Chapter Text
Joost had a problem. Well, he had many problems, but this new one was especially pressing. The Stadwatch guards at Hoed’s mansion were being reassigned. It had been decided that the merchers were no longer under threat, and that the stadwatch guards would reassigned real patrols. Joost knew he shouldn’t be sad about this, after all it was a good thing that the merchers were no longer in danger, and with his reassignment he could finally find that glory he had been chasing as an officer of the law. But, the reassignment meant he would never be able to see Anya again, and even though they had gotten closer in the past month(he had even made her laugh once!), he was no where near what he had longed for that first day she had healed him. It would be a stretch to call them friends, let alone sweethearts. Maybe it wouldn’t be like this if you had complimented her more and been less of a bumbling fool, he thought hopelessly to himself.
He looked up at the moon, which didn’t look half bad tonight. It was as if it was taunting him, for once looking beautiful enough to compare to Anya’s skin on the one night where it wouldn’t make any difference. The only thing worse would have been if it had gone ahead and grown a mustache. He thought about paying one last visit to Anya, reciting a grand goodbye with a moon that was finally up to the standard the poets held it to, maybe even getting a parting gift in the form of a kiss. Well, that’s how it would happen in one of those romance novels where every character can give perfectly worded impassioned speeches off the top of their head. With Joost’s luck he would bumble through it, somehow inadvertently insult Anya, and leave with an awkward wave and a barking laugh from Retvenko, that horrible man.
However, the decision was made for him when he realized that in his contemplations, ok fine maybe they were daydreams, he had fallen behind Pieter, and was now running late to the meeting where they were getting their new positions. If you didn’t get there soon, you’ll have bigger problems than leaving Anya. Namely leaving the world of the living, he thought as he broke into a run.
By the time he got to the meeting, he was panting, but he tried to quiet his breathing and avoid drawing attention to himself as he slipped next to Pieter. While it was clear that he was one of the last to show up based on the glances directed his way, Captain Onderdak hadn’t started talking yet, so it seemed like he would live to see another day.
“Were you staring at yourself in a window again? I’m telling you, giving those three hairs above your lip all your attention isn’t going to make them grow any faster.” Pieter hissed at him.
Before Joost could tell him exactly where he could stick it, the captain started speaking.
“Attention! You all are being reassigned. The merchant council has decided that the threat has passed enough that the extra guards are now superfluous, and would be of better use elsewhere. You will each be given a street or canal to patrol with a fellow officer. Your assignments are as follows:”
Joost half listened to the names being read out, listening for his own, while the other half of his mind was imagining what his assignment could be. The best case would obviously be somewhere close to Anya, maybe along the Geldcanal. Maybe he could be assigned with Pieter. For all his complaining and teasing, he was a good friend, and on occasion gave good romantic advice. He could deal with this reassignment if that’s how it goes. He could sneak into the Hoede estate with gifts for Anya, a secret relationship. That was romantic right?
Though he tried to keep his mind on this fantasy, thoughts of everything that could go wrong entered his mind just as quickly as he tried to push them away. He could be assigned to the Barrel, that den of crime and filth. And not the kind that he could stop heroically. Or he could be assigned to the warehouse district, the boredom there just as bad as the excitement in the barrel. What if he was assigned with one of the other Stadwatch guards who were always mean to him. It wasn’t just about the mustache or Anya, but anything he did seemed to give them ammunition for more mockery. Sure, they weren’t as bad as Rutger and Henk and their cronies, but still.
“Amberstraat: Pieter hagen and Demyan schenk”
Joost saw Pieter breath out a sigh of relief. Amberstraat wasn’t a bad assignment at all, and he knew that Pieter was friendly with Demyan.
“Geldstraat: Joost Van Poel-
Yes! Geldstraat passed right by the Hoede estate, he would be able to see Anya!
-and Rutger Baart”
What?! Rutger wasn’t even in the Stadwatch! He was one of Hoed’s personal guards, this couldn’t be happening! he must be having a bad dream, like when Anya openly mocks him and then turns into the moon or when the other guards find out about his- point is this simply was not real. He closed his eyes and willed himself to wake up. He opened his eyes again, praying to be in his Stadwatch bunk, but instead he saw Rutger staring at him with a face a mix of annoyance, mockery, and something else he couldn’t quite name.
This was real. Joost was stuck with Rutger
He knew he should have prayed more to Ghezen when he had the chance.