#bertie really likes the cat augustus

[one-strugling-bean]

Some quotes from "Much Obliged, Jeeves" that i adore:

«[...]but whereas I sang a good deal as we buzzed along, he [Jeeves] maintained, as is his custom, the silent reserve of a stuffed frog, never joining in the chorus, though cordially invited to.»

«'I'm sorry to say I do,' said Spode, speaking like Sherlock Holmes asked if he knew Professor Moriarty.» «Mingled with the ecstasy which the sight of him aroused in my bosom was a certain surprise that he should be acting as cup-bearer.»

(more under the cut)

«'Euphoria.' 'I what?' 'That's what it's called, Jeeves tells me, feeling like that.' 'Oh, I see. I just call it being happy, happy, happy.'»

«Bertie, are you going straight now?' 'I beg your pardon?'»

«Pardon me, your tie.' 'What's wrong with it?' 'Everything, sir. If you will allow me.' 'All right, go ahead. But I can't help asking myself if ties really matter at a time like this.' There is no time when ties do not matter, sir.'»

«Especially as a few moments before this person appeared I had been interrupted by an extraordinary young man who gave me the impression of being half-witted.' 'That would have been my nephew, Bertram Wooster.' «Oh, I beg your pardon.' 'Quite all right.'»

«How about Jeeves?' 'What about him?' '[...] up till now Jeeves has always been right. His agony on finding that he has at last made a floater will be frightful. I shouldn't wonder if he might not swoon. I can't face him. You'll have to tell him.' 'Yes, I'll do it.' 'Try to break it gently.' 'I will.»

«He would have risen at my approach, but I begged him to remain seated, for I knew that Augustus, like L. P. Runkle, resented being woken suddenly, and one always wants to consider a cat's feelings.»

«No joke for a girl who thinks she's going to be the Countess of Sidcup to have the fellow say «April fool, my little chickadee. What you're going to be is Mrs Spode.»

«'Had bad news, has she?' 'No, sir, she was struck by a turnip.'»

«Her greeting could not have been more cordial. An aunt's love oozed out from every syllable. 'Hullo, you revolting object,' she said. 'So you're back.'»

«Getting hit in the eye with that potato changed his plans completely.»

Ngl, i had a few more cat-related quotes, but this post is already big enough sooo yea

#some of these are so silly #bertie really likes the cat augustus #this book endeared me to mrs travers #reginald jeeves #bertie wooster #jeeves and wooster #much obliged jeeves #jeeves and the tie that binds

[queenofcats17]

The Ink Demonth 2

Today is Growth. So it’s Joey and Bertie time~ We’re gonna have some emotional growth!

Featuring my Joey very prominently

---------------------------------------------

Bertram had never expected to see Joey Drew again. After Henry had freed the former employees from the studio, most had gone their separate ways. Some still kept in touch from what Bertram understood, but most of them had tried to get on with their lives and put the events of the studio behind them. Certainly, no one was trying to keep in contact with the man who’d done this to them. Lacie still kept in touch with Thomas, Shawn, and Grant, which by extension meant they also heard from Allison, Wally, and Jack. Bertram lived with Lacie now, in a little house in the suburbs of Milwaukee, close to his sister and her husband. He didn’t really work anymore, although Lacie had taken a job at a mechanic shop to keep herself busy. She liked staying busy. 

In any case, Bertram had never expected to see Joey Drew again. Not after everything that had happened. Not after nearly over a year. Which was why Bertram had been so surprised to look up from his book and see Joey standing on the sidewalk leading up to the porch. He immediately tensed at seeing the former studio head, ready for a fight. Part of him expected things to go the way they had the last time. Joey would speak sweet words of poison and Bertram would end up hurt or worse, drawn into the tangled web of Joey’s plans. 

But Joey looked smaller somehow, less sure of himself. There were dark circles under his eyes. The clothes he was wearing looked like hand-me-downs, judging mostly by how ill-fitting they were. His hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, a style Joey had only ever utilized on the worst of days at the studio. There were a few streaks of grey in it now. He kept wringing his hands, his eyes looking everywhere but at Bertram, and he was chewing on his lip. Bertram didn’t think he’d ever seen Joey Drew nervous before. So he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. 

“Mr. Drew.” He closed his book, setting it down beside his chair. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” Joey blinked, stunned by the fact that he hadn’t immediately been yelled at. He stood there, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. Across the street, a car honked. 

