bartending!

[puckishly]

The trouble with posing as Havelock's manservant, Puck has found, is that he has to actually be his servant-- in public, at least. While initially diverting and kinky enough, the game quickly lost its savor.

Freaking Grand Sneer. Freaking Lord Whatshisface, making inquiries into who killed his predecessor (spoiler alert it was Havelock) and necessitating that they go off on this junket in the first place.

Fortunately, Havelock-- being the gentleman he is-- agreed to a compromise.

When Puck appears behind the bar this evening, he is dressed in the style of a young Morporkian Gentleman of Breeding-- which is to say, in a little more frill than is strictly necessary. A magenta cravat appears to be heavily implicated in the proceedings.

"I say," he exclaims, "how positively sporting of you, bar old girl! I'll get right to it, shall I?"

Tonight's Special

ATLANTEAN

[ooc: YEEHAW. Open until I cry for mercy, friends. For more information on Atlantean wine, Google may be kinder to you than to me, but I like Sunshine's post on the subject.]

Comments

[not_his_pa]

Since he got out of the cells, William has been in the stables and in his room trying to get his bruises to go down.

Finally he emerges as he could use a drink and stares at the man and the specials, "Can I just get a whiskey, sir?"

The sir is part of the question as well, the man's certainly well dressed just frilly.

[puckishly]

Puck pouts.

"Not a spot of Atlantean, that man?"

His grasp of Morporkian slang leaves something to be desired.*


*That something is cogency.

[not_his_pa]

He thinks over the question and frowns which makes his bruises hurt, "Whiskey with some ice, please. Don't think it'd be a good idea to have Atlantean."

At least not on own his own as drinking with Katya has taught him that he has a decent head for liquor but not that good.

[puckishly]

Dammit!

People are really starting to wise up about that beverage.

Puck considers slipping some Atlantean in regardless, but absently opts against it.

"Right you are," he replies, "a whiskey for the guv'nah-- oh. That can't be right ..."

Murmuring absently to himself in a brief tour of the British isles from the fourteenth to eighteenth centuries, Puck procures a glass, whiskey, and ice, and pours out.

"I say, there you are."

[not_his_pa]

William's used to odd accents but this man's seems to keep changing,

"Are you doin' alright, sir? It sounds like you're havin' some trouble."

[puckishly]

Puck makes a face.

"I suppose I'm simply not applying myself."

[not_his_pa]

"Pardon me, just ain't ever heard anyone but an actor go through so many voices in one go,"

It's not exactly a compliment but it's honest.

[puckishly]

The fairy brightens.

"Well, young master, I suppose I am one after a fashion. I'm to play a new part, at any rate."

[not_his_pa]

"Is that good, sir?" Hopefully it's good, he wouldn't want to accidentally insult him.

[puckishly]

Puck considers.

He has such a lot of feelings about the Grand Sneer, and Morporkians in general.

Havelock and Madam being excepted, of course.

"'Twill all be for the best, an I can manage?" he tries.

[not_his_pa]

"That's good, sir. Can I ask what it's for?"

Maybe he's being a spy and having to go in disguise.

[puckishly]

WELL SPOTTED, WILLIAM.

"Ah," Puck hedges.

He does like to brag slightly more than he likes secrecy.

"Well. 'Tis all in the name of destroying the government, you see."

Errr.

Sort of.

[not_his_pa]

"You're a spy?"

He just got much more intriguing to William who hasn't met a lot of spies while here.

Though he's read some good books about them, they always seem close to death and it's hard to tell who's side they're on.

[puckishly]

"Yes," Puck decides.

He's definitely a sneak.

[not_his_pa]

"How are you goin' to take down a government and what's it done to deserve it?"

Now he knows thanks to his own life and Milliways, most things aren't as exciting as books, but spies are still interesting.

[puckishly]

"Well," he admits, "it is not the whole of the government. Simply one man. And what he has done to deserve it, of course, is to not be--"

Hm.

