[open] tiptoe through the window

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict and yoooou
WHAT: though still very much under supervision, Bene is out of confinement and Ready To Party
WHEN: Wintermarch
WHERE: The Gallows mostly
NOTES: Always assume there's a Templar nearby. If you're the Templar, that should be easy

I. Out and About

If one didn't know Benedict is a prisoner, and if he weren't dressed in the plain garb of an Inquisition Nobody, one might think he's a visiting prince. Which... in a sense he is, though the visit is somewhat less on his terms and is still essentially captivity.
However, he is now allowed outside, able to walk around and do things and look at people, often with the kind of scrutinizing gaze one might expect from a duchess eyeing a lizard on the ground. He's not here to make friends, he's here to be Kirkwall's Next Top Model.
Or to just. ....wait things out. Whatever the case, he's in transit and acting very needlessly fancy about it.

II. The Library

He tried to continue his Boredom Strike within the quarters assigned to him by the Inquisition, but Benedict did, after some weeks, eventually cave. He's back to researching rifts and Old Gods and all that witch hunty rubbish that the south seems so keen on ascribing to Tevinter, half the time just making up nonsense to put in his notes in the off-chance anyone is actually paying attention. In these moments he looks less like a stuck-up princeling and more like a petulant schoolboy, doodling on his parchment and doing just about everything in his power to ensure nobody thinks they're the boss of him.

III. Wildcard

Dare ye visit his chambers in the old Templar tower? Catch him dining with the unwashed masses or encountering snow, which has become his newest mortal enemy? (Hit me up if you want a specific prompt.)

Comments

Wildcard: General Store

[keenly]

A bell is hung on the door and it rings when it opens. Colin is squatting over the floor, arranging bars of soap on a bottom shelf.

"Come in," he says without looking up. "Something I can help you find?"

[altusimperius]

Though he has no spending money, Bene has reason to believe certain Templars can be wheedled into believing he needs certain things to make his work better-- or, if all else fails, they can be convinced to waste their time in favor of his having a little control over his life.
He peruses the shelves as slowly as a grandma in a porcelain doll shop, not really looking at anything yet taking all the time in the world to do it.
"Mmn," he grunts to Colin, hoping the shopkeep doesn't catch on. If he says he's looking for something in particular, the idiot will try to help him, and the game will be over.

[keenly]

"Beg pardon?" Colin stands up and looks at the man. Welp. He's seen this sort of look before. With a sigh, he meanders toward the counter, where he keeps a bludgeon, though he doesn't take it out yet. He's not one hundred percent certain yet that this man is a shoplifter, but it's worth preparing for.

"Just coming in from the cold, I take it?" he asks casually, although they don't exactly have to spend much time outside just to travel between buildings.

[altusimperius]

"I don't need help," Benedict clarifies, with a wave of his hand that communicates 'settle down until you're wanted'. He casts a glance back at his bored Templar escort, hoping he hasn't caught on.

[keenly]

That's the first time Colin sees the Templar, and the blood drains from his face. Not because the Templar is being particularly menacing, but because it's a Templar. It takes him a moment to collect himself, to shake himself out of old habits. He's not going to be dragged away and locked up. He's not in danger. Unless they're looking for the lyrium.

Well, fine. He rests his elbows on the counter and waits for the entitled son of a bitch to say what he's doing here. And potentially chase him down the hall with a bludgeon if he tries to steal anything.

[altusimperius]

Luckily, being entitled means Benedict doesn't feel any particular compulsion to steal. Just to waste time, which he continues to do until, growing irritated, the Templar gruffly tells him to hurry up.
"Oh settle down," Bene says primly, his false bravado showing in the nervous twitch of his mouth when he glances back at the man.

[keenly]

Oh.

Colin flashes a smile back at Bene now, feeling like he has some of the picture now. The man is in the custody of the Templar, and must therefore be either a mage or a Chantry prisoner. Or a mage and an Inquisition prisoner. Either way, Colin dislikes it. And what, exactly, can he do about it? Nothing.

"Serah," he sighs, "take your pick of the candies and go."

[altusimperius]

That's a development Bene hadn't anticipated, and he briefly meets Colin's eyes with a look almost like a dog being offered a treat; candies?? He's barely had anything better than gruel since arriving (as far as he's concerned), so this is a bigger deal than it might be to most.
Glancing over his shoulder at the Templar again, he goes to make his choice, somewhat disappointed by the selection, but it's not Minrathous, after all. He finally picks out a caramel, casts Colin a conspiratorial smile with a haughty toss of his head, and goes back toward the door. This guy's okay.

[keenly]

Colin flashes a smile at the young man and makes note of his choice of sweet.

---

Hours later, Colin finds him in his cell, clearly concerned. He doesn't approach immediately, leaning against a wall with his arms around himself. He waits for Bene to notice him, then tics his chin upward.

"Why are you a prisoner?"

[altusimperius]

Benedict is used to people coming and going as they please with little regard for his privacy, so he's just glad he's fully dressed and playing with his cards by the window when someone enters.
He looks up to see the shopkeeper from before, and is a little surprised.
"I'm from Tevinter," he answers with a one-shouldered shrug. As far as he knows, that's the only reason, at least if everyone truly believes he isn't Venatori.

[keenly]

hold on things just got interesting

Colin scans the room as if checking for signs of demons, blood magic, or orgies, but he looks genuinely fascinated.

"Really? Hereabouts, they say a lot of things about Tevinter." A flash of a smile. "That's...I'm curious how many are true, but...I don't want to pester you over-much with a lot of questions you've answered before."

[altusimperius]

Benedict blinks once, nearly irritated, but then... every conversation that doesn't start off on the wrong foot is an opportunity to win someone over, so there's no harm in trying.
He smiles, quite charmingly at that, and shrugs one shoulder with a gentleman's ease. "What is it you want to know?"

[keenly]

"Um, well. To get the obvious one out of the way: you worship dragons with orgies and blood sacrifice, right?" His tone is lightly teasing but he looks Very Serious.

[altusimperius]

Eyes widening slightly, Benedict laughs, a genuine sound that he realizes he hasn't heard or felt for months.
"Maker, I wish," he breathes, "with the orgies, at least. To answer your question, we have a Chantry."

[keenly]

"Oh," Colin answers in a mock disappointed tone, though he flashes a grin right after. "As bad as ours?"

[altusimperius]

Bene shakes his head. "No," he says with a lazy smile, "as a rule, nothing is as bad as yours."

[keenly]

The smile remains fixed, but there's a slight widening of his eyes. "Touché. Are mages really free there?"

[altusimperius]

"Not just free," Bene replies with the same easy confidence, "in charge. As it should be."

[keenly]

There it is. That's what southerners are told to expect of Tevinter.

"That's what they say about the aristocracy here, too," Colin says, folding his arms and leaning against a wall. "What if I don't want to be in charge? Is there still a place for me?"

[altusimperius]

Bene blinks at him, and wrinkles his nose in mild incredulity. "Of course," he says, "not everyone is an Altus." Duh. "Just like not everyone here is born an Arl."