Lan Yan sold the last rattan for the day and was about to close when the bell over the door rang. She turned to greet the last-minute customer when she saw that they were a giant, blue finch in white robes. It surprised her a moment.
"Um, hello. I'm sorry, but we just closed."
"Ah, apologies, but I am not a customer. I'm Tubby, an Adeptus who serves Aether. I'm actually here to see you," she said, floating to the counter. "I interview his friends to ensure they won't conflict with others who visit Aether's home. May I interview you?"
"Sure. If you're Aether's friend, I don't mind."
She sat on a couch and answered a whole bunch of questions. Most were basic: her birthday, occupation, favorite and least favorite food, any allergies, and so on. But a few were quite out there: do you have fennecaphobia? Yan had no idea what that was about.
Tubby scrawled her words into a journal with meticulous attention.
"One more question: how do you feel about Aether?"
"He's pretty great," said Lan Yan with a smile.
"Hmm," Tubby muttered beneath her breath. "Do you like him?"
"Sure!"
Lan Yan peeked over her shoulder and inspected what Tubby wrote.
Wholesome, polite, and reasonable. We need more like her.
Tubby put down her pen.
"Have you heard of the UHA?"
"No," she replied. "Is that a club?"
Tubby explained it. Once finished, she handed Lan Yan a constitution and a Realm Dispatch.
"If you're interested, let me know," said Tubby.
"I'll consider it."
"Please do. With that Citlali, Yae Miko has another pawn for her schemes. I need to counter that with more wholesome members."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it. Thanks for speaking with me."
Tubby floated out the door, leaving Lan Yan quite confused.