Dr. Lecter stands at the marble countertop of his bathroom, adjusting his black silk necktie. He opens the cabinet to his left and takes out a bottle of Italian cologne from the Pharmacia de Santa Maria Novella in Florence. He applies the cologne limitedly and twists the top back onto the bottle. All of his movements are purposeful and coordinated; it seems impossible for him to make a mistake in his precision and accuracy.
Lecter stood thinking about the evening that was laid out before them. In the next room he could hear Clarice moving around as she readied herself for their evening together. What would become of them, by the end of this night? He smiled quietly to himself, knowing that there was absolutely no way of for-seeing Starling's actions or behavior. Clarice was completely unpredictable to him and always would be, regardless of how intimate he became with her.
Lecter strolled out into his open bedroom and flicked on the stereo, allowing Chopin's Raindrop Prelude to fill the air, as he stepped into his shoes and found his jacket while making some final preparations for the evening. Dr. Lecter knew that their night together could very well be either their last together, or the first of many. Tonight will be the night to end all nights, either way. He tossed the jacket over his shoulder, used the remote to turn off the speakers, and turned to stroll out the door of his bedroom.
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Clarice sat in her chaise at her vanity, buckling the straps of her heels and applying last minute touches to her upswept hair. She chose to apply very limited makeup; only a dash of grey color on her eyelids and a bit of mascara. Her hair was clipped up, but Clarice was dismayed when, after much struggling, she still was not able to make every piece of hair stay on top of her head; but in the end she relented and allowed the few stray pieces to fall around her face and neck.
The dress she had found in her boudoir was a long evening gown. It was simple; silk, strapless, and a deep, emerald-sapphire color. The dress clung to her every curve; she felt more elegant and sophisticated than she had ever before. Being in the presence of Dr. Lecter seemed to have that effect on her.
She grabbed a small purse and jacket before switching off the lights to her bedroom and then heading towards the stairs. Somehow, this night is significant, she thought, as she walked down the steps. She breathed in deeply when she saw Dr. Lecter standing by the fireplace, waiting for her.
He turned to face her but said nothing, his mouth parting slightly as he took in her full form.
She stood on the bottom stair, steadying herself by resting her hand on the banister. His arms hung limply at his sides, and the moment seemed to stretch out before them. "Clarice, words fail me at the moment," he finally said, still taking in her vision.
She laughed lightly. "Well, we should make a point to document this somehow, because that must be a first," she said with a nervous smile, walking off the step to join him in the study.
He did not reply, but walked over to her side, and reached out to grasp her hand and place a light kiss there. Waves of electric shock flowed through her as his lips brushed over the tops of her knuckles. "As long as I live, I will always remember you as you are tonight," he said softly, still holding her hand.
She couldn't find it within her to reply or smile back. She simply looked back at him, and the distance between them suddenly seemed very small. But Dr. Lecter broke the connection by releasing her hand, and sighing. "Well then, I believe we should get a move on if we plan to make it in time for our reservations."
"Hmm, and what would those reservations be?" She asked slyly.
He shook his head with a small grin. "You know better than to ask me that. Shall we go?" He extended his arm for her, which she took hold of as they left the house to head out towards the car. Lecter led her to the passenger side door and opened it for her, and then climbed into the driver's seat.
They drove down a long driveway until they reached a main road, which still seemed to be in the middle of the woods but soon connected to the thruway heading South towards the city. Their conversation in the car was light-hearted and pleasant, and Clarice felt better than she had in weeks.
After about an hour's drive, the Jaguar pulled into downtown Manhattan and stopped outside a theatre. A valet took the car from Dr. Lecter, and the two then went inside. When they entered the front hall Clarice looked around, taking in the grandeur of the marble and gold-leafed stencil work of the theatre. To her, it looked like nothing short of a palace.
The pair was escorted up to a private balcony by an usher. Clarice quickly noticed that wherever they were Dr. Lecter was able to find some way to either be close to her or touch her. When walking up the steps into the theatre he had gently placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her as they walked through the front doors. And once they had reached the balcony, Dr. Lecter had taken off Clarice's jacket for her while letting his hand follow the contours of her shoulder and then lightly trace down her arms, feeling the softness of her exposed skin. The touch did not go unnoticed, and sent a series of riveting chills down the base of her spine. Dr. Lecter sensed the waves of pleasure ripple through her.
