royal_musings | Autumn Open Post

I’m curious what you now think professional means.

To bring back? [Of course Jesper knows that Kaz is going to work through the event.] Les and Nina are going to share the leftovers of their pie contest entry. Maybe candy apples. I doubt any of the fried food would be worth saving if you planned on sharing it with me later. [Because Kaz of course would eat a soggy funnel cake or corn dog.]

I may also need to borrow you for part of the night. As a lookout. [Who else had the best long range abilities other than his sharpshooter?]

Can you be a professional criminal?

Of course. I know you plan to work throughout the festival. Candy apples it is. You would eat them anyway even if I was able to bring them back later- the fried foods that is.

[ Because Jesper knows his friend well enough to know that much. ]

Course, boss. Just tell me when and where.

I’ve been one since I was born. If you make money doing it, I say it can count.

I would. I figured though I’d have to share, and everyone else would complain about it.

I’m going to break into one of the Council of Tides watchtowers. [Yes, he’s insane.]

An event this big, one of the Towers will be vacated as the members instead take up station along the festival borders at the harbor. I’ll need you to tell me if any of them start heading back. And stall them, preferably.

[He doesn’t have Inej around anymore to do things like this alongside him, and he’s not going to risk someone as new as Kesh, so he’s taking it on himself. After the Tidemakers' final threat though, a threat he's never shared with anyone, he knows the stalemate they have going on won't last long and he needs more leverage.]

Edited 2023-09-27 10:56 (UTC)

[ That was the difference and Jesper knew that deep down. He'd gotten more in debt over the years than turning any kind of profit. ]

True, everyone wants soggy funnel cake and deep-fried Oreos. It's not the same but I bet between Nina and Adonis, we could have our own deep-fried dessert night.

Great, no big deal then. Just a little breaking and entering in one of the watchtowers. Easy.

[ He definitely thinks Kaz is insane! ]

You know I will. Let you know and stall them.

They probably would if you asked. Both like to cook for the enjoyment of others.

Don’t tell me you’re worried, Jesper. You’ll get frown lines.

Good. Keep it between us, too. Let’s let the others have fun while they can.

Hmmm, I'll do that. I bet there are others who would like to partake.

Maybe they'll try deep-fried Kazbars.

Just don't get shot, some of us will be too far away to be much help. I'm much too young for frown lines.

I'll make sure Nina and Les aren't distracted during their competition and the others eat all of the fried food they can handle.

Most everyone we know enjoys eating and being social.

It would probably be pretty similar to deep fried Oreos.

I'm always perfectly fine.

If you also win a giant stuffed animal, you have to figure out how to carry it up the stairs to your room.

And some won't be at the festival. It's only right they get to partake in the fried foods.

Hm, probably. Deep fried Oreos are really good.

Yes, of course. Always perfectly a-okay.

Think Les could shrink it down to a manageable size until I get it to my room? That's a thing witches can do, right?

[ He was sure she's seen her do similar things before! Is he already planning on it? Certainly. ]

Maybe you can re-crisp fried foods in the oven. I've seen Nina do that with French fries. Dunno if it works for funnel cakes.

You ever think how deep frying sounds more contemplative to watch than shallow frying?

[More likely he just desperately needs to sleep, but this is a genuine thought the Bastard of the Barrel has.]

It's the "a" in front that really sells it.

That's a thing she might be able to do, even if I'd caution her that indulging you is a slippery slope.

Not sure either. That is a question for Nina, I suppose but can't imagine it'll be as good.

I can't say I have but now I will, thanks for that. Does this mean shallow frying is just superficial and surface-level?

Yes, I thought so too.

I would never take advantage of her abilities! Ever. Okay, rarely.

No, most recipes don't say to reheat for peak performance. Unless maybe soups or stews.

It's a valid consideration. [It isn't.] Yes. Pan frying is about surface appeal.

'He added a whole extra letter, he must really mean it.' Logic as sound as a shallow fry.

Just don't stick a giant stuffed thing in my office.

Soups and stews I can see. Reheating pizza in an oven? Yes. Funnel cake? Maybe the air fryer would work...

Sometimes, like with chicken, pan frying just doesn't do it.

[Jesper is more than amused by this conversation.]

Ah, well there goes my surprise for you. I planned on winning a giant stuffed crow to add to your room. Or for your gremlin.

[It's still crazy sometimes to Kaz that they even have an air fryer now.]

Remember when the Slat didn’t even have a microwave and the oven decided when it wanted to work or not?

You’re against pan fried chicken?

It’s for the better, I don’t like surprises or presents. The gremlin also doesn’t need more things, he’s amassed quite a stolen horde he stashes beneath my bed. If you're missing socks I'm fairly certain they're there.

It doesn't seem like that long ago. Ah yes, Nelson the Ovens midlife crisis - those were the days.

I'm not against any sort of fried chicken but between the two, I'd choose deep fried chicken.

I am getting low on socks. I'm just grateful he hasn't gone after my hats.

They are off limits!

Kids these days don't know how good they have it.

There's a Korean place that just opened. [Kaz's way of saying they should go. Korean fried chicken is hard to beat in his mind, and he's pretty sure it's deep fried.]

