milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Last time Tavi was in the Bar, he'd intended to write to his family. Instead he ended up Bartending.

This time, he's bound and determined to actually get those letters written, because it actually is relaxing and keeps it from taking up time at work.

And yet, for some reason, he seems to be chewing his lip and working on catapult and trebuchet designs.

Still, he has his usual basket of bread, olive oil, and carafe of water that seem remarkably unguarded from passers by. Not only that, but for all his concentration, he does look relaxed and rather pleased.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That much," he replies dryly, "I will agree with."

After a moment, though, he sighs. "Though sometimes unavoidable."

Tavi shrugs fluidly.

"He was off-duty, and was neither got himself killed, severely injured, or compromised the safety of the Realm. What he does with his own time is his business. It was, however, something I was bound to hear about."

Or Max wasn't the one to tell Tavi about it. One of those.

"But you offered your help," X says, after a long moment of silence.

"To me."

Beat.

"Last time."

She's looking dubious again.

"It is stupid to do that without more information."

This pause is not quite as long.

"And I do not think you are stupid."

"Friend of a friend," of a best friend, "and with a good reputation."

He has a thing about loyalty.

Besides, he likes helping.

After another moment, his eyes narrow with irritation.

"And I know someone else from where you come from. There are... problems."

He also has a thing about injustice.

"Besides, I'm only not stupid depending on who you ask."

X remembers this, too.

"Noriko."

She nods, just once.

"You will help her, too?"

Beat.

"If she asks."

Sometimes it is good to check.

Tavi only nods once, shortly.

He owes her.

And she's a friend.

"Good."

X's response is firm.

And fierce.

"It will be difficult."

Beat.

"What is coming."

And that is all the detail she will offer. It is safer that way.

"It usually is."

Smoke of Aleran towns, ruined; her fertile plains covered in Vord wax--

He blinks the thoughts away.

"If she asks, I'll be there."

Even if he has duties he really shouldn't potentially endanger by doing it. He's stubborn that way.

Here X looks a little uncertain.

"I do not know if she will ask."

"I don't know if I'll know when to offer."

He runs his hand over the scar on his cheek. "Or if I'll be here to make the offer; I've missed an important one or two."

Beat.

"She doesn't know."

X hesitates, frowning slightly.

"That you have missed things?"

Beat.

"Or that she has met you before."

Considering his caginess with X, she is not going to put it past him to have been cagey with Nori, too.

But that is his choice.

Tavi doesn't quite shake his head, but his eyes faintly dismiss the first one.

To the second, once again he nods shortly.

And suddenly another wry grin crosses his face.

"I grew."

"People do that."

She sounds very serious when she says that.

"It is okay."

"It's been helpful," he agrees.

Being taller than most of the legionares helps make a difference in commanding.

X offers a quick, one-shouldered shrug.

"I am allowed to ask why?"

She is curious.

"I was smaller during my first battle," he says dryly.

Though if asked, he will give an entirely false reason he was at Second Calderon.

"Being larger helps to keep from getting trampled."

"Dodging helps, too."

X's response is fairly prompt.

Three guesses why.

"I was small for my first mission, too."

And she is still on the smaller side. But she makes it work for her!

Tavi's smile is wry and a little sheepish.

"I've found that dodging's even more useful when you're my size," he remarks dryly.

Smaller body means a smaller and harder to hit target.

X shrugs, one-shouldered and quick.

"Speed is important, too."

Small and slow vs large and fast is not quite as obvious as it appears from the outside.

Well.

Some of the time, anyway.

"To anyone," he agrees.

Beat.

"And," Tavi adds wryly, "often quite difficult to control."

Whether in combat or in the more metaphorical sense. The latter Tavi still has difficulty with on occasion.

X looks dubious.

Again.

"Only if you do not learn how."

"Many lessons are hard to learn."

His face is a little impassive.

"Control especially."

X stops looking dubious.

"Difficult is not relevant. It is important."

Self-control, in particular.

She has strong Feelings about that.

(Or as strong as she is capable of. Which is something.)

Tavi snorts.

"Of course it's important, and that's what's relevant."

He scowls slightly at the air, thinking of how often this is misused in Alera.

"Many people just prefer easy over relevant."

"That is because people do not know what they are doing."

Even if some of them think they do.

"No, they really don't. Never seems to stop them, though."

And that is high on his list of Irritating Habits People Have. Idiots.