Just ASK next time, you guys...

[thecookery]

FORM: A note in somewhat crude handwriting
SENDER: Avery
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: A warning??
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Skyhold bulletin board
NOTES: n/a

ATTENTION

Whoever has been nicking from the preserves at night cut that right out or the next time youll get the entire pan

DIRECTLY TO THE NOSE

Everyone else if you have any information that leads to my bashing this thief about the face with a rolling pin there may be a reward in it for you

Either way youll find me in the kitchens i promise you that

--Avery

Comments

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss pressed her lips together, leaving the crystal in silence for a moment, before she answered.]

Let me make you a counter-offer. I'll get the plums, do the dishes, and do all the cleaning and other jobs you needed done ... if you just focus on making the jam. I ... am only good at cutting things up and the like, but I am not a good cook and I wouldn't want to make a bad batch for the children.

But you want me to pay off my debts, I'll be glad to get my hands dirty.

[thecookery]

I don't care about the paying. I just want you to see how much work there is to do down here.

crystal.

[fightingale]

Avery. I hope everything is quite well.

( gurl

one of her scouts told her about that note and she can't decide if she wants to laugh or sigh )

[thecookery]

[WHAT? THIS IS A TOTALLY NORMAL RESPONSE!]

It's... fine. Just trying to take care of a thing.

[the_effect_she_has]

[You can't see the eyebrow raised here, but it's there.]

I see. Well. I can do that too, if there's jam at the end of it.

[Yes, yes, let's get your object lesson out of the way.]

[fightingale]

I see.

( THE SILENCE, AVERY. THE SILENCE. )

Do you require any assistance?

( perhaps she can send some ASSASSINS to guard the KITCHEN against VAGRANTS )

[thecookery]

Hopefully not. But we'll see.

[I mean, that'd certainly be EFFECTIVE, but... is there maybe a Connections solution to this somewhere?]

[fightingale]

Very good. Do alert Abraca if anything changes and you would like it seen to.

( Ah. The soft solution. I see. )

[thecookery]

Yes, ma'am. I'll be sure to.

[Some of us are only hard on the outside after all...]

[thecookery]

[Same with her eyeroll.]

I'll make sure of it.

[thecookery]

[The terrible joke earns a long pause, followed by a put-upon:]

Thanks.

[thecookery]

I'm going back to work now.

[demonicbeauty]

Of course.

[Oh dear, what do you say to a cook?]

Happy cooking!

[el_tybs]

[Don't tell him you weren't expecting someone to say it. Calmed down a bit at least?]

But seriously. If you need any help I'll be at the healer tents or the forge.

[thecookery]

[She doesn't even bother to respond to that.]

[thecookery]

Sure. I might do that.

[...she probably won't. Sorry, bro.]

[madame_de_fer]

Of course. That seems like a terrible lot of work for you, my dear. Shall we have a couple of the younger mages lay down some glyphs? It would do them good to get in some practical experience and they should be able to help you trace your culprit should your warning prove insufficient to deter future thefts.

[thecookery]

Glyphs? What do they do?

[There might be hint of trepidation in her voice. Avery's experiences with magic have been both limited and mostly unpleasant, but she's trying not to sound immediately uncomfortable.]

[the_effect_she_has]

Then we have a deal.

[madame_de_fer]

[Ah of course, not everyone would be familiar with the workings of even very basic magic. While Vivienne wouldn't mind launching into an elaborate and detailed explanation of the minutiae of any glyph, just to feel superior, she doesn't feel now is the time unless the young lady actually asks.]

It's a simple magic that places a spell on the ground. Particularly one that will leave any intruders with glowing feet that will leave behind a trail to follow. Like a paint spill, only with less damage and cleanup after.

[thecookery]

Huh. That might actually work.

[She sounds surprised.]

[madame_de_fer]

I'll send along two of the promising apprentices. They can place the glyphs in the evening once the day's work is done, so one of the cooks doesn't get fingered as a thief by mistake. Do let me know how it turns out?

[thecookery]

...yeah. I'll be sure to.