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Presently I’m being distracted by someone nattering at me over sending crystal.
What? [with the faintest touch of unease,] How does that concern you?
[A halfhearted scoff, a pause, and Benedict's end of the line goes dead. DON'T BE RIDICULOUS anyway bye]
[presumably sometime after this conversation has come to an end:]
Are you busy?
[spoken like someone who is going to burst into flames on the spot unless he gets the chance to say what's on his mind first.]
Are you busy?
[spoken like someone who is going to burst into flames on the spot unless he gets the chance to say what's on his mind first.]
Um--
[the urge to say yes is rising]
--has something happened?
[the urge to say yes is rising]
--has something happened?
[good, that means he's free. not five seconds later, brisk footsteps can be heard in the hallway, and then there's Octavius pushing open Benedict's office door.]
Is that Orlesian healer always such a colossal prick?
[hi.]
Is that Orlesian healer always such a colossal prick?
[hi.]
Uh,
[Benedict was not expecting such an immediate entry, and stares at him blankly, quill half-raised.]
Isaac?
[He doesn’t sound surprised, but neither is he offended.]
[Benedict was not expecting such an immediate entry, and stares at him blankly, quill half-raised.]
Isaac?
[He doesn’t sound surprised, but neither is he offended.]
Oh, is that his name? [sharply peevish, hands firmly deposited on the jut of each hip bone] I can't quite recall whether he bothered to introduce himself during his game of twenty questions, or while questioning my professional competency.
[scowling, he drops himself down into the chair across from Benedict and glares down at his fingers; looks like he's been picking at his nails again.]
[scowling, he drops himself down into the chair across from Benedict and glares down at his fingers; looks like he's been picking at his nails again.]
[A little snort of wry amusement, and Benedict shrugs one shoulder.]
Isaac, [he confirms,]
he’s probably just trying to get a rise out of you.
[The man is not known for his tact.]
Isaac, [he confirms,]
he’s probably just trying to get a rise out of you.
[The man is not known for his tact.]
[an incredulous look from Octavius, before he moodily looks aside.] ...I regret that he succeeded.
[embarrassingly well.]
[embarrassingly well.]
[With a dry laugh, Benedict sets his quill down.]
There are plenty here who’ll do that, [he explains,] sometimes you just have to play dead and they’ll lose interest.
There are plenty here who’ll do that, [he explains,] sometimes you just have to play dead and they’ll lose interest.
[weird how having someone laugh at him lifts his spirits a little. Tavi cracks a wry smile of his own, still self-conscious, but glances back at Benedict anyway.]
Is that how you've managed all this time?
Is that how you've managed all this time?
[Benedict, known for his unrivaled vanity and pride, tosses his hair—
—then twists his mouth to one side with a commiserating nod.
It’s the secret to survival.]
—then twists his mouth to one side with a commiserating nod.
It’s the secret to survival.]
[his smile deepens enough to put dimples in his cheeks. he considers Benedict for a moment more, head tilting a fraction to one side.] You like it here, don't you? I don't mean Kirkwall, I mean, [a gesture around them,] with Riftwatch.
[He doesn’t like to be caught out having actual feelings, least of all by Octavius, so Benedict’s smile is skittish and evasive as he looks past his guest at one of the wall hangings they put up together.]
I do, [he says with a sincerity that’s almost shy. Other Vints don’t have a great track record for understanding, least of all Alti.]
I do, [he says with a sincerity that’s almost shy. Other Vints don’t have a great track record for understanding, least of all Alti.]
[how terrible for him that he's been caught having a feeling in front of this particular Vint, whose empathy power level is well over 9000. Octavius seems to have all but forgotten his earlier irritation with Isaac.]
It suits you. [and, as though anticipating Benedict might think he's being a disingenuous shit, he leans forward a little bit and adds sincerely,] I mean it, it really does.
It suits you. [and, as though anticipating Benedict might think he's being a disingenuous shit, he leans forward a little bit and adds sincerely,] I mean it, it really does.
[The sincerity in itself is what spooks Benedict, who gives a little anxious flip of his hair as an excuse to look away.]
What does that mean, [he mutters, both a bit sardonic and genuinely curious, as much as he'd hate to admit it.
Strange how existing for so long outside the vipers' pit has allowed him to grow a personality that no longer revolves (as much) around hedonism and substance-induced dissociation.
But that was his whole charm, wasn't it?]
What does that mean, [he mutters, both a bit sardonic and genuinely curious, as much as he'd hate to admit it.
Strange how existing for so long outside the vipers' pit has allowed him to grow a personality that no longer revolves (as much) around hedonism and substance-induced dissociation.
But that was his whole charm, wasn't it?]
[that, or perhaps someone had seen glimpses of this depth to his personality before, and is simply pleased that the right environment has allowed it space to flourish.] It means you look happy.
[self-conscious of his own sincerity, Octavius looks down at his hands and interlaces his fingers together to stop them from fidgeting.] Certainly happier than you were in Minrathous.
[self-conscious of his own sincerity, Octavius looks down at his hands and interlaces his fingers together to stop them from fidgeting.] Certainly happier than you were in Minrathous.
[smug little shit]
Well, [Benedict attempts to counter, or evade, and instead just sits there silently for a moment, trying not to let the words sink in.]
...yes. [ugh fine]
Well, [Benedict attempts to counter, or evade, and instead just sits there silently for a moment, trying not to let the words sink in.]
...yes. [ugh fine]
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