You can come and get them. I'm not touching your socks.

You know that only encourages the little beast.

They really don't. Didn't have some fancy chef who made fancy curries or risotto either.

Is there? Well now, that is practically calling our names!

Fair enough. I wouldn't want to touch yours either.

He may be cute in a very... unusual way but I draw the line at my hats.

Tizzy make us Kerchmen proud for his palate. I'd love to send him to Italy or India sometime, let him experience the local cuisine there and not just through Ketterdam's melting pot culture. Maybe as a bonus this winter.

Yeah. I could eat. [Kaz's way of saying he's hungry without admitting he's hungry.]

I think we'd have a very different relationship if we wanted to touch one another's socks.

He ate one of Nina's hats. Flowers, lace, and all.

I think he would like that. And the rest of us would as well. I know which one Wylan would hope he'd go to.

What are we waiting for then? Let's go. I'll be there in just a few minutes.

[ Because Jesper can always eat! ]

Hm, too true.

And she didn't yell or freak out?

I'll have to work out coverage in the kitchen and someone to take over the head chef duties. It's just mid-October now though, so there's a few weeks to work that out before sending him off after the winter holidays. Let me guess, Wylan would choose Italy? It is the land of risotto.

I'll meet you downstairs. I've been behind a desk too long, anyway.

Oh, she indeed yelled. The little gremlin thought it sounded beautiful and joined her in a crooning serenade to the tune. I arrived just short of her killing it, I think he'd only have liked a heart attack, anyway.

I'm sure we can manage to find someone to cover for him who can keep everyone fed to the level they've come to expect. You got it in one. And garlic rolls.

Great because I was getting antsy.

[ He's always antsy, he knows. He reads the next text and laughs. He can't help it, just thinking of the little gremlin crooning with her makes him laugh. ]

He really does belong to you, doesn't he?

We can, it just requires planning ahead and figuring out the logistics of the coverage. My specialty. Garlic and bread is hard for most people to pass by, to be fair.

It's a difficult life when you have to chatter at me through a text and not use your voice, I know.

He's an absolute menace.

[So yes, of course he does. Still doesn't have a proper name, though.]

Okay, heading down the stairs now.

[He lets Jesper know because between his cane and holding onto the railing, Kaz can't type when he's going up and down the stairs. Or rather, he can, but it's awkward and a pain in the ass, so he usually doesn't.]

Better you than me.

I'm glad you recognize just how rough it is for me to only speak to you through text.

He's perfect around here then.

[ Jesper laughs, grabs his hat from the counter before standing. It wasn't long before he hears the sound of Kaz's cane on the stairs. ]

The railing isn't perfect. It's been repaired and patched up several times, thanks to rowdy shenanigans in the Slat. Kaz thinks on it idly as he heavily walks down the steps, this one creaking one way, another step creaking differently. Everywhere there's character, worn yet withstanding. Kaz is infinitely proud of the home he's built. It still has work to be done on it, though. Miles to go. What doesn't in his life? Everything feels like a constant work in progress. He's not certain he could exist in any other way.

Jesper predictably is at the bottom first. "Railing on the second floor landing is loose." Kaz of course greets the other man not with pleasantries but something that needs to get done. Kaz doesn't have an off switch. "See if you can look at it tomorrow." It's getting cold in these fall months and he shrugs on his coat, his leg a little stiffer than usual thanks to the turning weather. Opening the door, he lets Jesper pass through first before falling in step at his side once they're out of the house. The Barrel is alive and bright, pulsing with promise and pain. "I'd say we could have just gotten takeout, but I know you wither without people contact. And I want to see what this place looks like." Anything new in his city has Kaz's curiosity.

"Course, boss," Jesper says, shrugging on his coat as he passes through the door.

He's used to the way Kaz operates and doesn't take it personally. He'd noticed it earlier in the day himself and knew it was a matter of time being Kaz mentioned it to him.

"I wither and wilt without the attention of the masses you're right," Jesper agrees with a grin as they walk toward this new place. "Glad you thought of it because Korean fried anything sounds great."

"Prouder than a peacock, I suspect you both share tailors." The banter comes easily, and in truth, Kaz enjoys it. He knows there's more to Jesper than his theatrics, but he also knows that Jesper darts and dodges around deeper compliments just like Kaz does when his heart is mentioned. Tonight is a night not to put his friend on the spot, but to just enjoy the evening. Even if he won't admit to enjoyment being a priority.

A nod of agreement is his response to Jesper's enthusiasm on the Korean food. Anything spicy and fermented and crunchy is hard to beat, and while Nina has the finer taste buds in the crew, neither he nor Jesper will wax on about the nuance of a mung bean. Jesper and his appetite are the next best option. "I'd like to see what they're doing. Make sure the business is above board, or below it in a way that could benefit us." Which isn't any of what's been said, but what Kaz has to frontload.

He promised Inej to do better. That he'll at least try. The alternative is that Jesper might move on with Wylan sometime soon and leave him in the past. A boss he was friendly with, rather than a friend who happened to have been a boss. Kaz's jaw works, and he finally manages, "Your day was okay? Other than not tending to the railing already."

Baby steps.

Autumn Open Post

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