Dite's Decadent Delights, Tuesday Afternoon

[icecoldfrost]

The summer session had started for Emma's online classes, and so she could be found behind the counter today, her biology textbook next to her as she worked on her homework. Even if she couldn't afford to stay in the city over the summer, that was no excuse not to take as many classes as she could manage from Fandom, especially since it was looking more and more like she'd graduate with at least two majors and three minors.

The "Photo Op! Straddle the Cock, $5" sign from last week was still next to the statue, and Emma was faintly amused by the irony of doing genetics homework in the sex shop.

Dite's was open, and Auntie Emma was In.

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

Jack didn't call Emma until he'd had enough to drink to make the story seem funny.

He'd resigned himself to the normalcy of his life: The desk job, the house on the fringes of town, the monthly excursions as a wolf.

And now the job bit was coming to an end, as the Continental Games spurred the senior solicitor at his law firm to take early retirement so the office could be rented out to the support staff for some camera crew, Jack didn't understand the details. There might be work again for the other lawyers after the press left in August, he was told, but Jack's bank account did not run terribly well on maybe having a job in three months.

He could find another job. He knew that. But first, he needed some consolation. Or at least his girlfriend -- whatever help she'd be.

So: Ring, ring, went Emma's phone.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma could answer her phone like a normal person, but where would be the fun in that?

"Dite's Decadent Delights," she purred, flipping open her cell. "Auntie Emma speaking, how may I direct your pleasure?"

[bitten_notshy]

There was a startled pause on the other end of the line.

Then:

"Oh, do you really want me to answer that?"

[icecoldfrost]

"What time is it over there? If you're pulling late hours at work, you can't answer it the way you want to," Emma teased. "You have to be a good boy."

"...and not good in the dirty way, so get your mind out of the gutter."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack laughed. "It's just before six, actually. I'm not at work. Funny thing, I may not exactly have a job anymore."

He didn't sound worried, at least?

[icecoldfrost]

"What?" Emma yelped, knocking over her textbook. "Dammit...I -- Jack, what happened? Why might you 'not exactly' have a job?"

If they were discriminating because he was a werewolf, she was possibly going to zap some brains.

[bitten_notshy]

"The games this summer," Jack explained. "Someone offered Mr. Jaggers a nice sum to use our office space for their cameras, and he decided he wanted early retirement anyhow. Most of the other staff can work from home, but I can't sort mail or answer phones without a reception desk to do it at."

He leaned back in his chair. "I've almost decided it's funny."

[icecoldfrost]

"I've possibly decided you're a few brandys into the evening if you're finding it funny," Emma fretted. "Are you getting any severance? Do you have time to look for a new job before this one ends?"

It wasn't like he'd had great luck finding a job before landing this one.

[bitten_notshy]

"I'm getting six weeks pay and the potential of a similar job in August, if I want it," Jack confirmed. "But the job ends Friday. I'm not sure I'll last even that long."

It had been quite a few brandies.

"Stop worrying," he added. "It's making me do it, and I'd just stopped."

[icecoldfrost]

"YOU asked ME to if we could be an item, therefore, I am allowed to fuss when I want," Emma teased gently. "What will you do until August, then?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I don't remember fussing being mentioned on the notarized boyfriend-girlfriend contract I had you sign," Jack countered, but didn't sound as though he entirely minded. "I don't know what I'll do. Could I come visit you to try to sort it out, or is the island too covered in evil sentient wasps this week?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Not allowed. I had to be a pony this last weekend. If you weren't a pony, you aren't allowed," Emma quipped. "Although I was a very pretty pony."

[bitten_notshy]

"Tell me somebody took photos?" Jack plead. "... I mean, that's very sad for you, darling, of course."

He might sound quite a bit as though he was stifling a laugh.

[icecoldfrost]

"Of course I didn't take photos, I had hooves." Not answering if anyone else did, la la la. "And Valentine made the worst horse puns the entire time."

[bitten_notshy]

"Why is Val in town?" Jack asked fondly. "I haven't seen her in years, though I approve of the puns."

[icecoldfrost]

"Because she's a horrible girl and working at the general store instead of with me," Emma sulked. "Ender having graduated and all, and is now teaching."

[bitten_notshy]

"I suppose he'd be good at it," Jack said, after a very long pause. "We're getting old, Miss Frost. Valentine's little brother is teaching."

[icecoldfrost]

"I prefer to think of it as Ender being precocious or something, and nothing to do with my age," Emma answered loftily. "A lady is never old, Mr. Priest."

[bitten_notshy]

"If she says so," Jack said obligingly, because arguing with Emma rarely ended well. "But to get back to where we started -- so Valentine may have photographs of Emma the pony?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Doubtful, since she had hooves too," Emma retorted. "And a darling red bow in her hair and a heart on her ass."

"I was a unicorn, and I'm not telling who - if anyone - would have pictures."

...Ronan totally probably had pictures.

[bitten_notshy]

"A unicorn with what on your ass?" Jack inquired. "Since it sounds as though Valentine was some sort of child's toy."

[icecoldfrost]

"I am not discussing my ass over the phone," Emma said with as much dignity as she could muster. "It's uncouth."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack laughed so hard at that he had to rest his head on the table before he could speak again. "Emma, remind me -- where are you working? And I talk about your ... hindquarters ... on the phone all the time."

It went with the long-distance relationship thing.

[icecoldfrost]

"Dite's Decadent Delights," she sang. "Where I give relationship advice and help people find a cure for whatever ails them."

Or tried to order all the sex toys in the merchandise catalogs. Either one.

[bitten_notshy]

"My point being, it's a bit odd for you to lecture me on being uncouth," Jack said loftily.

[icecoldfrost]

"I am at the phone at work, Mr. Priest. Should you wish to wax poetic about my assets once I'm home, that is one thing, but I shan't be lewd when a young and impressionable mind like Karla could traipse in at any moment."

Now she was just messing with him.