closed: let them measure us by what they will

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio has always been fond of fashion. Specifically -- sparkly, colorful things, things his father would call gaudy or womanish. It is no wonder that arriving here was like a revelation, free to wear what he pleased and feel no judgment for it, whether it be a sparkly floor-length gown with fishnets and combat boots or a ratty Iron Maiden t-shirt and jeans. It is time, he has decided, that Benvolio gets to discover all this as well. Will he give Benvolio a choice in this? It is quite unlikely.

Therefore, it should be no surprise¹ to Benvolio that Mercutio appears at his door one morning, looking intent and not at all like he's mildly singed any eyebrows recently or anything like that. "Ho, art thou up?"

¹ Doubtful. Mercutio is always surprisingly chaotic, that's one of his charms.

Comments

[keep_the_peace]

He isn't. He's very much asleep. Mercutio is going to need to just barge on in and shake Benvolio awake if he wants to get anything accomplished today, sorry to say.

[bymyheelies]

--Challenge accepted. After a few minutes...well, it's more like thirty seconds at the most, Mercutio does indeed barge in and sprawls down on top of Benvolio. That's a normal way to wake your best friend up, right?

[keep_the_peace]

Benvolio just groans, then grabs a spare pillow and tosses it on top of Mercutio's face, all without opening his eyes.

[bymyheelies]

"Get up," he says through the pillow, and tosses it somewhere else on the bed, then gives Benvolio a shake. "I have things to show thee."

[keep_the_peace]

"I've seen enough. No more seeing."

[bymyheelies]

"Fine, I shall go then." ...He's making no movement whatsoever to do so.

[keep_the_peace]

"Good." It is entirely possible that Benvolio is actually wrapping an arm around Mercutio as he says this.

[bymyheelies]

"Fie, sir, I am not thy blanket," he says indignantly, wriggling a little.

[keep_the_peace]

"Art acting as one," he points out.

[bymyheelies]

“Only because thou hast me trapped like a hare.”

[keep_the_peace]

“Nay, trapped as a blanket. If thou wilt stop acting like a blanket I will stop treating thee as one.”

[bymyheelies]

“Thou’rt comfortable.” So no, he’s not moving.

[keep_the_peace]

"Perhaps it is thy life's purpose to be a blanket, and thou'rt now realizing such. Dost thou feel very woolen?"

[bymyheelies]

He considers this for a solemn moment, eyes twinkling. "Nay, if I am anything, I am silk."

[keep_the_peace]

"Shiny," is Benvolio's only response to that. "What didst thou mean to show me that was so important thou needed to barge in and interrupt my important schedule?" His important schedule of sleeping until the early afternoon.

[bymyheelies]

"Thy important schedule of lying about?" As if Mercutio doesn't do the same, often enough. He finally sits up and tugs at Benvolio's arms. "Come! I must needs show thee thy silks. 'Tis far more comfortable than thy doublet and hose."

[keep_the_peace]

"I have been curious about the fashions here," he says, climbing out of bed. "I must go wash up first, canst thou spare me five minutes?" Regardless of Mercutio's answer, Benvolio is already heading toward his bathroom to clean his teeth and wash his face and whatnot.

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio makes an overdramatic huffy sound and flops back on the bed, waiting for Benvolio to be done.

[keep_the_peace]

Soon enough he considers himself presentable enough and goes back into the main room. "'Twas only a ruse to get my bed to thyself, I see."

[bymyheelies]

He waggles his eyebrows. "I am told I make a fine bed-mate."

[keep_the_peace]

Benvolio has gotten very good at specifically not thinking about some things. There are some things he is absolutely not thinking about at all. Nope. "By thy fellow silkworm friends?"

[bymyheelies]

"Oh, ay, there are thousands of them."

[keep_the_peace]

"Thou'rt confusing silkworms with bedbugs, I fear."

[bymyheelies]

"Thou shalt turn into one if thou liest abed all day." So saying, he pushes himself up and tugs Benvolio towards the closet. "Here."

[keep_the_peace]

"And how long hadst thou been awake, before coming to get me today? Twelve minutes? --Thou wilt have to dress me, thou knowest I am not even skilled at selecting clothing from home, let alone fashions I am unfamiliar with entirely."