Okay so I am a sucker for data and surveys so I thought I could add to the uhhh discussion of daddy kink in the Hannibal fandom? For context, I’m a trans man, since you inquired about that earlier for an anon. For most daddy kink fics and just in general, it’s not so much of the title but more so the actual care and attention? And even for the title, I honestly prefer Dad over Daddy. My father was emotionally & physically abusive when I was younger, so there’s also that. I was sexually abused when I was younger as well, though the exact figure who did it is unknown. I relate to anon’s jealousy(?) of parental scenes with Abigail and Hannibal, as well as their unintentional sexualization of those scenes, but only when applied to them.
Oh how interesting, thank you so much for sharing, anon! It does add to the intriguing data hahaha.
I have a theory that this dynamic stems from how Will embodies qualities typically associated with femininity and the “girl dad” archetype, while Hannibal, rather than being his direct opposite, occupies a more complex and nuanced role. This could explain why, within the “daddy” niche, cis women tend to prefer Will, while trans men gravitate toward Hannibal.
To expand on this: Will’s affection is not contingent on anything other than existence itself, he loves without condition, without expectation. His is a passive, all-encompassing kind of care, making him fit the “girl dad” role; he would not demand much from a daughter, allowing her to explore the world freely, without judgment or constraint. Hannibal, by contrast, is a sculptor of those he loves. He does not simply accept: he refines, shapes, and nurtures toward an ideal. His child would not only be cherished but also carefully molded, held to high expectations, yet guided with precision and tenderness.
These preferences may reflect different paternal experiences. The cis women I’ve spoken to in this fandom often describe relationships with fathers marked by either abuse or an enmeshed, complicated bond. Meanwhile, many trans men recount a dynamic of maternal codependency or emotionally distant fathers, figures they perceived as cold or disappointed in them. These formative relationships seem to influence the way father figures are later internalized, idealized, and, at times, eroticized in fantasy.
Of course, this is a broad generalization based on patterns I’ve observed within this fandom, specifically among those engaged in this particular fantasy. If it doesn’t resonate with you, that’s entirely understandable…it’s not meant as a universal truth. What fascinates me is how these early dynamics shape the fantasies we construct around paternal love, authority, and desire.
I am in the camp that I would Will would call Hannibal daddy in bed, although I think it would mortify Will at first..... I think his repressions just wouldn't be able to stay repressed forever, especially with Hannibal and his aura. An older man, in control, exudes a type of comfort/safety, seems to be a natural caregiver (when he's not eating people of course lmao)
Hahaha, that’s certainly a theory, anon! I think Will is way too daddy himself to do it just out of a natural inclination, but I do think they would 100% roleplay, so in that context I think Will would love to call Hannibal daddy. And honestly? Lowkey vice versa!
Hi! I’m a cis queer woman and a fellow Hannibal fan ofc. While I don’t personally enjoy daddy kink or dynamics like that (even though I did have a rough childhood, which is a noted contributor), I think your impromptu poll on this is very interesting because it dips into a trend I’ve always noticed— people in the Hannibal fandom tend to be more open to or likely to participate in/have “harder” kinks or ones that society as a whole may find awkward or even taboo-adjacent. Many of us are also prone to enjoying contemplating and analyzing things more and have more of a philosophical-adjacent mindset than others. I think it’s very telling about this that the core message of the show is understanding and acceptance and that subjects like violence, manipulation, cannibalism, mutual power struggle, etc are things that contribute intrinsically to the character’s stories in a way that has a gloss of deeper meaning and symbolism. So I think it has a unique edge in drawing in people who are neurodivergent/live with mental disorders like BPD or DID, are queer, interested in certain kinks, or may otherwise be inclined to view those things more objectively in the fictional context and be more willing to think on them. Anyways. Those asks and responses of yours have been making me wonder what percent of the fandom is into daddy/mommy kink, harder kinks like knifeplay or bondage, monsterfucking, or have a different mindset around things like death, morality, connection, etc…. Maybe someone should make a big poll questionnaire lol. Thanks for reading my very lengthy ask that’s more of a letter to the blog author lol 🫶
Absolutely! The nature of the show contributed to the kind of people that participate in fandom, I think it’s why it has endured the test of time, frankly. Other fandoms who tend to be more prude, have a rotting quality to them. It gets exhausting after awhile. It’s tiring to feel as if you have to hide or over explain yourself all the time to avoid the flood of judgement. I love it here. I love our freaky little corner.
Milk, do you think that version of Will (from Shelter me) could realistically exist?
Some of it, I do. In my theory Will is schizophrenic so the episodes are likely to happen. That specific type of abuse? No, I don’t Will would become the perpetrator of this type of violence. His preferences seem to lie elsewhere, in the shady paths where he always remains a victim.
I'm curious to know how exactly the lack of boundaries manifests in Will and Mia and Hannibal and Amara or a hypothetical son!
