[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?"

1

[foundmyselfagain]

It’s not an expression that Gareth is unfamiliar with, though he’s rather curious as to what he’s done this time to be inflicted with it. Not curious enough to approach the first time, but after seeing him another time or two around the Gallows, Gareth eventually takes it upon himself to figure out what the heck is this guy’s damage.

“I can’t remember the last time we had someone fancy enough to get a constant escort around the place. Do you think that an abomination is gonna pop up on you? Because, honestly? That’s fair. I can point out the most likely locations, if you want.”

II Library

[judgemewhole]

James was the one who had taken over 'walking the Princeling' duty today - mostly because he wanted to give everyone else a break. Honestly, guarding Bene was a long, long day of being looked at like you were something he'd scrap off your boot, along with watching him sulk about. Honestly, Bene was supposed to be a man's age but his parents must have treated him like he was a five year old boy.

So here they were in the library, James was standing off to the side, meditating, while he glanced over at Bene scribbling. He arched an eyebrow at what he could read.

"... that sounds like total bollocks."

[altusimperius]

Bene's first inclination is to assume he's being mocked, and by this dirty-looking little wretch that's extra insulting. He wrinkles his nose in disdain. "I know how to prevent possession," he says with a sneer, "I'm not an idiot."

[altusimperius]

Out of all the Templars, Norrington is the one of whom Bene is most wary. He's uncharacteristically docile when walking around with him, if only because he knows any form of protest or conversation would likely end badly.
However, self-control isn't always his strong point, and the boy has a mouth on him. At James' observation, he rolls his eyes and mutters "no shit, Ser Brilliance."

[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.

wildcard!!

[ragweed]

It's dining with the unwashed masses for this dwarf. Better than the washed masses. They're all stuffed up sods.

Kind of like Benedict.

Whether he's paying attention to his surroundings or not, Kit doesn't much disguise his approach towards Benedict's table. Nor does he made a show about sliding into the seat across from him with his cigarette, a bowl of hot winter stew, and a mug of ale to wash it all down with. But there's no lazy smile or relaxed greeting to go along with his arrival either, likely because in the intervening days since their last conversation, he's kept his distance.

(To be fair, most of it wasn't personal. Kit's life is gradually unraveling at the seams.)

He sits there a couple of seconds, studying Benedict. "Hey," he says at last.

[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.

[altusimperius]

Though still a bit picky, Benedict learned from his months incarcerated that he should eat what he can get when he can get it. So it's a bit slow going, and he's not enjoying it, per se, but he's focusing on eating when Kit approaches and plants in front of him.
Bene looks up, glancing him over with a 'yes?' look about him, clearly wanting to tread carefully and not knowing quite how.

[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.

[judgemewhole]

James arches a cool eyebrow at Bene, before he states simply and flatly, "Would you like to explain why you are giving the Inquisition bollocks research then? Or are you really just that petulant to let a giant darkspawn take over the world without giving it real effort?"

[altusimperius]

If James insists on acting like a boring tutor, he'll be spoken to like one, albeit with a bit more wariness since other teachers haven't threatened to make Benedict Tranquil.
"Maybe if a giant darkspawn took over the world," he muses, shading in an unexpectedly skillful drawing of a hand giving the middle finger, "maybe everyone in this vile city would die and I could finally go home."

[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.

[judgemewhole]

"If he took over the world, little man, you'd be just as dead as I would be." Came James's dry response, as he nods at the paper again, "You realize that just makes you look like a child, yes?"

[altusimperius]

Bene smirks, not looking up from his doodle. "Boo hoo," he mockingly intones, "I suppose that makes you a nursemaid." He smirks to himself, beginning a new sketch, this one of a pathetic-looking creature in armor that suspiciously resembles Norrington's.
"Just think, you could be off doing something valiant right now."

[judgemewhole]

"To the most spoiled child-man in Tevinter? Yes, yes I suppose it does." James drawled, and glanced over at the doodle. He rolled his eyes automatically, before he glanced away.

"Even your sketches look like you're barely past ten years." He said flatly, and sighed. "Oh I am well aware I am wasting my time. But everyone else seems to think you are .... so I am giving you the benefit of the doubt. Although the doubt is getting stretched fairly far today."

[altusimperius]

"Ah-ah," Bene says with a cutting look, though his smirk persists, "not in Tevinter. Don't tease us both." He breaks the Templar's gaze to keep drawing, adding an arm reaching behind the figure in the beginnings of something quite lewd.
"Here I thought I'd be the toast of Val Royeaux's finest galleries," he simpers, lovingly rendering the rear end into which the drawn Templar is about to insert his thumb.

II. The Library

[justice_is_blond]

He eyes the Templar guard hovering near Benedict with narrowed eyes but says nothing as he comes over. Something about the situation seems off, but he can't quite put his finger on it. Maybe later. For now, he's leaning over to read something that is... absolutely inaccurate when it comes to rifts as far as Anders knows and he gives the younger mage a confused look.

"Are you all right?" It's possible they've drugged Benedict and that's the reason for the nonsense.

[faithlikeaseed]

"You might yet, Messere Artemaeus, if you find a better target for your acid wit. I'd suggest something Fereldan if you're trying to endear yourself to the whole of Orlais."

Surely someone ordered this blind elf, or why else would Myr come wandering up on this little verbal melee with well-laden book bag slung over one shoulder? It's simply too bad he can't appreciate the visual half of it. "Good afternoon, Ser Norrington," he adds politely, as he stops not far from Bene's desk. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

[judgemewhole]

"Ah, if only you were, Serah Shivana." James said dryly, and for the benefit of the blind elf, "Our young Tevinter friend has sketched me with my thumb up my bum. This is what he has decided to do, instead of researching veils or in fact, doing anything useful at all."

His tone is utterly devoid of anything but sarcasm, "He seems to think he's being 'funny'." He gives Bene a bored look, "Hah. Hah. Haaaaah."

[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]

Bene's eyebrows raise when he hears someone addressing him, though he doesn't look up until he's finished with the current stroke. Then, when he sees who it is, he sits up a little straighter, clearly glad to see someone who doesn't suck (like Ser Gareth here).
"Bored out of my brain," he replies, almost cheerfully.

[altusimperius]

No one else has to think it's funny, really, because Benedict is getting attention and clearly wearing on the Templar's nerves at the same time. It's not that he isn't afraid of Norrington anymore, because he very much is, but the likelihood of anything terrible happening in a library in the middle of the day strikes him as... low.

"Nanny's trying to hurt my feelings," he explains to Myr with an impish smile, his bearing almost cheerful. "But I suppose one can't blame him, if this is the kind of work a Knight-Commander does for the Inquisition." He lays it on thick for the word 'Knight-Commander', bathing it in a facsimile of the reverence it might inspire in someone who doesn't find the very concept of Templars asinine.

[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.