[closed] so baby welcome to the ball

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict and Kitty
WHAT: an errand in Tevinter
WHEN: Justinian
WHERE: Perivantium, then a lovely beach house
NOTES: slavery features heavily, as do abusive familial relationships

The arrangements are made, the itinerary set, and they're off.

[Prompts below.]

Comments

I. Traveling to Perivantium

[altusimperius]

Micaela's buyer has been located, and she's so far away from Benedict's home as to be almost no longer in the country. He finds it strange that she'd have been so desirable outside of his social circle, but there are lots of things Bene doesn't know, which is only becoming clearer and clearer the longer he spends in Kirkwall.

He's rented a nice carriage for himself and Kitty, the keeper of the necessary documents. While a lot of the time is spent looking out the window, working, reading, or sleeping in their separate inn rooms (he's flush, he can provide for them both), periodically conversation strikes despite anyone's better judgment.

"The Silent Plains," Benedict points out, watching as the landscape transitions, "...isn't this where you all went missing?"

[rathercommon]

The question might be an ill-judged one, were Benedict speaking to someone prone to trauma lingering. Their fight for survival had been a hard and miserable one; Kitty still bears the physical signs of it, in her bony elbows and knees and in the way that the last baby-fat that had lingered in her young face is well and truly gone now. But honestly, Kitty is one of those people who generally holds onto physical trauma longer than psychological trauma; she just looks out the window and wrinkles her nose in disapproval rather than something misery-adjacent.

"Wouldn't recommend it," she responds, then heaves an irritable sigh. "Thedas has some awful places, but this is definitely one of the worst." Then she pauses a moment, and frowns, and says, "Although for different reasons than some of the other places are awful."

[altusimperius]

"Fair enough." It hasn't even occurred to Bene that the question was insensitive-- after all, he's had his own share of misadventures in this same location.
"I was waylaid here once," he says absently, "the whole party was taken captive, but..." Suddenly he realizes what exactly he's about to explain, and clams up a bit. "...we made it out all right."

[rathercommon]

Kitty shoots him a skeptical glance when he falters. "What's the actual story?" she asks, which is actually quite civilized, as that question is asked in place of what she originally wanted to say, which is a rather-too-biting-even-by-her-standards you really ought to work on your storytelling abilities.

I can tag again yayyy

[altusimperius]

He hesitates for a long time, long enough in fact that Kitty might actually think he's ignoring her. But then after a minute or so, he speaks again, figuring... well, he's this far out with her, she might as well know certain things.

"It was slavers," he says, a bit faintly, "or-- well, they-- were acting as slavers. But they were mercenaries. They took Hanzo and I off to the side while they branded the others."

HELL YEAH

[rathercommon]

Her brows draw down as he speaks, progressively, until her eyes are peeking out from under a thick beetle-black line.

"What do you mean," she says, "branded the others."

[altusimperius]

Sitting perfectly still, as though it will somehow prevent Kitty from seeing him, Benedict clears his throat gently.

"...you know," he says, trying not to emote at all, "like. ...You know." He rests one hand over the back of the other, gripping it in an almost imperceptible wince of sympathy.

[rathercommon]

The concept is - hard to wrap her head around. But she's spoken with some few of the slaves up north. She's seen their scars. Branding is - it's - It's almost unthinkable, that one person would do that to another, but -

She shakes her head once, and then again more strongly. "Why?"

[altusimperius]

Tapping his fingertips together, Benedict looks fixedly out the window. "To. Teach them a lesson, it turns out," he says, as frankly as he can manage. Never mind who was teaching the lesson, or what the lesson was. That's irrelevant.

II. Buyback

[altusimperius]

The travelers spent the night at an inn in Perivantium, and from there, bright and early, have walked the short distance from the inn to their destination: a grand townhouse on the edge of a city square.

"They're expecting us," Benedict informs Kitty brightly as they make their way, wearing his finest robes in the style of the Magisterium-- he'd tried to coax her into something suitable, but whether or not she listened, he's decided not to care.
"If anyone asks, you're my assistant," he adds, with a touch of anxiety. "You're not from-- ....we're not visiting from Kirkwall."

