A Little Something Extra

Writers: Ames, Heather
Date Posted: 23rd June 2013

Characters: Chaysea, Shyow
Description: Shyow visits the main Hall to deliver a package and leaves with a little something extra
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 1, day 20 of Turn 7

Shyow didn't often venture up to the _actual_ Vintner Hall, preferring
to stay closer to the tavern and away from the crafters themselves.
However, today, she'd been asked to deliver a package to the Hall that
had wound up in the tavern by mistake. She had to admit she was
curious. She'd only ever ventured into the main entry of the Hall once
before.

**No need to cause anyone to become suspicious,** she thought to
herself as she walked up to the main door. Should she knock or just go
in?

Just then the door opened and a rather harried looking man darted out,
saw her, paused, and then held the door open for her.

"Thank you," she said as she entered, but he'd already dashed away.
Now, what should she do? She felt _very_ out of place in the fancier
crafthall. The tavern was much more rustic and her ordinary clothes
didn't seem so drab down there. But here, well, here, she felt rather
like she didn't belong.

Chaysea rubbed her hands together as she walked, sending crumbs flying
as she finished chewing the cookie that she has grabbed from the
kitchens. The Headwoman's black skirts bustled softly as she moved
down the corridor on her way to her office.

As she was passing through the main foyer she spotted a woman, clearly
out of place, who seemed to be looking rather anxious about the
package in her arms.

"Can I help you?" Chaysea asked, changing courses.

Shyow nearly jumped out of her skin at the voice. Turning, she saw a
woman dressed rather nicely, heading her way.

"Oh yes," she replied to the woman's offer, "This package was
delivered to the tavern by mistake. It was meant for the Hall. I was
asked to bring it up here, but I've no idea who to give it to." She
didn't dare mention that word reading wasn't something that she did
well at all. She knew enough to know how to get her hands on someone's
money bags, what good would being able to read do her anyway? She
lifted the package a bit to show it to the woman, hoping she would
know what to do with it.

Chaysea's eyebrows flicked upwards, "Oh, goodness, I hope that is not
the special bottles Master Daviorn has been asking for, he always gets
so uptight when his things don't arrive on time." The Headwoman shook
her head, although her pursed lips were fighting off a smile as she
thought of the fit that the man would have. Was the man a genius with
his concoctions? Yes. Was he incredibly strange and anal? Yes.

"Well, come with me then, we'll take it to my office and I will make
sure that he gets his precious bottles. I am Chaysea, by the way, the
Headwoman here, and who might you be?" Chaysea asked this over her
shoulder as she took off down the corridor, skirts flowing again.

Shyow had hoped to hand the package over and be on her way. She never
did well around the crafters themselves. Too unusual for her liking.
She preferred the simpler, bawdier men that frequented the tavern were
more her speed.

"I'm Shyow. I've been working down at the tavern for a few months now.
Haven't been up here to the main crafthall," she followed along,
carrying the package. She couldn't help but glance down the hallways
she passed and into the open doors she saw. What she found was wealth
beyond what she'd have expected. Trinkets here and there that she
_knew_ had to be worth quite a bit. She wished she could get her hands
on a few.

Glancing over her shoulder, Chaysea smiled at the look of awe that she
saw on the woman's face, thinking that Shyow was simply admiring the
grandeur of the Hall. Pulling her key from her pocket, Chaysea
unlocked her office door and motioned for Shyow to enter, "Bring it on
in here. I want to thank you again for taking the trouble to bring the
package here, that was very kind of you. Would you care for some wine,
juice, or klah before you go back? I feel like you need some form of
payment." Chaysea cleared off a space on her desk for the package.

**I'd rather have something more valuable than a drink,** she mused,
eyeing the various objects on the Headwoman's desk. **Could I slip one
into my pocket without being noticed?** It would be much harder than
what she did regularly at the tavern, but she knew many of the items
had to be worth quite a large amount.

"Um, some klah would be find," Shyow replied, setting the package on
the desk and running her fingers over a rather intricate paperweight
that was there. **Too heavy,** she mused, slipping her hands back to
her side, all the while still contemplating if she could make a clean
getaway with a real prize of her own.

Chaysea was happy to have the company and was blissfully unaware of
Shyow's true intentions as she poured a cup of klah and handed it to
the other woman, "So what do you do at the tavern?" She asked
curiously, rounding her desk and taking her seat with her own cup of
klah in hand. While she had been married to her ailing husband,
Chaysea had spent all of her time nursing the man, and as a result,
had missed out on many experiences around the Hall. She'd never
visited the tavern, for instance, even though it was close in
proximity.

Shyow shrugged, "Nothing special. I'm just one of the workers. I serve
the food and drink. It's good pay," **Even better when I make a little
extra on the side,** she added silently, sipping the klah. Her eyes
spotted what looked like a tiny tool with a rather interesting looking
gem in it. It was small and had to have value. It was half buried
under a stack of papers. **I could carry that away,** she thought,
trying to make sure the other woman didn't notice her sidelong glances
as she calculated the best way to achieve her goal.

"Well that is nice." Chaysea agreed with a smile, being a rather
independent person herself, she highly approved of women working and
making their own marks. She was, frankly, sick of the antiquated views
of women that permeated the South. Yet, what could anyone do? Things
were so backwards and set in stone that nothing would ever change.
With that thought, Chaysea opened up her drawer, and drew out a few
marks.

"Tip for your delivery." She said with a wink as she set the marks on
the desk for Shyow.

Her eyes opened wide at the marks placed in front of her. Her
attention was diverted from the bejeweled item by the _free_ marks
being _given_ to her.

Shyow leaned forward and scooped the marks into her hand, noting the
little tool was right in her path. She glanced at the Headwoman, saw
that her eyes weren't watching. In an instant, Shyow scooped the coins
and the little metal object into her palm with a smile.

"You are most gracious," she gushed, pleased with the marks _and_ the
little _extra_ she'd picked up as well. She slipped the item into the
bag she carried for just such a purpose. She hoped the Headwoman
wouldn't notice the little slight.

"It is no trouble, Shyow, I really do appreciate you bringing the
package by. I suppose you have to be getting back to the tavern, but
please feel free to drop by any time." Chaysea didn't have a lot of
female companions to spend time with at the Hall, and even someone
much younger, like Shyow, was a welcome face.

"Oh, thank you," Shyow replied again. "I would like that _very_ much."
Her hand wanted to go to the pouch that held the little metal and gem
item. It had looked almost like a tiny sword. She had no idea what it
would be for, but she mused it _had_ to have some value.

With that, she rose, smiled at the Headwoman, and added, "I best get
back before they think I've shirked my duties." She smiled. Yes, she
could like this woman _very_ much, especially if she never noticed
little things go missing here and there.

Chaysea smiled as she watched the young woman leave, and then when she
was alone she began to straighten up her desk. She would have to get
those bottles delivered soon. Settling back in her chair, Chaysea drew
out some correspondence letters that had been dropped off for her. A
frown creased her brow as she looked around her desk.

"Now what have I done with my letter opener?"

Last updated on the June 27th 2013

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A Little Something Extra