contact part deux

[bouchonne]

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

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[bouchonne]

[ Honestly. ]

The fellow you tried to blind?

[ He gives a gesture evocative of poking someone hard in the eye. ]

[altusimperius]

[He was framed, this is all a misunderstanding, he-- wait. Oh.

Bene is visibly taken aback.]

...I did.

[With a deep exhale, he backs up to sit against the edge of his desk, his hands curled over its edges to prop him up, a hangdog look overtaking any fearfulness. When he speaks again, it's with guilty resignation.]

I'm a little surprised he came to you about it.

[bouchonne]

[ With a hint of acid creeping into his pleasant tones: ]

I'm utterly shocked that you didn't.

[altusimperius]

[Ouch.

Benedict is silent a moment, fully caught in it.]

I suppose I thought we'd. Sorted it. He and I.

[His speech is halting and sheepish.]

[bouchonne]

And you thought that because it happened between the two of you, it was irrelevant to me?

[altusimperius]

[Benedict nods miserably.]

[bouchonne]

You're aware what your relationship is to me, are you not?

[altusimperius]

[Quietly,] I’m aware.

[If ever it were possible to just disintegrate, now would be the time.

At least he likes the coffee.]

[bouchonne]

And you're aware that actions you take that break discipline will reflect on me.

[altusimperius]

[Wretchedly,]

Yes.

[bouchonne]

So is something like that relevant to me or not?

[altusimperius]

Yes, it’s relevant.

[That same terrible tightness has returned to his guts, reminiscent of when he faced the anger of Gabranth himself.
His groveling is, at least, sincere: there’s an element of knowing he’s got to endure it and come out the other side, rather than wriggle out now and have to pay the piper later.]

[bouchonne]

[ Byerly, though, responds to that snappishly: ]

Maker, stop looking at me like I'm some grand bully persecuting you.

[altusimperius]

[Wearing his thoughts on his face has never worked out in Benedict’s favor, but he tries to school his expression into something more stoic.

Now doesn’t seem like the time to get smart.]

I’m agreeing with you, [he says faintly.]

[bouchonne]

And looking like you're about to turn into a puddle.

[altusimperius]

[He purses his lips, hating how visible his discomfort is.]

...how should I look.

[It's almost an earnest question.]

[bouchonne]

[ He lets out a hard breath, then shakes his head. ]

You're cleaning out the privies.

[altusimperius]

[That was a bit of a jump--]

What?

[bouchonne]

You could have blinded the fellow. You're cleaning out the privies. That's your punishment.

[altusimperius]

Oh.

[He can't stop himself from sneering at the thought, but it is what it is.]

...fine.

[bouchonne]

[ Clipped: ]

Get to it, then.

[altusimperius]

[Though a dark look is cast Byerly's way, its origin perhaps not as clear as it may seem, Benedict slouches off to do just that.

It's several hours later that he returns, still very much in a sulk, but not as much of one as it might be if he hadn't managed to clean himself up properly after the ordeal-- his hair is still damp from the bath he took.
He barely glances to Byerly as he finally sits down at his desk, determined to salvage some of the day.
Or perhaps just making a point.

Should Byerly check his work at any point, he will find that the erstwhile chamberlain actually did a job up to his own standard, which is to say, the privies are all but sparkling.]

[bouchonne]

So.

[ At some point, By speaks, his voice bone-dry. ]

What did we learn?

[altusimperius]

[His tone grates on Benedict anew, and it yields a sullen look.]

If I poke someone in the eye again, you'll be the first to know.

[It strikes him as soon as the words leave his mouth that that was the wrong thing to say; with a touch more humility, he adds,]

...and I'm not going to.

[bouchonne]

[ Good boy. ]

Because if you do so, I'll be the one who gets screwed.