The two sat as the crowd below them wandered in to the theatre, searching for their seats. Clarice felt very safe and sheltered up in her seat, high above the mass of people below her. Dr. Lecter quietly leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I hope you enjoy the theatre, Clarice, but I hope I was not too presumptuous in believing you would. The opera is entitled "L'Orfeo," I'm sure you have heard of it."
Clarice nodded softly. L'Orfeo was based upon the Greek myth of Orpheus and his lost love, Eurydice, who was taken from him to the underworld. Clarice couldn't help but think that, somehow, there was some sort of coincidence between the theme of the possibility of lost love and her current situation. Damn him for choosing this play, she thought bitterly. But she was left with no time to think, as the lights in the house dimmed and Lecter handed her a pair of opera glasses, showing her how to use them. Then the curtain rose and the show began.
Throughout the entire performance Clarice sat and watched intently, completely absorbed in the story. Many times throughout the show she felt Lecter watching her, as she sat looking down on the stage below her. During the scene where Orpheus lost Eurydice to the underworld for the last time, Clarice's hand covered her mouth as she watched in angst. The closing scene caused tears to form in the corners of her eyes, and one managed to escape and roll slowly down her face. As they stood for the final applause, Lecter turned to face her and held her face in his hands as he wiped away the single tear, letting his hands remain cupping her face and softly caressing her cheekbone with his thumb, as he whispered "Shh" to comfort her. Her eyes softened at his touch and her hand traveled up to cover his own, but the moment slowly came to an end as the lights of the theatre came back on and the crowd below rose to leave. Lecter gave her a soft smile, and suggested that they should head down the stairs to claim their car and make their way to the restaurant. She nodded quietly, and he guided her down into the hall and out to the front of the theatre. The valet pulled up with the car and the pair drove a few blocks to a high-scale restaurant. They were seated at a reserved, smaller table in a more quiet section of the restaurant. Clarice thought it looked like a scene out of the Great Gatsby, with the many dressed up couples, and the soft candlelight and quiet, elegant music. The mood was set, and the tension in the air was palpable to both of them. Clarice could tell that Lecter had planned this setting for them, and was sure that his comforting nature at the opera probably would not last the entire night; he enjoyed pushing her, and she was prepared for whatever might lie ahead.
"I have no idea what to order," Clarice remarked as she searched the menu. All the items looked delicious, and she couldn't make up her mind.
"Hmm. Well, Clarice, may I suggest the lamb? It sounds enticing, don't you agree?" He looked at her from above his menu, but remained completely calm and unreadable.
"Well, I'd love to try the lamb, Doctor, but only if you agree to try the side dish of 'Go to Hell," she replied sweetly, smiling at him.
He laughed softly. "Oh my dear, I don't mean to anger you, it's only all in fun. Do you remember what I told you, all those years ago?"
"That I need to get more fun out of life," she replied, without missing a beat.
"Very good, I'm glad to see that you've remembered all of our conversations as thoroughly as I have."
"'Interrogations' would be more fitting a description I think, Doctor. You coerced me into telling you very private information, in return for clues about something that did not even remotely concern you. I think it quite obvious that you gained the upper hand from the very beginning since you were in the position to learn quite a bit about me, while I still have no insight into what you are thinking."
"Of course you are right, Clarice. But I am not what you call an 'open book,' so to speak. I don't feel the need for the rest of the world to know what is on my agenda or what it is that I want."
"Yes, well in some cases, wouldn't you agree that in order to obtain that which you hope to gain, you have to make your intentions clear?" She asked, agitatedly.
"Yes, in some cases, I do believe so." He then leaned in towards her, away from the back of his chair, and lowered his tone quietly. "Yet while many of my wants and desires are implied, Clarice, I think they should be quite obvious to you."
His words were subtle, but dripping with insinuation. Clarice's eyes widened as his words caressed her; she felt her entire body go hot at the implications in his tone. But the moment was broken when their waiter abruptly appeared to take their orders.
