Prince Among Men

[helpdesk_hero]

Frankly, he hadn't expected to get this chance. At all. Didn't matter that he was the top of his class. That he learned things mostly instantly. Sure there was a lot of reasons that this shouldn't have happened. Yet here he was, two days in to an internship at the Genoshan royal palace. And David's been moving through things carefully, juggling a large pile of folders and binders. A lot of stuff went on behind the scenes he'd learned, working as he did under a minister of commerce and trade.

And as an intern his main jobs seemed, at least for these first few days, carrying things back and forth and fetching coffee. He'd networked with someone who did the internship the year before and learned that yeah, it sucked the first few days, but then you started doing cool stuff, so he had his fingers crossed.

Okay, not actually, he was too busy moving quickly through the halls, trying not to trip and drop a massive pile of reports that he was certain had only been given to him because hazing the new guy who had already turned out to be smarter than half of the undersecretaries. Oops.

The big problem, of course, is taking a corner too quick. It wasn't that he meant to run into someone, but there it was happening anyway.

Comments

[wearingthestars]

"You don't believe me?" William presses with a laugh, "I'm going to do this. I mean it. You just be ready with an apology for that lack of faith, mm."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I believe you may try, but I cannot see the legendary Erik Magnus bending to another person's will."

And it's just like that.

[wearingthestars]

"It's easier than you might think when the legendary Erik Magnus is also known as Grandfather."

Who can say no to this cute face?

[helpdesk_hero]

"I don't know, I didn't really know my grandparents. And I've been estranged for years."

Not that David seems too upset, especially when he works on finishing his lungh.

[wearingthestars]

"Well, trust me, the job's as good as yours."

No doubt the prince is going to rush to plead for his new tutor as soon as David leaves him.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Again, I will believe it when I see it."

But he's willing to give up several hours a week to teach the Prince, gain a friend, and have more money to support himself with.

[wearingthestars]

David can doubt all he wants, but before the day's over he'll have been contacted by no fewer than three palace officials attempting to vet him for the job.

The Prince wasn't exaggerating when he said had the King's ear.

[helpdesk_hero]

He'll doubt until his entire evening is taken over by talking to officials. Because wow, that is going to be WAY deeper vetting and security than just working the palace. For now, though, he's enjoying lunch with the Prince.

"Are you going to join me at work this afternoon too? I don't suggest it. My boss is going to want to chide me."

[wearingthestars]

He smiles almost shyly, and laughs, "Are they going to chide you if I'm there too? Because I kind of want to see that," he teases lightly, "...it's up to you, I'm sure you'd like some time where you aren't forced to babysit, but I would enjoy seeing more."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Well, he needs to wait for you to not be around before he can do it, so unless you can be invisible, you're not going to see it."

But wow, the guy is making him blush just a touch. How is that even happening?

[wearingthestars]

"..." Billy offers a coy smile. He could but that at least he has the sense to keep quiet about.

"Well sounds like if I come you don't get yelled at until tomorrow. Question is does that extra half day make the chiding worse?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"I mean, you HAVE to be bored already."

[wearingthestars]

"The work's super boring," he admits with a laugh, "But that's not really the draw..."

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh man, now he's flustered again, looking away from the prince. Oh wow.

"Y-yeah. Right?"

[wearingthestars]

William looks bashful and becomes very interested in his plate for a moment.

"Sorry, I don't-...I don't get to speak informally like this very often. I didn't mean to be too forward."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I think... I don't mind. Even if I know you're just entirely focusing on my appearance."

But he's smart too. Appreciate his brain.

[wearingthestars]

"Not just that," he tries to assure. The brain is a very big lure, though he's sure he's only gotten a very small glimpse of it with the sort of work they have him doing.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Well, I hope so," David admits, smiling. "Though i guess I might be a hypocrite."

[wearingthestars]

"Oh?" William flashes a teasing smile, cheeks hot, and he steals a glance back towards the kitchen staff, who make a point of looking as though they aren't keeping tabs on them.

[helpdesk_hero]

Yeah, David is TOTALLY dead. From the twin if nothing else. He sighs and then finishes his food, before checking the time.

"I should be heading back."

[wearingthestars]

He laughs, more used to this sort of audience than David.

"I should let you be, shouldn't I?" he allows, much as he wants to follow after.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I don't want you to," David answers, his voice a whisper. "But you probably should. But... let me give you my number?"

[wearingthestars]

"Mm," The prince smiles and nods easily, producing a cellphone happily and handing it over for David to add himself.

That raises more a few eyebrows from the staff, and one of the ones who is more familiar with him than rest gives a low but stern- "William-", which makes the Prince look briefly guilty, "It's fine-" he reassures.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Here," David says, punching his number in and passing the phone back over. "Now he can contact me only if it meets the approval of his family. And I won't have his information at all."

Yep, so totally dead.

[wearingthestars]

No one seems especially pleased with either of them just now, but despite being on a first name basis with the prince none of them seem prepared to go much further than that in terms of admonishing or disciplining themselves.

"You'll be hearing from me," he promises.