(Untitled)

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock Vetinari makes a habit of lurking in shadowy corners of the rafters.

It's a convenient one, at the moment. For one thing, carrying on a known habit is generally unremarkable. For another thing, it allows for excellent surveillance of the bar.

And for a third -- well.

It's discreet. And Trowa is finding that he doesn't really mind

Comments

[seewhatyoumean]

Except that being in the rafters pretty much guarantees that he'll run into Cass.

Like, right now. Hey, it's...

Wait... His stance was all wrong.

[oneman_onevote]

Ah.

Yo, Cass.

(If Trowa were capable of looking resignedly wry, he probably would be.)

[seewhatyoumean]

Cass blinks and frowns some more before doing a little flip from the rafter she's on to one closer to him.

Is this a new disguise?

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa meets her eyes with Havelock's blandness.

Not, to judge from his resignation, one he chose to assume. (And not one someone specifically known imposed on him, to judge from the lack of specific annoyance.)

Ah, Milliways.

[seewhatyoumean]

Hmm... How interesting!

Cass cocks her head, then drops from the rafters and returns shortly with a pair of milkshakes. Maybe not-Trowa would like one in order to help keep his cover? After all, it is well known that Trowa avoids milkshakes, so if not-Trowa drinks one it will prove that he is, in fact, not-Trowa.

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa's amusement is visible in Havelock's eyes -- a little more than usual, although that's mostly because he's more amused than usual -- as he accepts the milkshake.

And has a single deliberate sip.

[seewhatyoumean]

Cass nods in approval. See? She's helping him stay undercover!

Her head cocks to the side curiously. So... what's up with this anyway? Aside from the obvious oh, Milliways thing.

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa shrugs slightly.

If he knew, he and Havelock would both be significantly closer to getting this undone.

As it is . . . well, maybe it'll wear off after a certain amount of time. And maybe it won't, which is why Trowa is currently watching the room. (It's not just lurking. It's intelligence-gathering surveillance! The lurking's just a bonus.)

[seewhatyoumean]

She frowns and reaches out to poke not-Trowa's shoulder experimentally. Isn't it weird? Is it hard adjusting to someone else's body? They have different balance and stuff!

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa allows the poke, just as he would in his own body.

(It's very weird. Yes.

At least Havelock has good balance, and is fit, with good eyesight and all that. It'd be a lot worse with some other people.

But it's still a constant negotiation of instincts. It's -- an adjustment. Yeah.)

[seewhatyoumean]

Cass pokes harder. Actually pushing enough to make him shift his balance.

Just to see what happens.

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa shifts with it, casting her a slightly quizzical look.

The motion is fluid enough, but a little more careful than it would be in his own body. He's settled into this new sense of balance, for most purposes -- he's adaptable for that, even if it's still a conscious adaptation -- but in his own body he doesn't need to play it safe. There are no other impulses to override.

[seewhatyoumean]

Her eyes watch the movement, every shift of muscle and balance, reading what she knows of the two men and picking out which impulses belong to who.

It's actually quite fascinating to see which things are purely Trowa.

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa gives her a slightly dry look for the scrutiny.

So glad to be of interest, Cass!

(There's no actual annoyance in that, for the record.)

[seewhatyoumean]

She shrugs. It's almost apologetic for failing to be equally interesting.

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa catches the not-actually-an-apology, but not quite what's spurred it. He doesn't ask, though, since it looks like a joke anyway.

Instead he raises his eyebrows at her slightly. What's new?

(Raises Havelock's eyebrows. Which are the one part of his face more inclined to expression than Trowa's, and that means it's a slightly more visible gesture than it would otherwise be. Havelock's eyebrows are given to discreet ironic skepticism.)