(no subject)

[smallestopener]

Ingress pulls the practice knife, pointed upwards, through the air in a slow, careful motion. Her face is set in an expression of deep concentration.

"That does make sense," she says, watching the motion of the knife. "To thrust the knife up under the ribs, instead of through the ribs. I never thought about bones getting in the way."

If she's facing an attacker's back, this would work. If she's this close and facing their front, she can reach out and open the chest, killing the evildoer quickly without having to worry about bones and skill. She doesn't know quite how that's done, but she knows both Tom and Door have used the tactic.

It's important to have many options when it comes to saving your life, or the lives of others, and Ingress knows all her lessons will be of use at some point. She's enjoying Havelock's lessons especially, because this knowledge is brand new and extremely interesting.

Comments

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods in a tranquil manner, sat on the grass beside her and watching.

"They do, believe me," he says. "Stabbing blindly at someone is inefficient. It only becomes worthwhile once you are sure of yourself."

[smallestopener]

"Close-in fighting will be hard."

She hesitates a moment.

"People have lots of blood inside them."

She's seen.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods.

"Yes," he says clinically. "Frequently, you will be able to gauge your success from that. If the wound bleeds profusely, you have likely hit an artery, and such wounds are always serious."

Hopefully she will be prepared for that, or fighting with blades is going to be a challenge.

[smallestopener]

She nods. It's better she prepare as early and often as she can. Killing people - or hurting them, for that matter - will always be a challenge for Ingress, but as a Herald, she knows it will be part of her job.

"Then they die faster. Which is good, because then there's less pain."

Her mother died very quickly, so at least- at least she knows that.

[oneman_onevote]

"Yes."

Ingress has learned the necessity of killing a good deal younger than most - including many young assassins, Havelock thinks ruefully. Her sense of mercy is a good sign. He always watched those other boys that had too great an interest in suffering.

"It also helps to use as sharp a knife as possible. It is easier for you to use, and your opponent's pain is less acute."

Or victim's pain, in Havelock's case. But he doubts assassination will comprise a large part of her duties.

[smallestopener]

"It's important to take special care of all your weapons, so they never fail you," Ingress says, repeating the mantra from more than one of her tutors.

She sits down on the grass beside Havelock, careful to point the knife away from her. "I'm tired. Do you mind if we stop a little early?"

She's not physically tired, even though the lesson has been going on a for a good length. Her mind, on the other hand, is a little heavy with thoughts.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods.

"That's fine," he says comfortably, and doesn't mention her lack of physical exertion as she sits down, but leans back on his elbows.

"You're remembering your lessons well," he remarks.

[smallestopener]

"I'm practicing often," she says, and it's not to curry favor. It's merely the truth. She does smile with a sense of pride, though.

Then she laughs a soft laugh. "I found a big anatomy book in our library. I'll have to study it, too, won't I?"

To find the best places for incapacitating one's opponent.

[oneman_onevote]

"It's a good idea," he says.

"It will help for you to know a little about treating wounds as well inflicting them, in any case. Are you learning anything like that?"

[smallestopener]

"Nynaeve taught me about healing plants. I don't know about healing wounds. Tom always fixes scrapes and cuts with magic."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods thoughtfully.

"I'll find you a book that covers the basics. If you or someone you know is hurt, you should know how to treat them until you find help."

[smallestopener]

"Okay. I should like to know how."

Tom won't always be there, and, though she doesn't know it yet, there will be many times when the only one she has to turn to in harrowing situations is Megwyn. Her companion is gift, but sadly, she has no opposable thumbs.

"Thanks, Havelock."

She sees the door to Milliways open and a familiar figure walk out. Tom is not there to collect her. He's assured her of this. He's simply here to speak with Havelock at the end of her lesson.

"Oh, there's Tom. He said he wanted to talk to you when my lesson was over."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock looks up agreeably, squinting against the sun.

