[open] a me party

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict and you
WHAT: birthday boy celebrates solo-ish
WHEN: late Solace
WHERE: around the Gallows
NOTES: feel free to wildcard or request a custom starter

No Colin, no Athessa. No Lakshmi. No D'Artagnan, no Kitty, no Gabranth, no Jone, no Allumin-- why does he keep getting so hung up on Rifters, anyway, they just vanish-- there's still Byerly, but asking him to hang out after work seems awkward, especially considering what happened the last time. Better not.
But it's Benedict's birthday, and the weather is fine, he has money of his own and freedom to do what he pleases when he's not working, so he intends to make the best of it anyway.

A few pillows are strewn around the central hookah, which is placed in a nice shady out-of-the-way area down in the Gallows courtyard. Benedict lounges there, puffing idly at the hose, an open bottle of red Antivan wine and a little tray of assorted fancy canapés close at hand. He's wearing what looks to be a new outfit, Tevene in motif but clearly made in Kirkwall, luxuriant enough to satisfy his taste (within reason) while remaining within his means.
His hair is shiny and his skin soft, indicating that some serious self-pampering occurred before he graced the public with his presence. He wears a pair of the strange dark glasses Riftwatch acquired some time ago, rendering his expression distant and inscrutable.

He lingers there for several hours, lazily beckoning forth anyone who seems interested in partaking. The food, the wine, and the elfroot are technically to share, not that he'll complain if he doesn't have to.

Comments

[sprent]

Gela almost doesn't recognise him on her way through the courtyard. He's done up much more nicely than the first time they ever brushed elbows, but once she places his aloof demeanor and dark, shiny hair, she stops upon his little space to peer in on him.

"Hello," she says, "Again." Remember me? "I ought to thank you. Got in solely by name droppin' you at the gates." Lie, but.

"What're you up to? An' what's all this for?"

[altusimperius]

"Oh, hello."

Her face does ring a bell, though he can't recall the name, and Benedict lightly waves to the newcomer, seeming to light up a bit when she adds the bit about dropping his name. "Really?"

Before she necessarily has a chance to answer that, he replies to her question:

"It's my birthday. I decided I've earned a picnic."

[sprent]

Well in that case, she won't tease him like she was about to.

"Is it?" No wonder he looks so fancy, "One moment."

She casts her gaze about, and cross the courtyard briskly, returning to him shortly with a single plucked stem in her hand. The flower is yellow, cheerful. "There you are! Happy birthday."

[altusimperius]

In another lifetime, he might have sneered at such a transparent save, but the presently-existing Benedict smiles primly and takes the gift.

"Thank you," he says, tucking the stem behind his ear to arrange the bloom in his hair, "you can sit, if you like. I have enough to share."

[sprent]

"Wasn't after your treats," Gela says, even as she takes a seat across from him, "Honest."

Even so, she pops a grape into her mouth without hesitation. "How old are you then?"

[altusimperius]

"Twenty-six," he replies, and smirks lightly when she takes a grape. They're not just for him, after all-- and he can always go get more.

[sprent]

"Aw," she's suddenly fond, "Still a baby. Almost as old as my brother."

Appraising him now, "You've got the same hair and everythin', almost." Though it has been a long while since she's seen him.

[altusimperius]

It takes all of Benedict's willpower to restrain himself from arguing that he's not a baby, which is exactly something that a baby would do.

"Really?" he asks, propping himself on one elbow, "is he as handsome as me?"

[sprent]

Gela studies him critically for a moment before conceding with a little grin, "Hmm. No, don't think so."

Besides, he's just a brother and she wouldn't call him handsome. Gela would call him a potato. Affectionately. "D'you have any siblings?"

[altusimperius]

Even if the compliment was forced, he'll take it. He beams, waggling his eyebrows, and plucks one of the grapes for himself.

"No, just me," he says, a bit more thoughtfully, though the reason why isn't clear.

[sprent]

"Ah," Gela says, and thumbs her nose, "I get it." Rich family. Must have lived like this all his life. It isn't so much a disparaging conclusion as it is a curious one. She asks, "Were you lonely growin' up?"

[altusimperius]

"A bit." He takes a sip of his wine, swirling it in the goblet for a moment. "...well... yes." Which is to say, Very, but he doesn't like admitting it.

[sprent]

"Oh," Gela says, heartfelt for a moment, "Poor thing. You must like it here, then." Lots of people to bother, and be friends with. And speaking of, "We'll be friends, then, I think."

[altusimperius]

He seems a bit surprised at first, and then it turns into unexpected warmth; he's hardly in a position to turn down friends, especially such insistent ones.

"If you say so," is his cheerful response, no argument in sight. "Where're you from?"

[sprent]

Perfect! One might have thought it was impossible for Gela to smile any wider, but here she is beaming.

"Nevarra." Don't worry about it, "Where are you from? Bet I've been there."

[altusimperius]

"Tevinter." No sense beating around the bush. "Ever been to Minrathous?"

[sprent]

"Yes. I wanted to see the Juggernauts." That was back when Gela didn't know where she was going, when she didn't have a plan. Freshly turfed from Nevarra, she heard about things on the wind: golems, dancing plazas, and giant, cracked bells, and she went there, and looked, because it was better than wandering aimlessly. "Interestin' place, but not as friendly to those with little coin."

[altusimperius]

"Oh. ...yeah. I suppose not." He frowns uncertainly, opting not to poke that particular bear.

"Did you like the Juggernauts?"

[sprent]

Gels shrugs a shoulder, reaching for a grape, “They were very big.” As advertised. In explanation, “It was a couple years ago. I’m sure I was suitably awed at the time.” She’s seen a lot since then. Travelled the world, in a blur.

“Does Riftwatch travel a lot?”

[altusimperius]

"Yeah. ...a lot a lot." He puffs idly from the hookah.

"There's always stuff to do around the Gallows, though, if that's not to your liking. Or you can't for some reason."