2025-02-10 - Black Knight Fan Club

Ravin has acquired a book from upstairs, specifically a recent urban fantasy release, and then a large chai from the cafe and has now claimed a table to sit and sip and read. A pink bunny-like creature sits in their lap to which they are feeding apple slices.

The warm glow of the bookstore is a balm against the darkening sky, its two storey windows giving a glimpse in to the cozy interior where people browse for a new read or, having found one already, sit at one of the cafe's tables to read while having something hot to drink. There's a buzz in the air inside as some sort of small-scale live reading event is ongoing, adding a distant but comforting murmur of soothing voices to the quiet sounds of bookish delight.

Benedict has just made a purchase at the front counter and passed on the offer of a bag, deciding instead to take his selection with him into the cafe to enjoy with a beverage and maybe a cheeky pastry, if something looks delightful enough. He's dressed in a pair of slim-fit jeans in what he will argue is dark grey (but are really just black), and an actually-grey sweater, peacoat unbuttoned overtop. There's a scarf poking out of the pocket of said coat, too, obviously removed in deference to the warmth of the bookstore, which is more than enough to chase away the chill of the outdoors. He queues up at the cafe counter, book tucked underneath his arm as he contemplates what to order.

Once it's all decided and he is in possession of a mocha and a chocolate croissant - there's definitely a theme there - he surveys the landscape for somewhere to sit. And, finding that all the tables are occupied, decides to be brave. Plus, there's someone with a pet, and Benedict is naturally drawn by his curiosity. "D'you mind if I sit here?" he asks, indicating one of he chairs at Ravin's table. "Bit busy here tonight, is all."

Ravin looks up and grins, then gestures to the chair. "Please, be my guest. I am always happy to meet someone new and don't mind sharing a bit of space. Well, unless you're planning to entirely take over the table, then we might need to have words." There's a twinkle in his eye at this, clearly not actually expecting that. Today, he's in black velvet pants and a peacock blue shirt. His plush coat resting over the chair next to him. "I'm Ravin."

"Thank you," Benedict says immediately, setting down his coffee and sweet treat so that he can shrug out of his coat and hang it over the back of the chair offered to him. Then he sits, and tucks his things a bit closer to himself so he doesn't, as Ravin says, take over the enire table. "Promise I won't," he assures with a smile, and then sits back with his book. A historical fiction based on Greek mythology.

He looks up from it at the introduction and says, "I'm Benedict. Most people call me Ben, though; either's fine. Pleasure to meet you." His accent clocks him as being from England, or thereabouts.

Ravin feeds another apple slice to the snugglebunny. "Should I let you read or chat and distract you? I've just moved here about a month ago, so I'm still finding my bearings."

Benedict doesn't try to hide his curiosity regarding the snugglebunny. "I am available for chatting," he says, and even sets his book aside just to demonstrate the fact. "What's their name, if you don't mind me asking?" As he asks, he nods his head to the creature in Ravin's lap to indicate who he's talking about, perhaps redundantly.

The bookstore is a happy place, warm and quiet (but not too quiet), and Louise has basked in it thoroughly enough that she's pretty well content on her way to the cafe. She's just wearing jeans, an old band t-shirt, an oversized hoodie that's tied around her waist, and possibly the best accessory of all is the stack of book she has clutched under one arm. Passing the table where Benedict and Ravin sit, she catches sight of the chocolate croissant and makes an audible ooh sound, because she has no chill -- and give her a few minutes, and she'll be hovering in the middle of the seating area -- eyeing all those full tables -- with a cup of coffee balanced precariously on her books, her own chocolate croissant clutched in her hand, and a faint furrow in her brow because Now. What. Someone save her.

Ravin laughs at the question. "I've been trying to decide on a name for them, actually. I keep changing my mind. Too many possibilities, and given that there seems to be an invasion, I don't want anything too obvious." Ravin nudges out the fourth chair at the table and motions towards Louise. "Come, sit. It's busy in here today. I'm Ravin. Pleasure to meet you."