Maybe he should keep Havelock's identity under wraps, to those who don't already know them?

"To not be my own true love," he concludes. "Who shall manage better."

[not_his_pa]

It takes William a moment or two to parse that sentence, "This fellow steal the government from your beau?"

[puckishly]

Sure. Whatever.

"Precisely so," Puck concurs.

"Not to mention, he now is making the most inconvenient inquiries. We have been obliged to flee for our lives."

[not_his_pa]

"Hell, maybe you should get some help from here for overthrowin' him."

[puckishly]

Puck sighs.

"I should prefer it, I admit-- if the thing were done, 'twere best it were done quickly. But my dear heart takes another view. He had rather be subtle about it."

[not_his_pa]

"Oh, is he good at bein' subtle?"

It's something that William isn't that good at.

[puckishly]

"Dreadfully."

[not_his_pa]

"That's good. What's the name of the government he's aimin' to fix?"

[puckishly]

Now Puck fixes him with a stern look.

It's awfully impressive coming from a guy in a cravat so shockingly pink.

"Why, and who should like to know?"

[not_his_pa]

It is and William looks down at his drink and shrugs,

"Just curious, don't mean no harm by it. My name's William Evans."

[puckishly]

"Robin," he sniffs.

"Curiosity did away with the cat, young master Evans."

[not_his_pa]

"Sorry, sir, never mind,"

He takes a sip of his drink and wonders if maybe he's gone too far.

[puckishly]

"... But satisfaction brought it back," he admits.

"Still. I am not the one to satisfy you in matters of government. Does your curiosity tend to other topics?"

[not_his_pa]

"Whatever you're willin' to tell me, sir as we haven't met before,"

It's better to make sure that Robin knows he's curious but also polite.

[puckishly]

He laughs, bright and sharp.

"Whatever I am willing to tell you. Oh, my."

[not_his_pa]

William takes a drink as that laugh sort of reminds him of Katya,

"Just about where you're from and that sort of stuff. Not pryin' just normal sort of stuff."

[puckishly]

Puck grins.

"Why, what if I said I hailed from Faerie, and am unlikely to return?"

[not_his_pa]

William takes a drink as he considers what that would mean,

"I'd say that I hope wherever you're now suits you."

[puckishly]

"How curious," Puck decides.

"Suits me, in the sense of is akin to me? Or suits me, in the sense of is agreeable to me?"

[not_his_pa]

William is trying to not say anything insulting, Katya's trained him that folks who aren't quite human don't like that.

It doesn't always work out that well, "I guess hopefully the second."

[puckishly]

He laughs again.

"That is very kind, young sir. Most excellent kind."

[not_his_pa]

"Oh good. Does that mean the government you're workin' on and for is in your beau's world?"

That seems like a safe question.

[sunbaked_baker]

Depending on whether this post is still open or not, there may be a Sunshine approaching the bar, giving the Specials Board a wary look.

"I think I'll stick with something safer, if it's all right with you." She's sure her nightmares of identity crisis and vampiric horrors lately have had something of her memories of that hangover in them.

[puckishly]

In fact, it is! Evidenced by the manner in which Puck's ebullient bouncing gets a great deal more surly.

"Safer?" he repeats, foppishly. "Crikey, Atlantean's not safe?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"I've experienced some convincing evidence that it's not, yeah," she replies, watching the ebuliently bouncing, surly Puck. "So just tea for me."

[puckishly]

He siiiiiighs.

"Leaves and herbs in boiled water for you."

Puck turns, eeny-meenying between teas.

"... I say, are you particular about the sort?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Not really?" she admits. "I like just about anything but Lapsang Souchong."

[puckishly]

"Never met the fellow, I'm afraid," he sniffs.

Puck rummages around for some tea, and finally, after what may be a suspicious struggle, sets a steaming mug down before Sunshine.

Everything looks to be in order.

"Cream? Sugar?" Beat. "Cream?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Cream, please," Rae smiles.

"I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new-ish?" He doesn't seem new, but one never knows.