open + closed

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict, some other people, you??
WHAT: just a catch-all
WHEN: tra-la, it's may, the lusty month of may
WHERE: around and about
NOTES: If you'd like something bespoke I'm happy to include it!

[starters below]

Comments

[armd]

Abby mutters, "There are willing targets?" but that's not really the point of what Benedict is saying. She folds her arms across her chest and looks at him carefully. She is putting two and two together, here.

"Is this something that you want? Because it kinda sounds like something your mom and Isaac want."

[altusimperius]

He stops, turning and folding his arms with a look back at Abby that's stubborn and, in its way, vulnerable. Invoking his mother never results in a pleasant conversation, even if it was he who did it.

"I put too much faith in defense," he mutters to the ground, "I don't want to be caught flatfooted again." He grips his thin upper arms uneasily: his clothes are still loose on him, the return to normalcy after his capture a constant but slow process.

"I may as well use what I already have."

[armd]

They mirror each other standing there, staring at each other, arms folded protectively across themselves. Benedict is the first to break, his gaze darting toward the ground and Abby relents, letting go of herself, arms dropping by her sides. If he wants to do it because he wants to be able to protect himself she can't stand here and criticise him for it. She remembers what it's like to not feel safe, like anything could come along and take something (someone) away from you.

She shrugs a shoulder. "Okay. If you're sure. I can — I'll help, if I can."

[altusimperius]

He shrugs, not entirely pleased by how this conversation has turned out, but at Abby's reassurance, he nods. That's what he came for, isn't it?

"Thanks," he says, and means it, even if he's slightly regretting bringing it up.