World of Warcraft®

It was a bright, sunny day in Booty Bay, and Derscha was taking a break from her work. She found a shady spot on one of the walkways connected to the AAMS' office building and dangled her feet over the edge, watching the traffic in in the bay. She was engrossed in watching a ship navigate its way from the docks when a voice drifted upward.

"Desky! Desssssssky!"

Below her, Khromie Overspark jumped up and down on the boardwalk, waving her arms up at Derscha.

Derscha blinked in surprised before calling out, "Hello, down there!"

"Hiiiiii Deskkkkky!" Khromie's voice was amazingly loud and squeaky. "What luck! I was gonna come visit you!"

"Luck's one way to put it!" she replied; she was at her own workplace, after all. " Hold on a moment, I'll head on down so you don't have to shout."

"Okaaaaay Desky!!!! You're the best!" she heard Khromie shout as she slipped back into the building and headed for the stairs. Derscha simply shook her head in amusement as she passed the confused receptionist and exited the front doot.

"Desky, guess what?" Khromie excitedly greeted.

"You have a new pair of shoes?"

"I ran into Sprinkles and gave her LOADS more deliveries and SPEAKING of, did you get your payment?"

"Ooooh, yes, Spriggel had mentioned that. And rum and cake!"

Derscha giggled at the thought. The last time she'd met Khromie, the other gnome had offered to pay in alcohol and cake for her delivery. The thought had amused Derscha, and she didn't feel like turning down potential business, so she'd agreed to the trade.

"I hope that settles my bill, then, 'cause I don't think you gave me a receipt last time!"

"How thoughtless of me," Derscha replied amicably, not bothering to correct her.

"Oh, it's okay! You must have a lot on your mind with all those cured meats to juggle. While I have you, I need to get an URGENT and I mean ON FIRE message to this DREADFUL blood elf I ran into in Dalaran."

Meat? Derscha furrowed her nose in confusion.

"Do you think HAMS could take care of it for me?"

She let the name slide, having figured out that Khromie was hopelessly useless at remembering names. At least the Kanzelries could tell you whom they meant when they used one of their nicknames if asked.

"Oh, of course we could. What sort of message?"

Khromie burrowed through her bag until she pulled out a slightly squashed package wrapped in blue ribbon. "This little .... gift ... and a note, please! His name is Eeyore Fattywing."

She eyed the package in Khromie's hand. "Nothing dangerous in there, is there?"

"Desky, Desky, Desky, would I put something dangerous in a gift?"

Derscha raised an eyebrow at the other gnome, wondering if Khromie would recognize something as dangerous.

"It's just ... a ... souvenir pen! From Stormwind!"

"Ah! All right, then. And, ah.... Eyore Fattywing? That is a peculiar blood elf name."

"It is, isn't it? If you could PLEASE make sure that you address him by his full and proper name when it is delivered. He's VERY fussy about that." She seemed quite sincere. "That's Eeyore Fattywing. Fatty with two T's."

She grinned slowly, imagining the look of dismay on her courier's faces. "I'll be sure to give my courier strict instructions to do so."

"Thanks, Desky! I knew I could count on you!" Khromie smiled again. "Say, Sprinkles was saying that you went missing from your own office. Did you find yourself again?"

She went missing from her office? Derscha tried to ponder out the meaning of the statement.

"Alas, I think I'm lost again."

"Oh gosh! I hope you find you again! It must be hard not having a Desky in Desky's office."

"Ah!" Her desk! Spriggel had yet to make good on returning it. "I've learned to manage."

"Well, if anyone can be Desky without Desky, it's you! Oh, and I've come prepared this time with payment!" She motioned to her companion Van Winkle, who lugged a crate over and set it carefully at Derscha's feet. "I know you're a HUGE boozer, but I figured you might wanna break it up with some juiceboxes, too."

Derscha examined the inside of the crate. There were several bottles of ale, and some pineapple looking drinks. "I'm more of a wine person, usually, but variety is important."

"Aww, chin up, Desky! We all get a little whiny when we booze it up! I'm sure you'll turn up soon in your office."

"I had better," Derscha replied with a steely voice that hinted at disaster for another gnome who wasn't present.

"Have you tried looking under your hat? I'm willing to bet that you're under there!"

She considered Khromie a moment, wondering how much was feigned ditziness versus the bona fide article. Well, either way, she did enjoy a few jokes.

"Well," she replied with as straight a face as she could manage, "everytime I take if off to check, nothing's there."

Khromie scratched her head. "How mysterious! Let me know how the hunt goes!"

Derscha nodded. "I shall. Thanks for the business, as always."

"Weeeellllp! I've got some dice to throw with some of the Bruisers here. Thank YOU for all your help, Desky! Hope you and Sprinkles enjoy those drinks! And tell ARRRRGBLAAAAAH I said hi!"

"Riiiight," Derscha agreed as they waved farewell, not even attempting to figure that one out.

