"crown me or kill me—"

“Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.” - Niccolò Machiavelli Bennett Callaghan Briarcliffe House Twenty ♕

[deliablair]

I despise you.

[bennettcallaghan]

I don't believe you.

[willa-delphine-deactivated20140]

You sly fox, trying to get out of answering my question. I’ll let it slide this time. I haven’t seen you in quite a while, how have you been?

[bennettcallaghan]

Oh drat, I almost got away with it.

Swell — I have no qualms with any of my professors this year and I doubt any have the gall to start anything with me so there's not much to complain about.

[deliablair]

Your refusal to help me really hurts me heart, Benny. And here I was, thinking I meant the world to you. 

[bennettcallaghan]

My refusal is in your best interest darling, but I'm sure there's another Briar who would be over the moon to assist you in your pursuit of knowledge — if you catch my drift dear.

[rxskolnikov]

Holding the foil as one would a lacrosse stick, Leo awaited a response from outside. The blond didn’t look like he was about to open the door, which was good, and the thugs didn’t have enough proof to break through the lock. ‘No way he’s here,’ another voice echoed, ‘It's Briarcliffe. Why would anyone hide him in?' Leo almost found himself laughing at the comment, nodding silently at the Briar. It was only when he heard their steps furthering down the hall that the Radley could finally breathe easily.

"Sorry about that Briar comment. That was a pretty decent thing for you to do right now. I owe you one." Leo exhaled, handing back the foil. Though it seemed like he didn’t care about anything, he did feel bad for too often being harsh on those who didn’t deserve it. Sadly, the sentiment didn’t do much to stop him from acting that way. "I’m Leo Wolstencroft. And you are my Prince Charming, I presume?"

[bennettcallaghan]

The minutes ticked by slowly as the men debated amongst themselves on the whereabouts of the stowaway. As they used their flawed logic, the thugs eventually talked themselves out of searching Ben's dorm and Briarcliffe as a whole. Their heavy footfalls eventually faded away as they padded off, allowing the Radley to escape whatever predicament he had gotten himself into. Grabbing the extended foil, Ben shrugged at the apology, acting seemingly indifferent towards it. "It's fine. I'm just glad that you didn't have to use it — after all, I just cleaned the bloody piece."

Chuckling at Leo's comment, he shook his head. "Hardly so, that would require riding up on a white horse and given the choice, I would opt for the new Silver Ghost they've been cranking out. Real horsepower just can't beat the stuff they make today." With another short chortle at his own quip, Bennett held his hand out for a firm shake and briskly added, "Pleasure to meet you Leo Wolstencroft, I'm Ben Callaghan."

[rxskolnikov]

"Very perceptive you are here at Briarcliffe. A house full of detectives." Leo remarked, finding it impossible to turn off the sarcasm. "That I am. Leo Wolstencroft." 

The thuds down the hall kept coming closer, and when they stopped outside the Briar’s room, Leo stiffened in his spot. He leaned on the wall beside the door, where he would be protected from view had they opened it. ‘Open the door, we know someone is in there!’ one of the men shouted, banging on the dark wood. “Shit. Fetch me that bendy sword of yours, quick.” Leo reached forward with his arms open. This was bad news, but if the blond played along he might just make it out alive.

[bennettcallaghan]

Lips pressed into a thin, dangerous line, Bennett begrudgingly held his tongue. Although many of his fellow housemates shared elitist views, he differed from them in that aspect. People, no matter how rich or seemingly insignificant they were, always played some sort of a role. And unless they were truly unbearable, Ben preferred to earn affection rather than scorn.

Nodding at his request, he handed over his newly polished foil hilt first. His saber and épée lay on his bed untouched but still there. He had no loyalties to this boy who had stumbled into his room out of desperation, but he had even less loyalties to the thugs who shouted at a door outside. Still in his original position, Ben stood poised and watching like a Roman in the Coliseum. 

[willa-delphine-deactivated20140]

Is this actual advice or is it your very well timed attempt at flattery, Ben?

[bennettcallaghan]

A bit of both I suppose and I urge you to take from it what you need — whether it be advice or flattery, just as long as it helps.

[deliablair]

Maybe I ought to start withholding from you then, Callaghan. You’re too spoiled for your own good. I think doing my homework would really cure you of that, and would really be good for you. You know I only want what’s best for you, darling. 

[bennettcallaghan]

Oh Delia, don’t joke about such things. You know I’m rather dreadful at numbers and my letters lack the proper courtesy expected out of Belles like you. I think you’d have a better shot at bribing some other poor sap.

[willa-delphine-deactivated20140]

It’s only been the first week of classes and I am already wishing for summer again. The professors have done nothing besides bending my ear for the last few days.

[bennettcallaghan]

I'm sure if you bat your pretty eyes at them and offer up a demure smile, those professors will be happy to oblige your every wish, Willa.

[deliablair]

I know it’s only the second day of classes, but I figure I ought to make my plea early. Wanted: one incredibly smart, highly motivated Mrs. Grundy who excels at class work. Payment type is negotiable, but preferably in connections, hooch, and the company of the lovely Delia Blair. Applicants encouraged to stop by Bellemont for more details. 

[bennettcallaghan]

I already get all of that Delia doll; no effort needed on my part too. And I'm the furthest thing from a Mrs. Grundy, you and I both know that. So as tantalizing as the offer sounds, I'm going to have to woefully decline.

