faderift | Closed: A proposition

WHO: Benedict Artemaeus and d'Artagnan
WHAT: Benedict has a proposition involving coin
WHEN: 10pm, early Solace
WHERE: Benedict's quarters, the Gallows
NOTES: Following this.

Ten o'clock, he'd said. D'Artagnan is there on time, his curiosity piqued at the thought of a job they couldn't discuss over the crystals. Why would that be, anyway? He can only imagine that Benedict had wanted to avoid anyone listening in, and if that's the case it must be covert. There's any number of reasons an Ambassador might want to keep something quiet. He hadn't pushed him too hard, the secrecy in itself having been enough to gain his interest.

Also, Benedict has his interest. After the initial shock over their similarities had faded, he'd found himself interested more than anything else. How nature has contrived to create the pair of them eludes him, but he can't help wanting to know the Ambassador better. What he knows so far tells him they're as different beneath the surface as they are similar upon it.

It's approximately ten. He waits until the clocks chime, and then knocks on Bene's door.

"It's me," he calls, just in case. "Are you ready for me?"

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The door opens and Benedict stands there, dressed in a way that far outstrips the room he occupies. Perhaps he overstated when he called himself an ambassador; his quarters aren't cramped, per se, but are no bigger than anyone else's in the Gallows, and are only more lavish by virtue of his belongings. But what he did manage to bring from Minrathous lends the room a hedonistic vibe, the obvious dwelling place of a young man who likes his creature comforts.

"Come in," he murmurs, stepping back to admit D'Artagnan, his expression fairly devoid of smarm-- it's time for business. Once heeded, he closes the door behind his uncanny companion and gestures for him to take a seat.

D'Artagnan enters, and until the door is closed, he mainly looks at Benedict. That's a strangely serious expression he's wearing. It makes him look more like d'Artagnan than usual, which reinforces the sense of otherness between them. That's far easier to be lighthearted about at a distance, he's found.

Still. He'll get over it.

He moves to sit at the invitation, and only then takes in the room. His eyes flick around it, uncertain. The decoration is more or less what he expected; the size is not. Curious.

"You didn't want to do this over the crystals," he says, taking his lead from that expression and getting straight to it. "What's happened?"

"I don't want anyone to know you're here," Bene replies plainly, "nothing has happened, apart from news received that the Inquisition will be heading to Tevinter. Minrathous." He walks to the window and peers out, then turns with a serious expression. "...a lot has happened recently. I don't believe it's a coincidence you've appeared as you have, and I could make it beneficial to us both for you to pose as my body double."

D'Artagnan looks up at him, blinking that question away. So much for what he'd said over the crystals. Or had that been a ruse? This man may look like d'Artagnan, but he has the heart of a politician and not a soldier. Perhaps he'd planned this even then.

"You need a guard," he says, and leans on one of the arms of his chair. "I thought you said it would be dangerous for me to go. That I should avoid it, that you didn't wish to teach me of your people for that very reason."

Still. He's not saying no.

"What made you change your mind?"

Benedict can't conceal the roll of his eyes-- how can someone who looks so much like him really be so slow? "It would be dangerous for both of us to go," he clarifies, turning away from the window to gesture with his hands, "because, as my offer implies, I would prefer not to be caught in a compromising situation. Whether I am actually there or not."

Which is to say, a person bearing strong resemblance to him being in the wrong place at the wrong time might be all the ammunition someone needs to ruin his family.

"So both of us won't be going," he continues, all but winking at D'Artagnan (he's too exasperated), "I will be, and should it become necessary, I will be able to create a distraction so I can leave safely." He raises his eyebrows expectantly.

D'Artagnan's quiet for a moment. This would hardly be the first time he would have to disguise himself to make a plan work, but in fairness, it's the first time the disguise had to be as good as all this. Benedict has more in common with the King than d'Artagnan. This could all fall apart very easily.

Which is not to say he's not willing to try. He leans back, thoughtful.

"All right," he says, rolling his shoulders. "Might as well use this to our advantage. I suppose that means I have to shave for you after all."

He hasn't been barefaced since he was a teenager. This is going to feel ridiculous.

"And you'll have to tell me what to say. Who am I when I'm not pretending to be you?"

"I suppose it does," Benedict confirms, his mouth twisting into a triumphant smile, " and I will. When you're not me, you'll be an Orlesian bodyguard." He pauses a moment and realizes something.

"....what's your name again?"

D'Artagnan sighs. His beard isn't all that fast-growing, actually, and in Paris a decent beard is something important. It's a sign you're a man and not a child. This is going to be embarrassing.

"D'Artagnan," he clarifies, narrowing his eyes at Benedict. Had he forgotten? "It's French, which from what I can see, already sounds Orlesian. It's easily traced back to the Inquisition, too. If you want something different, call me Athos."

Because it's just as French, and easy to remember.

"Name of a friend. He won't mind me using it."

Edited 2018-07-25 11:03 (UTC)

For what it's worth, Benedict doesn't seem at all bothered by his lack of beard-- one can interpret that as one might. And he waves away D'Artagnan's obvious irritation, feeling no patience for it when there's work to be done. He has a long and ridiculous name, it's going to be forgotten sometimes. Geeze!

"French," Bene replies, "what an unpleasant word. But... Athos. Very well." It almost sounds Tevene, in its way.

D'Artagnan stares him down.

"Are you always this offensive or am I just lucky?"

He thinks it's option one, for the record. Benedict has that especially noble quality of acting like everyone's beneath him. At least that will be easy enough to fake, or so d'Artagnan thinks. He pushes his finger against his temple, fending off the stress headache that keeps threatening to start.

"I don't know much about Tevinter, beyond that it attacked Orlais, and manages to treat mages better than almost anywhere else."

That alone makes him willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. Since he's been here, d'Artagnan has become acutely aware of how this world treats mages, how most of them interpret their religion in relation to it. His own Church would probably treat them even worse, but he can't find it in himself to agree with that.

"Tell me what else I need to know. Allies, enemies, anything cultural they'd expect you to know as a matter of course. If we're doing this, I want to do it right."

The accusation yields an incredulous look tinged with amusement, and Bene turns toward d'Artagnan with a smirk. Offensive? He's being downright friendly.

"That's a good thing to know," he replies, going to a small table, where he unstops a decanter of wine and begins to pour two glasses, offering one to his guest. "We'll count most altus as our allies, with the exception of the Vedicis and to some degree House Pavus-- not that there've been any personal slights, but they're on the outs and there's no sense in pretending otherwise." He smirks at his glass before taking a thoughtful sip. "I expect my mother will want to meet you, so be prepared to look your best and say very little. She can't stand Orlesians."

What follows is a detailing of the various families and their standing in the Imperium, none of which can ever quite compare to Artemaeus in their luster or glory. The lesson will, no doubt, continue late and with little reprieve, as many evenings as it takes to get it all sorted out.

Closed: A proposition

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this will be good practice for a few decades later when he has to deal with two leo dicaprios

he might enjoy this slightly more

who wouldn't

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