'It is very difficult to make ones way in this city without being wicked at one time or another, when the cities way is so wicked to begin with.'
Or in which: Kaz Brekker didn't need a reason - but his little sister was the closest thing to it.
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Jesper found the revelation of Wylan's family to be particularly amusing as he teased the boy endlessly through Kaz's explanations.
"And you trust Wylan Van Eck?" Inej wondered aloud.
"Wylan doesn't know enough people to cause us real trouble."
"Don't I have some say in this?" Wylan complained. "I'm sitting right here."
Kaz's eyes swept across the room to pin him to the spot. The boy shifted in his seat after a small moment of silence.
"Ever had your pocket picked, Wylan?"
"I... not that I know of."
Violet twitched a smile. Most people in Ketterdam had had something on their person or of their possession nicked at one point or another. If you hadn't, you either hadn't noticed or hadn't been here long enough.
Not to mention pick-pocketing was quite a pass time for Violet, and most pigeons in or around the Crow Club had most likely fallen victim to her sleight of hand at one point of another.
"Been mugged in an alley?"
"No."
"Ever been beaten until you can't walk?"
"No."
"Hung over the side of a bridge with your head in the canal?"
"Have you?" Violet cut in, furrowing her eyebrows.
He ignored her and leant forwards for emphasis. "Why do you think that is, Wylan?"
"I-"
"It's been three months since you left your daddy's mansion on the Geldstraat. Why do you suppose you sojourn in the Barrel has been so blessed?"
"Lucky, I guess?" Wylan suggested meekly.
"Luck doesn't exist here." Violet said lightly.
Matthias glanced over at her, wondering how she had looked the youngest at first glance but in some lighting, the look from her eye made her look so much older.
Jesper snorted. "Kaz is your luck, merchling. He's had you under Dregs protection - though up until this minute none of us could figure out why."
"It was perplexing," Nina said gently, as though to offer sympathy.
"Kaz usually has his reasons," Inej murmured.
"Why did you move out of your fathers house?" Jesper couldn't help but ask.
Violet frowned as Wylan's shoulders tensed. His expression clouded over as he responded, "it was time," and nothing else.
"Idealist? Romantic? Revolutionary?"
"Idiot?" Nina suggested. "No one chooses to live in the Barrel if he has another option."
Violet watched the young boy closely and silently wondered if his other option wasn't an option for a reason.
