[open] when you talk to me I'll hear you out

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict, anyone who isn't on the Rivain trip and/or banned from visiting the dungeons
WHAT: Bene's out of solitary and ready for friendly visitors!
WHEN: vaguely during the current plot, but kind of whenever
WHERE: the Gallows dungeon
NOTES: There will always be a Templar guard present, so murder attempts will unfortunately be thwarted.

Benedict has been once again granted the basic human dignity of being able to see and hear what's going on around him, at least as long as it's within the walls of the Gallows dungeon. It's a place built for mages, and the shackles he still wears keep his magic muted alongside the magebane that keeps him lethargic and unable to cast.
Sharp objects are out of the question, so his normally pristine lower face is stubbled in a way that would look quite ruggedly handsome on someone less haughty and miserable. And he's been wearing the same prison shift he was put in after his clothes finally became too unbearable, which is an insult in itself. Unlike Atticus, he no longer goes to the library, or outside at all, unless for a very good reason decided by someone other than himself.

He's still not a pleasant conversation partner, but Benedict is here and at the disposal of any visitors who might want to see the less cordial captive Vint.

Comments

[altusimperius]

The question is always the same, but these visits keep getting more nerve wracking with each new guest.
"What do you want?" Bene demands, guarded, not about to answer any questions until he has more context.

[fireandsmoke]

"Obviously, and as I already said," drawls the Dragon irritably as he readjusts and straddles the stool, "to know how you feel." He threads his fingers together and nets them beneath his smooth-shaven chin, bending forward as he speaks. "Benedict, was it? Well, don't tell me you're fine, because any common idiot can see you're not. Don't hold back. Be specific."

There's a smack of caginess to his impatient demand, like there certainly must be an ulterior motive behind it, but not one he is ready to share.

[altusimperius]

The Dragon's demeanor only rankles Benedict, and he sneers back, "I'm doing great, thanks for asking. The gruel was really top-notch this morning."

[fireandsmoke]

"You're eminently stellar at following directions, aren't you?" the Dragon cannot help but snort. "It certainly isn't your charming wit that got you pulled out of solitary." Though if it were him holding Benedict captive, he probably would have released him from confinement sooner, perhaps given him some allowances to lift his spirits. From the start he had the distinct impression that Benedict was just a pawn in the grand scheme of whatever plan his Master yanked him into, and perhaps a touch of gluttonous buttering would fatten his sensibilities to more open chatter.

"Very well, since you apparently require me to hold your hand through this line of questioning, you can tell me all about the effects of the Magebane they forced down your throat later," he skims over offhandedly. Not even a beat passes before he rapidly continues with, "For now, let's talk about how you're faring without your Magister holding your leash."

[altusimperius]

No doubt it would; Benedict has a reputation for being loose-lipped when he is in his cups, but at present he's too miserable to give more than the bare minimum.
"My leash?" he snarls, eyes flashing with incredulity, "my Magister? He has no real power over me, and any that he did have was granted by the grace of my house." The very idea seems to repulse him. "He can rot here for all I care."

[fireandsmoke]

Better off without the Magister, it seems. That is plenty of an answer for Sarkan.

"So why did you follow him and allow that impression, if he disgusts you that much?" the Dragon parries back briskly. "You're proud of your magic in the Tevinter Imperium. Certainly you could have found someone slightly more palatable and compatible than Atticus Vedici."

[altusimperius]

Still bristling, Benedict sneers at the question. "It wasn't up to me," he mutters, "my parents chose him." Doesn't this idiot know how apprenticeships work? "None of us could predicted the choice would be this poor."

[fireandsmoke]

Ah, parental arrangements. It is not unlike arranged marriages, in a twisted way, Sarkan supposes.

"Good," he says sharply. "You're better off without him stalking over your shoulder. I assume he is the one to get you into this mess?" All said with a sweep of his gloved hand referring to the prison at large. Of course he's fishing for information; did Atticus allow himself to get scooped up by the Inquisition, or was it all purely coincidence and bad luck that they ended up here together?

[altusimperius]

Benedict is startled, if not by Sarkan's question, than by the fact that he seems to be... on the same side? That's new.
"...yes," he answers hesitantly, anticipating a trap but not knowing what form it'll take. But to be fair, yes, Atticus is basically to blame for everything.

[fireandsmoke]

"I thought so," Sarkan says, his tone recalling the image of a smug, self-important house cat. He straightens in his stool and folds his arms across his breast.

"So now comes the question of how you will spend your time here now that you're stuck, and whether you will choose to be productive or defiant." Highly matter-of-fact. Definitely not compassionate. His face remains carefully and intentionally expressionless. "I advise you not to be an arrogant idiot, in your position. Did the guards let you to write a letter to your family?"

[altusimperius]

"My time? You mean the time that I'm spending entirely here?" Benedict folds his arms, his expression challenging Sarkan. "I don't know. They took it. Maybe it arrived, maybe it didn't, I wouldn't put anything past these charlatans."