[open] mortal kings are ruling castles

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict and you
WHAT: miscellaneous open prompts
WHEN: Kingsway
WHERE: the Gallows
NOTES: ya boyyy got his magic back (sort of)

I. Benedict's Hookah Room for Degenerate Hedonists

Most nights, the hookah is lit in its tower room (more easily now that someone can conjure flame again) and the scented smoke sifts from the open window into the crisp autumn air. It seems like he and Athessa just set it up yesterday, but over the weeks there has amassed a healthy population of cushions, rugs, and blankets cast off from every corner of the keep, which now make for a plush if stuffy little nest of creature comforts.
Anyone who happens upon it, or has been told of its existence and wants to partake, will often find him sprawled across a few pillows, sometimes with sketches strewn about, sometimes just gazing at nothing.


II. He's a Magic Man

It wasn't immediate, but after finally, finally being freed of the influence of magebane, Benedict's magic has gradually begun to return.

He uses it sparingly, mostly in the mornings before he goes into Byerly's office to work for the day, perhaps choosing the early hour to inhibit any judgment or interruption from offended parties; and it's the basics he's drilling in the sparring pitch, generating pithy flames and the beginnings of barriers, simply stretching the muscles again after a year of not having access to them.


III. Murally We Roll Along

Progress continues on the dining hall mural, with the lot of it stenciled in charcoal and beginning to be filled in with colored pigment.
High up on his scaffolding, he takes the occasional smoke break and sits with his skinny legs draped over the side, watching the room below.


IV. Wildcard

Come at me. I love you

Comments

[altusimperius]

Holding Marcoulf's gaze for a long moment, Bene then loses his nerve and looks away.
"Folding... them," he says quietly, and glances furtively at Edgard, silently imploring him not to completely fuck this up.

[muckspout]

Edgard nods vigorously.

"I knocked them over when I was--sleeping--sleepwalking." Edgard says seriously. "Benedict was helping me clean them up."

His face is beatific with innocence.

[esquive]

His sharp, dark eye slides between the two of them, assessing Edgard's earlier position on the ground, and then turns pointedly back to Benedict.

"Is that true?"

[altusimperius]

Alarmed to be back in the hotseat again so quickly, Benedict meets Marcoulf's gaze, glances back to Edgard, and tries to think as quickly as he can.
"Um," he lies badly, "yes."

[muckspout]

Edgard nods emphatically.

"I have suffered from sleepwalking since I was a child. Just--"

Here he mimes a shuffling meant to represent sleepwalking and glances back at Marcoulf. He is also now standing directly in front of the mouse hole.