When Rincewind checked into his hotel room after returning from saving the country, he decided immediately that what he needed was lodgings. A hotel was too expensive to live in long. He was at a fleabag old inn, the Mended Drum, but he didn't have much money to spend at the moment.

Originally, once they'd found out what he'd done, they had offered him things. A job, which he'd turned down as hastily as possible. Then a house. Then a statue. Rincewind did not get a statue, a house, or even another job offer. He got censured for interfering in the state's business, and, because the Patrician was not a stingy man, a small pension. It was enough to live on if he could actually find some place to live.

Which was the problem. Locating rooms in Ankh these days for a decent price was a ridiculously difficult endeavor, never mind finding someone you trusted enough to share a residence with. Of course there were always shady people in back alleys claiming they knew good flatmates, but that was the sort of thing that got you knifed in the night and all your organs sold for scrap.

Such were his thoughts when he walked out to the hotel lobby and into an oddly-familiar young man with spectacles.

Rincewind notice the spectacles at once, for they flew off the face when the collision ensued. Both of them had been concentrating on everything but the path in front of them, and they met violently with a mighty wumph! of air rushing out of lungs.

"Sorry," said Rincewind, watching the other man carefully to see if he was likely to become violent.

"It's all right," he said. "Er. Have you seen my glasses?"
Rincewind hunted around with the man and succeeded in location them under a chair. "Here," he said, handing them over.

"Thank you," said the young man, polishing them vigorously and putting them back on his face. "I do apologize. I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. You see, there's this fascinating – sorry, is something wrong? You look very alarmed all of a sudden."

"Is your name Ponder Stibbons?" Rincewind hazarded. Now that the glasses were on again he recognized the man.

"Yes, I – Oh! Rincewind!" Ponder pushed his glasses up on his nose. "I knew you looked familiar!" He stuck out his hand, which Rincewind shook.

"This is a surprise," Ponder went on. "I wouldn't have expected to see you here."

"Nor I you," Rincewind replied. "I'd have thought you'd be living at the university. Teaching and all."

"Well, I was, but there's been this most fascinating new breakthrough, which I must tell you about, and so I took a leave of absence for research. It's a bit of a relief, really. People there are mad."

This was an obvious fact, so Rincewind decided not to comment on it. Instead he changed the subject. "Where are you staying?"

"Here, at the moment. That's the trouble. I've found a nice place but it's too expensive for one. I thought of looking for a flatmate, but..." Ponder shrugged.

"I know. I've had the most awful time. Everyone around here is either going to murder you in your sleep or steal your stuff. Or worse."

There was a short pause as they considered the situation.

"You wouldn't like..." Ponder began just as Rincewind said "These rooms..." They stopped for a moment.

"Go on," said Ponder.

"You first," said Rincewind.

"I was wondering if you'd like to take a look at the rooms. I mean, I'm reasonable certain you won't stab me, and so I thought this would be a good opportunity for both of is."

"Thank you, I believe I shall," Rincewind said.