Chapter 483 - 484: Something Said.

Chapter 483: Chapter 484: Something Said.

Montrel’s always been fast, but today he runs like he’s got hounds snapping at his ankles. Barrelling through the castle at breakneck speed, he trips and nearly spills clean down a staircase but he just shrugs it off and keeps on running because fuck, they’re not gonna believe it ; they’re seriously not gonna believe it .

He bursts into the mess hall in dramatic fashion; crashing into the doorway panting like he’s just had the fight of his life. All eyes immediately snap to face him, but he doesn’t give a shit about them, heaving his lungs out as he scans the room for his usual table. Yep, they’re right where he expected to find them. Staring, too.

Hauling himself up and sucking in enough air for one last sprint, he throws himself towards them only to stagger right into the table, hands slamming down into the wood with enough force to topple a couple of mugs. Gandy’s lunch goes flying, scattering hot stew every which direction.

" Who’s free tonight ?" he demands with urgency, and then doesn’t give them any time to answer, " I don’t care. Make yourselves free. We’re going out."

"What is wrong with you?" Gandy complains, mournfully eyeing up the spilled remnants of his lunch. "I was enjoying –"

" Rogard ," Montrel growls, cutting him off and making Rogard jump. Some of Gandy’s stew has spilled into his lap, " Where are we going ?"

Rogard looks appropriately confused at being put on the spot. " Hah ?"

"Montrel" Jaga deadpans firmly, " Context ."

Ah, shit.

Right. Context.

Montrel gives himself a few seconds to properly catch his breath, and then takes another few to remind them how they promised to take Rogard out on the town but they didn’t wanna go without Khobi, and did they remember how that one time he asked Bongo if they could take Khobi out to the markets –

" –You mean do we remember how you got on your knees and begged?"

Usually Montrel would break for breath to correct Gandy, but that’s the least of his concerns now.

–Well, ages ago (it wasn’t that long ago but they don’t need to know that) he’d happened to mention to Bongo that Khobi had been real good and they really wanted to take him down to the town for a drink or two, so maybe he could put in a good word for them with Gurdet so they could like, get special permission to take him out again –

Fuck yeah , from the way they’re all lookin’ at him, they’re starting to catch on.

The mad dash through the castle has just about left Montrel clean out of breath, but it turns out he has just enough left in him to deliver the finishing blow.

"And would you fucking believe it , Gurdet said yes."

...

It is honestly quite horrifying how little noblemen care about how much gold they spend. Great for Binny, because Vector doesn’t give two hoots about how much he spends and on what, but horrifying all the same. When he’d lamented about how he was severely lacking in the wardrobe department, Vogrid had just handed him a pouch crammed with gold and essentially told him to go nuts. Which was just too much power and wealth for one poor little servant.

So –after checking with Vector of course –he’d taken his sister shopping with him. It was equal parts peace offering and bribe and she knew it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t work.

"...How do I look, Vector?" Binny inquires, smoothing down the fabric of his new tunic and examining himself in the mirror. He looks pretty good, if he does say so himself. Vector glances up from his book and gives him a curt nod, which is practically a glowing review. But Binny’s made it his mission to find an outfit that gets an honest-to-gods double-take out of him, so he starts unlacing the tunic and heads back to the wardrobe to start over.

"...I thought you said you were all meeting after sundown," Vogrid remarks dryly, glancing towards the window to emphasise that the sun, while certainly on its descent, it still a little high in the sky for starting to get ready.

"It’s my first party as a real soldier," Binny reminds him airily, running his hand back through his hair a couple of times to see how that looks before diving back into his clothes, "I want to make a good impression~"

With his head stuffed in the depths of the wardrobe, he doesn’t quite catch what Vogrid says next.

" Huh ?"

"...What should I bring?" Vogrid repeats, sounding slightly annoyed that he’s had to repeat himself. No, wait, that’s a different expression he’s wearing. Embarrassed ? "To this gathering of Rogard’s."

"Uh, gold?" Binny suggests, not quite understanding the question and giving Vogrid a quizzical look, "It’s just uh, just drinking at a tavern, Vector...You don’t have to take a gift or anything like that..."

The light pink that rises to Vogrid’s cheeks confirms that Binny was correct. Vector’s embarrassed. "As if I would know that."

" –Although I’m sure Rogard would be thrilled if you did." Oh, now there’s an idea. He said it as a joke to make Vector make the interesting face he’s currently making, but honestly the thought of Rogard’s reaction to receiving a gift from him is enough to make him seriously consider it. "Maybe we should get one! We should have enough time before –"

" Binny ."

The twitch to Vector’s eye seems a little unhealthy so Binny cuts himself off with a snicker.

"What’s this about anyway?" he inquires curiously, obviously not missing the way that Vogrid’s eyes flit his way as he pulls off his shirt and goes for another. "I thought you didn’t want to go."

Vogrid pushes his glasses up his nose, "It’s obviously important to you that I do."

It is, a little. But Binny doesn’t want to make him. Not if he’s not ready for that.

"...That doesn’t mean you have to. There’s gonna be a lot of people there, Vector," he reminds him, just to make sure he knows.

"I’m aware."

"Lots of soldiers. They’re all from noble families, y’know. And you know how they talk."

" Binny ."

Oh no, that’s twice he’s used that tone with him. He better cut to the chase.

"Are you sure you wanna I dunno –" Binny was hoping to play this really cool and aloof but it is not working. He sighs, playing with one of the laces of the shirt he’s holding, " –Be...seen with me? We’ve only been –" It suddenly occurs to him that he doesn’t have a word for what exactly they’ve been doing. Calling it dating without having talked about whether that’s what they’re doing feels too serious, but fooling around doesn’t nearly describe his feelings for Vector. So he settles with a vague hand gesture. " – Us, for a little while and, well...People talk." He lowers his voice a little, "...You know how people talk. About servants...and stuff."

Vogrid gives him a long, hard look. It’s exciting and a little frustrating that even after all this time and even with his eyes there are some looks that Binny still can’t quite decipher.

He’ll get there, one day.

"...Did Drogger tell you who recommended you for the guard?" he inquires solemnly, and while he turns back to his book his eyes remained fixed to one point on the page.

"Hmm? No, he didn’t mention," Binny admits thoughtfully, a little jarred by the sudden change of topic, "I just assumed it was Loac."

"...I see."

That doesn’t feel like the end of it.

"Why do you ask?" Binny ventures carefully.

"No particular reason," Vogrid replies, turning the page even though Binny knows he hasn’t read a thing, "...Just something Loac said, is all."