Some people are naturally nocturnal.

"Oh, good," he says. "I'd like to speak with him too, so that works out nicely."

[smallestopener]

"See you next time," she says, "and tell Puck I said hi."

Ingress gives him a bright smile before she turns and runs towards Tom and the door. It's ice cream time!

[young_tmriddle]

Ingress bounds into Tom's arms for a hug before she disappears inside. It should be noted that she throws him off balance for a moment with the force of her hug. He doesn't seem to mind.

Once she's inside, he walks on to where Havelock sits.

"My messenger let you know I wished to speak with you, I understand. I must apologize for not finding you sooner. Is this a good time?"

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods to Ingress as she runs off, then turns his gaze to Tom as he approaches.

"She did," he says, sitting back up. "And yes, as good as any."

[young_tmriddle]

"I did want to tell you I'd not forgotten my promise. Things in the Underside have been quite unmanageable, I fear, but I have managed to speak with River concerning our idea. We will be able to work in tandem well."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock raises an eyebrow slightly in mild sympathy. Even only just getting into it, he knows how politics can be.

"Thank you," he says, voice soft, and hesitates before continuing.

"I should tell you that we have recieved a letter ostensibly releasing Puck from his oath. It wasn't accurate, or not wholly - he is still bound from revealing the terms of his agreement, apparently by his own word."

[young_tmriddle]

"I should think that's a good start," Tom says. Then he pauses.

Why would a controlling creature simply release someone bound to him in such a way? Perhaps Havelock has other irons in the fire to ensure favorable outcomes in this situation. Good for him, if so.

"That's curious. The release, I mean."

[oneman_onevote]

If only that were so.

"It is," Havelock says shortly, before a brief hesitation. Then he continues, calm and deliberate.

"I think... his self-image is that he is capable of mercy. That was the term he used. Possibly whatever he wanted was simply no longer necessary. But I intend to find out, and hopefully doing so will breath the last binding as well."

[young_tmriddle]

"If I can help, do let me know. I find that when creatures of power make bargains and grant leniency, there are strings attached. As I am sure you know. But who knows? Perhaps this time there is nothing more to it than a change of mind."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock grimaces faintly.

"Oh, I know," he says softly. "And I hope so, but somehow I don't think it."

Then he glances sideways, face cool and unreadable once more. "But then, I'm terribly cynical."

[young_tmriddle]

"I think it's less cynicism and more realism. You're a wise fellow."

This is not false praise. It's acknowledgment of the truth.

[oneman_onevote]

"Some days I think those two may be one and the same."

This is both honest and mildly rueful. He's lived with and around optimists for long enough to know that he will never change his basic nature-- and to come to terms with the fact that differing viewpoints can be a good thing.

[young_tmriddle]

"You'll find no arguments from me."

Naive optimists get eaten alive in the Underside. Literally!

"In any case, I spoke with Andrew Wells, and I've researched vampires in my spare moments. We'll be well prepared should any further action be needed."

[oneman_onevote]

Yay naive optimism... okay, yeah, forget that.

"Thank you," says Havelock. "I have been doing the same, as far as I can, although I am not sure that the vampires of my world are the same as this case."

[young_tmriddle]

"Oh, you've vampires in your world, as well? The ones in the Wizarding world don't quite match the modus operandi of this one, either. I'm using books Andrew recommended."

He could go on about magical creatures and their comparable natures at this point, but he refrains. He knows he can go on. If Havelock ever brings up comparative magical systems, however, all bets are off.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods.

"Yes, although mainly limited to one country. Still, there is significant lore about them - I shall have to search in more detail next time I am back there."

Which... may not be for a while.

[young_tmriddle]

"You never know. There may be a reference book on the subject in the library here. Unless you're the only one here from your world."

Which could certainly be the case.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock looks up, thoughtful.

"Not exactly. But the others I have met seem to be from a different time. I don't like to get too involved in case that causes problems."

