milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Here's a guy who's not around much.

Or... yes, actually he is. But mostly he's outside, being depressingly healthy, upstairs being depressingly intellectual, or lurking creepily about in the shadows.

Today he's sitting at the bar with a notepad, a pencil, and a calculating expression.

It's probably not worth asking him what he's up to.

But it can't hurt to ask?

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"About lessons, that's probably a good idea," Havelock says.

"Very well. Outdoor practise is best, I think, and in daylight. When would you like your first lesson?"

"As soon as I can have it," she says. "I have school in the mornings most days, but I can come in the afternoons as long as it doesn't conflict with my other lessons."

Havelock nods.

"Afternoons are generally a good time for me," he says. "Do you know which day next week would be best to begin? Or if you like, we can make a start today, and see what capability you already have."

"Oh, yes, please, let's start today."

She bites her lip. If she's going to stay here longer than she planned, she'd better tell Tom and Door so they don't flip out.

"I'd have to ask permission first. Will you be here a few minutes?"

He nods.

"Go on, I'll be here."

"Okay!"

She runs through the painting. It's not very long before she returns. She's wearing a jacket, ready to go outside.

"Tom said it's fine so long as you're with me, and he'll be along in a bit to say hello."

Good. Havelock had been hoping to speak to Tom Riddle again.

"All right," he says, standing up. "Let's go and find somewhere before it gets dark."

He heads out towards the lake.

She follows. Every couple of steps she does a happy skipping step to keep up.

"Even if it's very cold, it won't bother me. Outside, I mean."

"It's not particularly safe out there at the best of times," Havelock says, pushing open the door to lead the way out.

"After dark it is especially wise to be inside."

"Oh, that's true. The demon rabbits and all."

She breathes in the brisk air as they step out onto the grounds leading towards the lake.

"Mr. Julia keeps an eye on me. He's the squid. I saved his life once. Well, with Raven and Ace's help."

"And the vampire, of late," Havelock says quietly, then glances back as they head out.

"A good reason to be grateful to you."

"Vampire?"

"Yes. There has been one occasionally attacking people in the bar recently."

He stops at a clear grassy area. "I don't believe anyone has been killed, but some have been hurt. Precautions are wise."

"Oh, that's sad," she says. "Vampires shouldn't bother people here."

She knows a little about vampires. Velvets attack people in the Underside, but they take their victims' warmth, and not their blood. Tom killed a large clan a few years ago, so they are not as much of a problem as they once were.

Ingress does know about that story. Door told her.

"No," says Havelock. "But this one has got away with it so far, so seems to believe he can continue."

She frowns. That's not good.

Why hasn't Security taken care of the vampire? Vampires aren't that hard to kill, are they?

These are troublesome questions.

"Someone will stop him."

Because that's how it works. Or should.

"I hope so."

Translation: I hope to be that someone.

It's not a big hope, however, having met the creature.

"Velvets can be burned. They're vampires in the Underside. Tom says it's easy to kill them."

She has no love for Velvets. While Tom may not tell Ingress about all the unpleasant things that happen in the bar, that is not the case for events in the Underside. She'd hear about them anyway.

Edited 2010-03-21 04:47 (UTC)

Havelock pulls out a knife from the top of one boot.

"Perhaps it would be, with magic. But Puck could not fight him, so maybe not. I should ask Lord Ostium, in any case."

"You should. Tom's helped a lot of people. He even went far away into the future into space to help River and Mal. He won't go that far away again - he promised - but he can help people here."

She's very proud of her Tom. She's also pretty fascinated by the knife in Havelock's boot.

"That's a really good place to keep knives, isn't it?"

Havelock mentally files that away. It's a good sign - even if Tom Riddle cannot help, perhaps he will be willing to share some expertise.

"It can be," Havelock says. "You have to watch how you do it, or you can cut your ankle quite badly when taking it out, or if you fall, but I'll show you how once you have some of your own."

He holds the knife out to her, hilt-first. "For now, take this one. Hold it as you would if you were about to use it."

She takes it as one would hold a sword - hand gripped, blade pointed up and out. It doesn't feel right, and she notices right away.

"That's not the right way, is it? It's not the same as a sword, so you must hold it and use it differently."

He shakes his head, and reaches out to readjust it in her hand.

"Swords are very definitely for fighting - duels and so forth. Actually fighting with just a knife should really be avoided if possible."

He sits back, letting her get used to the grip and the weight.

"The faster you use a knife, if you find you must, the better."

"Knives are for taking opponents out quickly without much attention," she says, as she stares at the knife in her hand. Those are the implications in his words. She's knows that she's not taking these lessons for fun and games. The knife feels right in her grip, though.

"Aren't they?"

Havelock nods to her.

"You can fight with them, but it's extremely risky, so I will focus more on the practical applications first. Mainly close quarters, although we'll make a start on throwing knives as well once you have begun on the basics."

He doesn't say that her height and relative lack of strength make teaching her combat applications first counterproductive. There's time enough for other possibilities later.