“Talk to him!” A woman yelled, sticking her head out of the car. She bore a familial resemblance to Joey, especially in the face shape and the nose. A sister, Bertram concluded. He’d heard Joey had an older sister he wasn’t close to.

“I’m going to!” Joey went bright red, turning back to yell back at her. 

“I suppose that’s your sister, then.” Bertram smiled despite himself. 

“Oh, um, yes.” Joey turned back to him. “I’ve, uh, I’ve been staying with her and her family lately. She’s been...helping me.” He smiled slightly, gazing down at his feet. The expression was tender and soft. So different from anything he’d displayed while he’d been head of the studio.

“Would you like to come inside?” Bertram rose from his chair. 

“I mean, I wouldn’t want to intrude.” Joey smiled nervously. “I only really came here to say one thing. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“You’ve come all this way.” Bertram gestured him over, opening the front door. “It would be rude to turn you away without inviting you in.”

“Well...alright.” Joey gave a quick thumbs up to his sister in the car and went inside. 

The house was small but tidy. Bertram had done a lot of organization since they’d moved in. His sister had had his things stored away, so he was able to have most of his comforts once again. Lacie’s possessions had been lost as her landlord had thrown them out after she’d been missing for six months. She’d been upset at this, but there wasn’t much they could do. He’d comforted her as best he could. They had new things now. Books and house plants and little machines Bertram had been tinkering with. Bertram was particularly proud of the house plants. Wally had been teaching him how to properly take care of them and he hadn’t killed one in nearly a month!

“This is really nice.” Joey looked around in wonder. 

“Thank you, I’ve done quite a lot of work to make it look good.” Bertram beamed. “I picked out the paint colors, but we ended up having to ask Mr. Flynn to assist us with properly painting. Lacie and Mr. Connor built the shelves themselves. She didn’t really trust a store to make them properly.” 

He continued talking about the work they’d done as he led Joey to the kitchen. Joey was a little taken aback to see the park design so happy and open. He wasn’t sure if any of the other studio employees had ever seen this side of Bertram, but he certainly hadn’t. He’d probably been responsible for the majority of Bertram’s misery at the studio. He certainly hadn’t made things easy for him.

“In any case, what brings you here?” 

“Um, sorry?” Joey snapped back to reality, realizing they had reached the kitchen. It was just as cozy as the rest of the house. There was a cat calendar on the wall, little knick-knacks on the shelves, a good number of cookbooks. 

“What brings you here?” Bertram repeated, moving to fill up a kettle. “Milwaukee is a long way from New York. That is where you’re staying, yes?”

“Oh, yes.” Joey hovered nervously beside the kitchen table. “Well, I, uh, um...” He licked his, eyes darting around the room. Bertram set the kettle on the stove, turning it on. He kept his back to Joey, sensing it might be easier for the other man to say what he needed to say if Bertram’s eyes weren’t on him. 

“I came...to apologize.” Joey finally said after a minute of hesitation and stammering. 

“To apologize?” Bertram asked. His voice was neutral, but his grip on the counter loosened. He hadn’t entirely realized how tight he’d been gripping it.

“Yes.” Joey nodded, fumbling out a piece of paper from his pocket. “I, um, I have a list I’ve been working down. Former employees I need to apologize to. Essie said it would be good for me to make amends.”

“That’s good of you.” Bertram smiled to himself, getting out a few cups and some teabags. 

“You all deserve an apology. You deserve so much more than that too.” Joey clutched the paper to his chest, hunching his shoulders. “But...An apology is all I can really give. I can’t...I can’t undo what I did. So...” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m truly and utterly sorry. The things I did are inexcusable and reprehensible and I understand that there is nothing I can truly do to fix this.”

“That is true. There is precious little you can do to fix your mistakes.” Bertram poured the boiling water into the cups, turning and putting them on the table. “Still, I appreciate that you are attempting to make amends. The Drew I met in that damnable studio would never do such a thing unless he had to.” He settled at the table, stirring the tea with a spoon. 

“I...Is that a compliment?” Joey’s brow furrowed in concern. He was still waiting for the moment when Bertram would snap, would berate him for all he’d done.

“It is,” Bertram assured him. “I believe you are a better man than you were. Or you are trying to become better at the very least.” Joey watched him for a moment or two, relief and confusion mixing on his features. Finally, though, he smiled. 

“Thank you.”

“In any case, I appreciate the apology.” Bertram continued. “Lacie should be home soon if you’d like to apologize to her as well.”

