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Just missing Raphael and we'll have the whole boxed set.
Don't say that to Gabriel, he'll take it as a challenge.
[He scoffs in agreement.]
There's nothing there worth missing. Or worth saving.
[That island belongs to the past, not the future. It's not like that by razing it, they can erase what happened there. They can't uproot the memories of it. But when Wilhelm left, stepping through the portal without a backward glance, he felt a sense of finality that had been missing for the past year. It was an end, which meant it was a beginning too — he wants to keep moving forward.]
Seemed like just about everyone agreed this time.
[Unlike when they had the opportunity to execute the remaining cultists.]
There's nothing there worth missing. Or worth saving.
[That island belongs to the past, not the future. It's not like that by razing it, they can erase what happened there. They can't uproot the memories of it. But when Wilhelm left, stepping through the portal without a backward glance, he felt a sense of finality that had been missing for the past year. It was an end, which meant it was a beginning too — he wants to keep moving forward.]
Seemed like just about everyone agreed this time.
[Unlike when they had the opportunity to execute the remaining cultists.]
Mm. [ His expression is contemplative. So they had.
Something in Wilhelm's tone makes him ask, ] You wanted the acolytes executed?
[ He seldom participates in this sort of bullshit. It's little more than bureaucracy for the sake of it; he's not convinced the kingdoms will grant them any true concessions when it comes down to it. They're being appeased, nothing more.
But he did cast in his two coppers where the acolytes were concerned. He can't begrudge the others for choosing mercy. Josselyn is dead, and she will not rise again. That's what matters. ]
Something in Wilhelm's tone makes him ask, ] You wanted the acolytes executed?
[ He seldom participates in this sort of bullshit. It's little more than bureaucracy for the sake of it; he's not convinced the kingdoms will grant them any true concessions when it comes down to it. They're being appeased, nothing more.
But he did cast in his two coppers where the acolytes were concerned. He can't begrudge the others for choosing mercy. Josselyn is dead, and she will not rise again. That's what matters. ]
Kell falls back in his chair with a long sigh.
"Same, Wille, same."
Which reminds him...
"I might have a way to give us a chance to meet more often. It's not certain, and very depends on the fickle Thorne nobles, but I do have a couple wealthy customers on the side. Pretty wealthy ones. Nobles who would never let themselves be seen in such a vulgar place like the teashop and even think sending their servants there is below them. But they heard about my teas, and sometimes order a special, one of kind blend just for their special occasion from me. Either they like tea, or I'm just novelty to show off to their friends."
It's all court plays nothing else. Kell bites his lower lip, staring at some distant point over Wilhelm's shoulder for a while, before shaking it off, and going back to the conversation.
"I have no guarantee they will still want to order from me, now that I'm in Nott. They might think I lost my mind and won't ever want to deal with me anymore. In case they didn't care where they tea comes from as long as its the special kind they want, I would need help. Both with the deliveries and with buying of supplies. I won't be allowed back into the Castle unless it's on official business, which my side hustle doesn't count as. I can't ask Mildred because she's mad at me. Not mad enough the keep the customers away from me, but not exactly willing to ... as shes said it aptly indulge in my madness by helping me with things that would have been easy had I not moved."
It's one of the things that hurt most. Even if Kell fully understands his former boss reasoning and her reaction.
"I don't know how much I will get for it now, if this even happens, but if it does, I'd be more than happy to officially pay you from what I will get. If only for a chance to get you officially sanctioned to visit me as part of your courier errands.
Besides we both know, getting any money in Thorne is not easy, but as damned useful as everywhere else."
"Same, Wille, same."
Which reminds him...
"I might have a way to give us a chance to meet more often. It's not certain, and very depends on the fickle Thorne nobles, but I do have a couple wealthy customers on the side. Pretty wealthy ones. Nobles who would never let themselves be seen in such a vulgar place like the teashop and even think sending their servants there is below them. But they heard about my teas, and sometimes order a special, one of kind blend just for their special occasion from me. Either they like tea, or I'm just novelty to show off to their friends."
It's all court plays nothing else. Kell bites his lower lip, staring at some distant point over Wilhelm's shoulder for a while, before shaking it off, and going back to the conversation.
