"He's a crook and a scoundrel." "I thought you liked him." "Oh I LIKE him just fine."

[captlebubbles]

"{...} Indeed, I enjoyed my life as Stoker Blake and all the new little skills it has taught me. Excellent implement, the shovel. And as for the other stokers, I think I made friends there, yes, there was a acertain camaraderie among us. All said, a little holiday from the weighty business of hte city, and I dare say I might be predisposed to

Comments

[wolfy_writing]

I don't think Vetinari regrets his life- I don't think he's the sort of man to regret choosing the path he did. But, much like Granny, I think there are times when he might look at the might-have-beens with a kind of wistful sigh, and wish well on the Vetinari's who traveled down those trouser-legs of time instead.

Yes! Regret would imply that, if he were to do it over again, he'd give up what he's gained for what he had to sacrifice. I don't think he feels that way, or would even seriously consider the possibility. But even if you wouldn't give up what you have for what you might have had, there's still that touch of "Those other things would also have been nice." And several of those involve not taking on the responsibility for the city.

[captlebubbles]

There's a trouser leg of time out there where Vetinari never decided to become Patrician and instead he went off and did something else, and maybe our Vetinari doesn't want that life and wouldn't choose that life, but that doesn't mean he can't wonder how that Vetinari is getting on and wish him well all the same.

[wolfy_writing]

I imagine Vetinari has a supremely clear grasp on the distinction between the life one actually wants, and the life one finds appealing to imagine, and lets himself indulge in the latter whenever he can conveniently spare the mental energy.

[captlebubbles]

It helps him immensely to know that the life he finds appealing to imagine requires the changes that he himself made or is making to have taken place, and that he can't be sure that someone else wouldn't have stepped in to sort them out if he hadn't been there, or would have done as good a job. Most of the imaginings he allows himself come with the disclaimer of some shadowy distant figure to fill the occult space he did, but without any kind of details.

(Also, some of his fantasies require Drumknott, who also wouldn't have been an option in a world where he didn't become Patrician, or at least, not as available a one. He's done some pretty impressive mental acrobats to get his fantasies to put himself and Drumknott on the same path.)