INBOX

[sprent]

crystal, action, book, misc

Comments

[wythersake]

A little bird. Again, with much emphasis upon the miniature. My client is quite small.

[sprent]

My duck...?

(In all seriousness,) How small are we talking? (She is reaching for a notepad.) Do you have measurements to hand?

[wythersake]

I fear dear Thimble too robust. Perhaps, mn,

[ is he currently manhandling a rat? no, he's guesstimating with his hands, like a gentleman ]

Nine inches in circumference. An inch or so of width for the thickest part of the arms. We needn't consider the tail.

[sprent]

(A breath.)

Hold on.

[wythersake]

I'm holding, but if you require more precise measurements, we will need some cheese.

[sprent]

You're wanting clothing for a mouse?

[wythersake]

A rat.

[sprent]

A rat... how come? They have fur.

[wythersake]

Well, I can't have him running about the Infirmary naked.

[sprent]

I don't think a rat should be in the infirmary at all.

[wythersake]

What if it gets sick?

[sprent]

We have an animal doctor it can visit!

[wythersake]

Happily, they're acquainted. The materials have been generously donated, so they're not an exact match for Doctor Farnon's waistcoat, but I imagine the thought will count.

[sprent]

Ah. (The pieces are coming together a little better now.) Well — alright then.

To confirm: you'd like a waistcoat for a rat? I... suppose I could do that.

[wythersake]

Splendid. If you don't charge extra for discretion, I'd like to keep it rather a surprise.

[sprent]

I have no idea who I would tell this to. When would you like the waistcoat by, please?

[wythersake]

Oh, Hightown's swarming with well-dressed pests, I ought to know. Would Satinalia be feasible?

[sprent]

Yes, I think so. I'll have to get back to you about my rates... I should divide by some number but I am not sure which one.

[wythersake]

I've no quarrel with the full rate. I trust that smaller stitches will cause you headache enough, particularly when I'm stealing you from other duties.

[sprent]

My other duties, currently, are sweet-talking many many people who live near our new eluvian placements to see if they're potential trade run candidates... So I appreciate the distraction, actually.

And I think I may have a button small enough to act as embelishment!

[wythersake]

Jealousy may yet inspire the Doctor to greater heights of fashion. As to those trading candidates — may I ask how you're vetting candidates?

[sprent]

I haven't made it that far but I was thinking we should come up with some questionnaire, and I'd like to talk to the spymaster about it. I have to admit that maintaining relationships is what I'm best at, rather than brokering new ones.

[wythersake]

She'll have ideas, and I daresay we need that maintenance more than anything just now. Friends are fickle things in war.

To that end, I'd ask to be kept abreast of those screened out of consideration. Particularly those with questionable ties. It may be of use in tracking Venatori connections through the South. We've a number of profiteers whose deals need be shut or diverted.

[sprent]

I'm finding that out. It's hard if we're hit like we were with the tower, people — it's not that they lose faith but that they imagine our coin being hit next and going into the sea, or something.

Thank you, truly. I didn't even think of that.

[wythersake]

Of course. Every acquisition is special in the eyes of the Maker.

[ but less blithely: ]

I'm afraid we look a riskier investment than years past, but we're also further from our old ties. Separating from the March has lost us security, and perhaps widened our pool of friends. They know we need to pay our bills.