How do I complete 'A Cornered Rat' when Vekel hates me?

[Viintu]

Right, so I'm doing the quest 'A Cornered Rat', and am at the part where you need to ask Vekel for information.
The problem is that I some time back got kicked out of the Thieves Guild for stealing from Maven Black-Briar (oopsie), and Vekel doesn't want to talk to me unless I do the Reparations quest.
Thing is though, I really don't wanna re-join the Guild. I have no interest in paying up, and since I'm playing rp it would also be weird for my character's story-line.

Does anyone know some way for me to continue the quest without having to do Reparations?

[jreese46]

I just go down there and get Esbern. I don't talk to either Brynjolf or Vekel. Do a hard save ahead of time, though, and a few through the ratway, as there is sometimes a bug where Esbern won't talk to you.

Looks like you can also talk to the bartender at the Bee & Barb, or to Dirge, though.

https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:A_Cornered_Rat

[Viintu]

Originally posted by jreese46:

I just go down there and get Esbern. I don't talk to either Brynjolf or Vekel. Do a hard save ahead of time, though, and a few through the ratway, as there is sometimes a bug where Esbern won't talk to you.

Looks like you can also talk to the bartender at the Bee & Barb, or to Dirge, though.

https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:A_Cornered_Rat

Yep, everything worked out perfectly without talking to Vekel. I feel silly for not just figuring that out myself, gotta stop following quest-marks to the letter. Thanks a lot for your help!