return of the brainkiller

[manofthecity.livejournal.com]

In honor of mentioning she would do it sometime in a Big Back Room Thread, this post exists.

Around the pool table, which is sometimes in the bar and sometimes not, there are many, many people for one pool table.

Carrot Ironfoundersson is sitting on a stool keeping the score (and keeping peace), and next to him is Badger, who is collecting bets. Carrot keeps giving Badger sidelong disapproving looks, but doesn't actually say anything, since gambling is not directly against the Rules.

Greg Sanders is still trying to decide who to bet on -- the underdog keeps changing, see.

Playing are Rose Red, Sariel, Max Evans and Slack -- Thursday Next is hovering, waiting for a chance to get in, and Cole Sear and Kit Rodriguez are watching and sulking, as they were told they're too young to participate.

(Stupid adults.)

Kurt is getting an amazing view from the rafters, and occasionally swiping a strawberry from the bowl Eilinel's holding. Sitting with Eilinel are Sheila and her infant.

In the other corner, Claire Keogh and Mary O'Brien are just talking about pool -- they're both new to it.

And just wait until Tristan Farnon shows up.

[The original purpose behind the multi-pup post returns: help destroy Rue's braincells! Open to all comers, all day, though I do have a couple of classes in there somewhere.]

Comments

[agnes_nitt]

Just for fun, let's say for the moment that the question asking was hypothetical and that Agnes will ask the question when there's a break in the game, but that such a chance has not yet arrived.

In such a situation, Agnes is free to notice what appears to be a City Watch uniform on the woman and steer that direction instead of interrupting the other man's concentration.

"Is that a Watch uniform from Ankh-Morpork?" she asks Angua.

[someonesdog]

That'll do. Millitime, baybee. An threadhopping. Great Milliways tradition.

"It is," Angua confirms, smiling in what's nearly a smirk, and nodding at the hat. "And that's a witch's uniform from around Copperhead?"

[agnes_nitt]

Agnes nods. "Lancre, actually. I'm learning under Granny Weatherwax. I used to live in Ankh-Morpork, though."

[someonesdog]

"Really? Whereabouts?"

Weatherwax - that rings a faint bell, but Angua couldn't say whether it was from Ankh-Morpork or her childhood. Nevertheless, it's this young witch she's interested in.

[agnes_nitt]

"In the Opera House. I was in the chorus for a season. I... didn't know they allowed women on the Watch," she adds curiously.

[someonesdog]

"Ah," Angua nods. "I don't visit the Opera myself, although we lost one of our better constables to the appeal of the footlights."

She smiles again, and shrugs. "Most women wouldn't want to. I'm crazy, I guess."

[agnes_nitt]

"I gave it up to become a witch."

Agnes shakes her head. "I don't think you're crazy. I think you're--"

Something strange!

I was going to say 'brave', actually.

Just be careful. Something's off about her.

"--brave," the witch finishes after a pause.

[someonesdog]

There's a raised eyebrow at the pause. Even a small one.

Of course, she's a witch, so Angua wouldn't expact her not to notice. Still, it's worth noting, that pause.

"Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference."

[agnes_nitt]

She swallows, remembering her actions around the vampires.

"Can't argue with you there."

[someonesdog]

Angua smiles again.

"So you left the Opera for the Craft?"

[agnes_nitt]

"Actually, it's probably more accurate to say I left the Craft for the Opera, but got pulled back into it." She shrugs. "I didn't belong there anyway."

[someonesdog]

"Oh no? from the way I've seen people lost to it, you seem to have a lucky escape. Constable Webber was one of our best constables before he keft for the Opera."

[agnes_nitt]

"That's what Nanny Ogg says, too. But I did enjoy being there, even if all the audiences want to see on stage anymore are thin and pretty women like you."

[someonesdog]

Angua rolls her eyes at that.

"Yeah, because looking like me solves all problems," she mutters.

[agnes_nitt]

Agnes flushes.

"I didn't mean it like that," she says, looking down and away.

[someonesdog]

"Of course you didn't," she says, shaking her head.

You just didn't think.

"I'm sorry."

[agnes_nitt]

"So 'm I." She scuffs at the floor with her boot.

Will you stop that? It's pathetic.

"It just must be... never mind. How long have you been on the Watch?"

[someonesdog]

"Three or four years," Angua says. "Since I came to the city. To be fair, it's not like there are a lot of career opportunities for a woman with no artistic talent."

[agnes_nitt]

"That's what I've heard. I'm glad I made the chorus. I had no idea what I would have done otherwise. Where did you come from?"

[someonesdog]

"Originally? Uberwald. My name's Angua."

[agnes_nitt]

Agnes freezes.

Uberwald! I told you!

They wouldn't have let her on the Watch if she was dangerous. Would they?

How should I know? Say something! She's staring at you!

"A-Agnes. Agnes Nitt," she repeats, more confidently. "Nice to meet you. Do you like Ankh-Morpork better than Uberwald, then?"

[someonesdog]

The werewolf notices sudden fear.

The policeman notices sudden 'suspicious behaviour', which translates to 'guilt' usually.

"Absolutely," Angua says pleasantly. "The weather's more clement, the people are slightly less likely to try and kill you, and I can get a decent pint."

She pauses, and runs a hand through her blonde hair.

"Are you going to ask it, or do I have to guess what it is and try to answer?"

[agnes_nitt]

Deep breath.

"A family of vampires from Uberwald tried to take over Lancre not long ago. One of them tried to kill me. Guess I'm still jumpy."

A fair enough lie.

[someonesdog]

Fair enough.

Angua shakes her head. "I'm not a vampire," she insists. "Not by any means."

[agnes_nitt]

"But you are from Uberwald. And you're not exactly... strictly human, either."

She swallows, palms sweaty. She feels like she might as well have invited a troll over to meet her pet billygoat.

"It's a witch thing."