I do not own Hannibal. I do bend the timeline a touch for my design. My apologies if this offends you. Please be advised this writing contains strong language and violence.
Eliana Shaw was a bright young woman of twenty-two. Her natural hair color was brown, but she chose to dye it red. In the beginning, it was a patch job, very spotty. She had perfected it by the time she was sixteen. She had gone from foster home to orphanage, then foster home to foster home. That was her childhood in a nutshell. Her mother had chosen to give her up so she never once tried to look for her. She had ordered the papers sealed, anyway. So nothing she could do there. Legally.
At the moment, she was climbing up the steps of the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, her cane tapping against the concrete. She had an accident that broke her left leg during her time at the orphanage, which one she had no idea. But they hadn't wanted to pay for the hospital fee so they simply wrapped it and hoped for the best. That orphanage no longer existed, she had seen to that. She wore a long black skirt and a white blouse, a cravat at her neck. She was fond of older fashion at times. Regardless, she was here for an interview for the position of secretary of Doctor Frederick Chilton. She stopped at the front desk, going through the tedious process of checking in, getting the visitor clip. She settled down in the chair, glancing at her watch. Five half past. Ten. Fifteen.
"This way, please." A man said from the doorway, twirling his badge and looking bored. A lanky orderly with dark hair. She stood, pushing herself up with her cane and following after him. She ignored the way he leered at her, trying to take a peek down her blouse. She also ignored the howls and screams of residents but couldn't ignore the chill that it sent down her spine.
The orderly stopped outside a door with Frederick Chilton's name on it, knocking with a half assed knock and pushing the door open. "Have fun, sweetheart." He smirked, strolling down the hallway. Eliana stepped in, shutting the door behind her.
"Doctor Chilton, my name is-" She began, only to be interrupted.
"Eliana Shaw, not your real last name. You do not have one. Unknown parentage, average skills." Frederick looked up at her, keeping his eyes on her expression. She kept it carefully blank, he imagined she had practice at that. "My fourth candidate for this position. Why should I have you handle my paperwork?"
She rested her hands on her cane in front of her. "As you said, I have average skills. Paperwork and desk work is within my capabilities. If not, send me away. Simple as that." Her tone was blunt.
"Cater to my own arrogance in the hopes that I hire you, an admirable attempt at manipulation." Chilton smirked a little.
"Manipulation requires a base form of a relationship or idea to manipulate." She pointed out. "You indirectly flatter me by stating that I know how to play you, Doctor Chilton."
He was staring at her a touch incredulously before he laughed. "Tell me, Miss Shaw, have you much experience in the psychology field? Your response makes me believe so and I am quite good at what I do."
Despite herself, she did turn a bit red. "I have read several books about the topic, Doctor Chilton. As you so kindly pointed out, I have no idea as to my parentage. I was hoping perhaps to understand the reasoning behind being abandoned."
"And did you understand it?" He asked, he was somewhat curious. This woman was the most entertaining candidate so far…
"I've decided it was done out of selfishness. Now, should you hire me, I expect a secure location away from the residents here. I assume coffee is available? I would imagine so, this work must be so draining." She continued, idly studying her cane. She was trying to look bored.
Chilton stared at her a few moments longer, analyzing her. He had originally assumed that she was going to be the typical sob story. Abandoned by parents, likely abused in the system. Yet there was something else to her. Something hidden behind that cold exterior. Or perhaps he was right and she was an average woman. Regardless, he did need a secretary.
"You can have the job. If you should walk anywhere within the bounds of the residents, I must ask that you leave your cane behind. I imagine it would be most unpleasant to be beaten to death with it." He said it in a serious tone with a smirk. "You start tomorrow, eight in the morning on the dot. I shall have everything set up for you by then and we can sign off on paperwork making it official."
Eliana stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "I will see you tomorrow, Doctor Chilton." She stepped out of the room, making her way back down the hallway and depositing her visitor badge at the front desk. As she stepped out into the crisp air of Baltimore, she gave a soft sigh. That was done. She had errands to run. God knows she didn't want to. People are exhausting.