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]

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.

[morethanprops]

Moist sighs and moves down into the bath,

"It's good to know that and I hope you never kill on my account."

[scots_wolf]

"Why not, if it's necessary and you won't get into trouble?" Urquhart says. "Do you think people's lives are inherently valuable?"

He'd never expect such a silly attitude from Moist!

[morethanprops]

"I prize my life enough that I never want it connected with a murder charge,"

He can be hanged for fraud as easily as for murder.

[scots_wolf]

"For that, they'd have to catch me," Urquhart says. "And that's not really easy. Also, I'd hardly tell them it was for your sake, would I?"

[morethanprops]

"Guards aren't stupid and I don't want violence mixed up in my jobs."

[scots_wolf]

"What is the usual punishment for what you do?" Urquhart asks. "Some sort of loss of liberty, I'd guess?"

[morethanprops]

"Jail or hanging, it depends on the town."

[scots_wolf]

"And killing people?" Urquhart says.

[morethanprops]

"The same, but it gives you a different sort of reputation. People tend to have better memories when someone hurts them than when they do the kind of stealing I do."

[scots_wolf]

"People tend to be pretty vindictive when somebody takes their stuff," Urquhart points out. "I've done a number of job for people who wanted their own back and didn't know a better way than kill the thief."

[morethanprops]

"Yes, but I'm not taking their stuff. I'm taking their money and usually they don't realize I have taken it until too late. I don't want to give them any sort of handle on me."

[scots_wolf]

"Stuff," Urquhart says, "extends, in my experience, from land through people and cattle all the way to money."

[morethanprops]

This is not the conversation Moist wanted to have after the way his luck's been.

He's glad that Urquhart is willing to help him but wish he'd also listen to him and goes under the water of the bath for a bit.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart goes back to his contemplation while observing the bit of Moist that floats on the surface of the bath.