open: the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow boy's butt shaft

[bymyheelies]

For those that care to spend time with Mercutio; they may note that today he is conspicuously hard to find. He is still reeling from the recent news of Romeo's fate at the end of their story, and not entirely sure how to proceed with it. Ideally, at home, he would find some way to take his mind off of pressing matters: spend time with his friends (friend, now, singular) or find someone entertaining to harass about the town and make merry. If he was in a particularly snappish mood he would invariably end up picking a fight with Capulets, one in particular.

That is not the case today. Someone attuned to the general sounds of the mansion might hear a steady sort of thunking noise coming from an out-of-the-way bar. It is there that Mercutio can be found, various bottles of alcohol open at his side. He has clearly been there some time by the looks of it, and is currently engrossed in throwing a small selection of daggers at the wall. Despite his intoxication, he is doing a reasonably good job at it; but judging from the stormy look on his face, he does not entirely wish to be bothered.

Comments

[temnota]

The sound caught Aleksander's attention and he stopped to investigate. He peered inside and upon taking in the scene with the flying daggers and bottles of alcohol, he frowned. Something was clearly bothering Mercutio. He hesitated for a brief moment then entered, taking care to seem calm and unbothered.

He watched Mercutio for a bit, noting his technique and aim. "Nicely done," he said after one particularly skilled throw.

[bymyheelies]

"Thank you," he says, and it is pointedly not with the sort of warmth and charm that he normally directs at Aleks. "I am skilled with knives."

[temnota]

There was something definitely the matter but Aleksander was fairly sure that Mercutio not only did not want to talk about it but would resist any attempts to draw him out. So he looked through the cupboard until he found a bottle of kvass and poured himself a glass.

"I see that," he said easily. "I am impressed. Where did you learn that?"

[bymyheelies]

He shrugs, sharp and slightly irritated. "At home, my lord."

[temnota]

Aleksander nodded then took a sip as he considered his next step. "It has occurred to me that you owe me a lesson. Not necessarily now, of course, but sometime soon maybe."

[bymyheelies]

"Do I? I had forgotten."

[temnota]

"Skating lessons," Aleksander reminded Mercutio brightly. "With those shoes that have the small wheels on them."

[bymyheelies]

"Ah! Yes. I fear I am not fit for it at the present moment."

[temnota]

"That is all right. It can be something for another time." Aleksander said reassuringly. "In the meantime, can I offer you some distraction?"

[bymyheelies]

He shrugs, short and sharp. "Do as you like."

[temnota]

"How are you at aiming at moving targets?"

[bymyheelies]

"I do well enough."

[temnota]

Aleksander lifted his hands and turned his palms face-up. The shadows gathered from the edges of the room and coiled into a solid sphere in front of him. He flicked his fingers and the sphere sailed away to hover in front of the wall with the daggers stuck in it. He made another minute gesture and the sphere started to move in a horizontal line at a steady pace. "Try hitting the shadow, then."