"I have no guarantee they will still want to order from me, now that I'm in Nott. They might think I lost my mind and won't ever want to deal with me anymore. In case they didn't care where they tea comes from as long as its the special kind they want, I would need help. Both with the deliveries and with buying of supplies. I won't be allowed back into the Castle unless it's on official business, which my side hustle doesn't count as. I can't ask Mildred because she's mad at me. Not mad enough the keep the customers away from me, but not exactly willing to ... as shes said it aptly indulge in my madness by helping me with things that would have been easy had I not moved."
It's one of the things that hurt most. Even if Kell fully understands his former boss reasoning and her reaction.
"I don't know how much I will get for it now, if this even happens, but if it does, I'd be more than happy to officially pay you from what I will get. If only for a chance to get you officially sanctioned to visit me as part of your courier errands.
Besides we both know, getting any money in Thorne is not easy, but as damned useful as everywhere else."
[His nod is decisive. He never thought he could hate someone so much that he would wish them dead, but...he had never endured anything like the suffering Josselyn and her acolytes inflicted. Besides, it's bigger than his anger and aching. It's a matter of practicality.]
It doesn't sit right with me that they're still...around. [He gnaws on his thumbnail.] I know they're in prison, but what if they got out somehow?
It doesn't sit right with me that they're still...around. [He gnaws on his thumbnail.] I know they're in prison, but what if they got out somehow?
[ He gets it. He won't claim he doesn't share the same desire. He's simply learnt to move on where he must, and this is one of those times. ]
Then there will be plenty of us who'll make them answer for it. [ Besides, there may be a third option, one he's contemplated but never proposed. He had other things on his mind, and it's not as though he attends the meetings with the Summoned. He's usually far away from those.
But since Wilhelm is speaking to him now: ] Has Thorne ever had a precedent of stripping someone of their magic?
Then there will be plenty of us who'll make them answer for it. [ Besides, there may be a third option, one he's contemplated but never proposed. He had other things on his mind, and it's not as though he attends the meetings with the Summoned. He's usually far away from those.
But since Wilhelm is speaking to him now: ] Has Thorne ever had a precedent of stripping someone of their magic?
[Wilhelm hopes that Geralt is right — that this time, the Summoned could stop them before they cause more harm. He knows that there's at least one person — one archangel — who would do everything in his power to make sure the acolytes don't lay a finger on him again. As for Geralt's question...he racks his brains for a moment, shuffling a hand through his hair.]
Not that I know of. I could ask Istredd or Kyle, see if they've heard about anything like that.
Not that I know of. I could ask Istredd or Kyle, see if they've heard about anything like that.
[Wilhelm would find a necklace on his pillow, with a note from Kelson.]
I saw this and thought of you. I hope it brings you good dreams.
I saw this and thought of you. I hope it brings you good dreams.
[Will is going through systematically trying to reach out everyone he might have ever had contact with.]
Are you okay?
Are you okay?
[It's a question that encourages lying. At least in Wilhelm's experience, because the answer usually isn't actually yeah, I'm great, everything's fine like everyone hopes to hear. Except right now, he can't even bring himself to form I'm fine, he's so far from it.]
I've been better.
[If this wasn't by message Wille would see Will's eyes narrow at that. Luckily for Wille, even if he did say 'I'm fine', Will is excellent at reading through bullshit.]
'I've been better' as in I just went through mind altering hallucinations which caused my entire world view to crumble to the ground or 'I've been better' because of something else?
'I've been better' as in I just went through mind altering hallucinations which caused my entire world view to crumble to the ground or 'I've been better' because of something else?
[Will knows how he would feel if he woke up and Nico wasn't there. But he also knew that he wasn't Wille and didn't want to assume anything. Or at least try. He'd slowly realized he had a bad habit of jumping to conclusions.]
My Domain has a campfire. Meet me there.
My Domain has a campfire. Meet me there.
[Wilhelm has forgotten his old routines. For a week, he's just drifted along like a corpse on the current. He helped Kell settle into his room, and otherwise he loses himself in long aimless walks, equally long and aimless drives in the Horizon, bottles of wine jacked from the dining hall and split with his new roommate.]
No, it's ok.
That sounds good actually.
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