For Hannibal, there is no perversion in his own perception of his nature. When he examines his daughter for breast cancer prevention, his touch is nothing but clinical, detached in the way only a man utterly at ease with himself can be. There is no lingering doubt, no moment of discomfort, just care, precise and untroubled.
Will, however, would feel wretched about that. It would gnaw at him, the difference between them, the unbearable weight of his own self-loathing and relentless self-judgment. Where Hannibal moves through the world unburdened, Will is trapped within his own mind, his every thought twisting in on itself, corrupting even the purest of intentions.
And so, Hannibal’s child can curl up in his lap without it meaning anything beyond affection and protection. There is no second thought, no underlying tension, just warmth, just closeness. But Will’s child cannot. Because the moment it happens, his repressed mind twists it into something else, something shameful, something dark. He recoils before the thought can fully form, but it lingers, poisoning everything. It’s why he keeps himself at a distance, why intimacy terrifies him, why he avoids relationships at all costs. It’s why, in season three, he saw Molly slaughtered. Because his mind sours everything.
there are a lot of asks about amara & mia's relationships with their fathers but can i ask would you want to share anything about the dolarhydes? i've never imagined francis in a parental role but the idea is very intriguing
Of course! Savannah was raised by her mother, the result of a fleeting, uncertain night between two people too young and too unsure of themselves to make anything more of it. Francis had been awkward, as had she, and though they had shared a kind of intimacy, it was never built to last. When she became pregnant, she didn’t tell him. She preferred solitude. And so she had Savannah alone, raising her in quiet isolation, with no family, few friends, and a life shaped by her own self-sufficiency.
She died when Savannah was sixteen, taken by cancer, but not before ensuring her daughter would have a place to go. She left her with Francis’ name. When the state tracked him down, Savannah had no choice but to go to him, she had no one else, no inheritance, nothing to tether her to the life she had before.
At first, they simply coexisted. Both quiet, both deeply introverted, they gave each other space, never intruding, never demanding more than the other was willing to give. But in time, comfort grew between them. Francis tried, really tried, to make her feel at home. She had always taken the bus before, but now, he drove her wherever she needed to go. He asked her what she liked to eat and made it for her. He ensured she was comfortable, that she had what she needed, that she felt safe. And she did. He was strange, but so was she. He respected her boundaries, and in time, she learned to respect his. She never opened the attic door. Never stepped inside his bedroom. Never went through his things. The complete opposite of Mia.
For a while, everything seemed fine. She noticed his moods…how sometimes he became more withdrawn, more tense, but he never let it spill over in front of her. Until one night.
She had fallen asleep on the couch. He came home late. She was barely awake when she felt him at her feet, sobbing. Confused, she asked what had happened. He told her he was fighting it for her, that he wanted to be strong, but he was afraid, afraid he wouldn’t be able to control it.
Immediately, she jolted upright, staggering back. It? Her mind went somewhere dark, somewhere she didn’t want it to go. She thought he meant her. That he meant something sexual.
And then he started walking toward her, still crying, howling, telling her the Dragon wanted her. Telling her to run.
She tried. She got to the door. But he was already there. He wasn’t Francis anymore. He was possessed. He grabbed her, held her too tight, and she screamed, but just as suddenly as it began, he broke. The thing inside him fractured, and he fell apart, collapsing at her feet. He spent the night sobbing in her lap, begging for forgiveness, telling her he could feel it, this creature crawling through his mind, twisting inside him.
She told him she could feel it too.
She didn’t understand why. She couldn’t explain it. But the way he touched her, the way he made her feel important awoke something in her that she didn’t want to run from. For the first time, she saw him not as a stranger, not as a distant, unknowable figure, but as her father. And she wanted more of that.
So she stayed. She tried to help him. And for a time, she thought she was succeeding. When he met Reba, she thought he was getting better. But then everything went downhill. And when it did, she saw the attic. And she ran.
Dolarhyde, in canon, is a reflection of Will, a man with immense capacity for love and care but no proper vessel for it. And when he finally finds one, when he finally feels it, it destroys him. Because the love they feel is too much. Too unbearable. Too all-consuming. And neither of them ever learned how to survive it.
Could I ask, what do you think would be a dynamic between Dolarhyde and a child of his with Reba in some world where the dragon can stay repressed just a bit longer?
Interesting thing to contemplate. I think if it was a boy, just like Will (they are very similar) he would project too much, see a mirror, be afraid the boy would turn out like him. A girl he would shelter way too much probably. See her as he saw Reba: precious and scared he could hurt. He would have a strange relationship with her. He loves her deeply but cannot connect on a obvious level or in the way he connected with Reba, through touch and affection. He would have a invisible connection with her, always there but not tangible, if that makes sense.
What do you think makes Will and Hannibal “identically different”?
If Will is the Moon, Hannibal is the Sun. Complementary, yet opposite. Identically different. They are two sides of the same coin. Yin and yang. Identical in their differences.