[rathercommon]

"Well, tell me where we are visiting from, then," she says. Her voice betrays her irritation, but her face doesn't. Honestly, right now, she looks very much like a different girl: dull-eyed, immobile-faced, almost mousy. Her clothes are, indeed, appropriate but not worth paying attention to; her hair is brushed neatly and hides her face. At the end of the day, she's quite practiced at going unnoticed. Few will give her so much as a second glance.

[altusimperius]

"Minrathous," snorts Benedict, as if it were obvious. He glances her over again, finds her suitable, and then ascends the front steps to use the enormous crystal doorknocker.

It isn't long before a human butler answers, distinguished from that of any other culture by the house sigil burned into the back of his hand. "Master Artemaeus," he greets, and steps aside to allow them in without even glancing to Kitty.
They're led into a parlor, offered seats and tea, and then they have a few minutes to wait.

For his part, Benedict looks pleased: a little anxious, perhaps, but excited.

[rathercommon]

Kitty doesn't drink any of the tea. She might have tracked these people down, but that doesn't mean that she trusts them. Especially not after her recent...her recent experience with the pleasures of duplicitous rich bastards. She just sets the cup discreetly to the side, and crosses her legs at the ankle.

[altusimperius]

Before too long, the house's resident makes an appearance. He's a smallish man, dressed finely but with a nervous edge to him, which seems to grow when he gets a look at the people in his sitting room.

"Ah-- yes, Master Artemaeus, hello," he says, offering a hand to both Benedict and Kitty, "I got your note, and the bill of sale is prepared. I trust your travels weren't too strenuous?"

"Not at all," Benedict offers with a bored wave of his hand, "now we haven't got a lot of time, so I'd like to see her before I sign anything." He glances to Kitty with a confident smile: they've got it all under control.

[rathercommon]

That smile puts her a little on edge. Whether it's because his confidence gives her misgivings or just because his smile is smug as hell and she doesn't like it, she's not sure - but it still makes her feel ill at ease. The seller's nervousness just makes it even worse.

She fights the urge to gnaw on her lip, and fights the urge to say something. It'll be suspicious if she does. So she just stays quiet, and still, and unremarkable.

[altusimperius]

There's a bit of a wait, and then the master of the house returns with another person, and Benedict is off like a shot. The person he embraces so quickly is a woman likely in her forties, who clutches him back with tears streaming from her eyes.
It's a heartfelt display, interrupted only by the appearance of the bill of sale, which Benedict readily takes, signs, and returns-- but before he can go to leave, the seller, dabbing a bit of sweat from his brow, offers a second folded note.
"You'll want to--" he says awkwardly, "--from-- your mother, I believe."

Narrowing his eyes, Benedict takes the note and opens it, reads over its contents, and then proceeds to stare at it for several long moments before looking up, first to Micaela, then to Kitty.
"Let's go," he announces, calmly enough, but he seems eager to get back to the carriage. He grips Micaela's hand tightly, and though she's as confused as anyone, she offers a smile of greeting to Kitty.

[rathercommon]

Is that really it? Kitty doesn't quite relax yet, but with every passing moment, an ambush seems less likely. Especially after that note is passed. Maybe this was a set-up, but a set-up with no purpose aside from getting Benedict to take some note from his mum. That's not so bad.

Kitty doesn't smile back at Micaela; she just offers a small, grave nod. Then she stands, and smooths out her skirt, and follows.

III. The Summer Home

[altusimperius]

The trip north takes almost as long as it took just to get from Kirkwall to Perivantium, but is even more boring and hot. Micaela has busied herself silently looking out the window, and Benedict has alternated between sleeping, muttering about war-caused detours, and doodling on whatever spare paper he can find.

It's late evening by the time they finally arrive at the Artemaeus summer residence, which sits grandly on a cliff overlooking the Nocen Sea some fifty miles east of Vyzantium. Micaela is asleep, curled up against the door, and Benedict is just awake enough to peer toward the entrance foyer and see a flame rise from the lighting of a sconce.

