Disclaimer: This is the continuation of Nimbus' Temeraire/Discworld work, and I will say that I own nothing except an OC or two. Now, not that I have anything against homosexuals, but I will NOT do a homosexual slash between canon characters. Sorry, but that's twisting them so far...Ehem. That's just so you all know that. Read and review, please?
Commander Vimes put his head in his hands. It had been a long day and now it seemed to be getting even longer. "Run that past me again. There is another big dragon in the city?"
Sergeant Colon shuffled his feet and twirled his helmet in the famous 'Senor, bandits have invaded our village' style. "Um yes sir. It's black with a bit of dark blue on the wings and has tendril things around its face. It's also even bigger than the last one."
"Oh Gods! Has it tried to burn down the city yet?"
"Well, no sir, but it has a captain, which it is very attached to. Very law abiding chap, calmed the beast down, hopped off its back and he and his dragon are now in protective custody."
"Well done Fred!" Fred Colon nodded uneasily, as he had known Sam Vimes since he was kid in the Watch in his first week, 30 something years ago, and that grin and that tone had come to mean, someone is going to be pulled over red hot coals for this.
"Has Sybil tried to identify it?"
"Yes sir, she says it, or rather he, isn't like any she's seen before."
Vimes put on his poker face. "How?"
Colon consulted a hastily scribbled list.
"He doesn't eat coal, prefers well cooked meat, but will eat a raw cow in a pinch, is more proportional than the last one, can hover, can flatten buildings, people and anything that gets in his way with a roar, and well...he speaks sir. Very clearly, in a slightly posh accent. Turns out his Captain is a member of their local aristocracy, but apart from the formality and being posh, he seems a bit like you or I. A dress uniform almost, but it looks well used for proper work, and I felt something in me water, sir."
Vimes sighed. As has been noted elsewhere, Fred colons water was not a prime piece of legal evidence, but the instinct of someone who had been a copper and in the regiments for over 30 years counted for a lot with Vimes. "Go on then, Fred."
"He's a fighter and a killer sir, not a murderer, but someone who'll easily kill in battle. He seems honorable sir, and genuine. Funny thing but he also seems a bit like Carrot, very honest and honorable. Carrot wormed out of him, that his father is a Lord, but they don't get on. Apparently it was cos of the dragon. Where he comes from, they have an air-ial corps which is sort of like an army in the air. The aristocracy there think of them like ours do of us, sir. Necessary but don't like 'em much.
Vimes stared at him for a long, long second, processing the information, and then he sighed. "Send him in Fred." As if I'm not busy enough with the football, he thought.
"So, Mi- Captain, Laurence," Vimes began. He didn't have to see the others face. No one who was a Captain liked being Mister, and that went for Vimes as well. He preferred Commander now of course, Godsdamn Vetinari all the same.
"How did you and your...dragon come to Ankh-Morpork?"
Laurence looked this Commander Vimes over. Rough, weather-beaten face, like the patrolmen he saw in London. A cigar was in his mouth, he was speaking around it. It was lit, smoking quietly, but the man was politely blowing it away from Laurence. His manner and attire was brusque and direct, not unlike many of the Aviators he met, but very unlike most of the policemen. He seemed...pleased with Laurence, or at least tolerant. He was a duke, an important man in the city, he'd been told. He'd also been told to be honest and open about whatever the Commander asked, unless it got too personal.
Laurence shook his head. Why should he lie? When the captain downstairs, a Captain Carrot, had heard that remark, he'd become instantly popular with the much younger man.
Oh yes...that was another note for his mind. This man was older than Laurence, and in good physical condition. His legs looked muscular for a man even Laurence's age, and Laurence could only guess that he led his policemen from the front when possible. Although he had gained weight, the man seemed fully capable of killing Laurence if he so wished, and had the air about him of one who was very angry at the world.
"We...well, to tell the truth, we don't know. We were flying over the Cliffs of Dover when suddenly there was this rosy scent and lots of yellow breaking glass. And then we were here." He refused to add how horrible the smell had been, and that poor Temeraire had been very upset about it. However, when you got used to it, it wasn't much worse than London. The river was worse than the Thames, but...not by much. The Thames was still water though. Liquid, at least.
"Ah. That would have been the Alchemist's Guild blowing up. Again. Sorry to have put you through that. They do that once or twice a month."
Laurence looked at him blankly, not comprehending. Vimes heaved a sigh and rubbed his eyes.
"Um...this city is run by guilds. Vetinari, our Patrician, legalized a lot of crime so that he could make someone responsible. It was a bloody good idea, though a strange one. The Thieve's Guild is responsible for unlicensed thieving, the Assassin's Guild is supposed to be responsible for murders, but that's now my job. That sort of thing. The Alchemist's Guild are always trying to make new things, but unfortunately they usually succeed in blowing themselves up. It's better than having lots of small explosions all over the city though, so Vetinari lets them keep doing it. Make more sense?"
The man was exasperated, Laurence could tell. Laurence was making a bad day worse, and he suddenly felt that being on this man's good side probably meant a lot here. So he had to be as little of a bother as possible. With Temeraire.
"Yes...a bit I think. The guilds are responsible for illegal activities in their department. And you are there in case they miss something or don't do their jobs to their best ability. Correct?"
Vimes nodded, and a brief smile passed along his lips before he removed the cigar from his mouth and spoke more clearly for Laurence. It was also quieter than the earlier conversation.
"Now, Captain, Sergeant Colon is waiting outside to catch his breath, probably along with Lance Constable von Humpeding. We allow women in my Watch."
"Yes Commander. I shall remain very polite," Laurence replied softly, smiling a bit.
Vimes was impressed. He hadn't tried the duke card, and he had said it without any trace of sneer or sarcasm. He was looking better and better.
