[misfired text to littlebopeeps]

[the_smith]

[picture attached.]

Redid the setting as you asked, you wanker. This is the last damn time. If you don't like it, tough shite.

Comments

[littlebopeeps]

[ Well Rachel is just confused. ]

Well I don't know how the person you meant to send this to will feel about it, but I like it?

[the_smith]

[Kieran frowns at his phone, then checks the number...and promptly shakes his head.]

Gods and goddesses, I'm quite sorry. Texted the wrong number, I was contacting a rather...difficult client. I hope I didn't disturb you.

[littlebopeeps]

It's all right! It added a moment or two of interest to a boring day.

Out of curiosity, do you know Quinn O'Leary? Because for some reason I have your number in my phone, it's smushed into one of his group texts.

[the_smith]

Aye. He'd be my elder brother. You know the troublesome little rat, then?

[littlebopeeps]

For sure! He's at my brother's house all the time, so I end up feeding him almost as much as I do Rocky.

[the_smith]

Mab's tits, you're Rachel Deveraux. I know Rock well, he's a good lad. Too bloody good to be spending so much time with Quinn, bless his heart. Rocky speaks of you, well and often. If the bufoon weren't so besotted with his new girlfriend, I'd say he was a bit in love with you, lass.

[littlebopeeps]

Awww, I think Quinn's a sweetheart! He's got all that energy, just fills up the whole room. Makes you tired just watching him.

That's really sweet of you to say, in a weird way. Rocky's the best big brother a girl could ever hope for.

[the_smith]

Aye. That's the problem some days, I wonder if it's just something Earth fae do. Our Uncle Seamus and Uncle Eamus are much the same, incorrigible as hell.

I hope you forgive me, but I seem to recall a picture from your brother's Instagram, him with a lass and the both wearing pink frosting mustaches. Would that be you?

[littlebopeeps]

Yep! That was me!

[the_smith]

If you'll permit me to say so, you're a bit remarkable to look at. You've a spark in your eye I'm not used to seeing in mortals.

[littlebopeeps]

Oh. Well thank you.

I mean, I'm not human, but thank you.

[the_smith]

You're not fae is all I mean. I meant it as a compliment.

But, if you're feeling gratitude, perhaps you can repay me by allowing me the honor of buying you a cup of coffee. I won't take no for an answer.

[Literally. After all, she did say thank you...]

[littlebopeeps]

Oh, well, no, you're right about that. Definitely not fae.

[ There's a brief pause in texts as she kind of stares at her phone and has no idea what to say. When does Rachel Devereaux not know what to say? That would be never. ]

Well, okay. I have a lunch time catering job tomorrow afternoon for a baby shower but I'd be free by 4.

[the_smith]

I've nothing pressing. It's a date, then.

[littlebopeeps]

Okay. Do you know where Still Waters is?

[the_smith]

Should think so. Son of Merlin owns it, yeah? For an American, he makes the best cup of tea in the state.

[littlebopeeps]

That's the one! I could be there by four tomorrow.

[the_smith]

Looking forward to it, mac tíre dóiteáin.

[littlebopeeps]

[ Note to self: break out Google translate. ]

I should get back to baking, so I'll see you then!

[the_smith]

Of course. Don't mean to keep you from your work. You have yourself a good day, then.

[He surprises himself with the niceties. He's usually far more brusque, as his brother will attest to...odd duck, this girl.

He'll have to decide later if he likes it or not.]

[littlebopeeps]

Oh you weren't bothering me, it's just time to frost. :)

Have a good rest of the day, yourself. I hope your client stops being a pain.

[ Okay, now she really has to put the phone down and frost 2 dozen cupcakes. ]

[the_smith]

Time to frost. Must remember that. Could sound dirty in the right situation.

The client won't be a problem again. Water touched Seelie, I'm mostly trying to scare him into being less of an arse.

[He makes a point of putting his phone on the counter after that. She has work to do, he has work to do--it was a misdial in the first place, why are they still talking?]

[littlebopeeps]

[ There is, actually, a long pause in texts, because she was busy putting little swirls of pink and blue buttercream frosting on vanilla chai cupcakes. ]

Oh goodness, no. I meant frosting cupcakes.

[ sent a moment later ]

Though I guess I can see how it'd sound dirty.

[the_smith]

[By then, Kieran has laid aside his current project and started work on another piece, a lust talisman for an Unseelie client.

He's settled on a necklace, and is sketching the setting when he gets her responses, and smiles before answering. Did she really write oh goodness? That's...]

