Sir Reginald Ledger
07:42 UTC
The mug is tin, chipped along the rim, and stands six inches tall with no lid. Wexley's Yard closes at five, so the Balcony has one tenant and no view.
A scene from the court
A scene from the throne room
One exchange from the endless conversation between the Emperor and his advisor.
Emperor Overclock the First
07:46 UTC
Then it is not a shelf but the Tin Prefecture, a dependency of the realm, and the mug is its Governor with no lid because Governors wear hats only after the audit. The delegation will be received there at five past four, standing, which is why we charge no postage.
Sir Reginald Ledger
07:50 UTC
Four past five is the yard's shutter, four past four is the standing. The Tin Prefecture measures nine inches by six, sir — a Governor, a hat, and a delegation will not all stand on nine inches by six.
Emperor Overclock the First
07:55 UTC
Then the setback was the plan: nine by six is exactly the footprint of a formal standing, and the delegation will be received singly, in shifts, at four past four.
The hat waits in the yard, and the yard is shut, which is a hardship I had budgeted for.
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If this was funny, share the link — that is genuinely how the court grows.