[open] but I'll soon find out, that's for sure

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict, Kit, Anders, anyone else who wants to visit
WHAT: He's still in baby jail! Everything is terrible!
WHEN: Harvestmere
WHERE: the Kirkwall dungeon
NOTES: even though his beard is gross he wears it well

It's been months now, and Benedict has lost track of time. He's aware via the draft coming in from the dungeon door, when it opens, that the weather has grown colder, and he's picked up via context in the guards' chatter that Satinalia's coming up fairly soon. That means they're well into autumn, and he's still here, and that's all he knows. If his family ever received his letter, if it was ever sent at all, he hasn't heard back and has begun to doubt he will.

Occasional card games with Kit and the books granted by generous souls only stave off boredom for so long, and Benedict has taken to long stretches of time wherein he just stares at the wall, not quite sleeping, not forcing himself to operate at full capacity. The boredom is torture in itself. That and the limited access to basic hygiene, but by now Benedict has accepted that he will smell and itch and have an awful scrubby beard and there's nothing he can do to change that.

Perhaps all this would be manageable on some level if it weren't for the magebane, which keeps him constantly drained and sluggish, and which he has no choice but to consume now that the hunger strike has long since become untenable. He's fallen into a state of dull acceptance, still sullen but with little left of the fire.

Of course it wouldn't take long to break him, before this he'd never known a day's hardship in his life. This isn't even hardship, it's just nothing. It's hard not to wonder if maybe the Tranquil have a point.

Comments

[altusimperius]

As Anders continues, the wrenching fear fills Benedict's chest, and he wraps his blanket around himself, resting his mouth on it as he curls over his knees. How is this even a conversation, how could it come to this? How is it a reality that he has to prepare for?
He didn't do anything.
"My mother would stop it," he murmurs, his eyes tearing up in spite of himself, "she would kill them before they could try."

[justice_is_blond]

Make that estimate even younger.

"I'm sorry." It's heartfelt. "I will do what I can so that it does not get to that point. And I will deal with Knight-Commander Norrington for the taunting because that's uncalled for. I..."

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry that I'm limited. I'm sorry that you've been left down here so long. And I wish I'd more to offer. Can I, is there anything I could bring you?"

[altusimperius]

The apology has its intended effect, and Benedict nods, comforted slightly. It's rare that he feels he has an ally here, but at this point he'll take what he can get.
And... you know, what he can get someone to give him.
"...better food?" he requests, carefully. Kit gives him cigarettes and plays cards with him, and he's been lent a book or two. It's hardly a life, but at least those bases are covered. "And... a bath," he adds, suddenly despondent. The worst part of all this is feeling so revolting. Even animals can clean themselves.

[justice_is_blond]

Both of those are entirely reasonable. Anders nods. "I can certainly do better food. Not every day, I'm afraid, but on days I've shifts at the infirmaries I can deliver food down here. Baths... I'll speak with your guards on the way out. If they can't manage to see to treating you with basic decency, at least I can bring a bucket and cloth down here and fill the one with hot water."

There'd been nothing for him when he'd been in solitary for a year, and he knows how miserable it felt. It's a cruelty that isn't deserved.

"We can make this a little better for you."

[altusimperius]

Months ago, Benedict would have curled his lip and rolled his eyes at what he'd consider incompetence and unwillingness to go along with fairly uncomplicated requests. Now, it's relief that crosses his face, a faint smile as desperate and hopeful as a child being promised a cake if he's good.
"Really?" he asks, curling his fingers around the bars. "...you'd do that?"

[justice_is_blond]

"Yes." He doesn't know the mage enough to say that he'd do it just for Benedict, but he recognizes the situation.

"I would, and I will." Hopefully there will be a little less darkness in this place, metaphorically speaking. Anders stretches slowly.

"I need to head out for now, I'm afraid." The walls are feeling a little too close around him, and there's work to be done as there always is. "But I'll see you again before long, Benedict."

[altusimperius]

The boy's face falls, but he tries not to throw a fit, not while this is only the second of many people who has shown kindness toward him. "...fine," he concedes, the best he can do, "...see you later, then." He sounds disappointed, perhaps a bit sullen, but that comes with the territory.

[justice_is_blond]

"This is only for now," Anders says gently as he gets up. He can't fault the boy too much here, but there's no doubt he's used to far more kindness in Tevinter than southern mages could ever have expected.

On his way out, Anders stops by the guards and makes his request. He doesn't expect them to follow up on it, but he will go a little further and talk with Norrington about this too.