Fantasy AUs

[nerdietalk]

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[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."]

[phoenix_temple]

It was a judgement call.

You left a card for my father, didn’t you? [ She peeks up through her bangs. ] Thank you. For taking care of him while he was here. I’m glad he had people who loved him.

[fluidgender]

["Don't know nothing about it."

He says, tsuning.

"Just saying. Folks love to know who rules over who. Gotta be careful 'bout it."]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Oh. She’s gone quiet again, focusing on the tea, making sure the leaves don’t steep too long. She hesitates when setting a tray, on whether or not to bring a second cup.

She finally does. She can say it’s a spare if she gets questioned about it. ]

… Thank you for helping me. I shouldn’t leave my lady much longer.

[fluidgender]

["We get a huge stock of tea leaves every month and we never get to use 'em when Lady Nodoka is out of town. It'll be easier for me to shirk some of these off onto you rather than let my more important supplies get shoved out."

Aka. Fuu can come by for more anytime.]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Fuu bows very politely! And very gracefully considering the tray she carries! ]

Thank you very much!

[ And she’s returning to Ranma! ]

[fluidgender]

[Ranma's flopped around a bit, but still distinctly not out of bed. Hard to tell if she's even changed clothes since yesterday.]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Fuu has to balance the tray carefully to open the door. But she sets it down quietly. ]

Is your throat still bothering you?

[fluidgender]

I... guess a little.