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[altusimperius]

tell him how pretty he is

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[altusimperius]

The door is already partially ajar, but Benedict is on his bed inside, relaxing and reading something in the small amount of time he has after work and before dinner.
He angles his head to see Colin, nods in the midst of a yawning stretch, and unfolds himself from the mattress to follow after him.

"Nice day?" he murmurs, a bit sleepily-- he obviously hasn't even been outside yet.

[keenly]

"Yeah!" He adjusts his grip on the pitcher. "I've got iced mint tea. Sort of a perfect day for it. How's your day been?"

[altusimperius]

Colin's enthusiasm is almost alarming, but it's cute, in a way that Bene can still appreciate despite how tired he is.

"Mint," he repeats with a little smile, "and-- long. Y'know. Painting. ...Byerly."

[keenly]

"Painting Byerly?"

[altusimperius]

A sudden chuckle, which comes out as a clean 'HEHEH'-- "no. Just the two things that consume my waking hours."

[keenly]

"Ah." Colin would rather not talk about Byerly, so he goes for the other one. "About when do you think it'll be done?"

[altusimperius]

"Probably in like."

Bene falls silent for a while, staring forward in contemplation.

"A year."

[keenly]

"It's really special, though. What you're doing. And I'm sure you'll get volunteers to help."

[altusimperius]

"Maybe. It's fine if they don't." He shrugs one shoulder, tossing his hair in a familiar, dismissive motion.

"I'll keep going until it's done."

[keenly]

It's refreshing to see Benedict with drive, and a passion project.

"I believe it." He opens the door to the garden and lets Bene through first.

[altusimperius]

"I'm glad someone does."

Words spoken in a bit of a sulk, but good-naturedly enough, and he smiles as he steps out into the dwindling sunlight.

"I keep forgetting it's summer," he remarks, "it's so cold in that stone tower."

[keenly]

"We need to get you out more." Colin finds a spot to sit down and set out two cups. "Even if it's just having tea in the garden."

He pours both cups full. "I'm not keen on the oppression, but at least being a mage keeps my drinks the right temperature."

[altusimperius]

"Mm."

At this, Bene's spirits seem to dampen slightly, though he tries not to show it as he picks up his cup, sniffs its contents, and takes a drink.

Being a mage. Yes, something he also is, yet with which he can't currently identify.

[keenly]

Colin looks sheepish on seeing Bene's reaction. He should have been more sensitive. They were just having a lovely time. He's got to change the subject very quickly.

"So, um. About what we did. Again. Is that...something we're doing now?"

A slightly coy look.

[altusimperius]

It actually takes Bene a minute to realize what he's talking about, but then he gets it, only after choking slightly on his tea.

"Oh. Um. It," he stammers, clearing his throat, "...like now?" Colin they're in public

[keenly]

[keenly]

"Not now now, just in general."

[altusimperius]

Clearing his throat again, Bene nods. It's almost harder to answer.

"I guess?" He sets his drink down so he won't kill himself on it right away. "...if you want?"

[keenly]

He looks so uncomfortable. Did Colin do something wrong.

"I mean, I want it, but only if you want it."

[altusimperius]

"I think so." Having to put this sort of thing into words is not Bene's forte.

"I mean, I-- I like when things are, you know. Spontaneous." He looks at his fidgeting hands. "The way it's been. That's fine."

[keenly]

"So no putting it on a calendar," Colin teases lightly. After a moment, he speaks very, very gently. "Did I say something wrong?"

[altusimperius]

"What? No." Finally, Benedict smiles slightly, as if to reassure him.

"What we do, it's not-- I'm not used to it being--" He waves his hand vaguely, trying to find the words, "...I wasn't supposed to, really. It didn't matter as long as we kept it quiet, but that's just it, talking about it meant you'd already fucked up. I'm-- I was-- supposed to get married. If a girl or her parents find out you'd... you know, it reflects badly on your family."

It's not such a consideration anymore, but these things don't just unstick themselves from someone's brain.

[keenly]

Colin smiles in response, although the concept of two men together being such a scandal is foreign to him. No one in the Circle cared. If you found someone you connected with, you were considered lucky, although you had to keep it secret or you would be separated, regardless of gender.

"Do you have any attraction to women?" he asks curiously. "At all?"

[altusimperius]

A weak laugh, a shrug.

"I try not to think about it."

[keenly]

"That's fair." Though that probably means no, Colin isn't about to press it. He sips his tea. "Even if you did, that's no guarantee you'd wind up happily with one. You have freedom now."