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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"You certainly may," Tom replies. "And if you need boots, then you shall have boots."

If he knew for what purpose, he'd likely not be quite as enthusiastic in providing said boots. Not for a while, anyway.

Ingress waves and heads for Milliways.

"I hope you found her to be the kind of pupil you can work with," he says to Havelock. "Oh, and do forgive me for asking, but what do you prefer me to call you?"

Names are important, and Tom does not wish to assume they are on a first name basis.

Havelock nods to Ingress before she goes, then makes the two knives he had been holding vanish somewhat mysteriously into his clothing.

"Just Havelock is fine," he says, with a faint smile. "And you, Lord Ostium - do you go by your title here?"

It's an honest enough question, given the variety of types he knows through the Guild.

"She is an enthusiastic learner," Havelock says, in the tone of one making a random observation. But it's generally approving. "I think she will do well."

Tom nods, pleased. He had been hoping the outcome would be favorable.

"Brilliant. Do please call me Tom. I'm decidedly off duty here, as it were."

Mind you, he doesn't complain if someone calls him Lord Ostium. He likes his title.

"We should like to offer you payment for your services, whether that be coin in hand or payments towards your bar tab or another arrangement you prefer. We think highly of Ingress' teachers and wish to provide them what they deserve."

Havelock nods once.

"I don't need money," he says, and pauses. It goes against political instincts, to ask straight out - but it wasn't him who brought up the subject of payment, and Puck spoke of Tom Riddle with something like approval.

"But Ingress did mention that in your Underside you trade in favours instead."

"Did she?"

He raises an eyebrow. Truth be told, he'd prefer to pay gold. Favors often cost a great deal more.

Still, well played, Havelock.

"It is the custom."

He regards the younger man a moment. Tom doesn't use Legilimency in the bar - not consciously, anyway. He tends to pick up on people's intentions, however, as if there's a low level of knowing that comes with his power. Perhaps he simply reads body language well and knows the tells of those who would do harm.

Owing favors is a serious thing. You don't offer them to just anyone. However, sometimes they are worth owing.

"I think that would be satisfactory."

Edited 2010-03-26 02:24 (UTC)

Havelock's all too aware, and he'd be just as wary in Tom's place.

But he is a good judge of how much is too much to ask. And he knows better than to alienate an ally by going too far.

"Thank you," he says quietly. "Anything I ask will of course be open for discussion and conditions on your end."

He almost says, 'That's a great deal better than it would be in the Underside.' Favors are called in with little regard to discussion or conditions. He decides that would be giving more information than was currently necessary.

"I appreciate that. As I appreciate what you may do for her."

Edited 2010-03-26 20:10 (UTC)

Havelock nods in acknowledgement.

He has faith in his own ability to negotiate.

"Shall we go in?" he says. "It will be dark soon."

"Oh, certainly."

Tom wonders why Havelock would be insistent on this point. He's mentioned getting inside before dark a couple of times now. He'd hazard to guess that it's more than the threat of demonic rabbits.

Call it the voice of experience.

Havelock nods and starts to head in the direction of the door.

"I should have asked Ingress before she went in," he says. "But would you prefer her lessons to be on specific days, or more flexibly scheduled?"

Tom walks along beside him.

"I find that she prefers specific days. She looks forward to her lessons a great deal. But we often modify for others' schedules, so if you need more flexibility, it shouldn't be a problem."

"Well, for now a regular schedule should not be a problem. I don't leave the bar much, at the moment," Havelock says.

"I will work around her other lessons."

"Excellent," he says, and both men return inside the bar.

Tom has a good feeling about this arrangement. And who knows? He may be in need of the services of another assassin one of these days.

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