[open] I see what's mine

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict and you
WHAT: slice o' life stuff + an easy in for new folks!
WHEN: Guardian
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES:

I. Office Hours

The plaque on the door reads Personnel Officer, and the office within is neatly kept with fancy touches here and there: an ornate Antivan candelabra, ornately carved old chairs-- restored, of course-- with red and gold brocade upholstery, settled in front of the standard desk assigned to a lower-ranking Riftwatch bureaucrat.

The lower-ranking Riftwatch bureaucrat in question is usually seated on the other side of the desk, sometimes (at least in the morning) with a mug of coffee, puttering pleasantly away on some documentation or other. He's quick to look up and smile politely at any newcomers, with a similar greeting for established parties (though the smile varies in this case).

II. Evenings

It's unusual, in its way, that Benedict has taken more to lingering around the Gallows in his off-hours rather than taking off to carouse in Kirkwall proper. He can be found in the dining hall, people-watching as he eats his various meals; or in the baths, primping and luxuriating in the hot water; or in the library, ostensibly reading a book, even if his attention flits here and there and seems instead to land on everyone who passes by.

There's an unusual alertness to him, which manifests by way of a slight delay in smiles to friends, holding eye contact a little too long before averting his gaze, and-- for those who are inclined to notice these things-- an uncharacteristic sobriety, even during times of leisure.

for Julius

At an agreed-upon time, Benedict makes his way once more to the Seneschal's office: a while ago he'd requested to pick his brain a bit on the Southern Circle of Magi issue, and the time has come for that discussion. He brings with him a smallish carafe of wine and a basket of bread rolls, no doubt meant to be shared while inspiring conversation.
He knocks on the doorframe with his elbow before entering, wearing a pleasant smile.

Comments

you keep Ol' Jerk Off Antoni's name out of your fucking mouth

[altusimperius]

"Maybe." A little roll of his eyes-- if that isn't gossip, what is?

"He did arrive in the middle of the Gallows, though. Inconsiderate."

[bribon]

"Or very convenient."

All right, yes. It's true that now he's just being argumentative.

[altusimperius]

"How is that convenient," Bene shoots back, giving him the stinkeye, "I was busy."

[bribon]

"No one had to ride to the fuck off middle of nowhere to go fetch them. Sounds like you just had to trot down the stairs, and were back in your little office an hour after."

He makes a shrugging gesture with his hands, skimming just across the surface of the water. Convenient.

[altusimperius]

"You mean the way we had to go fetch you," Benedict points out, flipping his hand lightly toward Desi.

[bribon]

Here, Desidério makes a short quibbling 'ah ah' sound. Incorrect! This is a gross misrepresentation of the facts, thank you very much.

"The Weyrs rift brought you out there. I just happened to be there as well."

[altusimperius]

"You're welcome, by the way." With a little toss of his head, Benedict tucks a strand of hair behind one ear.

"I know it may be difficult to accept that magic saved your life, considering what you obviously think of it, but there it is."

cw: torture, dead bodies

[bribon]

The real problem with the Gallows, he thinks distantly, is the distance one is required to travel to get to a good body of water for drowning someone in. True, it would be entorely possible to do it here in these very baths, but there's something gauche about the whole concept. A bath is perfectly suited for some light torture—dunking someone under the surface until they struggle, and doing that a few times until they agree that On second thought, they do remember having recently come into a bit of money from their grandmother and how some of that might be used to repay their debts—but who wants a corpse floating around in hot water? It gets all gummy, and the smell is terrible, and however is stuck cleaning up after has to deal with considerably more goop than anyone really should have to. No, best to use running water of some kind. Failing that, a canal where the rats and eels and bizarre slimy fish can make a meal of the results. It's just wasteful otherwise.

Not that he'd know from having done any of that personally, of course.

All this Desidério considers with a sort of dispassionate wistfulness. Ah, the good old days. Meanwhile, what his mouth says is,

"Magic is just fine. It's sorry little cunts that I don't like."

[altusimperius]

"Mm. All right." A placid, feline look crosses Benedict's face as he eyes Desidério, falling silent for several long moments before he adds:

"go on, then. Or are you forgetting that you joined me?"

[bribon]

"I don't forget anything," he says, with some measure of biting cheerfulness. This is, unfortunately, largely a true fact and everyone would agree—including perhaps Desidério himself—that it weren't. A good memory can be highly inconvenient for all involved.