(no subject)

[sythyry]

The Tower of Pastry [16 Chirreb 4261]

The Duke, personally, will pay for all the pastry. He seems quite thoroughly enamoured by the chance to count coup against Oorah Thrassen. He also likes the Academy Bakery, to the extent that he -- the most powerful prime in Inner Choinxeia -- has their deluxe pastry boxes for breakfast at least once a month. (Not from Floosh's branch usually, from the branch near the palace.)

No, I didn't talk to the Duke in person. I talked to Kaim-Su, and to Hezimikkinen, and to Lord Tumblawn. In case the fame of Lord Tumblawn hasn't spread to other universes yet, she is in charge of the Duke's personal wealths. (Yes, plural. I imagine he has several wealths.) I certainly didn't know who she was before Hezimikkinen told me. She's the one who mentioned about the breakfast boxes, too, though I daresay it they weren't a major item in her budget. Until now, at least.

Which is to say, I've got ten thousand lozens to give to Floosh.

This is more money than I've ever had in my paws before. Strictly, I don't have it in my paws. I have it in a fairly imposing wooden box, with a locking spell and a locating spell and a levitating spell on it. I was vaguely wondering if they'd give me an actual enchanted box for it, but it's not quite enough money for that.

(Actually, when I get going with professional enchantment, I'll be charging ten thousand lozens for a few weeks' work. It's a lot of money, but it's not a lot of money. I guess that a guild carpenter probably earns that much in a year, maybe.)

Anyways, Lord Tumblawn was going to simply hand me the money.

Me:"What's to keep me from stealing it?"

Tumblawn:"Please don't steal it."

Me:"Please? Not that I intend to steal it, but I never expected to hear anyone say that with a 'please' on the front."

Tumblawn:"That's how I mean it, though. Please don't. We'd just have to get it back from you or your family, and that will make everyone involved unhappy."

Me:"I'm more worried about someone else stealing it, truth to tell. Am I supposed to defend it with my life?"

Tumblawn:"Well, not that much."

Me:"With, oh, 10% of my life?"

Tumblawn:"I hesitate to put a precise number on it."

Which means that I got two conceptually surprising statements from a lord-high accountant. Remarkable.

But she did agree to have someone put the locking spell and the locating spell on the box. I hope that nobody is out trolling for lozens, though. I'd hate to have to decide whether to use the seven-winged burning thing seriously, after seeing how nasty it was to Bfelmykh.

Comments

[wave-cannon.livejournal.com]

Wait a moment...
You mean to tell me that the Duke does not, actually, live in a tower made of pastries?

[justicezero.livejournal.com]

Huh. I would have expected that you would have gotten, instead, a letter of transfer of funds for Floosh to flourish impressively at her banker. That's how we've been doing it for the past few hundred years in various forms.
Well, it seems, relatively speaking, routine enough. Just carry it over and drop it off without worrying too much about it, as worrying draws predators..

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

He lives in a tower made of gratitude and don't you forget it.

[wave-cannon.livejournal.com]

It's not the same as a tower made of pastries.
*sulks*

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

That's how zie gets her stipend, more or less -- the Duke's wealths must be too vast for a mere bank to encompass!

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

What *is* it with me and pronouns? This one should swear off pronouns for life, if this one can't get the selection right!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

It does seem like a somewhat cavalier approach to money. If the box is marked with the Ducal seal, that may explain it - few people would be inclined to defy the authority if one who has both people with the ability to scry the identity of an assailant and the soldiers to punish the responsible parties.

Or perhaps they figure that someone who can be the liaison to a nendrai has zir own means of defense!

[kajarainbow.livejournal.com]

Make your own and apply it constantly, until it's a total habit!

[brennabat.livejournal.com]

That snippet of conversation cracked me up!

Oh, I'd best clarify little idiom for you Sythyry. I wasn't broken in to various pieces by reading the conversation, but rather greatly amused. I wouldn't want you to think your conversations have a shattering effect upon the body of readers.

[awfulhorrid.livejournal.com]

Nor is it, and I feel that I really have to mention this, quite the same as a tower made of pasties.

Just felt that it needed to be said.

[wave-cannon.livejournal.com]

How can you sprinkle powdered sugar on a tower of *gratitude*?

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

It was marked, yes. And I'm a citizen of the city -- I doubt that much of anyone would steal from me. Except foreigners, of course.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I'm glad! I was amused enough to record it, myself.

My translator translated it to, literally, "That slice-[as-of-cake] of conversation set my tail wagging like a fan with laughing." The word for "slice" is a bit unusual, but it can be used for "a little bit of something that was cut out intentionally". The latter idiom is a usual one: I'd use it myself, though I wouldn't literally do that with my tail.

Then I made it translate the idiom literally so the rest of what you wrote would make any sense. I'm generally glad not shatter people.

[brennabat.livejournal.com]

I see! Well that makes sense then. In fact, we use a word similar (I hesitate to say exactly) in meaning to your "slice," with a similar idiom.

On an unrelated note, I am greatly jealous of your people's access to shape changing magic.

[heian-therin.livejournal.com]

Yes, truly. I was quite disappointed in discovering that there was not, indeed, a WHOLE tower of pastries. Perhaps there are, but they are destined to be broken up. Not what I'd do with a tower built with bricks of pastry and mortar of.. I don't know, some sort of sweet glaze. Rather, it would make a good singular pastry of someone of the size to eat it, suchlike. Perhaps a job for Vae to rectify.

[wave-cannon.livejournal.com]

If a tower can be made of gingerbread and chocolate frosting, I would gladly make the builder my chief concubine.