Introducing Benvolio

[keep_the_peace]

Waking up in a strange bedroom, in a strange house, was bad enough, but then when Benvolio finally made his way to the front door he was greeted by snow outside. Summer might be coming to an end, but it definitely is not snow weather yet, nor is Benvolio dressed for such, in his black silk doublet, black and blue trimmed trunk hose, and black stockings. He does have shoes on, thankfully, though he can't imagine how he would have fallen asleep wearing shoes. It's not like he's had much opportunity to celebrate to the point of blacking out lately, after all.

Regardless, he takes one look at the snow outside and decides to shut the door and instead turn his attention to the table covered in different pamphlets and papers. He has many questions.

Comments

[bymyheelies]

He will undoubtedly have several many more in a moment. Mercutio had been on his way outside with Dionysus to go check on the garden, but he stops dead when he sees an incredibly familiar figure in the entryway. It's not another event, is it? Benvolio won't be torn away from him as Tybalt was? He leans in the doorway to the hall, strangely hesitant. There is not the immediate desire to taunt and play as there was with Tybalt, perhaps because he is all too aware of what happened not so long after.

Instead, he clears his throat and if Benvolio turns, he gives him a small wave, fighting to hide the smile that is threatening to burst through.

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is chatting idly with Mercutio as they walk, but when Mercutio stops walking suddenly, Dionysus shuts up. There's a newcomer, and judging by the way Mercutio is acting, Dionysus can put two and two together about the source material for this kid. In fact, he can narrow it down to just a couple of people this might be.

"Oh, ah, hello," Dionysus says, not really sure what else to do right now.

[keep_the_peace]

Benvolio is just about to pick up a pamphlet about cultivating something or other when he hears some people approaching. He turns, ready to ask many, many questions, but instead finds he can't ask anything at all.

Standing next to an unfamiliar face is an incredibly familiar one. "Mercutio?" he manages to squeak out. "Then -- I am still asleep..."

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio glances at Dionysus, silently raising his eyebrows in a question: 'this isn't some weird mansion event, right?'. But then it's right back to Benvolio, and he shakes his head.

"I do not recall you talking in your sleep, at home," he says, smile finally blooming --though in truth, he is still a little uncertain of himself. "I do not think this is a dream."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus gives a smile to Mercutio, and a little nod. Unless the spirits are just getting ridiculously repetitive, this likely isn't a one-day visitor.

Furthermore, he's fairly certain this is Benvolio and not Romeo, unless it's Romeo from a very specific span of time. Could be, he supposes. Either way, he'll get details later, he's sure they've got a lot to discuss.

"I'll see you later," he says to Mercutio before smiling at ...whichever Montague it is he's standing in front of. "Wonderful to meet you, dear, I'll see you around, I'm sure¹."

With that, he heads outside to give them some space.




1. And they never had another thread together ever again...

[keep_the_peace]

Dimly, Benvolio is aware that the other person was talking to him, and just left, but honestly, his eyes haven't left Mercutio's face this whole time.

"Then I must have suffered some ill fate and died in my slumber, else how couldst thou be here?"

[bymyheelies]

"'Tis not Verona," is all he says at first, knowing that's not an answer and striding forward to give Benvolio the tightest hug he can muster. It is good to see him, though it brings back memories of their last encounter with each other; Mercutio covered in blood, lying close to death on the floor of a tavern. He blinks back a sudden, strange onset of tears¹ and smiles.

"I yet live, here. There are some others that have died in their homes as well."


¹He really is turning into Romeo. This will Not Do.

[keep_the_peace]

Benvolio is remembering the same moment, but from the other point of view. Cradling Mercutio in his arms as the light went out from his eyes. It is a moment he has thought on often over the past couple of months. He has hardly gone an hour without thinking about it.

He hugs back, his head drooping down to Mercutio's shoulder, crying as well. "Thou'rt too solid to be a spirit, but -- I don't understand..."

[bymyheelies]

"'Tis this place," he says, muffled into Benvolio's shoulder -- and pulls away, just a little, so he can be heard. "'Tis some magic here, I know not what. The spirits of this house, or this land, or whate'er it may be -- hath decreed that I, among several others, should be alive upon my arrival here. Even though the last thing I remember was --mm. Tybalt, and what came after."

[keep_the_peace]

If the hug gets a little tighter when Mercutio mentions Tybalt, no it didn't, you're just imagining things. "I don't understand, however I shall not question it further, and just be glad of it." He holds tight to the hug for another beat before something hits him. "Mercutio! I must tell thee of what happened to -- of what happened after thou --"

[bymyheelies]

"Nay, I know it --" He raises a hand to quiet Benvolio, and makes a brief face. "'Tis something else you will not understand, but our story was written of. Some people here know of it, and hath told me. Romeo killed Tybalt, ay? And then himself? For love of the Capulet girl?"

[keep_the_peace]

He'll deal with the question of what meanest thou it was written of in a minute. "Aye, he had been banishèd¹, yet was found soon thereafter in her tomb, where he had--" He clings a bit helplessly to Mercutio.



1.To Jacksonville???

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio snorts and shakes his head. "All this over a girl he had known for three days. He is a fool."

[keep_the_peace]

He doesn't really feel like shit-talking Romeo right now, so he tries to redirect the conversation from that. "His mother passed as well. When she heard of his exile."

[bymyheelies]

"...Ah." He sighs. It's hard for this to feel real, it hasn't felt so since he arrived here; in this strange place full of lights that do not burn and machines that do the washing for you, he has almost been content to view it as a fairyland, or an afterlife. Benvolio being here changes that. Yes, it is good to finally have someone from home -- one of his dearest friends, no less; but then to hear the rest of the tale? It is more difficult than he had thought it would be.

"I'faith, I am sorry, my Ben. I know she was dear to thee."

[keep_the_peace]

"Things have been... difficult, of late. To say the least. But -- but now I have thee back--" thanks to whatever magic this place is made from.

[bymyheelies]

"I shall not leave thee," he says, pulling Benvolio in for another tight hug. "I swear it."

[keep_the_peace]

It feels like his heart is going to beat right out of his chest, having Mercutio back, in his arms again under happier circumstances, and saying... well, saying that. He takes a deep breath.

"Mercutio, I do have one question." He has many questions but this one's important.

[bymyheelies]

"Ay?" He hasn't moved from their current hug, having found a comfortable position to slot himself into.

[keep_the_peace]

Benvolio also doesn't seem to be in any hurry to move from the hug. Still, he asks, "What art thou wearing?"

[bymyheelies]

"Clothes," Mercutio replies promptly, knowing full well that is not the answer Benvolio actually wanted. He grins, however, unrepentant. "Wherefore? Wouldst thou have me unclothed? A cruel man, to throw me out in the snow with not a scrap on me."

[keep_the_peace]

He does finally pull back from the hug, if only to be able to swat at Mercutio. "Thou knowest what I meant, knave. I've not seen clothes like this before, is this the fashion of this place?"

[bymyheelies]

"Ay, I woke in clothes quite similar to this." His, of course, were much more suited for a Veronese summer, but that's beside the point. "The wardrobes here supply them, you might find most anything one might wish for."

[keep_the_peace]

"I would not know where to begin, it all looks so different from the fashions from home. Thou wilt have to help me."

[bymyheelies]

He waggles his eyebrows, smirking. "Fain, I would help thee whene'er thou liked."