(Untitled)

[sir_samuel]

He'd found it when he had come into the rec room. An octagonal board covered in little checkered squares, populated with eight tiny trolls and thirty-two minuscule dwarfs, all set to fight their little imaginary battle. The pieces were carefully made, the small troll figures walking rocks with clan lichen painted on in minute detail, dwarfs bearded

Comments

[rebellious_lady]

It isn't a game Marian has ever seen, but the pieces are all carefully crafted, making her think that it cannot be something someone on the island has simply made. "It is a game, is it not?" Marian settles with her tea across from Vimes. "I didn't picture you to be the game playing type."

[sir_samuel]

"It's called Thud," Vimes said grimly, not looking up from the board, still frowning at the pieces as if they would divulge some secret if he stared long enough. "And 'm not. S'problem is that no one actually cares about that, including the island."

He scowled. "It really shouldn't surprise me anymore."

[rebellious_lady]

"Likely not," Marian sipped at her tea, considering the board herself and having it make no sense to her whatsoever. "I think this place enjoys mocking us all, but some more than others."

[sir_samuel]

"You can say that again." Vimes looked ceilingward despairingly and sighed. "All right, all right. I get the damned picture, you can stop now," he announced to the powers that be, though he held no real hope that they would listen.

[starkhand]

Ned had finished his patrol and was leaving the building when he saw Ser Vimes seated at a game board of some type. He did not reckon Ser Vimes for a game-player, and stopped in surprise to look for a moment.

[sir_samuel]

Vimes had a keen sense of when he was being watched. It was one of those talents that, if you were lucky enough to have it, kept you alive that much longer when you were a copper. He looked up, raising his brows slightly at Ned's expression. "Evening, Lord Stark."

[starkhand]

"Good evening, Ser Vimes." Ned still held some resentment for all that had happened with the Lannister boy, but he was trying - with little success - to let it go, on Arthur's advice. "I did not realise you were fond of games."

[sir_samuel]

"I'm not," Vimes replied darkly. "But the island, not to mention someone else," he glared at the board, blaming the absent Mr. Shine as much as island magic for its presence, "thinks I should be."

He looked up at Ned, smiling grimly. "You wanna hear a story about blood feuds, Lord Stark? Come take a look at this."

[scooby_leader]

Buffy wasn't looking for anyone in particular, she was just looking to pass the time. The rec room seemed to be the way to do that, since she was feeling depressed and blah and not even in the mood to train.

"Holy... What is that?" Buffy asked of Vimes, eyeing the... Jesus, what the hell was it?

[sir_samuel]

"Thud," he answered, sounding distinctly unimpressed. He raked a hand through his hair and sighed. "It's a bloody stupid damned board game, is what it is. Someone's idea of a bad joke."

[scooby_leader]

"I'd say so. It looks like a board game fashion emergency," Buffy said, cocking her had at as if a new angle would make it less offensive to the eyes. It looked like her Saturday night had exploded all of a checker board.

[sir_samuel]

Vimes looked at her sideways. "...It's just a board game. 'm pretty sure it's not supposed to look like much of anything at all."

[forged_hero]

"Never cared much for Thud," Moist admitted, watching the old commander. There was a puppy hanging its huge, floppy head out of his windbreaker's front pocket, regarding him gravely.

"It's too hard to cheat."

[sir_samuel]

"I hate games." Vimes glared at the board. The fact that he hadn't chosen to turn the glare on Lipwig said something about his level of dislike. "But," he added darkly, "I've got a special place in my heart for this one."

[forged_hero]

"Oh?" said the ex-Postmaster, edging forward into the room. He picked up a dwarf piece, rolling it in his fingers. "Based off some mad old battle, isn't it?"

[sir_samuel]

"Uh-huh." He picked up one of the pieces from his side of the board and spun it absently. "Koom Valley. Legend says that it's the one that started things between the dwarfs and the trolls, which is why I don't put much stock in legends."

[dogbitesman]

"I didn't know you played Thud, commander," William said, pausing in his trip to the bookshelf to take note of the far more interesting development of catching Vimes out in the open.

[sir_samuel]

"Only when I have to," Vimes admitted darkly. Thanks to bloody damned troll kings that weren't actually supposed to be real. He sighed and looked up, deciding it was best not to beat around the bush. It was too late to avoid things now. "What do you need, Mister de Worde?"

[dogbitesman]

William sat down, examining the pieces. "Comments and details, commander, as always. The IPD has been having a busy month, hasn't it?"

[sir_samuel]

"As always," Vimes echoed dryly. He clasped his hands together. "You could say that. You could say we've been having those more regular-like, for that matter."