Outside in the woods and by the lake, evening

[scots_wolf]

There is a big friendly dog rambling through the forest, followed by an equally big human (on whom the jury is still out in relation to friendliness).

Urquhart is spending much of this summer outside, walking with the dog, fishing, thinking, building fires to roast what he caught. There are nights in which he doesn't come back to the bar at all, sometimes several in a row.

Tonight is such a night.

Comments

[scots_wolf]

"You don't sound very convinced," Urquhart laughs. "But ever worry, we can have a nice bath and decent food indoors, and take our pleasure in a proper bed."

He'll do what Moist prefers, no problem, because he does care -- as David Posner pointed out to him, finally.

[morethanprops]

"I know how to live on the road, I'd just rather have an inn,"

At the stables, he looks in and wonders where to stable his horse.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart finds an empty stall with no name on, and brings out hay and oats for the horse. "You can put the tack with the other, over there," he says.

Franz lies down on a bale of hay and happily watches his humans work.

[morethanprops]

Moist quickly unsaddles the horse, putting the saddlebags with his carpet bag then gives it a good brush down,

"That should do for now."

[scots_wolf]

"There's enough water from that trough thing," Urquhart says, "and we can talk to one of the horse people tomorrow about the lameness, and what would be best so the horse gets well again."

[morethanprops]

In the stall, Moist looks over the horse,

"I think some rest will help as it doesn't seem too bad. I'll check again tomorrow."

[scots_wolf]

"We might want to put some poultice on the leg, if we find where exactly the injury is," Urquhart says. "You can afford letting the horse have the time it needs to heal properly."

[morethanprops]

"True, I know a few that might work but that can wait a bit. I want a bath and he'll do for the night."

[scots_wolf]

"You can have your bath," Urquhart says, "and food, drink, sex, and sleep, in whatever order or combination you want."

Yes, David had been right. He does want to give Moist pleasure, just because he does. Perhaps he's not all that different indeed?

[morethanprops]

"Bath first and then food, I think. The rest will happen in good time,"

He's glad that Urquhart doesn't seem to be in too much of cosseting mood, that was uncomfortable.

[scots_wolf]

"As it always does," Urquhart grins.

[morethanprops]

"Yes, it does at that," The walk to the Bar goes quickly and Moist heads towards his room, "Order something nice."

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart has several large trouts in his satchel that he gives to the rats with instructions of how they should be cooked, and what they should be served with.

"It'll be brought up in a bit, hopefully not before we're done with the bath part."

[morethanprops]

By the time Urquhart's spoken to the rats, Moist is in his room with the bath running and looking over the state of his various suits.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart follows him up, and walks in with a jug of water and coffee. Whatever else, he's sure Moist can use those. He at least can.

[morethanprops]

The coffee smells wonderful and once Urquhart's inside, Moist starts stripping out of his suit, a bath will do him good.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart perches on the rim of the bathtub with his own coffee, and considers joining Moist.

Franz is lying by the bathroom door, sprawling lazily.

[morethanprops]

With Urquhart on the rim, it makes it a little tricky getting into the bath but Moist finds a way and closes his eyes.

It's nice to have Urquhart around but for now, he just wants to soak all the past few days away.

Nothing has gone horribly bad just wrong enough to keep him constantly planning his next move.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart just sits there, trails his finger in the water, sips his coffee, sometimes looks at Moist, and quietly waits and watches.

He is past master in waiting. Any good professional killer must be.

But in addition, Urquhart has things to think about and find out. Does he really care? What does caring feel like? Does he feel anything at all (which he generally suspects that he doesn't)?

[morethanprops]

Moist has some new bruises as he was briefly caught which wasn't pleasant.

As the hot water seeps in, he sighs and smiles, patting Urquhart's leg.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart returns from his introspection at that touch and grins at Moist, wondering fleetingly whether that sensation of unease at his bruises comes from that 'caring' thing.

"Was that the horse, or do you need anybody dead?" he asks, looking him over again.

[morethanprops]

Moist gives him a rather worn out look,

"I never need anybody dead, that creates more problems than it solves."

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart rolls his eyes a little. "That is too categorical," he says. "I can see that killing people is not always the easiest way to solve problems, it's just that I specialise in solving problems that are best solved by killing people. Other problems, I leave to other experts."

Mostly.

"But sometimes, it is that simple: - enemy dead, end of fight. Or eye-witness dead, end of law suit."

[morethanprops]

"It's what's worked fine for me all these years and I've never asked you to kill anyone when you've joined me. To look as if you might, yes, but I don't want to end up in the midst of a murder charge. Which is why I will never ask you to do that,"

They've had this discussion before, this is how Moist works, Urquhart should know that.

[scots_wolf]

"However," Urquhart says, "I'd kill rather than be killed, if something goes wrong. Or let you be killed. Or Franz, at that."

Of course Urquhart would kill a human being to defend his dog.