oneman_onevote | (no subject)

It is dark and silent inside the sparse hallways of the Assassin's Guild.

Nevertheless, Havelock is even quieter and more careful than he had been outside. Assassins are creatures of the night, so running into another student or a professor is not at all unlikely.

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Puck would love dearly to hum, but as Havelock is taking such pains to be silent, he decides not to spoil it.

He is, however, ambling along in a distinctly unsneaky manner, hands in his pockets.

Puck is a force of nature, and as such, Havelock doesn't even bother trying to stop him.

Besides, he's faster and stronger than any human, so the chances that another student would succeed in stabbing him are very small indeed.

The assassin pauses when he hears two quiet voices ahead of them.

Puck stops so suddenly and completely that it is assuredly inhuman. He appears beside Havelock, tilting his head questioningly.

Dangerous?

The voices are definitely approaching.

Ordinarily, Havelock would fade into the shadows. But this is the Guild, and no matter how much better informed he may be, his peers know how to look into shadows, and there is nothing in the way of cover. Swiftly he removes his dark grey cloak and reverses it to show a plain black side.

He nods slightly at Puck. They could be.

Well, it won't do to get Havelock into trouble. Puck promptly hides himself from mortal eyes, going out like a light. He keeps one hand on Havelock's arm ... you know, so Havelock knows where he is. Right. That's why.

Havelock smiles faintly and continues walking, as if he can't hear the voices in front of him, not changing pace as they round the corner, and two slightly older student assassins come into view.

The others do stop, eyes narrowing slightly as they watch him approach.

"Up late, aren't we, Dog-botherer?" says one, after a moment.

Havelock does not change pace. "Early, I feel, Downey," he says blandly.

Puck does not like these people. Furthermore, they seem to insist on following them as they go. He nudges Havelock questioningly.

These people should, perhaps, fear.

Havelock does not react to the nudge. A visible reaction would be spotted. Downey, ignoring the irritated expression of his companion, is indeed following.

"Where have you been, then?" he calls after Havelock, who does not answer. This seems to annoy him. "I asked you a question, Dog-botherer!"

"Indeed, Downey," agrees Havelock, still walking.

Puck's tolerance for the one who calls Havelock by Sariel's nickname is rapidly diminishing. As they round a corner, he flickers into view, flashes Havelock a bright smile, and sticks his head back around to face the suddenly-rather-close Downey.

Fortunately, he will surely be able to dodge any frantically wielded knives.

"Well, well, how do you do?"

The speed with which a knife appears in Downey's hand is very similar to the speed Havelock can manage, though there is a momentary hesitation where he just blinks at the fae.

Havelock has finally stopped, and watches impassively as the other assassin holds the knife still, but warily.

"...Who are you?" Downey demands.

Puck doesn't so much as blink at the knife.

"Oh, pray don't be rude," he says with a smile. "Havelock, do introduce me to your charming acquaintance."

"How remiss of me," says Havelock. "Robin, Downey is a colleague of mine, Downey- Robin."

The use of that particular name may or may not be intentional.

Downey nods, still warily. The other assassin, curious at Puck's appearance, comes up behind him. Havelock nods again.

"Stanford."

"Vetinari."

Puck holds out a hand to Downey with the air of someone concealing a joy buzzer. As he does not know what those are, it is quite the impressive feat.

"Enchanted."

Stanford, whom he deems the less important of the two, gets a wink. "My, but you do keep late hours."

Downey doesn't shake - he's an assassin, paranoia goes with the territory, and anyway, it's only someone the Dog-botherer knows. The knife vanishes up one sleeve, however.

Stanford nods noncomittally, but more politely. "It is not unusual."

Havelock watches blankly as Downey eyes Puck consideringly. "What's your surname, Robin?" he asks. Best way to determine who he is, he thinks.

Puck snorts.

"I doubt you've traveled far enough to have heard it."

Downey gives him a look of disbelief. It is fairly clear he thinks he's been further than Puck could have ever travelled. Oh, irony.

"Maybe, then. What are you doing here at this time of night? Visiting D- Vetinari?"

Havelock doesn't react to the momentary slip.

He smiles sweetly in return.

"Oh, yes. Havelock's been so kind as to show me your fair city."

If Downey and Stanford are even halfway approaching clever, the use of the word "fair" in describing Ankh-Morpork will clue them in as to exactly how far out of town Puck's come from.

He smiles at Havelock now, a glitter of amusement in his eyes. He may be toying with the fabric of one black sleeve.

Downey may be on the stupid side, but Stanford blinks a little, and frowns.

Havelock blinks calmly at Puck. "I am glad you find it so," he says.

Downey rolls his eyes. "Only you'd show someone around in the middle of the night, Dog-botherer," he says.

Puck tilts his head, gaze sliding to Downey. His fingers are still playing with Havelock's sleeve.

"Why do you call him that?"

Havelock manages to look completely blank and mildly enquiring at the same time.

Downey shrugs, turning to grin at Stanford. "It's a joke. Play on words. Because he's Vetinari, and Vets bother animals, mostly dogs, so..."

Downey evidently considers himself a Comic Genius Of The Time for this.

Puck's gaze is so, so cool.

"Clever," he says flatly.

Downey's grin slips a bit.

Havelock is very carefully blank. Interestingly, so is Stanford.

If he wonders at all what Stanford's got to be blank about, it doesn't show.

Puck offers Downey a bright smile. The downside of this is that his teeth are very, very sharp.

Downey eyes the teeth. This Robin character is making him most uncomfortable.

He deals with this by ignoring it.

"Taken any assignments recently, Vetinari? Heard you don't have enough yet."

Havelock shrugs blankly. "Perhaps not, Downey."