221B Recs

Title: Dégustation
Author: daasgrrl
Pairing: Mycroft Holmes/Hannibal Lecter
Length: 7799
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Minor character death
Verse: Sherlock (BBC) x Hannibal (NBC)

Author's summary: Hannibal meets up with an old friend for dinner. Amongst other things.

Reccer's comments: What do you know, it's the end of October already! Themed recs all around!

Mycroft uses Hannibal professionally, and Hannibal takes Mycroft apart for pleasure. Well, not that way, though one always has reason to worry. Worrying is half the fun in this unnerving game between complex and dark characters who might be underestimating each other.

Tags include painplay, edgeplay, implied cannibalism (there are also implied incestuous feelings). The author skirts around some very dark material without plunging right over the edge. Well, maybe a little dangling - it wouldn't be a crossover with Hannibal without archly revolting references to unsavory savories: "Before I set foot in here again, everything must be tidied away, do you understand? Including any … smells."

The pacing is languid but not frustrating. Hannibal and Mycroft both have secrets, and while the author gives us Hannibal's point of view, they don't give everything away at once - both characters' motives remain enticingly opaque. There's plenty of character development through conversation (and Hannibal's interior reflections), plenty of sensual pleasures, and plenty of spot-on imagery and turns of phrase.

Mycroft sighs as Hannibal’s fingers dig in, loosening his tight flesh, and Hannibal is irresistibly reminded of the way Japanese farmers massage their prize Wagyu cattle for the slaughter. He knows well how very tender that portion would be, just beneath the shoulder blade.

Read the follow-up, "Displacement," for more crossover cleverness and a couple of creepy twists. The action and implications get darker, though, be warned.