"No, uh, accent colors are just fine," Will says quickly. He may love the color green, but even he knows when it becomes too much. His eyes sweep the messy room. Spools of fabric line long shelves stacking up towards the ceiling. Mannequins pose in the center of the area donning multiple styles of clothing. Will had seen a few similar shirts in Kaz's closet. They must be the height of current Fae fashion. The tailor moving snaps Wills attention back to him. Slowly, as if one wrong step would send him catapulting through the large window, Will makes his way towards the mannequins.
Some wear complex ruffles, others adorn jewels and lace. The simpler ones lay towards the back on less eloquently posed figures. Will's hand reaches out, fingers brushing over simple high-necked shirts with flared sleeves and slim and subtle trousers. "These ones," Will notes quietly.
The tailor tipped his head faintly. "Nothing more dramatic?" he asked. "These are…forgive me, but these are more peasant style garments. If you are his majesty's, ah, concubine, surely you would like something to denote your status?" he glanced from Will to Kaz, seeming a bit worried about all of this.
Kaz cleared his throat. "His status will be denoted in other ways, if he chooses to wear plain clothing. Though, William, I would suggest choosing at least one sort of flashier style." his gaze flicked to the tailor. "If he does not, please ensure that he has at least two sets of clothing suitable for court appearances, banquets, and balls."
The tailor bowed quickly to Kaz, writing down more things in his little notebook. "Of course, your majesty." he looked to William, giving the human another quick, faintly nervous smile.
Almost like a child presented with a plate of vegetables, William's nose turns up at the thought of anything flashier. The expensive fabrics are already nearly too much for Will to handle, he doesn't know what he'd do if he would have to cram his body into one of the gaudy suits bedazzled with gems and gold. He's about to bite at the tailor, but then Kazimir steps in, making the decision for him. Will's eyes narrow. The tailor's anxious demeanor does nothing to lighten the atmosphere.
"No," Will says, his voice quiet yet firm. "Just the things I ordered will do." He shoots a glare in Kazimir's direction, then one towards the tailor. Will knows it's really not the time to be stubborn, but he's tired, he's in an unfamiliar place, he's back with his loathsome lover that constantly finds him in one way or another. William fully believes he has the right to be stubborn.
Kaz exhaled sharply. "William." he said, then looked to the tailor. "Please just ensure he has something suitable for court. At least two outfits." he repeated, ignoring William's words. And the tailor would listen to Kaz; of course he would. Kaz was his employer, and the emperor, and renowned for punishing those who did not follow his orders. So the tailor would make Will some more court suitable lothing, alongside the clothing Will had requested.
"No, I'm not going to walk around looking like someone that rolled out of goldmine covered in syrup," Will bites, shooting a glare towards Kazimir. "You're not going to catch me dead in something like that." He points to the mannequin closest to the door adorned in a near blinding golden blouse with diamond studs. "It's a migraine embroidered into fashion. I'd much rather wear something sensible, thank you."
"It is not going to look like that, don't be ridiculous, darling." he replied, shaking his head at William. "It will be lovely and sumptuous, without being gaudy." he took a few steps toward the Martyr. "It may be something like what I am wearing now, if you are comfortable showing this much skin." the shirt Kazimir wore draped at his shoulders, with a deep neckline that went past his chest. It looked vrey good on him.
(spotify playlist 👀 feel free to add whatever you want a;sldk)
(Kaz: for the love of god please just pick a fancy outfit
Will, folding his arms and sitting on the floor: i'd rather die)
A mix of a sneer and snarl forms on Will's face. No matter the reassurances that it won't be… that, Will cannot fathom the power to agree. Damn it, it all feels too soon, too quick, too much. He was dragged here - against his will - twelve hours ago and he's still on edge and he's still not completely convinced that Kazimir didn't poison him at breakfast. Call him a stubborn bastard, but Will's not folding. His eyes barely flick up and down Kazimir's figure. "No. I don't want that either. I just want the clothing I asked for. If I'm going to embarrass you so much in front of your colleagues then you can just leave me in the room."
(:D i have. added some)
(aksfdhbdjsbfhg)
Kaz rolled his eyes. "My colleagues, darling?" he snorted. "Dearest William, they are my subjects. Not my colleagues." he sounded vaguely disgusted at the idea. "But you must have good clothing for court. That is a requirement, my little martyr. This is not the hill to die on."
(ayyyy very good song choices a;skldj)
Will can't help but to roll his eyes. "Please, you all are the same to me." Kaz's tone feels completely and utterly condescending and Will would very much like to bury himself deep into the earth at the moment. "This clothing is perfectly alright, I don't see the reason why I need something fancy. If you're so embarrassed to be seen around me, then just go ahead and leave me in the library or something." Kaz may believe this is not a hill for Will to die on, but he'll do whatever the hell he pleases. And if that wish is to be as stubborn as humanly possible, so be it.
(:D thanks)
Kaz sighed. "Fine, then. The tailor has free reign to choose whatever style he wishes, then, and whatever he chooses is what you shall have to wear in court. If you refuse to choose for yourself, then that is fine; the choice can be made for you." he looked over to the tailor, who nodded quickly.
