OMG I LOVE 'DEAD WATER' SO MUCH. It's the other candidate for my favorite book in the series. Like you say, it's so OT3-y: Rose and Hannibal's devious plan to break the boat to rescue Ben! Rose cross-dressing in Hannibal's clothes at the end! Hannibal actually saying he loves them! ("Poverty can break a marriage, and I love you and Rose too much to want to see you turn on each other, as the poor so often do, and your happiness vanish for want of hope." and "I beg you, if you love me, get me a cup of coffee" and then "I think everyone who cares anything about me is here." AHHH.) Ben comparing himself to Hannibal's lover! ("I'm not going to be like the lady in the ballad," said January, who throws her glove into the lion's den simply to see if her suitor loves her enough to fetch it out. No love, quoth he, but vanity / Sets love a task like that.")
I totally did not guess the twist about Brendon the first time I read it, so I'm impressed you did. And the Underground Railroad! I love that being included.
Everything about Hannibal's duel absolutely breaks my heart, from him being so determined to die to protect Ben and Rose, and so sure of his own worthlessness, and them being so scared for him, and Ben being so proud of Hannibal's bravery and loyalty, and then Hannibal's absolute grief at having killed someone, and then Rose watching over him- just aahhhhh, it's amazing. I really want the fic where they get to tell him he's not actually responsible for Molloy's death.
Dead and Buried! You finally get Hannibal's backstory. I love the Januarys repeatedly trying to get Hannibal to move in with them, and him refusing out of concern for them. I love Rose's school and all three of them as teachers! Ah, the scene where Hannibal refuses to leave town with Ben and he's so scared and Ben is so gentle with him! Hannibal's son! Hannibal's wife! Giving up his addictions! I also really would love Ben-and-Hannibal-in-Paris fic. And I want Rose fic during this book, since she barely interacts with Hannibal at all, and I want to know what she thinks of all the new information.
(The flashback to Ben and Hannibal's first meeting is at the beginning of Days of the Dead, actually.)
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Date: 2014-03-13 02:10 am (UTC)I totally did not guess the twist about Brendon the first time I read it, so I'm impressed you did. And the Underground Railroad! I love that being included.
Everything about Hannibal's duel absolutely breaks my heart, from him being so determined to die to protect Ben and Rose, and so sure of his own worthlessness, and them being so scared for him, and Ben being so proud of Hannibal's bravery and loyalty, and then Hannibal's absolute grief at having killed someone, and then Rose watching over him- just aahhhhh, it's amazing. I really want the fic where they get to tell him he's not actually responsible for Molloy's death.
Dead and Buried! You finally get Hannibal's backstory. I love the Januarys repeatedly trying to get Hannibal to move in with them, and him refusing out of concern for them. I love Rose's school and all three of them as teachers! Ah, the scene where Hannibal refuses to leave town with Ben and he's so scared and Ben is so gentle with him! Hannibal's son! Hannibal's wife! Giving up his addictions! I also really would love Ben-and-Hannibal-in-Paris fic. And I want Rose fic during this book, since she barely interacts with Hannibal at all, and I want to know what she thinks of all the new information.
(The flashback to Ben and Hannibal's first meeting is at the beginning of Days of the Dead, actually.)