Since they're best devoured warm, Benedict works his way through his chocolate croissant first, oblivious to how he has inspired Louise to achieve her own pastry dreams. "Names are serious business, of course. I'm sure it'll come to you at the perfect time," he says, and then when Louise wanders back by, Ben dusts croissant flakes from his fingers so he can move his own book out of the way for that impressively large stack of books Louise is carrying. "Benedict. The same, as well."

Don't have to tell her twice. The chair is pushed out, and Lou manages to just save her coffee from tumbling as she takes a hasty step around and thumps into the seat. A fumbling moment to arrange things, get those books at the corner, set her coffee to rights and the croissant beside it, and then she claps her hands on her knees and sighs. Whew. "Thank you," she says to Ravin, brushing hair out of her face (her hair is long, there's entirely too much, and though it's all knotted up at the back of her head with a pencil stuck through, some of it tends to escape). "I usually try to get here earlier, so I can grab a seat, but work dragged out today. Great minds," she tacks on, gesturing between her croissant and Benedict's. (His great mind, her mind just glomped on to the greatness, but nevermind that.) "I'm Lou, and it's my pleasure, seeing as now I don't have to take my goodies out in the cold."

Ravin glances towards the counter. "I'm starting to regret not getting a croissant of my own." When the snugglebunny starts stretching towards the croissant, like maybe that's better than apple slices and it just wants to test, Ravin corrals it back and looks down at it. "Careful or I'll name you Hungry Mungry. So where do you both work?"

"They're delicious," Benedict says, of the croissant he has already mostly devoured. It's basically just crumbs at this point. He finally takes a sip of his mocha, then sets it down to consider the stack of books Louise set down. But before he can comment, there's a question to field, so Ben leans back in his chair. "I work at the Arena of Champions as one of the knights. Jousting and sword-fighting, mostly, but sometimes I get to walk around the village in-character."

"I named mine Freddie," Louise offers offhandedly, and she takes an extra napkin - always grab an extra napkin - to gingerly tear a goodly chunk off her croissant and slide it across to Ravin (whether for them or for their little pink fluffy friend). Now that table payment is settled, she unabashedly licks the chocolate off her thumb with an expression of appreciation, and a nod for Benedict's verdict. Delicious.

Her stack of books is impressive (that paycheck's gotta go somewhere). One of them is even based on Greek mythology. Less historical fiction and more romantasy, but still. But first, answering questions -- Benedict's spiel is fancy. When he gets to 'knights', Lou's eyebrows go up, like there's some recognition there -- she's caught a show or two. "Show off." She's teasing. "I fix things," is her whole intro, and then she passes the question right along to Ravin. "What about you?"

Ravin snorts, laughing. "Don't encourage them, but fine." They accept the croissant piece to pass along to the bunny who does seem to appreciate it, ears wiggling in bliss. "I've got a show at the amphitheater. Showtunes, Great American Songbook, Jazz standards, that sort of thing. Not quite intimate enough to be cabaret, but easy to get rights." Then take a sip of their drink. "We really only got the show up and running a couple of weeks ago. I've been here just over a month."

Benedict is definitely snooping his way through the stack, and that one based on Greek mythology gets eyed with interest. Romantasy or not, he clearly has a favorite topic for reading. But he sets that aside for now, and as he nurses his mocha, he says, "That sounds like fun," of Ravin's show at the amphitheater. "I've only been down that way once or twice, I mostly stick to my home island. But I might have to come 'round and see your show." He smiles, just a quick flicker of it on his face, before he pulls back. "If that's alright with you, of course."

"Ugh." That's the noise Louise makes in response to Ravin's description of their work, slumping back in her chair, and it might be easy to think that's a negative reaction -- except she follows it quickly with "That sounds amazing. I haven't caught that one yet. I'm trying to tour around and take peeks at all the things-" That has a descriptive handwave to go with it. "-but they keep adding new ones." Inconvenient.

