Resizing plot

[margolotta]

There is a pale, dark-haired little girl keeping to the shadows. When she opens her mouth a little, you can see tiny white fangs offset against the dark red lips.

Who is not scared of the vampire child?

Comments

[margolotta]

"He can be well after he has been," Margolotta says. "It's surprisingly relaxing."

[iprotectyou]

Baze laughs, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I don't know about that. I've noticed that I'm quicker to anger, and I don't approve."

[margolotta]

"Oh dear," Margolotta says. "Maybe punch somebody, then? Kids are usually allowed. Even if you're still who you were, deep down."

[iprotectyou]

Baze shakes his head.

"No, I'm newly invested on the Secuirty team, you see, so even if I did want to punch someone--which I do, someone in particular--my remaining on the force is contingent on my keeping my temper."

[margolotta]

"Who do you want to punch most?" she asks, as if wanting to punch people is totally natural.

It is, for kids.

[iprotectyou]

"Wilford," Baze says, frowning and folding his arms.

"He's a grade-A asshole. He can't feel remorse--which is not his fault--and he's done a lot of shavit that he refuses to apologize for."

[margolotta]

"That is the lamest excuse that I have ever heard," Margolotta says, sternly. "He can learn rules and keep to them. Not feeling it is so very much the line of some spoilt Ankh-Morpork upper-class brat who is totally going to fail his finals at the Assassins' Guild."

[iprotectyou]

Assassins' Guild. Right. Ankh-Morpork is weird.

"He can learn rules, yes," Baze says, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

"But I don't know how to teach him. I tried punishing him with juice boxes and bribing him with moonshine, but none of it worked."

[margolotta]

"What is so terrible about juice boxes?" Margolotta asks. "What are juice boxes anyway?"

[iprotectyou]

"Juice boxes are just what they sound like--little boxes of juice," Baze says, shrugging.

"You suck the liquid out with a straw. X, the head of Security uses them for punishment purposes, and I figured that since I'm now on her team, I can use them, too."

[margolotta]

"Congratulations," Margolotta says. "What do you do with juice boxes to turn them into punishment, though? To me, it sounds just like a handy drink while travelling."

[iprotectyou]

"Thank you!" Baze says, beaming.

"Well, Wilford sure seems to dislike them. So I throw them at his head and see if he dodges."

[margolotta]

Margolotta giggles. "That might be better than punching!"

[iprotectyou]

Baze smiles. She has a nice laugh, as a child and an adult.

"It would be, if the punishment actually worked," Baze grumbles good-naturedly.

"As it is, I don't think he understands yet."

[margolotta]

"Explain to him?" she suggests. "He can't be that dense."

[iprotectyou]

"I'm not sure I even want to put in the effort right now," Baze says, sighing. He rubs the bridge of his small nose, which for now has never been broken.

[margolotta]

"Punching would be easier," Margolotta nods.

[iprotectyou]

Baze exhales through his pinched nose.

"Punching would be easier, but that has unwanted consequences. Like getting kicked off Security."

[margolotta]

"Then Wilford is just lucky this time around," Margolotta says. "Some people will take rather long until they learn."

She doesn't say 'never learn'. She reformed the vampires of Überwald. Everything is possible.

[iprotectyou]

"Eventually, he'll get what's behind the juice boxes, if I bother to put up with him," Baze says, frowning slightly.

"But I'm not sure if I want to, like I said."

[margolotta]

"Is he worth it?" she asks.

[iprotectyou]

Baze considers this, his brow creased. He draws a breath through his nose and releases it through his mouth, as he'd been taught years ago by the temple masters.

"I don't know."

[margolotta]

"What does that depend on?"

[iprotectyou]

"Whether or not he can take responsibility for making mistakes," Baze says, frowning again, as if the corners of his mouth are tugged down by tiny hooks.

"He's given no indication that he can."

[margolotta]

"That, however, doesn't determine his worth," Margolotta says.