"You know, it isn't very smart to sneak up on a girl while she's holding a knife," Ava said, as she polished a particularly large blade, her back turned to the person behind her. "Then again, you seem like the brave type, and frankly, I'm not the mood to kill--or argue." She turned on her heel, facing them, the object dangling from her fingers.

She smiled warmly.

"So let's get down to it, shall we? To what do I owe this pleasure?"