She's snoopy too, far more blatantly tipping her head to the side to read the spine of Benedict's book. Her lips move, catching whatever blurb is visible, and in a sec she's pulling the pencil out of her hair to scribble herself a note on her napkin, and carries on with the conversation. "Nice thing about maintenance is we get around. Usually stick in one area per day, try to batch my jobs, but I end up all over the park."

Ravin grins at Benedict. "Sweetie, you are welcome to come to my show any time you'd like. If you sit near the front, I may even flirt outrageously with you." And then a smile for Louise. "That goes for you, as well. And the good things about new things being added is it means you will never run out of new things to experience." The bunny looks up plaintively at Ravin who offers an apple slice which they sulkily nibble at, clearly looking around for more croissant or at least more chocolate.

"I'm quite the opposite," Benedict admits, to Louise. "I've barely experienced anything of the park beyond my little area of familiarity." He obligingly moves his book closer so that she can peruse it at her leisure, since he's not reading it at the moment anyway, and then he folds his hands over his drink.

Pink blooms high on his cheekbones as Ravin mentions flirting. "Well now I absolutely have to come," he says, with a grin.

Louise shakes her head at Benedict, making a soft tsking sound. "That won't do at all." Here he's being so nice, letting her copy off his book, and he's gonna get scolded in return for his not having explored more. "Gotta take advantage, there's so much to see. How long have you been here?" she adds, tearing off another piece of her croissant - this one for her, though, to pop in her mouth.

The invitation, and the promise of flirtation, gets a snort of amusement, a look cast over at Benedict to catch the reaction (satisfying, with that blush, even as a third party observer). "It's a good sales pitch," she agrees, amiably. "I'll make sure to catch it soon too."

Ravin's eyes sparkle. "I mean, I could flirt off the clock, too, if you wanted." He casts a grin Louise's way as well. "So, what are your favorite experiences around the park, so far? I wouldn't want to miss anything."

Oh, now Benedict is blushing even more, though this time it's a bit more embarrassed. "Since the park opened," he admits, with some hesitancy. And then he flashes a grin at Louise to show he doesn't take the scolding to heart, giving an amused shake of his head in her direction.

To the continued topic of flirtation, he only holds his hands up in supplication, then tilts his head to hear the response to Ravin's question, obviously interested in the answer himself. Especially since he's clearly been missing out.

"I'm no good at flirting," Louise muses, watching Ravin go - oh that confidence, such a gift. "Mostly I end up threatening bodily harm. But like...in a nice way." She says it, considers it with a frown for a second but there's no lie to be found, so she picks up her coffee for a swallow.

The admission from Benedict makes her shake her head disapprovingly - but she too has amusement in the expression, entirely non-serious in it. Then the question; she considers, tipping her head first one way and then the other as she weighs all the various things. "I mean, I love the spooky stuff at the Booedwalk. The botanical gardens are gorg. Kickass shows at the Ice Palace..." There's a wrinkle of her nose for the next, almost annoyed at herself when she says, "The circus is fantastic." That's her own problem, though, disregard. "One new experience a month, Sir Knight, do at least that much." Mechanic's...orders?

Ravin looks, perhaps, like a cat who has found a dish of cream sitting unguarded, still, they forego playing with the man too much, just now and instead turns those blue eyes on Louise. "What sorts of bodily harm? If done right, or at least with the right people, that can absolutely count as flirting." They take another sip of chai, letting their tongue dart out to clean a little drop off the rim of their cup. "I've been to the Booedwalk, but not the others, yet. Though maybe I'll go to the jousting and arena show. Except, however will I decide who to cheer for?"

Benedict bows his head to Louise's demand and accepts with a wry, "One a month." And maybe he'll stick to it, even! It's not a hard ask, after all. He has nothing to say to the mention of bodily harm (or threats thereof) though he does bite back a smile at that, the corners of his mouth twitching.

