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

[sagramore]

A few moments later, the front door opens again, and Sagramore and Szarka scurry inside, shaking off the snow that's caught in their hair, beard, and coat, respectively. Sagramore stamps his boots. "Jesu! It's really coming down out there!" he informs Benvolio, before he actually looks at him properly and realizes that he's new. "Oh, hello!"

[keep_the_peace]

Maybe if Benvolio reads everything on the welcome table five times any of this will start to make sense to him. Unlikely, but he's not going to let that deter him. "'Tis why I am inside," he replies with a grin, "as now are you. Congratulations." Then he notices the dog. "A good thing your companion here was able to rescue you from the snow, no doubt."

[sagramore]

"Aye, she dragged me in before I could succumb to death, she's my savior. Szari, sit," he adds, and she does so, plonking her bottom down on his feet as if she anticipates this conversation is going to take a while.

[keep_the_peace]

"Then she be a hero, and ought to be celebrated as such. Szari the hero!"

[sagramore]

"How wouldst thou honor such a hero, in thy country?"

[keep_the_peace]

"Much the way any place would, I imagine. Parades in her honor, rose petals tossed for her to walk upon, the tiniest crown of laurels for her head..."

[sagramore]

"Oh, Christ, I want a little crown of laurels for her, I want it so much. I wonder if Dionysus could approximate that."

[keep_the_peace]

We will assume, for simplicity's sake, that by now Mercutio has explained to Benvolio that the person he was with before was Dionysus. "Can a god not do all he wishes?"

[sagramore]

"Well, there are some rules, I think it has to be generally vine-related," Sagramore says, betraying a deep ignorance of the power he himself wielded barely a month ago.

[keep_the_peace]

"A crown of vines then, if not laurels."

[sagramore]

"Does that count? Or is it allowable because it's in the right spirit?"

[keep_the_peace]

"We could get her opinion on the matter," he says before turning to Szari and asking, "Would a crown of vines suffice, dear one?"

[sagramore]

Szarka, at being Addressed, lifts her head, her tail thumping against the floor. "Oh!," Sagramore says. "Did I introduce her? This is Szarka." He fishes through in his pocket for a squashed bit of her favorite dried liver. "Here, have her do a trick for you, and you can give her this."

[keep_the_peace]

Benvolio takes the bit of liver and asks Sagramore, “Can she do a twirl?”

[sagramore]

"Why don't you find out?" he says, in a tone that makes it absolutely clear she can.

[keep_the_peace]

He grins, then says, "Canst thou twirl?" to Szarka while moving the treat in a circular motion above the dog's head.

[sagramore]

Szarka knows Spin! And Benvolio's hand gesture is illustrative enough. She shuffles around in an agile circle, then looks expectantly up, tail wagging.

[keep_the_peace]

Well that’s the cutest thing Benvolio has seen in a while. “What a clever lady thou art, dear Szarka!” he says to her, handing over the treat.

[sagramore]

She gobbles it down ecstatically, licking his fingers to make sure she hasn't missed anything, and Sagramore laughs. "My fast daughter! Well done."

[keep_the_peace]

"'Tis gone, good lady! 'Tis gone!" he says with a laugh, holding his hands open so Szarka can see there's no food left in them.

[sagramore]

Just In Case, Szarka sits at his feet to keep an eye on him for the rest of their conversation.

"So as you can see, she's the queen here," Sagramore remarks.

[keep_the_peace]

“Oh yes, clearly!” he says to Sagramore, then bows before Szarka. “Forgive me, your majesty, for not recognizing such sooner.”

[sagramore]

As Benvolio's face comes within reach, Szarka hops up and licks it, which earns her a stern, "Szari"; she backs away guiltily as Sagramore scolds, "Would Lan Wangji be proud of thee if thou greeted Wei Wuxian so?"

[keep_the_peace]

"Truly I do not mind it," he says, grinning. "A kiss from the queen of this place is surely a good thing, is it not?"

[sagramore]

Sagramore flashes him a smile. "You don't mind it, but another might. She knows she's supposed to mind her manners unless someone gets down on the floor with her." On the floor is, of course, the Sunny Loophole.