewidewideworld]

"And eldest sons are a family's greatest hope at honour, if not always the most capable or deserving." He gesture for Hannibal to join him if he wishes. "There are times I can't help but wonder at my own heritage. If perhaps I was a lesser son to be sold off rather than fed."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal sits beside him, and puts his arm around him.

"You might even have been stolen for your pretty golden hair," he says.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric leans into the embrace, resting his head in Hannibal's shoulder. "Perhaps. But it was that golden hair that attracted the court buyer's eye and later, Constantine's. Without it, I might never have been his."

[cook_the_rude]

"It was your ticket into the world that you now live in, in the wings of world history," Hannibal says.

He reaches over to pour wine for them both.

[thewidewideworld]

"But it also makes me an outsider, marks me out in a crowd. That is not always something I take pride in these days."

[cook_the_rude]

"It must be odd, among hundreds of thousands of Chinese," Hannibal muses, offering him one of the glasses.

[thewidewideworld]

"It is." He takes the wine with a grateful nod and savours the first slow sip of it, remembering the pleasures of good Italian wine. "To them I am some alien thing. When so few of them have seen a westerner so close. I feel like a wear a mask more often than my own skin."

[cook_the_rude]

"Do you have a wig to hide your hair if you want to?" Hannibal asks.

[thewidewideworld]

"Sometime I darken it, to make myself stand out less. But it doesn't seem to do my hair any good." He snorts softly. "For all my complaining, I'm still very vain about my hair."

[cook_the_rude]

"Why not a wig?" Hannibal asks. "That would be better for your own hair."

[thewidewideworld]

"It would. I had not thought of such a thing. Perhaps the bar can provide me with one."

[cook_the_rude]

"You shouldn't leave without it," Hannibal says.

[thewidewideworld]

"Then I shall do so, and ask her for some robes as well. It seems easier to dress as a woman when I want to be unnoticed." He sips the wine, letting it warm him.

[cook_the_rude]

"You're not so tall that you'd stand out," Hannibal says.

[thewidewideworld]

"No. It is strange not to seems so short in a crowd. Although Yan is easily a head taller than me. I don't doubt his sons will be too."

He lets his hand fall, resting comfortably on the arm Hannibal has around his shoulders.

[cook_the_rude]

"That is a definite advantage," Hannibal says, warmly putting his hand over Sinric's.

[thewidewideworld]

It's nice, just to be held so. Especially somewhere as familiar and comforting as Hannibal's office. He relaxes a little more, reminding himself that he's safe. His fingers entwine with Hannibal's, focusing on the soft slide of skin.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal leans in to kiss his cheek.

[thewidewideworld]

The kiss is warming and he closes his eyes, squeezing Hannibal's hand. He sighs and turns a little to return the kiss to the corner of Hannibal's mouth.