For the rest of the evening Lecter remained courteous and calm, keeping the conversation light as the two enjoyed their meal. The evening flew by quickly, and soon the Doctor had paid the check and stood with Clarice to leave. He escorted her out of the restaurant to the front, where a valet was waiting with the Jaguar. But instead of moving to the car, Lecter stopped her underneath the awning that sheltered the front of the restaurant. Clarice noticed that it had begun to rain.
"What are we doing? Why aren't we getting in the car?"
"If you'll notice, Clarice, there are two cars parked here. There is my car, but I have arranged for an alternate way of transportation for you, should you decide to use it." He nodded in the direction of a dark sedan, parked ahead of the Jaguar. "I have decided that you are no longer in need of my assistance, and I am now allowing you to leave if you wish to do so. The man who is driving this car will take you anywhere you wish to go; whether it be to home in Arlington and back to the FBI, or to the nearest police department, it does not matter. However, once you leave here, then you have my word that I will never make an attempt to contact or visit you again. I will leave your life permanently, if that is what you truly wish. On the other hand, however, you have the option staying with me. But this is my final offer, Clarice, and the time is now for you to make your decision."
She stood there looking at him, speechless and utterly lost.
"I…I don't know what I want, Doctor."
"Yes you do. Truthfully, you have known all along. The question is whether you are brave enough to face the truth."
She stared at him blankly, then shut her eyes tightly, trying to block out his face and his voice, as she ran her hands through her hair and down to cover her face. He stood there motionless, leaving her room to think and contemplate, to weigh and to measure.
After a short time she slowly opened her eyes, but refused to look him in the face. She focused on her shoes and the ground below her, trying to will it to steady and stop spinning beneath her. She shook her head, and said quietly "I can't do this." She looked up into his face, but found it difficult to breathe when she looked him in the eye. "I don't know how to do this, Doctor."
He grasped her at her shoulders and leaned in towards her face. "Yes, you do, Clarice," he whispered fiercely.
She shook her head violently and backed away, out from under the awning where she stood and into the downpour of water. A curtain of rain protected her like a comfortable boundary between herself and Lecter's maddening gaze. Her lovely emerald dress turned a deep shade of green as the rain soaked her, and pieces of her hair fell down and around her face. She turned to walk towards the sedan, but when she reached the door she could not bring herself to open it. She banged her fist on the car in her frustration and threw her head back, up towards the black sky, crying tears of confusion and resentment. She rested her palms on the top of the car and laid her head down, trying to breathe. She knew exactly what she wanted; she wanted to be with the man who was standing back underneath the safety and dryness of the awning. All she wanted was to turn around and run back to him, and follow him to their car to go home, safe from the rest of the unforgiving world. But she didn't know how to let go; how could she let go? Her father and Jack Crawford and Pearsall and Ardelia all stood there, watching the conflicting battle in her mind taking place, quietly shaking their heads in their disapproval. She was surrounded by a crowd of empty faces who wouldn't help her, as she drowned in her own regret and denial.
But just as she felt herself sinking in the crowd, a hand reached out of the crowd and pulled her up off her knees. Dr. Lecter helped her stand and quietly calmed her, smiling at her as he embraced her in the warmth and comfort of his arms. And then she felt all of her walls crumble and the earth shatter, and then reassemble itself in the eyes of one man who, in that moment, would become her entire existence.
Slowly she began to drift back to reality, with the car humming underneath her hands. She opened her eyes and raised her head, breathing in the damp night air. She turned to face Lecter and took a few short steps towards him, but found that she could not close the distance. He came out into the rain to meet her, and stopped a short foot away.
"Have you decided, Clarice?" He asked softly, but already knew her answer.
She nodded in her weariness and defeat, as tears rolled down her face. She looked into his eyes and was terrified, but felt the universe shifting with the weight of her decision to comply with her true wants and desires, to finally fulfill what she needed. "Take me home with you, Doctor."
He smiled softly as he gently reached out to move a strand of her hair that was plastered to her face and nodded. He guided her back to the solitude and warmth of the Jaguar, where she sat seated in the solitude of the car as he raced around the front to get into the driver's seat. As the rain continued to pour upon the city, the couple quickly collected themselves and drove away from the restaurant towards home.