[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

[altusimperius]

Benedict wrenches his wrist away. "I have to clean up your mess," he hisses, voice still shaking, casting his gaze about until he finds the coinpurse in the grass a few feet away. He picks it up again, brushes it off, and shoves it at Kitty.
"Use it to pay the driver, inns, whatever, I don't care. I don't care, just get out of here." He has the manner of someone very loosely keeping himself together, something in him seeming to crumble when his mother makes a small, confused sound and he hurries to her side.

Micaela, quivering from adrenaline and, no doubt, fear, steps close enough to lay a hand on Benedict's head, then comes away again with a frightened little nod to Kitty. It will never be as simple as just killing a Magister and going on their merry way.

[rathercommon]

Shrilly, she replies - "My mess? This is your stupid slaver family. You're the one whose mess it is. Or - sorry - did I get in the way of your grand friendship with Corypheus, is that what this is about - " And then, stomping her foot in frustrated rage - "Who gives a shit about her? Leave her and be done with it!"

[altusimperius]

"My family is none of your business!" Benedict snarls over his shoulder, with a venomous glare. He has no way of backing that up, but now he's helping Calpurnia sit upright; blessedly, she still looks disoriented, and grips his arm for balance.

Kitty's last shout yields a gentle hand on her shoulder, Micaela's attempt at calming her. She doesn't dare tug, or give any more urgent indication that she wants to leave-- even after all this, she knows her place in the pecking order.

[rathercommon]

"Your family is shit," Kitty spits, "and you're shit - "

But she can't ignore that silent plea for escape. So Kitty wavers, then groans, and curses, and finally yells back, "Enjoy being tortured to death by your psycho of a mum, then!"

And then she turns and grabs Micaela's hand and runs off with her, back to the carriage, back into the night.

[altusimperius]

Benedict watches them go, relieved but somber. His mother's grip on his arm has tightened, and he looks back to her long enough to meet her gaze, wince, and turn away again.