[rxskolnikov]

Of course he would find himself in the room of a Briar. What else would the infamous luck of Wolstencroft offer? Though it was a tad unusual (at least in Leo’s mind) for the blond to not shove him back into the hallway. If he wasn’t so paranoid he might even show some gratitude. Maybe later, the Radley lamented, locking the door.

"Theoretically speaking, if needed, how badly can you bruise someone with that thing?" He hinted at the foil, still whispering. The lads from the bar would be there in minutes, giving Leo nothing to defend himself with. With nowhere to hide, the fencing equipment could be his only saving grace.

[bennettcallaghan]

"Theoretically speaking, if you use it on bare skin you could probably even draw blood." He answered nonchalantly, taking the foil and wiping it down with a damp linen cloth. "The blade bends though, so you would need more of a whipping motion than a stabbing one; but with enough force, I don't see why jabbing wouldn't work either."

Glancing up from his work, Bennett's eyes carefully scrutinized the fella in front of him. From the state of disarray he was in and the ink peering out from beneath his collar, he could tell this was a Radley boy. "You're a bit far from home, aren't you? What sorta trouble did you stir up to land you here in Briarcliffe?"

[rxskolnikov]

With three bulky men on his tracks just around the corner, Leo had no choice but to barge into the nearest room with hopes the person inside would let him in. He had gotten himself into quite a mess. Hell, if he’s caught, a week in the hospital will surely follow. Still facing the exit, the man shut the door and turned around to face the music.

"I know this looks bad, but you have to be quiet." Leo whispered, gesturing at the door, where violent thuds could be heard in the distance.

[bennettcallaghan]

It had been ages since Ben had last picked up his fencing equipment. Almost the entirety of his summer had been devoted to wasting away on the sandy beaches of the French Riviera, and not to practicing his lunges and attacks indoors as he did the previous holiday break. In his laziness, he had grown idle and ineffective, slow and predictable — all things deadly in the sport of fencing.

Wiping down his gear after a strenuous practice, the last thing he expected was to be disturbed since most of the other students were milling around in the courtyard or socializing with their friends. When an unknown male burst in, shutting the door behind him and begging him to stay silent, Bennett was certainly intrigued. Using his foil, he pointed the blade towards the lock and motioned for him to use it. He wanted to see how this ended.

[andromedaclarke]

"No, I cannot." She starts, pulling her book towards her chest and tilting her head to face the person talking to her. "However, I, unlike you - keep my disappointment to a minimal. One that doesn’t agitate the people around me." 

[bennettcallaghan]

"Again, my apologies — it's just a crime to call this breakfast or even edible." He interjected with a wide grin plastered on his face. "You would think that they would use all the dough we pour into this school to hire a cook who could actually cook, but alas it seems as though he's here to stay."

[andromedaclarke]

Pulling her head from her book, Ava groans. It was breakfast time, which to her meant a little extra time to read before class, however, the hall seemed to be a little more noisy than usual. “Enough with your bloody Bronx cheering - we get it already - you don’t like it,” she says with a roll of her eyes.

[bennettcallaghan]

Frowning at the contents of his plate, Ben aimlessly pushed the morsels of food around with his fork. So far the meals provided had been disappointing at best, and though he thought he had grown accustomed to their abysmal quality, he still found himself groaning over the plate in front of him. Hearing a feminine voice cut in, his head turned towards it and his eyes settled on an agitated redhead. "Sorry Miss, I really just can't stand soggy eggs and burnt bacon. Can you?"

[wildflowerwaltz]

Visit Original Link

he doesn’t look a thing like jesus but he talks like a gentleman like you imagined when you were young

[bennettcallaghan]

Bennett Callaghan's Moodboard [1/?]  

↳ "Haven’t you ever heard that anything worth knowing cannot be taught? Well it’s true doll. You see, everything lies in the details. That quiver in your lip tells me more about you than anything that comes out your mouth."

[violethathaway-blog]

Run To You | Violet & Ben

[violethathaway-blog]

Playing with the hem of her dress, Violet finally stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Ben in a hug. The blonde could barely go a week without seeing him, and she was more than grateful summer was coming to a close and her time spent with Bennett would be much more frequent. “So,” she began, letting her arms fall from around his neck and stepping back to her original position, “would you like to sit?” 

Violet was itching to hear about Bennett’s summer, and how his time has been so far at the Setalcott. In fact, it was a bit unsettling how her mind had mostly been thinking of him and no one else. The timid blonde would have spent eternity drowning in Bennett Callaghan, and she still wondered why a man as incredible as him found himself with someone such as her. 

[bennettcallaghan]

With his arms around her familiar figure and the faint scent of her flowery fragrance waifing in the air, Ben finally felt at ease. Violet was his crowning glory, his very own Mona Lisa — like Da Vinci, he made every stroke methodically; using concise lines to shape his subject into a piece of distinguished art. Dropping his hands, he reached into his deep pockets, pulled out a box of Strikes, and withdrew a gasper. 

"Sure doll, let's sit." He answered, placing the unlit cigarette between his teeth in a careless motion. Lighting it up with a match, the end glowed brightly in the dimness of the room as he inhaled the toxic yet intoxicating fumes into his lungs. Lucky Strikes had such a distinctive flavor. Eyes trained on her, he pulled out the cigarette and licked his dry lips as the smoke dwindled in the still air. "I'm all yours." 

[wesley-hahn]

I suppose it is, isn’t it?

[bennettcallaghan]

I like to think so.