video. username: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

[There is a mildly anxious child on the feed, sitting on the edge of the community building roof as she munches down on some potato chips; this child's diet is 1000% on point. But more importantly, she flashes the video feed several stories below toward some of the trees. The little accent is full of confusion:]

They are dying. What are they sick with?

Shouldn't someone do something to save them? ¿Dónde está el jardinero?

[Seriously, nobody seems concerned about the leaves all falling off. Or them turning odd colors.]

Comments

video;

[shoplifter]

Perhaps...

What sort of things do you like most?

... Other than pie.

video;

[alkahestic]

Hm. [ taps his chin. ] Stew is pretty good! Have you ever had stew?

video;

[shoplifter]

... I don't think so. What other food is it like?

I can compare.

video;

[alkahestic]

It's like soup, but thicker. I can make some for you, if you'd like?

video;

[shoplifter]

I always like new food.

[Read: free food, the sneak.]

Do you like cooking?

video;

[alkahestic]

Mm! I do! It's like alchemy. A science!

video;

[shoplifter]

Why is cooking like a science?

[She's never really cooked, so it pays to ask.]

video;

[alkahestic]

Well, you have to have precise measurements and ingredients, or you'll mess it all up.

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[shoplifter]

Alchemy messing up -- it is worse than messing up cooking, sí?

[It sounds like it would be a hot mess if alchemy was screwed up, y'know???]

video;

[alkahestic]

Oh, definitely. [ nods earnestly. ] You have to be very careful with alchemy and know what you're doing. Otherwise you or someone else might get hurt.

video;

[shoplifter]

Is that what happened to Edward's arm and leg?

[She's well aware of them being metal; he told her they were, but she'd known even before that, thanks to her sharper senses. But he hadn't said what caused it, and she's not tactful or socially graceful enough to be delicate about things.]