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

[keep_the_peace]

"I should like to learn alchemy, if you are willing to entertain another student sometime," he says. Mostly he would like to learn alchemy because then he gets to spend more time with Mercutio, but they're friends, that's normal. It's normal to want to spend time with your friends. Though -- damn, what if this Claudius just keeps making comments insinuating Benvolio has feelings for Mercutio while they're trying to learn alchemy? He should have kept his mouth shut.

[wickedwit]

"Thou wouldst be quite welcome," Claudius says with a smile. There's a joke about chemistry he could make, but he'll wait until Benvolio has the proper educational grounding to appreciate it. "'Twas a pleasure to meet thee, Signor Benvolio. I'll be in touch."

[bymyheelies]

"Ay, I am sure thou wilt," Mercutio replies, still somewhat flippant. "Must needs only look for me and you shall find him, I warrant."

[keep_the_peace]

"Ay," he says. He doesn't plan on letting Mercutio out of his sight for very long, now that he's alive again. "'Twas a pleasure to meet you as well." Now please leave him alone so he can talk to his friend in peace!

[wickedwit]

Claudius turns, and rolls his eyes once his back's to them. "Fare thee well!" And he's gone.

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio is, quite promptly, going to flop against Benvolio. "That was my lord Claudius."

[keep_the_peace]

"I hope I did not make too big a fool of myself..." He means in reference to the whole 'husband' thing.

[bymyheelies]

"Nay, I am sure he has seen stranger things than thee, my Ben."

[keep_the_peace]

"Thou knowest what I meant. I never considered such a thing might be possible."

[bymyheelies]

“Nor did I. There is much still to learn, even for me.”

[keep_the_peace]

"I am ...happy to hear of it..."

[bymyheelies]

“…Dost not sound it. Art well?”

[keep_the_peace]

He blinks, and shakes his head. “Sorry, I am happy, truly. Happier than I have been in some months’ time.” Specifically since Mercutio died. “There is simply much to consider. Everything is so different here. But thou’rt here, and to find out I will not be expected to seek the affections of some lady for marriage doth make me very happy indeed.” And those two things are completely unrelated to one another, for sure. Absolutely. Two equally true, unrelated statements.

[bymyheelies]

“Ay,” he nods. “And —hast not met her yet, but there are folk here that are …mm. I know not how to describe it; but she is male or female, and no one minds.”

[keep_the_peace]

“What dost thou mean?”

[bymyheelies]

“She is Magnus’….lover? Partner? Her name is Alex. Some days, she is a woman; and dresses as one and is called one. Some days, she is a man, and the same applies. ‘Tis…” He makes a brief face and waves a hand. “Difficult to explain. Mayhap it is because she is a demigod? ‘Tis no …shame, here, for him to go between the both. No one minds. I do think someone else might explain better than I.”

[keep_the_peace]

... "And who is Magnus?" There was a lot in there he doesn't understand, so he's going to go piece by piece.

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio barely understands most of it, it's fine. "Oh -- ah, he is one of those trapped here. He lives in the woods, most often, but sometimes out in the house over the hill. He is ...more or less of an age with us." It's more. But again, it's fine. Magnus is fun to hang out with and that's all that matters.

[keep_the_peace]

"And Magnus, who is of an age with us and lives in the woods," like, in the woods in the woods, or in a house in the woods? He adds that to his mental list of things to clarify, "has a lover, Alex, who is a demigod?"

[bymyheelies]

"Ay, so is Magnus. They are from the same world." This likely sounds relatively insane, but honestly, Benvolio should be used to that.

[keep_the_peace]

So Benvolio thinks about what he knows about mythology, then asks, "So, is it like unto Tiresias?"

[bymyheelies]

He makes a little so-so sort of motion with his hand. "Somewhat? Alex does not change forms. --Also, she is not Greek."

[keep_the_peace]

"And art thou envious of her for the ability to swap back and forth?"

[bymyheelies]

He considers this for a long moment, then nods. “….Somewhat. But that is the thing here: one might do so. ‘Tis strange, ay, as many things are here; but also much better than other places.”

[keep_the_peace]

"Better than anywhere else, because thou'rt here."