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contact part deux
if this were modern times byerly would probably make you listen to total eclipse of the heart before you were able to leave a message
[His hackles lower. Byerly isn't mocking him.
At least not overtly.]
...I know.
[Benedict chances a furtive, melancholy glance his way.]
I'm sorry.
At least not overtly.]
...I know.
[Benedict chances a furtive, melancholy glance his way.]
I'm sorry.
[With a little nod, Benedict lapses into silence and tries to focus on his work. He's exhausted, smarting from the recent succession of hits to his pride, and, worst of all, he realizes once again how much he cares what Byerly thinks of him.
It's not something he wants to vocalize, and inevitably worsen by shoving his own foot in his mouth-- instead, he resolves to simply get through the day without being a problem.
This manifests as hunching over his desk as if deep in concentration, allowing a gentle quiet to grow between them.]
It's not something he wants to vocalize, and inevitably worsen by shoving his own foot in his mouth-- instead, he resolves to simply get through the day without being a problem.
This manifests as hunching over his desk as if deep in concentration, allowing a gentle quiet to grow between them.]
[ Oh. Oh. By takes it, an intent sort of curiosity and interest in his eye. This is a Byerly who's a little harder to find, nowadays. Back in the day, when he was young, everything captured his interest - men and women and music and art and conversation and mischief and passion and secrets and everything - but in his older, cynical days, curiosity comes slower and more guarded. A mystery, though...A mystery puts the brightness back in his eye. ]
With the age of it, I doubt these lovers are still alive. What do you think?
With the age of it, I doubt these lovers are still alive. What do you think?
[Benedict, having ruminated for so long now that he's all but counting down the minutes until he can finally leave work and go be unobserved for a while, looks up quietly.]
...I... tried to.
[His reticence, at least, doesn't seem to come from fear of what Byerly will do or say, as before. He's exhausted, from exhausting himself.]
...I... tried to.
[His reticence, at least, doesn't seem to come from fear of what Byerly will do or say, as before. He's exhausted, from exhausting himself.]
Well, you succeeded. Well done.
[ What the hell else is there to say here? Maker, Byerly hates the way the boy acts when he's like this - cringing and miserable. It'd be so much easier if he were the sort of person who reacted defiantly, rather than miserably. He'd almost prefer someone who spat in his face. ]
[ What the hell else is there to say here? Maker, Byerly hates the way the boy acts when he's like this - cringing and miserable. It'd be so much easier if he were the sort of person who reacted defiantly, rather than miserably. He'd almost prefer someone who spat in his face. ]
Thank you.
[The words are an unexpected (but welcome) balm, yet somehow just manage to make him all the more aware of what a disaster today has been. He needs to go smoke something, maybe mash his face into a pillow and throw a fit like the spoiled brat he is, release some tension, but only where no one can see or hear or judge.
In the meantime, he's lucky to still be here.]
...um,
[But perhaps the point is made.]
...could I take off a bit early?
[The words are an unexpected (but welcome) balm, yet somehow just manage to make him all the more aware of what a disaster today has been. He needs to go smoke something, maybe mash his face into a pillow and throw a fit like the spoiled brat he is, release some tension, but only where no one can see or hear or judge.
In the meantime, he's lucky to still be here.]
...um,
[But perhaps the point is made.]
...could I take off a bit early?
[Without any further ado, Benedict rises and takes his leave.
They Are Free]
They Are Free]
Je ne sais pas! The moment after I understood what it was, I shut it immediately and tucked it away.
[ It puts wings in her heart to see the bright clarity of his interest. His eyes are always beautiful, always; but like this... there is no-one in the world who would not fall in love. ]
I wanted to think with you.
[ She leans her head against his so she can peer at it from as similar an angle as she can. ]
If it was made for this purpose— the inscription original, the painting of an age with it— I think you are right to doubt. We have not yet ruled out the possibility of it being an heirloom locket with a newer inscription, however.
[ He'll feel the spread of her smile where her cheek is pressed. ]
Have you a magnifying glass?
[ It puts wings in her heart to see the bright clarity of his interest. His eyes are always beautiful, always; but like this... there is no-one in the world who would not fall in love. ]
I wanted to think with you.
[ She leans her head against his so she can peer at it from as similar an angle as she can. ]
If it was made for this purpose— the inscription original, the painting of an age with it— I think you are right to doubt. We have not yet ruled out the possibility of it being an heirloom locket with a newer inscription, however.
[ He'll feel the spread of her smile where her cheek is pressed. ]
Have you a magnifying glass?
Ah - yes, I do.
[ He goes to his desk drawer and pulls one forth. An item that was purchased purely because handwriting can be so dreadfully small - certainly not in deference to aging eyes.
He trains it on the portrait. ]
Are those Antivan fashions?
[ He goes to his desk drawer and pulls one forth. An item that was purchased purely because handwriting can be so dreadfully small - certainly not in deference to aging eyes.
He trains it on the portrait. ]
Are those Antivan fashions?
Mm.
[ A moment of fond reminiscence. ]
Then I think you should do it. I can't make people dance like you can, and—you know, the worst case scenario is that you will have done something kind for someone you don't get along with. The best is that you will come to an understanding later, and you won't have missed her wedding over a temporary disagreement. They are both pretty good scenarios.
[ A moment of fond reminiscence. ]
Then I think you should do it. I can't make people dance like you can, and—you know, the worst case scenario is that you will have done something kind for someone you don't get along with. The best is that you will come to an understanding later, and you won't have missed her wedding over a temporary disagreement. They are both pretty good scenarios.
[ Obediently she looks— ]
Y-es? Not modern ones, but there is too much colour for Nevarra or Tevinter. Too much volume in the dress for Rivain, I think, but not enough for Orlais unless perhaps she was more moderate than most. Or maybe she is an more immoderate Fereldan than most?
[ Affectionately said, from her position in the lap of a Fereldan more immoderate than most. ]
Y-es? Not modern ones, but there is too much colour for Nevarra or Tevinter. Too much volume in the dress for Rivain, I think, but not enough for Orlais unless perhaps she was more moderate than most. Or maybe she is an more immoderate Fereldan than most?
[ Affectionately said, from her position in the lap of a Fereldan more immoderate than most. ]
Ha.
[ He gives her a squeeze of appreciation. ]
No, she needs to look far more louche to be a properly immoderate Fereldan. And the hairstyle looks more Northern - [ He taps lightly with his fingernail. ] It's pinned up, atop the head. Southern women wear their hair loose or pinned low.
[ He gives her a squeeze of appreciation. ]
No, she needs to look far more louche to be a properly immoderate Fereldan. And the hairstyle looks more Northern - [ He taps lightly with his fingernail. ] It's pinned up, atop the head. Southern women wear their hair loose or pinned low.
You wouldn’t, you, [ Bastien begins, before actually giving a deep and genuine damn about Byerly, unlike many other targets of his little persuasion campaigns, catches up to him.
He stops. The rest of the planned sentence comes out a nose-sigh. ]
I don’t want to push you into it if you will be miserable the whole time.
He stops. The rest of the planned sentence comes out a nose-sigh. ]
I don’t want to push you into it if you will be miserable the whole time.
I probably shouldn't assume anyway--I don't know what a 'good name' around here sounds like.
[ A little wry, silently taking note of how he refers to his parents. And then, with a note of what might be approval (or might be tell me more, or both) in her voice-- ]
So you found something better do.
[ A little wry, silently taking note of how he refers to his parents. And then, with a note of what might be approval (or might be tell me more, or both) in her voice-- ]
So you found something better do.
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