"Of…of course, your majesty." he said quickly.
Will's eyes narrow in the Fae's direction. "Lovely to see you're already undermining my own opinion and will, Snake." He bites the last word as if it's made of venom. He's considerably shorter than the other man, which is infuriating, so Will straightens his spine to glare into Kazimir's scarlet eyes.
Kaz sighed. "As I already stated: this is not your hill to die on, my sweet Martyr." he replied, mouth quirking for just a moment. He seemed totally unconcerned about Will's anger or fury, and totally unconcerned about all of it, really. "They are only clothing, and you have refused to have an opinion."
"I have an opinion, idiot," Will hisses. In all honesty, he should not be getting this worked up about a topic as simple as clothing. If it was his mother who suggested the formal wear, hell even his unfashionable and disastrous father, Will wouldn't hesitate to accept, no matter how unhappy it made him. But here, with the Snake, all Will wants to do is get his way, no matter the price. If he's been thrusted into this new life, he's going to live it the way he wants. "If you're going to force me into something I don't wish to wear, you're going to have to deal with my resistance."
Kaz rolled his eyes. "And your resistance will be dealt with, darling." he said, voice the exasperated tone you might expect of a parent far too used to their child's antics. "If that is the way you wish to live this time, then that is how you can live. I will not stop you from causing fights every step of the way, though it is highly annoying and inconvenient." he kept his gaze resting levelly on WIll.
(i'm so sorry about that wait! i was just swamped with so much stuff :(( hopefully i can be a little more active!)
Will sneers and rolls his eyes, choosing to turn away from Kaz. He drops the conversation. He won't win this one. As painful as it is to admit, the argument isn't going anywhere and all Kaz will do in retaliation is belittle and mock. However, if the Snake ever tries to put Will in a fancy outfit to parade around his ballroom like a piece of arm candy, Will won't hesitate to fight back. "I'm going to burn this place to the ground," Will mutters, just under his breath. Fancy curtains should be flammable, yes?
(it's alright!!)
Kaz caught the muttered words, but didn't say anything in response. He simply shot the tailor a quick, faint nod, then reached out to pull lightly on Will's arm. "Come on, then. We shall leave the tailor to his work." he said, voice almost deceptively calm as he spoke. He wasn't angry, wasn't shouting. Didn't even seem annoyed.
Will huffs as Kaz pulls him along. The nonchalant calmness of his demeanor is slightly infuriating. Will grates his teeth together, keeping his eyes firmly to the side. Of course, just like in every life, Will's being tormented by Fate. She's a cruel muse. God, what Will would give to finally have a little peace in his life. Or, an end to his seemingly never ending life. Where are you taking me now? He wants to ask, but his stubborn nature keeps him quiet.
Kaz was silent, leading Will along. Out of the tailor's room and down the side hallway, still quiet. He eventually paused, turning to look over at Will and study him. "Your clothes should be ready by the end of the day." he said. "In the meantime, I have duties to take care of, and I will show you a few places in the palace."
Will doesn't reply, but a hopeful buzz jolts his heart. Is he finally going to get some alone time? Judging from what he's seen out the enormous windows, the gardens are breathtaking. There has to be some new species Will can add to his sketchbook. Maybe there'll be a willow tree. Those have always been Will's favorites. He keeps his gaze locked on the floor, only really looking up when he sees the tile pattern change.
Kaz led Will through the halls, purposefully taking the most wandering, convoluted route possible. He didn't want Will to have a good sense for the palace's layout; he wanted the young man to be as confused about the layout as possible, since it owuld make running away even more difficult for him to pull off in the future.
Oh, are you serious. The frustration that had simmered within Will now grows to a raging boil. Of course this madman takes him on the most complex route humanly possible. He knew he had seen that particular window before. The Snake is taking him around in circles of all things. Love each other in every life my ass, Will hisses internally, mentally trying to figure out the best possible area to set ablaze as soon as he gets the change. He had never been one for violence before, but the Snake has always brought out sides of him Will never knew he had.
"I am going to show you the library, and then the gardens. Those are, for now, the only two places outside of my chambers that you are allowed to go. While I am gone, a servant will be assigned to guide you from place to place and answer any questions you may have. Do you understand?" Kaz glanced at Will for a moment, leading him through the hallways still.
While the library and the gardens sound actually quite nice, the set parameters and chaperones quickly turn Will's small slice of hope bitter and sour. "A babysitter?" Will hisses. He breaks away from Kaz's hold and folds his arms, facing the Snake with a fire in his eyes. He realizes he has no idea where he is. There's no windows over here. "Why do you treat me like a child?"
Kaz looked at Will, sighing faintly at the human's reaction. "Because you don't know your way around the palace, and I would not want you to get lost, or hurt by a Fae that does not know who you are." he replied calmly, shaking his head just a little bit. "I don't want that to happen."
Will's jaw clenches together, the frustration within boiling over. He hates how correct Kaz is. He loathes how calm he is about Will. Why can't he be angry too? Why can't he be suffering in this cycle too? Why does he have all the cards, leaving Will with nothing but his own stubbornness and short temper?
"Why do you do this to me?" He hisses the last question aloud.