Good innuendo is a subset in the skill of making people uncomfortable. Very valuable, especially at court. Always good to add to the old arsenal.

[littlebopeeps]

Well I'm happy to have helped! Rocky likes to keep his innuendo arsenal loaded with That's What She Said jokes. I HATE those, but he says I make it too easy for him.

[the_smith]

You likely do, sweet soul that you are.

Try beating him to the punch in the future. That should shut him up properly for a couple of minutes.

[littlebopeeps]

Everybody says that. :|

I do try. I'm just not very good at it.

[the_smith]

It's not a bad thing, you know. That's the spark I see in your eyes, even through a picture.

Fire, real fire's a tricky thing: feed it too much, it destroys. Feed it too little, and you'll freeze. Feed it just enough, and it offers everything. Comfort, protection, safety. It can bake a cake or forge a sword. You don't see THAT kind of fire often. That's what I saw in your picture.

Then keep it quite simple: next time he says that worn out line, ask him, "To the other guy she left with instead of you?" He'll likely do that bit where he makes a weak remark about your face and pouts a bit.

[littlebopeeps]

That's really sweet of you to say.

[ Fool her once, shame on you, etc etc. His second text gets a laugh otu of her, though. ]

That's exactly what he'd do. I'd never get it out without stuttering though.

[the_smith]

[So she does know the etiquette. He blames his human upbringing for the little flash of guilt he feels, but he doesn't feel badly enough to absolve her of the debt. Truth be told, he's looking forward to it a bit now.]

Practice is all you need. We'll work on that over coffee.

[littlebopeeps]

Well, you can try, but I'm a pretty hopeless case.

[the_smith]

There's precious little that's impossible if you have the right motivation, and frankly I'd love to see your brother shut his gob just once in his life. He's a good lad, but a love of causing trouble just seems to come with being Unseelie.

[littlebopeeps]

I guess if there was ever a good time, it's now. He's so stupidly happy lately he wouldn't pout for too long.

[the_smith]

Aye. I've heard tell that men in love feel no pain. Testing that theory should be fun.

[littlebopeeps]

That's so mean! I'm terrible for laughing at it.

[the_smith]

Hardly! He's your older brother, yeah? There's a dozen things you likely owe him for. Gods know it's the same way for me and Quinn.

[Between messages, Kieran finds himself still sketching the pendant for the lust talisman. He had notions of something in gold, phallic imagery to work for the woman who was going to be using it, but he was increasingly unhappy with the large, elongated loop of the setting and started adding layers to the setting...before he knew it, he was sketching a solid metal pedant, with no trace of a stone.

...not ideal, but doable...]

[littlebopeeps]

Maybe that's why those two get along so well. They have the irritating Big Brother gene.

[the_smith]

Aye, that they do. I can't decide if it's a comfort or a curse.

How's that frosting coming, by the way?

[littlebopeeps]

[ With her response, she sends him a picture. ]

First dozen down! Pink AND blue since they wanted to be surprised and didn't find out at the sonogram.

[the_smith]

[When she sends the picture, he can't help it: he's a tiny bit impressed. If nothing else, he thinks of his mother, and the far-too-ambitious anniversary party she's already planning for his grandparents in a few months...]

That's lovely work. Mind if I give your name to me mum? She's planning an anniversary party for the grandparents. She could likely use the help with catering.

[littlebopeeps]

It's not bad. I like to try and find clever ways to add some frosting variety. Some people want the mound of frosting. Some people want just a teeny bit. Some people fall somewhere in between.

Sure! I could give you my business card to pass on to her? It has my business line and my facebook address on it. She can look over some pictures and make sure my work's in line with her tastes.

[the_smith]

She's a simple woman, but favors the finer things when she's hosting a party. She'd likely need help with the cake more than anything. Something far too showy, and ridiculously decadent. That in your wheelhouse?

[littlebopeeps]

I could manage that, I think.

[the_smith]

Splendid.

[The message doesn't come for a few minutes, however, because Kieran's too busy scowling at the sketch he's just finished. He started working on a lust talisman, but this? It won't work at all--the symbolism is all wrong, and the center's shaded, not set with any stone.

This talisman is an embodiment of unity, connection, beauty. He's already certain he can do something else with this entirely if he sets the center with copper...

He feels suddenly, stupidly inspired, and shoots off one more text.]

Must run, last minute piece of work came up. See you soon, Rachel.

[littlebopeeps]

Sure, I understand!

[ Is totally not disappointed at all, nope. ]

I should get back to these cupcakes anyway. Good luck! Hope it goes well!