Milliways Office: Havelock-Andrew

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock slips up to the office with remarkable discretion, considering he has to cross the crowded bar to do so. The illogical Milliways shadows help, but mostly it's a matter of thinking yourself unnoticeable - which, in Havelock's opinion, he could always use some work on.

He hesitates, then knocks on the door to see if anyone is in there. He doesn't exactly want to post a note on the notice board, and delivering a letter through Bar does have the down side that whoever receives it will probably read it out in the open.

He could slip a note underneath, he supposes... but really, if possible, better not.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

There's a pause, and the door opens. Apparently of its own volition.

Nobody seems to be manning the office at the moment.

[oneman_onevote]

Well, that's highly suspicious.

Havelock scans the inside of the room from where he is for a moment before carefully stepping inside.

(And also letting a knife slip invisibly down into his hand from one sleeve. Paranoia is a hard habit to drop, especially when several people really are out to get you.)

[stilljustandrew]

The wall he's looking at brightens faintly, as though illuminated by a sudden additional light, and words appear on it at his eye level.

May I be of assistance?

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock looks up with interest.

"I was intending to leave a message for Andrew Wells," he says, watching the writing. He doesn't remember that, but then he hadn't been in a particularly talkative mood in his last visit to the cells.

"A friend suggested I speak to him."

[stilljustandrew]

The text vanishes as Havelock speaks; when he's done, there's a pause, and then more appears.

I can summon him, if it is a matter of any urgency.

[oneman_onevote]

The assassin shrugs, still watching the walls closely.

"Well, it isn't a matter of imminent life or death," he admits.

"It's to do with the vampire who has been stalking and attacking various patrons recently. Given his perceptive tendencies, I thought coming here would be discreet."

[stilljustandrew]

The text runs faster this time, as though more urgently:

Vlad Tepesh. He will wish to speak to you. Please wait briefly.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods once, and leans back against the wall, where he can see most of the office.

(It's habit, standing where there are shadows.)

"Thank you," he says.

Spell or not, whatever is speaking seems rational enough to warrant it.

[stilljustandrew]

You are welcome. Please feel free to sit, if you will be more comfortable.

[oneman_onevote]

"I'm quite all right," he assures the wall politely.

He doesn't so much have an off switch, particularly these last few days.

"How should I address you?"

[stilljustandrew]

My name is Baby. I am the Security office.

A faint ripple of subtle color blooms and fades across the wall, somehow conveying the sense of a nod.

As it fades, the office door opens again and a young man steps in, glancing around.

[oneman_onevote]

"Baby," Havelock repeats. "I see."

As the door opens, he turns his head from where he is to watch the other man enter.

He isn't dressed in camouflage colours today, but still all in black, and coupled with standing back against the wall, he gives off a certain impression of lurking.

"Andrew Wells?" he asks. He looks familiar, in the manner of someone you might have seen about for years, even if you had never met.

[stilljustandrew]

It takes him a moment to see the man waiting for him; he spots him only a split second before he speaks. The strategic placement isn't lost on him.

"Yeah," he answers, "that's me. Baby said you wanted to speak to me, Mr. ...?"

[oneman_onevote]

"Havelock Vetinari," the assassin supplies with a nod.

"And yes. Puck told me you might be the person to speak to regarding Vlad Tepesh. I apologise for the inconvenience of calling you here."

...Even if Baby did the actual calling.

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew shakes his head at the apology. "Nothing to apologize for. It's a matter of some interest to me."

Beat. His gaze sharpens a touch.

"Puck told you?" There may be the tiniest emphasis on the word told.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock catches it, and nods slightly at him.

"In oblique terms," he says. "Perhaps he simply thought to introduce two acquaintances."

Or, you know. One acquaintance and one long-term cohabitant. In any case, Havelock's blank expression clearly doesn't believe that is the case.

[stilljustandrew]

A long beat.

"Perhaps." He's studying Havelock's face. "We're secure here, if you're concerned about being overheard. Or do his restrictions in some measure apply to you...?"

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock doesn't sigh with relief, but a little tension goes out of his stance.

"No," he says, standing up straight again. The slouching against walls is a Guild habit, but he's a little too wound up to stay there long.

"Apart from not wanting to create more difficulty, naturally. I don't know exactly what binding he is under, but he can't talk about it, or the vampire directly. I can."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew nods. "He implied to me that it's his own sworn word that binds him not to speak of it. Um ..." Rueful. "At least I think he did."

[oneman_onevote]

"Hmm," says Havelock in eloquently dry confirmation.

"Presumably he had reason." Not wanting to be torn apart would be a start. "Nita Callahan and I thought there may be possible consequences to his breaking it, even if he could."

[stilljustandrew]

He sucks in a breath, not sharply but thoughtfully.

"Could be. Do you get the feeling there's a particular thing he knows that he can't tell?"

[oneman_onevote]

"He cannot act against him in word or deed," Havelock says, expression quietly dark. "Presumably that extends to a number of things."

He pauses, and glances over.

"Thought seems to be something of a loophole. Are you acquainted with River Tam?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew's head comes up.

"We've met a few times," he says.

A touch guardedly, remembering Puck's involvement in one of those times.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods.

"Likewise. But she came and spoke to me after encountering Puck a while after it happened. She'd overheard some details. She also told me the vampire's name, by letter."

[stilljustandrew]

"What details? Did she say?"

Andrew knows that getting details out of River Tam is a chancy prospect at best.