"Mm," he grunts, stretching, "...stay here. I won't be long." A pause after he hops out the door, and he adds, "make sure nobody sees Micaela."

[rathercommon]

Kitty sniffs in response. This entire trip, she's just thought more and more about how stupid it all is and how stupid he is and how even if it's not a murderous trap it's definitely a waste of time. Family, after all, is a waste of time - people you're related to, sure, brilliant, as if that actually means anything. And it's pointless for him, and pointless for Micaela, too, but...here she is. Tagging along.

So she responds, "I'll give you half an hour and then we're going back to Kirkwall without you."

[altusimperius]

Rolling his eyes, Benedict scoffs as he walks away. Right, like the carriage driver he paid would leave without him. "Don't be stupid," he whispers, and disappears toward the house.

The door is opened, a greeting audible, and then the faint sound of conversing voices as they move into the sitting room, its windows open to let in the balmy night breeze. Things sound civil enough, nobody shouting or even raising their voice, though the carriage is too far away to really catch what anyone is saying.

[rathercommon]

Kitty waits. Well...She waits for about three minutes. It's not that she's anxious about him - that's stupid - but he had been so squirrely about the whole thing...And it'd be good to know exactly who's in there, screwing him over, right now.

So. So, after about three minutes, she looks at Micaela, and murmurs - "I'll be back." The woman shoots Kitty a slightly anxious look, but doesn't contradict her; and so Kitty quietly slips out of the carriage and sneaks towards the window, close enough that she can catch the conversation.

[altusimperius]

"--should have known you'd go mewling after your nursemaid. I suppose she's out there in the carriage? Well she's yours now, Benedict, I wash my hands of it, Maker forbid you have children of your own for her to raise anytime soon."

Something is mumbled in response, contrasted by a surprisingly pleasant feminine laugh. "Oh, please. I've seen your simpering letters, as if anyone is fooled for even an instant. Are they? The Inquisition? Or-- or what is it, Riftwatch now? Are you going to grow up at some point, or do I have to keep gift-wrapping opportunities for you to squander?"

"Mother--"

"No, I think you've said quite enough. And not a shred of it useful. You've been in Kirkwall for over a year and you have nothing for me--" A pause, and footsteps draw near to the window, "unless... do you actually think you have a future down there, if you're a good boy who toes the line? You're so fucking like your father."

The words are said with abject disgust, as a shape rests on her crossed arms at the windowsill.

"...they've started to trust me," comes the wounded, uncertain response, his voice low.

[rathercommon]

It's better than Kitty expected, at least. No murderous ambushes, from the sound of it - just a parent being a parent. A bit more foul-mouthed than what Kitty is accustomed to, certainly - her mum and dad would cut their own tongues out than use words like that - but still, nothing really out of the ordinary.

So she just waits and listens.

[altusimperius]

"More fool them," comes the woman's response, and she turns her head slightly, going as still as a listening cat. Although Benedict begins to say more, he's abruptly shushed.
A few long, silent seconds pass, after which a motion is made in the window and Kitty will abruptly notice that she can no longer move other than to speak. Further investigation yields a rat caught mid-stride several feet away, the second victim of what appears to be an area paralysis spell.

Then, a light shines on her face, and Calpurnia is holding a lantern out the window with an expression of quiet outrage. "Who's this."
Benedict's face appears behind his mother's, horrified.

[rathercommon]

What -

The paralysis spell is - terrifying, absolutely dreadful, absolutely awful, as she finds herself trapped within her own body. Her mind spins in fear as she realizes what's happened - stupid, Kitty, utterly stupid - and as Benedict and his mother stare at her. But even a...magister, or whatever his mum is - even her magic is only so good against a girl with resilience; her resistance to magic means that it's only a few seconds before she starts to regain power in her limbs.

Not enough to walk, unfortunately. But enough that she's able to scoot backwards on her arse away from the window.