open: if only because dust is what we come to

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio is searching for a distraction, wandering the halls of the mansion like a particularly chaotic poltergeist. He flits from room to room – the game room, the armory, the practice rooms, the kitchens – but cannot settle on anything, it seems. Tybalt’s sudden arrival and disappearance has set him in a whirlpool of confused, homesick thoughts.

He doesn’t know what he expected. For certain, this place is a good afterlife —better than he had thought it would be; if indeed he had even thought about such things back in Verona. But it is a cruel one as well; capricious in who the spirits choose to bring and return home.

Perhaps it hurts more because Mercutio had, indeed, never thought that it would happen. He had always assumed if anyone else from his home arrived it would be Romeo, or Benvolio. Never Tybalt. Despite how much he cared for Romeo, for Benvolio –for the most part, they are (were) friends, brothers. Tybalt was not. Tybalt was someone intriguing, someone tantalizingly out of reach from bonds of loyalty and friendship. Tybalt was fun to tease, to bait, dangerous enough to be incredibly enticing. Then Tybalt had killed him over a stupid matter of family honor, and that was that. Mercutio had never expected to see him again.

But then he arrived here, bloody and bent on a fight. They had fought, they had kissed--which was more than he could ask for at home. Everything is a tangled mess: yes, he has feelings for Tybalt, that kiss had been like electricity running through his veins; but then again, he does not know if he can forgive Tybalt. He does not know if he should. It is true that it was neither of their faults, nor was it strictly Romeo’s–but he cannot say if either Romeo or Tybalt will receive his absolution. It is heavier matter to think on than he would like. Wasn’t the afterlife supposed to be free of things like this?

Comments

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is actually on his way over to Mercutio's room when he very nearly runs into him in a hallway. "Oh! Just who I wanted to see!"

[bymyheelies]

"Ah," Mercutio says, having been on his way to the kitchens, to see if he can perhaps find Claudius to harass in there. "--Hello." It is not, shall we say, particularly as outgoing as he usually is.

[vineleaves]

Dionysus isn't dumb. He has read the play. Furthermore, he has spent several months being around Mercutio every single day and just knows him. He's aware of why Mercutio is in a mood, and he fully gets it. Dionysus himself has been in a mood lately. As great as it is to get a visitor from home, it's also absolutely miserable to know you won't get to see them again, and can't even mail them a damn letter.

"Do you have any clothes you need washed, sweetheart? I was going to show you how to use the machines for that, if you're not busy right now."

[bymyheelies]

“…Ay, I suppose I might.” He doesn’t really feel like going into his room and staring at the chair that Tybalt had sat in; but perhaps being productive is better than nothing. He’s getting awfully bored of pacing the halls.

[vineleaves]

“C’mon, let’s go get your laundry,” he says, wrapping an arm around Mercutio’s shoulders and heading in that direction.

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio makes a non-committal noise and follows along.

[vineleaves]

They arrive at his room and Dionysus immediately starts gathering his clothes up. As he expected, they’re not in the nice laundry basket Dionysus made for Mercutio, but instead sort of strewn all around, but it doesn’t take long before he’s got them all picked up, paying special attention to a pile of particularly bloody clothes shoved into one corner.

Well, there’s that, then.

Vinegar might save the clothes, at least.

“Come on, I’m going to teach you what to do,” he says, heading back for the door.

[bymyheelies]

“Ah, very well.” He scoops up the basket and follows along, still markedly quieter than usual.

[vineleaves]

Dionysus, of course, notices the uncharacteristic quietness. He can't say it exactly surprises him, but it does hurt regardless. Mercutio doesn't deserve this. Any of it. Especially not the bullshit Will wrote for him.

Still, maybe a little distraction will do him some good, and if it means Dionysus won't be the one doing all his laundry in the future then that's an added bonus. He's been meaning to teach Mercutio how to take more care of himself. Maybe this is a bad time for it though? He could wait until, like, next week or something.

Well, too late for this now, actually. Might as well go through with the laundry lesson. He already told Mercutio he was going to do it today, it would be weird to go back on it now.

"So first bit of information," he says as they enter one of the laundry rooms, "This one's the washer, and this one's the dryer."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Mercutio will bump into Lancelot as he's leaving the armory.

"Hello," he says reflexively, before he realizes he doesn't know this person.

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio eyes him somewhat grumpily. This is not who he had expected to find in the armory; he had been in hopes of finding Gideon. At least she is nearly as much fun to fight as Tybalt.

He gives the other man a short nod. “Hallo.”

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Were you looking for something?" Then, as an afterthought, "I am Lancelot."

[bymyheelies]

"Nay, someone. Unless you would spar with me." He twirls his rapier, considering. "'m called Mercutio."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I have been known to spar with blades," though he certainly has opinions about how Mercutio is handling his rapier. "Who were you looking for?"

[bymyheelies]

Mercutio cares very little for the opinions of others, both in general and at present. "Gideon," he says succinctly. "She is not here."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"She is not. I saw her this morning, but know not where she is now. What sort of sparring do you do?"

[bymyheelies]

"I fence." For the most part, at least. Unless it devolves into street fighting, which is always a possibility in Verona.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan has to sidestep to avoid being walked directly into. "I say!" she starts, affronted - and then she catches sight of the expression on his face. "Are you all right?"

[bymyheelies]

He shrugs, but attempts to school his face into something more proper for polite company. "I am well enough, lady; but made better by your presence."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Her eyebrows climb. "Is that so!" she says. "And why is that, I wonder?"

[bymyheelies]

“You are fair indeed, my lady, may I not say so?”

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Ah," says Susan, hiding the look of amusement that threatens to brim onto her face, "so my beauty improves your day, is that it?"

[bymyheelies]

“Ay, my lady. ‘Tis a great improvement to be in your company.”

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan tilts her head, taking him in. "You're Mercutio, yes? You auditioned for the play."

[bymyheelies]

“Ay, my lady.” He attempts a flirtatious smile; but it’s not entirely reaching his eyes. “One and the same.”