Hii Milk!🥺 Good to see signing me with the worm emoji was a great idea to make myself known even anonymously! I hope you don't hate me for the many questions I'm sending you haha.
This time not a question directed to Mia or Amara, but the old ask of the daddies' reaction to their daughter killing made me think of something else but I thought to wait a bit since we're all so hyped for Mia, Amara and Savannah😅
I don't know if you ever heard of a Yandere? A term used in mangas/fictional stories who talks about a girl/boy obsessed with someone so much that they go too far like stalking and killing anyone trying to get in their and their's crush way. But some cases of real yanderes existed, and the closest diagnosis of these 'lovesick' individuals would be BPD, ASPD and even DPD (according to Google and various symptoms).
Now, I'm not really into yandere stories because they are most of the time not well written and stereotyped to the bone. And also a personal reason of mine, because I had to deal with a lovesick individual myself. So this is why I tend to avoid these topic even if I'm finding them fascinating in some cases. And the case would be a thing I've been thinking a lot of times; What would be the reaction of the parents (who are equally messed up individuals, with a history of crimes behind their shoulders) to a potentional child that begans to show worrying signs as the time passes, and eventually finding the person, and everything begans to go low and lower?
So this is the question; What would be the reaction of Hannibal and Will, to a child (either male or female) who is showing problematic behaviour, especially when they grow and find the love of their life? Making them going extreme to get the person they adore?
Andddd I send an another long ask, sorry this sounds so sudden but y'know, the topics less discussed can turn in something interesting. I like to talk about my daydreamings/tales my brain suggest, so this is a warning itself.😭
-🐛
Hi worm 🐛, always nice to see you here!
I don’t think Will or Hannibal could judge their child for displaying lovesick behaviors hahaha. I think they would see a mirror of themselves. I think Hannibal would not discourage completely, and I think Will would let them know that it leads to very dark places. But ultimately they wouldn’t get in the way. They would be curious to see what happens.
goodoldmoon:
What Hannibal does is not coercion. It is persuasion.
Hannibal persuaded Will to kill him.
We often think of Hannibal as a man devoted to life, one who indulges in every pleasure, who immerses himself in beauty, who explicitly rejects suicide, even declaring in the final episode, “Suicide is the enemy.” Yet, what we truly witness is a man who constantly flirts with death. He is too self-possessed, too vain to end his own life directly, but he is also not so attached to life that he avoids its risks like most of us.
And then Will entered his world. Love entered his world.
Before that, Hannibal had very little tethering him to existence beyond frivolous indulgences and superficial pursuits. But once love touched his life, truly touched it, the thought of living without it became unbearable. And so, he discarded his life entirely, surrendering himself with the full knowledge that it would likely lead to a death sentence. Even when he was granted an insanity plea, he rejected it. He wanted to die.
But even before that.
So many moments where Will nearly killed him, and Hannibal never fought it. He accepted it, welcomed it. He stood before Will not as Judas but as Jesus, embracing his fate with open arms and a smile. Because oh, what a sweet release it would be to die in the hands of an angel, the most beautiful angel of death. Finally here to set him free, to take this hollow existence and make it mean something.
In the end, he could never kill himself.
But he would never stop love from doing it.
There is something almost mystical about naming our inner experiences. To take something abstract…an emotion, a longing, an undefined ache, and shape it into words is an act of manifestation, a process of making the intangible tangible. Language does not simply describe; it brings forth. And when someone else finds the words we could not, it is as if they have unlocked something inside us, a door we didn’t know was there.
This phenomenon is more than poetic, it is deeply psychological. Studies in affect labeling have shown that putting emotions into words regulates our nervous system, reducing emotional distress and increasing cognitive clarity. Naming what we feel gives us a sense of control, a way to structure and process the chaos of our inner world. This is why music, poetry, and literature resonate so profoundly; they articulate what we struggle to express, creating an immediate, visceral connection between us and the artist. When a songwriter captures our exact feeling in a lyric, or when a poet gives language to an experience we thought was inexpressible, it is as if we have been seen, understood, and, in a way, completed.
This idea also has a spiritual dimension. In many traditions, to name something is to invoke it into being. Words are acts of creation; they give form to what was previously formless. In this sense, language is not just a tool for communication but a means of birth, of taking something from the depths of our psyche and bringing it into the external world.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the way Hannibal and Will relate to one another. Their connection is forged, in part, through language. From the moment they meet, Hannibal begins naming Will’s unspoken truths. “No forts in the bone arena of your skull for the things you love,” he says, and Will looks shaken, almost shocked. It is the first of many moments where Hannibal puts words to what Will has always felt but never articulated. Each time this happens, we see Will’s expression shift, sometimes in realization, sometimes in relief, as if something long submerged has finally surfaced.
Because if you can name it, you can see it. And if you can see it, you can control it.
See? See?
Studies and Articles:
Affect Labeling: One, Two, Three, Four, Five
