Application for Liga Longfield - Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

[liga_longfield]

((It probably goes without saying, but... here there be spoilers for the whole book

Comments

[blond_bondshell]

AS Bond read the application, his eyes went from the paper to the person and back a few times. The house elves kept his room clean and his suits pressed, but they lacked that certain... MILF touch. When he had finished reading and neatly folded the application in half, the smile on his face was all charm.

"I'm afraid that there are some terribly messy people in this place, myself included," he said. Bond wasn't a slob by any means, but he didn't do housework on principle. "Would you be able to help me with that?"

[liga_longfield]

"I'm sure I could," Liga, who had no idea what a milf was, nor any inkling that she was one, replied with a serene smile. "And you don't look like you're as messy as all that." The neatly pressed suit made the man appear rather dapper, in a dangerously sexy way.

[blond_bondshell]

"Appearances can be deceiving," he replied. "Maybe when you are done here, you'll have to come by and see for yourself." All she would see would be rumpled sheets and maybe some dirty socks, since all of the secret stuff was locked away, but getting things cleaned wasn't really the point, was it?

[liga_longfield]

Liga nodded. "Of course," she said. "Assuming I can find the place. The castle looks... rather large."

[gourmetchairman]

"Oh? You make your own cheese?" Kaga did like a person that made his/her own cheese.

[liga_longfield]

"Of course," Liga answered cheerfully. "After all, the milk does go bad, and you have to do something with it." She hadn't quite grokked that what was commonplace for her was actually not done in this time and place.

[gourmetchairman]

"It is rare to meet someone that still does that. Most people prefer to just buy cheese at the store."

[liga_longfield]

Liga stared. "They do?" she asked. "People here must be richer than they are back home, and in any case, how do they know they're getting the quality they need for what they pay?"

[woocha]

There was a whine at Liga's feet. Hey. Are you okay?

Clearly, Wishbone had come in when she had read the fourth question.

[liga_longfield]

Liga looked down at her feet, then reached to pet the dog. "I'm fine," she answered on a small sigh. "I just... don't understand the point of some of those questions."

[woocha]

I never understood them either. But everyone's gotta answer them to come to his school. Ooh, a little to the left.

[liga_longfield]

"So is that what this place is?" Liga inquired. "Seems an odd entrance examination for a school. What is it they teach here?"

[centauri_londo]

Fresh from a trip into the village, Londo made his way back through the Sorting room on the way to his own chambers. He stopped and smiled as he finished reading the application.

"Welcome, dear lady. It seems that this strange school finally has more of what it so desperately needs. The touch of a lovely woman. Tell me, how are you with paperwork?"

[liga_longfield]

Liga smiled warmly. "Not as good as all that," she demurred. "I came to learning my letters late in life, so I'd not make a good secretary."

[centauri_londo]

Londo laughed, “My dear, I would hope no one would inflict you with such a dreadful duty. And letters, bah!” He waved his hand, “Most letters I read contain a great deal of writing while saying as little as possible. But where are my manners?” He bowed, “I am Londo Mollari of the Centauri Republic.”

[liga_longfield]

Liga was quite charmed, and returned his bow with an inclination of her head. "I'm Liga Longfield," she answered. "Of... the village of St. Onions." Which did not sound so glamorous as the Centauri Republic, she couldn't help notice.

[miranda_bnewski]

Miranda read the application and raised an eyebrow.
"You're not from around here, maybe? Or from a different time?"

[liga_longfield]

Liga glanced at the girl, who was somewhere between Urdda and Branza's apparent ages. "I suppose I am," she said, her expression still friendly. "What makes you ask, though?"

[miranda_bnewski]

"Not many people make their own cheese around here- or at least where I came from." Maybe things were different in rural Scotland.

"This is Castle Hogwarts, in Scotland, and I'm afraid the house-elves do most of the work."

[liga_longfield]

Liga was puzzled. "House... elves?" she asked. "Like... the wee magic folk in fairy stories that do good deeds as long as people don't acknowledge that they're there?" She couldn't really imagine a life without some kind of servants. This was definitely going to take some getting used to.