hiiii i hope you havent gotten this ask before(feel free to ignore this if you have, sorry) but what are your thoughts on Benedikt having to fake his death(either in place of Marshall or at some point before/after)?
Okay I've spent all day thinking about this and now I need to answer it or else I'll just keep ruminating on it and never actually answer it.
I think a lot of things COULD happen if Benedikt were to have to fake his death.
A) If it was in place of Marshall, dear lord. I mean just look at this:
(Yes I have that passage highlighted in my ebook and what's it to you)
If Marshall believed Benedikt was dead, I do believe we might have seen a version of Marshall that would be WORSE than what we see from Benedikt. If that's possible. Frankly Marshall may have just killed himself (Romeo and Juliet reference anyone?)
However, I don't think the relationship between Roma and Marshall would become as strained as Roma and Benedikt's did. If anything, I think they would have leaned on each other a lot and become closer from it. That could function as sort of a crutch for both of them, leading them both to not be in such a bad place.
Benedikt, of course, would be in a bad way. He doesn't go out much anyway, but my god would the isolation drive him crazy. I do think he'd be harder to convince that he couldn't tell at least Marshall that he was alive, because he's much more stubborn. So I think that if he went out at all it wouldn't be to get up to vigilante business like Marshall did, but would instead be to go directly to Marshall and tell him right away. When Benedikt finds out that Marshall is alive, his main doubt in Marshall's potentially reciprocated feelings comes from the fact that Marshall didn't come and tell him he was alive immediately. Obviously we as the readers know that Benedikt has nothing to worry about, but the fact that he believes that at all is — in my opinion — a solid sign that Benedikt would feel as though he was obligated to go immediately.
Now, that's all assuming Benedikt would be able to get out in the first place. If he couldn't, like for example if Juliette was concerned enough to lock him down more securely, I do believe a few screws would come loose. Benedikt isn't built for a life of isolation. When left alone for too long, he starts to crack. The lack of human contact with anyone other than Juliette, and especially the lack of contact with Marshall, would drive him crazy. Maybe irreparably.
B) If Benedikt and Marshall were in fake-death land together, it would probably be a lot more fun. At a certain point, anyway. Honestly, I think that if they were able to just lock down and stay put together, neither of them would need anything else. Even before they're romantically involved, they entertain each other to hell and back. They'd be just fine.
But I don't think I can realistically say that they would get together sooner. We have to remember, Benedikt and Marshall lived together for 10 years and never said a word to each other about their feelings. It's not like their proximity has anything to do with their avoidance (ESPECIALLY Benedikt's avoidance).
HOWEVER. The benmars fanatic in me is not so easily sated. So let's say this: let's say that Benedikt ends up needing to fake his death AFTER Marshall does, and their reunion is fairly similar to how it happens in the book. That way, when they're basically quarantined together, there's the added tension of Benedikt just having gotten Marshall back after not only believing he was dead but ALSO after realizing his feelings for his best friend. This makes things more interesting.
I imagine that it would eventually get more and more difficult to avoid. Benedikt knows he's in love with Marshall, and Marshall is obviously perceptive enough to notice that change in behavior. Benedikt wouldn't ever casually bring it up of his own accord, but I think it would come to a point where Marshall would just sit him down to talk about it. Life in the safehouse becomes a lot more interesting after that.
(Did someone say fic idea? No, no... unless 👀)
But anyway, I can't say I've thought much about this before aside from abstract thought. Most of what I've written here is just me throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. But I hope you're satisfied regardless! I love asks. I love benmars asks.