[ What sorcery is this?! Thank you for the transcript. RP with the HAMS crew is such a treat! ]

A Formal Complaint!
by Khromie Overspark!

Dear Desky and Sprinkles and ARRRRRRRRRRGBLAH!!

I would like to file a FORMAL COMPLAINT as a few things went missing from a delivery to my pen-pal! She doesn't remember receiving them at all! And I can't remember what they were, either!!!

There are maybe three or four possible explanations!

1. My pen-pal has HAM-nesia!
2. Sprinkles is an IMPOSTER SPRINKLES!
3. Desky is an [ sticky gum-drop smudges make the rest of this sentence illegible ]!
4. MAGIC!

Please find a folder attached to file this complaint in! Since Sprinkles was responsible for the delivery, I would like for her to make amends by coming over to play. Please bring cake and booze.

XOXO,
Khromie Overspark

It was late in the evening. Derscha stopped by the tavern down the street for a quick meal, then settled down in the AAMS common room to read a few reports.

She wasn't quite sure how long he'd been standing there when she finally noticed Kordrion absently leaning against a post. "Stopping by for a visit, or business call?" she asked in greeting.

"Visit for the moment. Been a while so I thought I would see how you were doing."

"Oh! Well!" She waved to a spot at her table. "Feel free to have a seat. A little swamped lately, but we're managing."

"Good swamped or bad?" he asked as he sat. There was an increased weariness about him that she quietly noted.

"One thing's for certain, then next time Arrayah takes a vacation, I'm taking mine the day she gets back."

She'd been working entirely too hard lately, and from Kordrion's appearance, so was he. While she hadn't seen the missus, she knew that Kordrion's child was due soon, and he was likely worrying himself over it.

A funny thought, nay, plan, sprang to mind. She needed a diversion herself. She narrowed her eyes at Kordrion, studying what features she could see not hidden by his mask or his armor. Without a word, she hopped from her seat and started pacing around him, examining the increasingly bewildered rogue from every angle. Then she returned to her seat once more.

She leaned forward, staring at him, and waited.

He tilted his head. "Should I be worried about coming under scrutiny?"

"I'm worried about your health." She smiled broadly at him.

"Err… why?"

"You're gangly, even for a human." She punctuated her statement with a serious nod, in contrast her her earlier smile. "I don't think you have any weight to lose."

He sighed, muttering something about "lean" and "scrawny" under his breath before returning his gaze to her. She decided to move on to the next line in her plan.

"You need to bulk up more over the next few weeks, I think. I have some extra cake you can take home!"

He blinked at her. "Over the next few weeks?"

"So you have something to loose when you're too busy running around and not getting enough sleep," she explained, making a running figure with two of her fingers.

"You mean… like I am now?" He pulled his helmet off and rubbed at his forehead.

"Oh! Well, that would go a long way to explain the 'skin and bones' thing you have going." She made of show of peering a little closer. "Unless I'm misjudging the amount of padding."

"That would be for my wife to know, and you to wonder at."

She grinned in return, having elicited a joke. "But I do have some extra cake, just the same. One of our clients has taken to tipping us in cake." She paused, remembering Khromie's crate of booze. "And liquor."

"I am sure Ket would love some cake."

"Then I shall go fetch some! Stay here!" She made a 'stay' gesture and fetched the cake Khromie had sent. She hadn't touched it, although it looked like it may have gotten a little tousled in transportation. She returned and presented the large cake platter to Kordrion. "Ta-da! Isn't this a lovely cake?"

"I suppose so. Not a pie, but it will do."

"Well, no, it's not a confectionary wonder like I've seen in a few shops, but the simplicity of a good cake is its own strength. And this cake is for you," she reminded, lest he think of simply passing it off.

"You know this isn't going to make me put on weight, right?" he asked, amused.

"And is not eating cake going to make you put on weight?"

"Well.. no."

"Then clearly you should enjoy some cake."

Kordrion laughed. "Clearly!" he conceded.

She nudged the cake platter on the table a touch closer to him. "But maybe I can see if Khromie's willing to tip in pies, if that's what it takes."

"You are rather determined to get me to put weight on aren't you?" He gave her a teasing grin. "Not plotting me into some dish, are you?"

"Oh, please. I'm a part-time enthusiast of baked goods." She paused for thought. "But I might know a few butchers."

He studied her a long moment before saying, "Sometimes…. you worry me."

"I'm just a simple business gnome, whatever do you mean? I'm pretty sure you're the one who has various sharp instruments ready at a moment's notice. I'm merely offering cake." She nudged it again for emphasis.

He chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "The most dangerous people are those who openly walk unarmed."

"Then you had better eat your cake."

"I promise I will eat the cake." He stood, brushing himself off and donning his helmet again. "I should get home before Ket gets worried."

"Send my regards!"

"I will, be safe." He scooped up the cake and waved farewell.

She giggled as he left, glad to have worked herself- and hopefully him- into a better mood.

Now to tackle the next problem on her to-do list: how to buy a gross of pies and deliver them to Aerie Peak...