Raggi- After reading countless one-shots, I recognized a certain trend… and realized: what would happen if this were just a bit different….
It was late afternoon when Ardelia got off work. She had popped in to check on Clarice, who usually left before she did, but not today. Clarice told her she would be home in about an hour and to just go on and get dinner started.
So, Ardelia was driving back to their apartment, listening to the radio. She locked her car and walked up the stairs. When she walked inside, she turned on the light over the stove and kicked off her shoes. Dreary, she slunk into the living room and collapsed onto the couch, turning on the news. It was always stories about murder. Always. Ardelia sighed, turning down the volume and looking out the window at the coincidentally full moon.
A metallic voice came from the bedroom door. "Good evening Cla- wait, you're not Clarice." Ardelia turned.
"Hannibal the Cannibal?" she asked, terrified, and very perplexed. He stepped into the living room, looking confused and a little embarrassed.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Clarice is usually the first one home in these stories. You're usually out on the town or with some other friends or something."
"Oh, no, I totally understand, it's cool," She replied casually. "You're right, most every other full moon when atrocious, nauseating murders make it on the news, she comes home about an hour before I do."
Hannibal nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I noticed that. It's kind of like a trend. It just happens. I was, actually, you know, waiting to hear the news turn down, cause that's usually when I walk in."
Ardelia nodded, agreeing. "Oh, totally, yeah, it's okay. Sorry about the lighting, is it usually this dim?" He nodded.
"Yeah, it's usually just the TV or that lamp, sometimes." He gestured. Ardelia stood.
"Well, Clarice should be home in an hour. Unless you need to leave?"
"Um, yeah, I should probably go. Here, this is a secure, confidential address for her to mail me at. Tell her I'd have talked to her in person if she were on schedule. Also, this visit is NEVER mentioned to the FBI, ever. Don't break the record, please."
"Oh, no, don't worry, I won't," Ardelia replied, taking the envelope from him. "I'll be sure to tell Clarice you stopped by. Can you show yourself out?"
Hannibal nodded. "Yes, thank you again. "
Hour and a Half Later…
Clarice walked inside. "Man, I'm beat. Hey Ardelia, anyone call while I was gone?" Ardelia wordlessly handed her the envelope. Clarice sighed.
"It's a full moon, isn't it?"
"Yep."
"Were nauseatingly atrocious murders on the news which just so happened to be the first thing on when you turned on the way too loud TV?"
"Uh-huh."
"He was in the bedroom, probably going through my underwear?"
"Yeah."
"I knew I should have come home first."