He understands that sigh, the sense that another's belief in you is unmerited. The worry that you will inevitably let everyone down. It's a weight that Wilhelm carries carefully. Before he can think of what to say to reassure Kell, Kell names his roommate. Like gravity, as if Kelson's name has begun to gather its own mass, the effect is instantaneous: Wilhelm perks up.
"Yeah? What about him?"
By now, a barmaid has noticed that they're taking up a table but not spending any coin. She sweeps over to them and, with a sweetly expectant look, asks if they'd like some drinks. Wilhelm orders an ale, a nicer one than usual because his purse is fatter than usual, thanks to his courier work.
Kell welcomes the interruption, waiting for Wilhelm to make his order, then adding his own. Just beer this time. Contrary to Wille, his finances tanked significantly after the move. But it all gives him time to better formulate what he's going to ask for and how.
"I didn't get to know him all that well, but from the conversations I had I noticed he's quite frustrated with how the things are run here." Kell huffs. "Not that he's wrong or alone in this. I just worry that he might voice some of his frustrations too loud or to wrong people, and get himself in trouble. And everyone else by association."
There's one more thing complicating matters here.
"I wouldn't have bothered you with it if I could just ask Lucifer to keep an eye on him - which probably he'd do anyway - but I'm pretty sure the effect would be opposite to intended if Lucifer were the one trying to dissuade him from something stupid."
They're interrupted again by the barmaid bringing their drinks. Kell takes a long sip from his glass. If he was still living in the castle, this conversation would have never happen. He's still not sure if dropping what he'd rather do himself on Wille is fair. The problem lies in that he cannot do it himself. He is Nott now, and Wille still lives in the castle. So fair or not, Kell feels he has no other choice.
"But I think he will listen to you."
Because you're both human, both royalty, and what's more important, Wille is a good and kind guy. Lucifer would most likely start with sarcasm or threats... and given what Kell has seen of Kelson, that cannot possibly end well. He's far from considering himself a good judge of character, but he can recognize people who are like him, and Kelson's reactions all look very familiar.
Not all that long ago, he'd sat across from Kelson at a table much like this one and watched the gloom gather in his expression as he lamented how limited he was in this world. So, he can see where Kell's concerns are coming from. Sipping at the deep amber ale, he considers the risk of Kelson, with his temper quick to turn, saying the wrong thing. Kelson, with his crown in another world, challenging the constraints of his position here. A knot starts to tighten in his stomach.
It's the last part that comes out of nowhere.
"Me?" Wilhelm asks, as if he might have heard wrong. He shakes his head. "I don't know... He's as stubborn as I am. But I can try."
Because the last thing he wants is for Kelson to end up thrown into a cell — or worse.
Aren't they all too stubborn for their own good? He had enough experience with being limited by arbitrary rules in his life in Arnes. It did not make him immune to stupid ideas. Way too often in Thorne the only thing that stopped Kell from following through on those ideas was the thought he might get Rhy hurt in the process.
"Thanks," he replies with a slight bow. "I'm not trying to ask for you to do the impossible. Or anything that could put you in danger. I'd just hate it if something were to happen to him, because he had no one to turn to. No one to tell him he's being moronic. Nobody on his level, who he'd listen to."
Because he is grateful for the people who told him that. Maybe it's too much of a stretch to extrapolate the same to Kelson, but Kell thinks he's not wrong in seeing the similarities between them.
That's what they do — they watch each other's backs. Wilhelm had already taken it upon himself to keep an eye on Kelson, out of the nebulous sense of responsibility he feels toward all new Summoned around his age. Now there's something sturdier growing there, a sense of protectiveness.
"Well, I can definitely tell him he's being a moron," Wilhelm chuckles. When Kelson is so deserving, of course. "I can't guarantee that he'll listen, though."
He takes another sip of his drink and fondly kicks at Kell's boot under the table.
"There will be one less person around to tell me when I'm being stupid, though."
"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."
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no subject
"Yeah? What about him?"
By now, a barmaid has noticed that they're taking up a table but not spending any coin. She sweeps over to them and, with a sweetly expectant look, asks if they'd like some drinks. Wilhelm orders an ale, a nicer one than usual because his purse is fatter than usual, thanks to his courier work.
no subject
"I didn't get to know him all that well, but from the conversations I had I noticed he's quite frustrated with how the things are run here." Kell huffs. "Not that he's wrong or alone in this. I just worry that he might voice some of his frustrations too loud or to wrong people, and get himself in trouble. And everyone else by association."
There's one more thing complicating matters here.
"I wouldn't have bothered you with it if I could just ask Lucifer to keep an eye on him - which probably he'd do anyway - but I'm pretty sure the effect would be opposite to intended if Lucifer were the one trying to dissuade him from something stupid."
They're interrupted again by the barmaid bringing their drinks. Kell takes a long sip from his glass. If he was still living in the castle, this conversation would have never happen. He's still not sure if dropping what he'd rather do himself on Wille is fair. The problem lies in that he cannot do it himself. He is Nott now, and Wille still lives in the castle. So fair or not, Kell feels he has no other choice.
"But I think he will listen to you."
Because you're both human, both royalty, and what's more important, Wille is a good and kind guy. Lucifer would most likely start with sarcasm or threats... and given what Kell has seen of Kelson, that cannot possibly end well. He's far from considering himself a good judge of character, but he can recognize people who are like him, and Kelson's reactions all look very familiar.
no subject
It's the last part that comes out of nowhere.
"Me?" Wilhelm asks, as if he might have heard wrong. He shakes his head. "I don't know... He's as stubborn as I am. But I can try."
Because the last thing he wants is for Kelson to end up thrown into a cell — or worse.
wrap sometime soon?
"Thanks," he replies with a slight bow. "I'm not trying to ask for you to do the impossible. Or anything that could put you in danger. I'd just hate it if something were to happen to him, because he had no one to turn to. No one to tell him he's being moronic. Nobody on his level, who he'd listen to."
Because he is grateful for the people who told him that. Maybe it's too much of a stretch to extrapolate the same to Kelson, but Kell thinks he's not wrong in seeing the similarities between them.
sounds good!
"Well, I can definitely tell him he's being a moron," Wilhelm chuckles. When Kelson is so deserving, of course. "I can't guarantee that he'll listen, though."
He takes another sip of his drink and fondly kicks at Kell's boot under the table.
"There will be one less person around to tell me when I'm being stupid, though."
no subject
"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."