At least until Ravin says it could count as flirting, and Ben agrees with a quick "Absolutely it can." He nods once, and then when the topic turns to jousting, he says, "Well, probably not me. I play the Black Knight, one of the villains."

Look at that, so agreeable, and Louise accepts Benedict's acquiescence with a nod. She's mollified. He's done well. Just watch out, she knows his name now, she might follow up the next time she's in the area.

Ravin's reassurance is appreciated, Lou raises her cup a little as a sort of thanks. As for what sort of bodily harm? Her eyes turn towards the ceiling - not that we're recalling any specific situation in particular. "May have threatened biting," she says a little helplessly, and there's a heavy sigh behind the words, because why is she the way that she is. "But not sexy biting." If only. She shakes her head. "Just regular biting." Ben's agreement that it could work, though? That earns him a smile too. Good of them to reassure her complete lack of suaveness.

It's all forgotten though, when he reveals which particular role he plays in the joust. "Shut up," she says, leaning forward, elbows on the table now. By shut up, she clearly means talk more. "No, obviously we're going to cheer for you," she says, looking at Ravin for confirmation. "The villains are always the best. Do they sell pennants for you?"

"I don't know. I always did appreciate a good bad boy. I could get behind cheering for a villain." Ravin grins at Ben. "Sorry, you shall not escape the cheering so easily. Also, I'm in theater, of course I can manage an all-black outfit." He gestures towards Louise's enthusiasm as if to say 'see'.

The perceived threat of a follow-up only has Benedict's eyes sparkling brighter in the warm light of the cafe. He takes a sip of his dwindling mocha, then holds the cup there to hide the way he's fighting back laughter, but there's really no missing the way his shoulders are shaking with mirth. Oh, his eyes aren't just bright now, they're wet with unshed tears as he tries, truly tries, not to make fun.

"Regular biting," he breathes out, then nods. "Honestly, I can see it. Sometimes you just want to bite people." He can think of a few who inspire that sort of feeling in himself.

And then when the turns have tabled, the focus on him, Ben's head drops a bit. "They do sell merch," he says. "And it's always nice to have fans. If either of you ever want to come down and sit in Draugrheim's section - that's the, ah, the nation I front for - I can get you in the VIP area up front."

Louise notices. Shocker. The laughter, the barely contained tears, and she suspects...suspects...it's at her expense. Her eyes narrow a little, but there's also a press of her lips because, in truth, she doesn't at all mind. Nevertheless, "Careful there, Black Knight, or I'll bite you too." She...flirts? Is that how this works? He's getting it from all sides now. Well. Getting something.

But he gets it, and she gestures expansively. "Yes. Thank you. Sometimes you just want to bite people. Just...take a piece out of 'em." She considers, lips pursed, and then casts a look at Ravin. "He was very. tall." She confides that in a lowered voice, like they will probably understand.

The promise of merch is gratifying. She lifts the cup again in a victory salute, like somehow they've won something just by being invited to the VIP section. "Hell yes. I've got plenty of black to wear, too. Gonna steal someone's cricut and get a Draugrheim 4eva shirt made. I'm no good at makeup though," she says, with a squinch of the face, though why that would be necessary is anyone's guess. "But I figure if you keep adding eyeliner you'll get somewhere eventually."

Ravin smirks and purrs, "Oh, I can absolutely understand the desire to bite someone. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes, not so much." They study Louise for a moment. "Honey, I can teach you some quick makeup tips or just do your makeup if we're going to go be his cheerleaders." They add in sotto voce. "He won't know what hit him when we're done."

It is maybe at Louise's expense, but Benedict really means no harm. Really, he's harmless: look at how flustered he gets when she threatens to bite him. His mouth works uselessly for a moment before he just shakes his head, and yes, he's blushing again.

