Fantasy AUs

[nerdietalk]

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[fluidgender]

["Hmph. There's a storage room where staff bags are temporarily housed. Either that or your new room, wherever it might be. They ain't told you nothing? This place really is going to the dogs..."]

[phoenix_temple]

[ She shakes her head. ]

There was… an incident with the lord. He’s likely furious with me. I don’t imagine much of anyone would be willing to show me right now.

But I’d be happy to help, I can make the tea myself if you show me where to find the supplies.

[fluidgender]

[His grip visibly tightens within his crossed arms, but his face doesn't flinch. "Did I ask for yer life story?"

He turns, waving a hand mildly. "Come with me then. Goddess knows I have to do everything around here myself."]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Oh. She looks away. She’s made someone else upset. ]

I apologize. [ her voice is very small. How did her father manage here? She wishes she was half as confident as he seemed. ]

[fluidgender]

["Why?"]

[phoenix_temple]

I didn’t mean to bother you.

[fluidgender]

["So you'd agree that talking to you is a bother?"]

[phoenix_temple]

[ She looks startled. And then looks very ashamed of herself. ]

I-I can find the tea things if you just let me know.

[fluidgender]

[He sighs, back still turned. "Let's get to the kitchen. Don't dawdle."]

[phoenix_temple]

Yes, sir. [ She follows along, though uneasily. ]

[fluidgender]

[Its when they finally arrive in the kitchen that he turns around to regard her again.

"You slouchin'? My grandson slouches and its gonna ruin his back."]

[phoenix_temple]

[ She’s not slouching even a little. She stands with professionalism that most guards of a decade fail to pull off. ]

Father taught me not to. He said appearances and posture were very important for my role.

[fluidgender]

[He grunts. "Reasonable enough. Ain't the only important thing, still crucial."

He opens up one of the kitchen supply closets. There's a long shelf with plenty of tea leaves in jars.]

[phoenix_temple]

[ She peeks a little. She sees a few things that might be good. ]

… May I?

[fluidgender]

[Test 1: passed.

He steps aside, gesturing vaguely. "You may."]

[phoenix_temple]

[ She studies them carefully. She’s then gathers honeybush, a little bit of cinnamon bark, cloves, and orange peel. ] The warming might help her throat. It should be calming at the very least. It won’t need much sweetener this way, either.

[fluidgender]

[He wasn't even making a test out of that one. but he's pleased. "A decent selection. Good planning."]

[phoenix_temple]

I just need a teapot, a cup and boiling water…

[fluidgender]

["Most of them are on the drying rack. Might be a few leftover under the blanket on the leftmost shelf."]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Fuu will check! Rather than dirtying another put away dish she’s more than happy to dry a pot and cup. She’ll get to work boiling the water and measuring out ingredients. ]

[fluidgender]

[He lets her move around without trouble but he'll eventually say: "Ya failed test 2. Ya can't be sure I wouldn't have close the closet on you."]

[phoenix_temple]

Test…? What do you mean? [ She is so confused, just focused on making tea at this point. ]

[fluidgender]

["Ya know how many new hires get locked in closets by jealous staffers? They call it hazing, I call it stupid.

Always gotta be aware of every person in every room."]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Fuu blinks at him. She tilts her head. ]

I didn’t take you for stupid. You recognized me—so you must have been aware of my father’s skill and that he would have passed much of it down. You know there’s nothing to be jealous of since you know the lord is angry with me. And you know the lady is waiting on me, so it would be a foolish choice on your part.

[ She adds the water to the leaves now, careful to make sure everything is submerged. ]

Being aware of everyone doesn’t always mean being suspicious of everyone. It’s making the judgements on character as well.

[fluidgender]

[He's surprised but not offended, grunting in consideration.

"...Could flip it the other way around then. Admitting that the lord's angry with ya? Some might take that as permission to harass you in order to prop themselves up."]