A soft knock at the door came, and within a few seconds Colon and Sally, along with the unexpected Angua, came in. Laurence politely looked all three over, and mentally nodded to himself. Colon was an older fellow, heavy-set and yet he moved quietly. He looked like someone who used to be a soldier, and he had the bearing of all natural sergeants everywhere. One woman was tall and pale, with dark or black hair that stopped at her shoulders. She had a boyish sort of face, but she was very beautiful. On top of this, she moved with extreme elegance and grace. And looked to be sixteen. The other woman was the same height, maybe only a touch shorter, with blond hair that cut off just past her shoulders, and was actually tied back with a cloth. She had very blue eyes, almost dog-like, and when she looked at him he noticed her take a deep breath.
He was not a popular man right now...
"Sergeant Angua, Lance-Constable Sally, and Sergeant Colon, meet William Laurence. He is Temeraire's...captain."
Vimes sounded uncomfortable with the formal greeting, and Laurence quickly stood and bowed politely.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies. And you, Sergeant Colon. Please, call me Laurence. It might help my own nerves."
He heard the one introduced as Sally, who had offered her hand politely to him, chuckle and say something in a strange tongue, one that sounded not unlike German, but at the same time was very different. Angua chuckled softly, and they both smiled. Sally's fangs were not obvious unless she grinned, as she did now.
Laurence politely kissed her fingers, straightening again.
"Er...Mister Vimes, er...Lord Vetinari wants to see you...and Captain Laurence..."
Colon had the look of a hunted man. Laurence could see why. He hadn't known Vimes very long, but the look that said he was going to gut somebody was very clear in his face and eyes, even if he had pulled his features into perfect neutrality.
"Thank you, Fred. Angua, stay here and help Carrot with the paperwork. Sally, you're with us...I want someone to talk at when we come out of that office."
"Pardon me, Commander. I feel I have some right to know something about this man...is there anything in particular I should be aware of?"
All the Watch officers nodded slowly.
"To start, Captain, he makes use of a lot of dry humor, sarcasm, and irony. Especially when he's in a bad mood. To make it worse, he never seems to get angry, only amused, and if he smiles, try not to shudder. If you're scared, act like an enlisted and stick with 'sir' for an answer. And if he seems genuinely amused, prepare for the worst. He has a very dark sense of humor."
It was Sally who had answered his question, and he watched as Vimes seemed to relax a bit. Then the Commander added his own comments.
"He's an icy, sarcastic bastard, but he makes this place run efficiently. First time it has in centuries. Just avoid eye contact unless he seeks it out actively, and when you answer...act dumb and yet don't insult him by lying outright. Hide some of the truth, go for it Captain. Outright lie? No. Only me and Mr. Lipwig get away with that, and that's because it amuses him, the bastard."
"Ah. That's a lot of things to know. Well, let's get it over with then. I think I'd rather this scare be done with as fast as possible...is it alright to get mad, as long as I don't touch him?"
"Far as I know, he finds that amusing. Feel free," Vimes replied, smiling faintly before he grabbed his armor and started put it on.
Laurence sighed and stepped out into the hall. It was dank and a bit murky, but that was fine. He felt oddly comfortable with the Watch officers, they reminded him a lot of the Aviators back home. Even the women were similar, and though it was hard to accept that things like vampires, werewolves, dwarfs, and even golems and trolls existed...was it so strange? Surely this world was full of magic and wonder? Temeraire, at least, would find this most amusing and curious.
"So...your world has many dragons?"
Laurence turned to be met with the liquid gaze of Lance-Constable Sally. He nodded before replying.
"Yes, we have many dragons. Each country has it's own special types. Temeraire is not from my country, he is from China, a rare breed even there. He is a Celestial, the most intelligent and elegant of dragons." Again Laurence felt the swell of pride in his chest. Sally seemed impressed, and he knew what a wonderful beast Temeraire was. If this place gave Temeraire pleasure, then by all means Laurence would indulge him as much as he could.
"Your world sounds interesting...if not a bit scary. Here, other than swamp dragons, dragons are evil and greedy creatures, though cunning. Apparently, a few years back, Ankh-Morpork was attacked by one that Vetinari's head clerk had summoned to depose him. As you can see, it didn't work. However...it is said they are silver-tongued. When told this, the story goes, Vetinari's reply was a smile and 'only silver?'" Sally said, smiling at the end. Laurence had to admit, that sounded like a man with a great sense of humor, though a bit dark. He could see that this might be a harder meeting than he thought.
A yell from the office was followed by a whimper, and Laurence nearly burst into the room to see what was wrong. Sally beat him to the door, and blocked it.
"Wait a minute. That was the Commander...best not to go in right now," she murmured, and he nodded once. Yes, he could see her point. The Commander had a violent temper, Laurence had been told this. He didn't doubt it one bit.
Shortly, Vimes, Colon, and Angua came out. Vimes was fuming, and Angua and Colon looked concerned. Well, Angua did. Colon looked like he was trying to not wet himself, which was possible.
"Sally...how possible do you think it is that Vetinari would throw a meeting of lords and invite us to it?"
Sally sighed, and took a deep breath. "Very, Sir."
"Damn...I thought so."
Laurence followed after Vimes, the feeling a natural one as he kept pace with the older man, who stomped quickly down the stairs and then out into the street. Sally grabbed a wide-brimmed hat and suitcase before she followed after Laurence. He felt a bit bad about not waiting for her, but Vimes' pace was already quick, and Laurence, who was a brisk walker himself, had trouble keeping stride until he stopped actively trying to.
It was sunny, and almost warm. Laurence didn't bother to look at streets or anything like that. Following Vimes was the only thing really on his mind, besides Temeraire's well-being. Still, Lady Sybil had seemed a very trustworthy woman, and certainly in love with dragons.