"Some people deserve to have a bite taken out of them," he agrees with both Louise and Ravin, and the weight of his voice suggests he has someone in mind. But then he moves on, and Ben's eyebrows lift at this someone being tall.

He shifts in his seat as they go co-conspiratorial on him, but it is for his benefit, so Benedict can't help but smile. "That would be fantastic," he says, and he sounds truly touched. "Really. And it's a good show, too, we've really worked hard to get all of the moving pieces together. You'll have a grand time, I'm sure of it."

Louise noticed the study, and if she shifts uncomfortably at first, she ends up lifting her chin for Ravin’s consideration. No makeup at all right now, she’s a behind-the-scenes girl, not so much spotlight material, and Ravin’s offer genuinely delights her. “Yes, please,” she agrees decisively. “Make me just a little bit scary.”

It’ll go with the biting, and the villainy - perfect.

That weight in his voice? Oh, Lou hears it, and he’s gonna get a little eyebrow action in return. There’s an implied someone there all right, and it deserves acknowledging. Biting all around.

All teasing aside (briefly, temporarily), Lou shoots Benedict a smile. “I’m sure it’s great. The stuff you guys do is so fun to watch, that’s one of my favorite areas of all, it’ll be awesome having a front row seat. Does your character have a name? Sir Big Bad? Or do we just scream ‘for the Black Knight’ when we get into brawls after?”

Ravin nods at Louise and continues to study her face. "Yes, yes, I think we can manage fierce and a bit scary. One does need to signal a warning about the potential bitey-ness. Any colors you particularly like or don't?" There's a sideways glance towards Benedict and a slightly teasing tone. "So... who are you thinking of biting, then? And in sexy or non-sexy ways?"

"Just the Black Knight," Benedict says, then explains further with, "I don't talk. I'm more of a... specter, of a sort, than anything. So no, no name." He sets his now-empty cup aside, the same with the small plate for his croissant, and then folds one leg over the other, beneath the table.

His eyes crinkle as Ravin asks after his biting-related urges. "Just a coworker I don't particularly like. We've had..." He frowns. "Eh, a few less-than-positive encounters."

“I mean, I don’t normally wear a lot of color…I’m not big on pastels, but I don’t think that would scream bitey anyways. Just whisper it, soothingly,” Louise answers thoughtfully. “Basically, I’m in your capable hands.”

Ravin’s question to Ben is definitely one of interest; we appreciate a direct king. “Ohhhh that kind of biting,” she says knowingly, with a little grimace to follow. Angry biting. “That’s the worst.” A best, and her gaze drops to her stack of books. “Or the start of a hell of a love story.” That’s an idle thought, probably nothing to it, right? But her eyes flick back up to Ben with that little spark of amusement.

Her coffee is gone. Her croissant, just flakes on her t-shirt because this girl is nothing if not classy, and a glance at her phone makes her pull a face. “Listen, I gotta run, friends-“ She’s claiming them, don’t worry about it. But, she can take a sec to not her phone number down (twice), and tearing them off to slide to each of the other two. “We’ll talk?” She asks Ravin, and then more certainly she points at Benedict. “And we’ll cheer.” Let this be the start of the BKFC: Black Knight Fan Club. And with that, she’s gonna slip on out.

Ravin laughs. "No, no pastels for this. And yes, we'll talk." Then they nod to the angry biting comment. "I'm sorry one of your coworkers inspires non-enjoyable biting thoughts. At least you get to beat them with swords for pretend?" They do exchange numbers with the others. "I'm afraid I should be getting to rehearsal. It was great getting to know you both a little. I look forward to getting to know you better in the future."

"I do get to beat them with swords," Benedict says, and he says it in such a way that is almost dreamy, and maybe confirms some of Louise's suggestion about the potential for a love story.

As they all ready to part ways, phone numbers are indeed exchanged, and Ben leaves off with a "Great to meet you both, cheers!" before he goes off to start reading Circe.