Funny, the twists and turns your life takes. Wilhelm has thought for a while now that he was meant to end up in this world, that only here could he have the chance to shape his life into something he can be happy with. Catching the disbelief that flutters across Mat's expression, he wonders if his friend feels much the same.
With Kyle's announcement fresh in his mind, he also can't help but wonder—
"So, when the portals get fixed, will you go back to Thorne, or...?"
It's the first time that Mat's been directly asked that question. Neither Jesper nor Kaz needed to ask. It was a forgone conclusion.
He's quiet a moment, before nodding with a glance to Wilhelm.
"The 'or' option," he confirms. "I've mastered my magics well enough that I'm not worried about any accidents anymore. I don't need the safety net of Thorne's mages any longer."
And it had been the main thing keeping him in the castle. That and his friends, of course. He's grown close to plenty of folks there. But all other Summoned, it isn't as though living in different regions mean they never see one another. He and Jesper lived apart for years and did just fine.
He's not surprised by Mat's answer. There's nothing keeping him in Thorne anymore, and so much pulling him to Cadens. To the next stage of his life. A flicker of sadness gutters inside him then, for the prospect of saying good bye to another friend, but his happiness for Mat overpowers it.
Well, he wasn't surprised by the first part of Mat's answer, anyway. The second part sends his eyebrows popping up and his mouth gaping.
"Married?" Wilhelm echoes, as if nobody in the history of the world has ever considered such a thing. "Are you...allowed? I mean, the three of you?"
For someone who spent a whole year and some change hooking up with Jesper on and off, he's still stuck on certain ideas of tradition... Shaking his head down at his handlebars, scrubbing a hand through his hair, he remembers what he should have said first.
"Why not? We were in that future-that-might-be. Who's to tell us we can't?"
It seems simple enough to him. It's not as though they need to have it done up legally - he's not even sure if they could. They aren't citizens of this world. They can do as they please, and as far as he's concerned, a marriage doesn't need a paper. Plenty of folks back home didn't have papers, they just had the ceremony and that was that.
"And really, you know me. Do you think I could have just one husband?"
There's humor in his voice and a sparkle in his eye as he says it, grinning as Wilhelm offers his congratulations.
"No, I guess not. And Jesper would never let himself be limited to just one either." He reaches across to give Mat's arm a friendly pat. "You two really are meant for each other."
Marriage. He's still trying to wrap his head around it. They're all so young — a little older than Wilhelm, sure, but not by much. Marriage feels like something a long way down the road, beyond where sight can reach. He's had a hard enough time just finding someone and keeping them. But, he supposes, when you know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, it's never too soon to begin.
"So when is the wedding? You're having a big party, right?"
And thank the Light for that. No jealous bouts, no possessiveness...Mat doesn't know how anyone puts up with all of that.
"And we're not that far along yet, haven't got a date or anything. Just...when we know it's safe, I suppose. But we will have the biggest party you've ever seen!"
That's a promise. As though Jesper would do anything else. He'd make the damn thing the event of the year, if not the decade.
"Of course you'll be a part of the whole thing, you're a good friend to two of us at least."
When we know it's safe. Loving someone in this world means taking a risk. Everything can shift in an instance. Just as easily as you came together and clicked into place, you can be pulled apart. Wilhelm shoves away the worries that always loom like shadows in the back of his mind, as if he might accidentally manifest the very things he worries about.
It's much nicer to think about the wild party Jesper will no doubt put on to celebrate his union with Mat and Kaz. When they dreamed they were gods, he'd accompanied Jesper to mortal weddings to bless the happy couples. Even without the aid of divine power, his friend's spirit is contagious.
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With Kyle's announcement fresh in his mind, he also can't help but wonder—
"So, when the portals get fixed, will you go back to Thorne, or...?"
Will he choose to stay here?
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He's quiet a moment, before nodding with a glance to Wilhelm.
"The 'or' option," he confirms. "I've mastered my magics well enough that I'm not worried about any accidents anymore. I don't need the safety net of Thorne's mages any longer."
And it had been the main thing keeping him in the castle. That and his friends, of course. He's grown close to plenty of folks there. But all other Summoned, it isn't as though living in different regions mean they never see one another. He and Jesper lived apart for years and did just fine.
"And we want to get married. Properly and all."
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Well, he wasn't surprised by the first part of Mat's answer, anyway. The second part sends his eyebrows popping up and his mouth gaping.
"Married?" Wilhelm echoes, as if nobody in the history of the world has ever considered such a thing. "Are you...allowed? I mean, the three of you?"
For someone who spent a whole year and some change hooking up with Jesper on and off, he's still stuck on certain ideas of tradition... Shaking his head down at his handlebars, scrubbing a hand through his hair, he remembers what he should have said first.
"Wow, congratulations."
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"Why not? We were in that future-that-might-be. Who's to tell us we can't?"
It seems simple enough to him. It's not as though they need to have it done up legally - he's not even sure if they could. They aren't citizens of this world. They can do as they please, and as far as he's concerned, a marriage doesn't need a paper. Plenty of folks back home didn't have papers, they just had the ceremony and that was that.
"And really, you know me. Do you think I could have just one husband?"
There's humor in his voice and a sparkle in his eye as he says it, grinning as Wilhelm offers his congratulations.
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"No, I guess not. And Jesper would never let himself be limited to just one either." He reaches across to give Mat's arm a friendly pat. "You two really are meant for each other."
Marriage. He's still trying to wrap his head around it. They're all so young — a little older than Wilhelm, sure, but not by much. Marriage feels like something a long way down the road, beyond where sight can reach. He's had a hard enough time just finding someone and keeping them. But, he supposes, when you know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, it's never too soon to begin.
"So when is the wedding? You're having a big party, right?"
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And thank the Light for that. No jealous bouts, no possessiveness...Mat doesn't know how anyone puts up with all of that.
"And we're not that far along yet, haven't got a date or anything. Just...when we know it's safe, I suppose. But we will have the biggest party you've ever seen!"
That's a promise. As though Jesper would do anything else. He'd make the damn thing the event of the year, if not the decade.
"Of course you'll be a part of the whole thing, you're a good friend to two of us at least."
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It's much nicer to think about the wild party Jesper will no doubt put on to celebrate his union with Mat and Kaz. When they dreamed they were gods, he'd accompanied Jesper to mortal weddings to bless the happy couples. Even without the aid of divine power, his friend's spirit is contagious.
"You know I wouldn't miss it for anything."