He glances over. "But still, I shall try. The selection in the library is comprehensive."

[young_tmriddle]

"That is a wise strategy - avoiding others from different times. That's been most challenging for my situation."

The many versions and timelines of the Wizarding world at Milliways cause headaches at the best of times.

"Or it had been, in the past. These days there aren't many left."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock's level gaze is interested, but cool and calm.

"No?"

The same for him, it seems - although he sometimes recognises a turn of phrase, a style of dress - he knows what to look for.

[young_tmriddle]

"Every now and again, I'll spot someone. From my original world's future, usually. I've only ever met one or two from my actual timeline, but it matters little. It's no longer my world, and it's for the best I avoid those who knew me."

Tom assumes Havelock knows the story behind Tom's could-have-been future, either from Puck or from others. If not, he has no problem telling.

[oneman_onevote]

He does not, as a matter of fact - Puck has been reticent when encouraging Havelock to talk to others, because (he can only assume) of this binding.

It matters little, in any case. Knowing others' pasts may be useful in the long run, but he's more interested in fiding out first what they are now.

"Then more than one course of events can exist concurrently?" he asks, thoughtful.

[young_tmriddle]

"In my experience, yes. As strange as it sounds, I've known of three versions of my own birth world. All have had versions of the same people, the same general happenings - all have had versions of me, making different choices and causing different problems. Someone I knew called them alternate universes."

Tom shrugs. "I suppose I've known stranger things in my time here."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods thoughtfully.

"I see," he says.

In a way, it makes sense, especially here. The different decisions offered by such a place as Milliways, and the different speeds that people's lives go by outside the place must affect the future - or the past, depending how you look at it.

So even though he has encountered people from his world, his future, who clearly recognised him in a way that is... suggestive that his life will go a certain way -- nothing is certain. It is both fascinating and sobering.

"You were a well known personage, then."

Were, are... tenses are tricky.

[young_tmriddle]

"I was. Am. Yes."

It's strange how easy it is to forget what could have been. Now that Tom's less a part of the Wizarding world than ever, it's even easier. He shouldn't forget. Truly.

"I received a second chance when I found myself brought here by magical means. I was split from my timeline."

Horcruxes are difficult to explain at the best of times. He sticks with magic as the pat explanation. It's easier that way.

"The person I was continued down his timeline until his destruction a few years ago. He - Voldemort - was the most hated and feared villain my world had known. Voldemort seems to be the same no matter which Wizarding world people are from, but I am not he. This is all fairly common knowledge. I don't keep it a secret."

He couldn't even if he tried.

[oneman_onevote]

It says a fair amount about Havelock that he displays no form of alarm or consternation at all at the news that a version of Tom was supposed to become the ultimate evil of a world or two.

It takes all kinds.

"Ah," he says meanwhile. "That would explain how your other identity would be recognised with ease. Does that make it easier for you to track different world related to your own?"

Perhaps he should come up with a codename of his own?

[young_tmriddle]

Tom greatly appreciates the lack of reaction.

"I don't pay them mind, unless I have to in the bar. I've gone into a self-imposed exile of sorts. The Underside is my home now. I still visit my own world, from time to time, and keep up on more or less current events. I have an alias to use when I am there, and a charm that helps me hide in plain sight, just in case anyone from my youth should be around to recognize my face."

He shrugs.

"It's funny how things work out."

He doesn't seem at all displeased about this particular turn of events.

And yes, Tom would highly encourage the use of code names. He seems to have an addiction to them.

[oneman_onevote]

"Useful," Havelock notes, filing that away as another example of Tom's capabilities.

Then he smiles very faintly, glancing out over the lake.

"I agree."


That's a... no, Havelock never exactly planned on acquiring a faerie boyfriend. Or, by proxy, said faerie's wife and three children.

And a few mortal enemies, but he was more prepared for ending up with a few of those.

The code names, he is extremely comfortable with.