The story is exactly the sort Will expected from Hannibal, perfectly suited to Hannibal's talents in a way that will allow him to be an effective chameleon. Will's much more worried about his part, though the fact that Hannibal had two options for him in mind is intriguing. It speaks of Hannibal's hopes versus his pragmatism. Being realistic, Will being his student would establish a benign relationship between them, something with boundaries that they could easily fall safely within. But allowing an alternate option, one that would allow for the addition of the ability to be openly romantically entangled spoke very deeply to Hannibal's hopes for them.

"Then I'll be your colleague," Will replies, his fingers mapping the lines and planes of Hannibal's broad chest, learning each inch of his skin, every freckle and scar like a star chart. "And your lover," he adds, lifting his gaze to Hannibal's face, his eyes making contact with Hannibal's to convey how much he needs for Hannibal's status to be known to everyone else, how he needs to possess Hannibal as much as Hannibal needs to do the same with him.

"Have you arranged aliases for us?" Will asks, the tips of his fingers grazing one of Hannibal's nipples, knowing the touch is just on the edge of what he'll be allowed for the time being, the last bits of physically sexual intimacy between them until they arrive in Paris.