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 know not if it be the refrigerator or the lamps that seem the most magical to me. Even more magical than the closets which produce clothing at will," he laughs. "Clothing belongs in closets, cold does not belong in a box."

[ravkanwitch]

"It keeps the food fresh!" Nina says, perhaps a little too excitedly. "Did you know that it works with gas and not with ice? The gas somehow takes the heat from inside the fridge to the outside."

[keep_the_peace]

"It does sound as if you are describing magic, my lady," he laughs.

[ravkanwitch]

"It's not magic. If you want magic, there's plenty of that to be found here. If you ever meet the angel, Mr. Fell, you should ask him for a magic show! He's an incredible magician."

[keep_the_peace]

"What -- what doth he do?" Benvolio is picturing, you know, biblical angel stuff. Definitely not the kinds of things Mr. Fell actually gets up to.

[ravkanwitch]

"Card tricks! He makes rabbits appear out of hats, too."

[keep_the_peace]

"Why hats?"

[ravkanwitch]

"I guess because hair belongs in it?" Nina grins, unapologetic. "Get it? Hair and hare?"

[keep_the_peace]

Those are two incredibly different words in Italian, so any hope at understanding the joke goes right over his head. Still though, he replies, "Oh, ay," in an attempt to not make her feel bad.

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh! We had a talent show after I met Mr. Fell. Do you have any talents?"

[keep_the_peace]

"I have many activities I enjoy doing, but I would not call any of them a talent, merely for fun. What about yourself?"

[ravkanwitch]

"I'm an actress! I can also pick up languages very quickly. Oh-- but surely there's something you could do for a talent show."

[keep_the_peace]

"I suppose I shall think on it. How regularly do they occur?"

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh, we've only had one so far... But we could have another, now that you're here!"

[keep_the_peace]

"Oh -- ah, do not feel the need to have one simply on my account," he says, suddenly incredibly nervous.

[ravkanwitch]

"It wouldn't just be for you," Nina says reassuringly, but she is a touch guilty. She was already planning on using 'Benvolio has never seen or been in a talent show before!' as a soft bullying tactic. "We've had a lot of new residents since the last one."

[keep_the_peace]

"Oh, in that case perhaps you ought to do one, so those newcomers who would like to participate may have an opportunity." Benvolio will... watch. From the audience. While not participating.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina narrows her eyes slightly. We'll see, Benvolio. We'll see. "I suppose so," she says, letting it go for now. "Let's see. What else? Oh, Mr. Fell is married to a demon. He's rather cranky and not that interesting, though."

[keep_the_peace]

"...The angel is married to a demon?"

[ravkanwitch]

"Yes!" She lowers her voice to a proper, gossipy tone. "I think they were married before they came here and then they got into a big argument."<sup>1

1</sup>Somehow, she is wrong and right at the same time.

[keep_the_peace]

"Oh!" He blinks. "'Tis not just some quirk of this place which allowed them to be married then?"

[ravkanwitch]

"No, not at all." Nina sounds so very certain, but it's unfounded. She's hardly an expert on Mr. Fell's relationships. There's no reason why she should be! They exchange pleasantries and sometimes take tea and snacks together, but that's it. "--Well, possibly. I know they were enemies at some point, but they were also married."

[keep_the_peace]

"They were married even while enemies?" That doesn't seem... functional...

[ravkanwitch]

Nina nods sagely. This is completely understandable to her. "Love and hate are sometimes very similar."

[keep_the_peace]

He involuntarily thinks about what Sagramore told him (when did he tell him?) about Mercutio, and how he was apparently in love with Tybalt this whole time, despite seemingly hating him. Despite Tybalt killing him. "I suppose so," he answers, weakly.