(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

[cutting_edgex23]

It is only discreet with people who are not used to checking the shadows for movement. (And with better-than-human vision, too).

As it is --

X is watching him.

From the ground.

For now.

[cutting_edgex23]

She will give him a report in a moment.

But she does not seem very satisfied with what she was able to discover.

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa stays a couple of yards back from the pad.

Switching bodies with X would not be an improvement. For any of them.

It might be an outside chance, but there's no reason to risk it unnecessarily.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I do not know what it did," X says.

"Or how."

Beat.

"And the scent is not familiar."

But she will keep an eye out.

[oneman_onevote]

Oh well. It was worth a try.

And preliminary reconnaissance is exactly that. Trowa is a very patient guy.

"Thanks."

[cutting_edgex23]

"You are welcome," X says, very seriously.

And --

"I will keep looking."

[oneman_onevote]

Trowa doesn't say anything, and he doesn't smile. If he were someone who emoted, he might -- but he's Trowa, in Havelock's body, and the thought doesn't even occur to him.

But he nods once, slightly. (It's a military nod, small and sharp. X brings that out in him.)

And his posture is just the slightest fraction more genuinely relaxed than it was.