Issue 1 Downtime

At some point in the afternoon, Raven might notice that a fair number of... well, ravens were heading over the skyline.

Most distressingly, they seemed to be headed for her store.

Right, stay calm stay calm staycalmstaycalm.

Raven raised an eyebrow, and opened the front door.

The ravens poured down into a nearby alleyway. Soon after, the headmistress stepped out, clad in a dress of black feathers. She didn't seem to be in a good mood.

Worse still, Raven could swear she could still feel the flock crowded around.

"Headmistress. What an unexpected surprise! Can I get you some tea?"

Raven was thinking, loudly.

“Why dost thou fret?” inquired the knight
Behind his colored shield
“Thy face is long, thy eyes as cold
As this sword that I wield..."

"I'm not here for pleasantries, I'm afraid."

"Professor Weaver visited here recently, aye?"

"Briefly, yes. Another surprise -- she normally doesn't come in. At least, not while I'm working."

"Was she the only one in the shop at the time?"

Raven thought for a moment. "It was around closing time, so yes. I believe she was...at least, I don't remember anyone else here."

"And do you remember her acting... oddly?"

The feeling of the flock crowding around Raven intensified, as the headmistress gave her an intent look.

"How are we defining oddly," Raven said flatly. "I get her mostly in classes, so yes, the fact that she wasn't looking down her nose at me was a bit oddly."

“I’m sad, sir knight.” I then replied
My heart did weigh like stone
“I fear I’m lost, can’t find my way
I feel so all alone”

"Professor Weaver's attitude continues to bother you?" She quirked a brow.

"I don't think it's any secret," Raven said.

"And you'd rather that changed, wouldn't you?"

"And I'd rather be able to shoot lightning from my fingertips and change day to night and summon the winds themselves to carry me home."

"That's a nice trick, by-the-by. Did you look that up on the internet?"

"...come again?"

"I've seen that passed around since I was your age, reciting something in your head to get around a telepath."

"I'm...to tell you the truth, ma'am, you intimidate the hell out of me."

"Why, it wasn't that long ago that you were me, aye?"

"And I appreciate you returning my body in near-mint condition."

"Was interesting, wasn't it? Finding out what other people can really do?"

"It was a thrill. You looking to trade down?"

"Let me be frank. You were the last to see Professor Weaver before she had a sudden... change of heart."

"A change of heart? In what way?"

"She feels she's been too harsh on her students, and her grading has suddenly become... extremely generous."

"I'd agree with the former.

Her grading's never been a problem, though. At least, not as far as I'm concerned. Is she going off-rubric?" she stabbed.

"She's had a sudden bout of remorse bringing this on, and the trouble is... she can't remember most of her visit to your shop."

The flock seemed to crowd around again.

"Curiouser and curiouser"

Said Alice.

"What's your theory?"

"I've had your powers," she said flatly.

"And I've had yours.

If you think I would harm Professor Weaver..."

"I'm not certain you intended to, but I think we differ in our definitions of 'harm' in this case..."

"I tend shop. And that's all I do here, Headmistress."

He pondered this as he sat down
Beside me in the wood
Inside a star-born circle
That assured me he was good

"So you wouldn't know anything about a car ride?"

She quirked a brow.

"I don't even own a car."

"Miss... Bludwynd," she said, choosing her words carefully, "given that the individual who did this almost certainly was in the environs of your shop, it's as useful for me to tell you this as anyone."

"What has been done here has caused considerable distress to someone I care very much about. If it were to be undone, I would have cause to view it considerably more charitably. That is, as long as it continued to be seen that this was an isolated incident."

"If this were to persist, well..."

Raven suddenly got the sensation that she was being watched by hundreds of eyes.

"...heaven help whoever did it, because I certainly won't."

"I....if you would like to set up some sort of surveillance here in the s...shop, in case the perpetrator returns, I'....I'd be more than willing to help in...in any way possible."

"If you see any suspicious characters, particularly those with an interest in controlling others... let me know, aye?"

"Always, Headmistress. There are plenty of shady characters in here, but if anyone orders the right combination of roots and whatnot, I'll be sure to let you know."

The headmistress gave Raven one last stern look.

"That'll do," she said, before turning to leave.

"Are you sure I couldn't interest you in some tea?" Raven called