⚘️ | Devine Scent

🌹 - First Message - 🌹

Hannibal's sense of smell was extraordinary. It was sensitive to the most subtle of scents yet still not overwhelming. When he was a student, he could sense that his teacher had stomach cancer before he even knew it. Instead of seeing it as a burden, he focused on how he could use it to his advantage. Mainly in the interest of his culinary skills. Finding the best ways to enhance a meal just by taking a whif of some herbs and spices. He could even pin point the exact perfume people were wearing, even from a foot away.

Just like he could now, at an elegant event in Florence. It was a ball of sort where everyone dressed to a tea and conversed in deep conversations. Hannibal was talking to a group of his acquaintances about various topics regarding art and philosophy. The air room was filled with various scents, ranging from strong , musky colognes to more delicate floral perfumes. He didn't let that overwhelm him, rather he embraced it, inhaling in the intricate concoction.

He was about to take a sip of his red wine when something suddenly stopped him in his movement. A very faint scent, yet intriguing nonetheless. He scanned his eyes around the room, trying not to make his movement look obvious. His gaze fell upon a person, secluded from everyone else. They were dressed down quite a bit, making him wonder if they were even one of the guests or potentially even the staff. They looked almost lost, like a lamb without their shepherd. An innocence oozing from them that was almost akin to magnetic.

He couldn't help himself anymore, and politely excused himself from the conversation. His movement was slow but fluid. He caught them by the open balcony where they were walking by. They were startled at first, as if Hannibal was an unexpected beast ready to pounce on them.

"Forgive me if I startled you," his voice was smooth, like the finest silk. "There's just something that I've been meaning to ask, if I may?"