“I...I would.” Joey nodded. His shoulders hunched again at the thought of speaking with her. Lacie Benton had no tolerance for bullshit and didn’t suffer fools lightly. He couldn’t imagine she harbored any good feelings toward him. Not after everything he’d done to her.

“Well, then.” Bertram nudged a chair toward Joey. “Take a seat.”

They spent an hour together before Lacie arrived. The conversation was rather awkward at times but they knew they both needed it. Joey apologized for disrespecting Bertram time and time again, which Bertram happily accepted. Eventually, the conversation got around to their families. That was a bit of an easier topic to talk about.

“Did someone take over the company after you...disappeared?” Joey asked, visibly hesitating on the last word. 

“My sister, Charlotte, took care of it for a bit,” Bertram replied. “But it’s under the care of her son Augustus at the moment.”

“Did you try to take the company back?” Joey asked. He expected the answer would be yes. If there was something he and Bertram had in common, it was their tendency to work until their bodies or minds gave out.

“I considered the possibility, but Charlotte wouldn’t hear of it.” Bertram laughed, shaking his head. “She told me I’m a workaholic who needs to take a break.”

“Sounds familiar.” Joey murmured with a wry smile. 

“Besides, the company is in good hands.” Bertram waved a hand dismissively. “Augustus is a capable man. Charlotte and Louis did a good job raising him.”

“That must be reassuring.”

“It is.” Bertram allowed himself a small smile. “How is your family?”

“They’re...” Joey twisted his mouth, searching for the right words. “I wish I had tried to see them sooner.” His sister had gotten married. He had a niece and a nephew. A niece and a nephew who were adults and had never met him before Esther had brought him back to the house. He’d abandoned his family and now they didn’t know him anymore.

“That’s understandable.” 

Joey breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the front door open. He hadn’t particularly wanted to fall to pieces in front of Bertram. He was still emotionally raw when it came to his failings with his family. 

“I’m back.” Lacie’s voice came from the entry hall. “Went by the store and picked up some of that rose tea you liked.”

“Thank you! I’m in the kitchen!” Bertram called. Joey sat up a bit straighter, pulling out his list again. His reminder of who he needed to make amends to. The heavy sound of Lacie’s boots grew closer until she appeared in the doorway. She stared at Joey. Her jaw clenched and her hold on the tin of tea tightened. 

“What is he doing here?” The word had so much venom in it Joey almost wanted to turn and run. But he didn’t. He took a deep breath. 

“Hello, Miss Benton.” He stood up, trying to still his shaking hands. His legs were still shaking, though. “I-I’ve come here to apologize.”

“He’s already given me his apology,” Bertram said. Lacie’s eyes flicked over to him momentarily before going back to Joey. 

“Fine.”

“Than- Thank you.” Joey took a deep breath. “I’m...I’m sorry for all the things I did to you. I know that won’t fix everything I’ve done, but I want you to know that I truly regret my actions.”

The silence following his apology was excruciating for Joey. Lacie said nothing, just staring at him. It was hard to know what was going on in her mind. She’d never been the sort to wear her heart on her sleeve. Finally, Lacie spoke.

“I accept your apology.” She said. “But I’m not going to forgive you.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to.”

“Good.” Lacie turned away from him, heading to put the tin in a cupboard. “Thank you for coming to apologize.”

“You’re welcome.” Joey put his list away, breathing an internal sigh of relief. “I should probably be going now. Esther’s probably wondering why I’ve been in here so long.”

“Safe travels.” Bertram escorted him out.

Joey smiled to himself as he made his way back to Esther’s car. He’d been terrified he’d get cursed out, yelled at. That they would throw things at him. Gods knew he deserved it. But they hadn’t. They hadn’t forgiven him, but they’d accepted his apology.

“You were in there for a long time,” Esther said as he got back in. “Did everything go alright?”

“It did.” Joey nodded, feeling the tears starting to well up. “It went really well.” 

Esther smiled gently, leaning over to hug him. “I’m proud of you, Jojo. You’re doing a good thing.”

Joey sniffled loudly, burying his face in his sister’s chest. The guilt wasn’t ever going to go away, he was sure of that, but it felt good to have his apologies accepted. He was making progress. They all were. 

#bendy and the ink machine #fanfiction #the ink demonth #joey drew #bertrum piedmont #lacie benton #freckle drew #esther drew #esther klein