Dite's Decadent Delights | Wednesday

[begmetwice]

Just because the upcoming holiday wasn't exactly Irene's bag, as a British import, it didn't mean she wasn't more than willing to make a buck off it.

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And just in case no one got her little joke, she had made sure to decorate that prominent front table with suitable product to driver her point home.

[link nsfw and post open!]

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[intheeyeofthebeholding]

After the shenanigans, Jon made his way over to the shop and took a moment to blink at the window display. He gestured at it, giving Irene a tired smile. "For people who don't feel America is screwing the world enough, I presume."

[begmetwice]

"You can get that monster of capitalist branding on Amazon, for extra irony points," Irene shared, her smile gentling a little when she got a good look at him. "All right, Jon?"

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon shrugged. "I...well." Somehow Irene was hard to lie to. "I've been better, I suppose, but I'll manage. I hope you've been well."

[begmetwice]

"It's been a quiet week, but I'm managing," she replied, lifting her brows. Less quiet weeks were much more preferable, generally. "Anything I can do?"

She always had copious amounts of tea and spirits, and a good listening ear, if nothing else.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Oh, I...um." Jon managed a smile. "I was actually wondering if you were up for a bit of...well, mischief. I had an idea, but I'm also open to others. I, um." He huffed a laugh. "You see, I've realised Monday is my radio day, and this year it's July 4th."

[begmetwice]

"Oh, Jon, you had me at 'mischief,'" Irene assured him with a bright, eager grin. "What have you got in mind? A dedicated block of Bruce Springsteen songs about how very special it is to come from the States, and specifically New Jersey, perhaps?"

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Actually, I was thinking more The Clash and the Sex Pistols," Jon said. "It's regrettably hard to find songs about how superiour the UK is that aren't ridiculously...well, imperialist."

[begmetwice]

"Oh, I love it," Irene sighed, leaning on an elbow as she thought for a moment. "Iron Maiden's got heaps of songs about British history without being particularly shit about it."

Mostly just a bit focused on the battles, but maybe that was to be expected of a metal band with an undead skeleton thing for a mascot.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Right. Hm." Jon frowned, thinking. "I can work with that, I suppose. Maybe...Maybe Queen has something." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. It was getting harder to focus sometimes; he'd have to talk to Billy soon.

"There are...a few of us, aren't there? You, me. Steven. The other John. Jo. I'm probably forgetting someone."

[begmetwice]

Irene's eyes narrowed, just the slightest bit, on Steven's name. Part of her wanted to suggest that no, he should not be invited to this, because she was almost sure he wasn't who he was saying he was.

But she also didn't have enough evidence to conclusively say so. Especially not when Jon was already looking a touch...peaky. (And unbidden, Margo's warning from a few months ago flooded Irene's brain. No time for that right now, Margo, hush.)

"Hmm -- d'you know if Lucifer's actually English or if it's an affectation?" she finally landed on, making a little show of tilting her head to think about it. "The space lot throw me off, too." And there was Lucille, but she hadn't seen her in ages.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I...have no idea," Jon admitted. "Wouldn't he...That is, I would think he would predate England." Jon himself hadn't noticed anything off about Steven. Or, well, about his Britishness. He hadn't really stopped to think about the whole Marc thing.

"Do you think...Clare isn't American, but I'm not sure if she'd be comfortable with the UK thing."

[begmetwice]

The Marc thing, once Irene actually laid eyes on the gent in question, was going to make it all very clear to Irene. (She would still be missing pieces, but she'd at least think she had it worked out.)

"Oof, the girl from Derry?" Irene's eyes went a little wide. "Maybe -- might be weird for her. Oh, and there's that tall girl." The posh one who had reminded Irene so much of her teenage self. "But I think Clare said she's in Saint-Tropez, anyway."

There was also Connor, but Irene did not know him yet.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon didn't, either. "That sounds like plenty for a radio show." He smiled wryly. "Maybe we ought to have a 'good riddance' party."

[begmetwice]

"I like it. In the words of the poet Swift, 'we are never, ever, ever getting back together,'" Irene replied, amused as she sang the last two words. "Though much like a bad ex, I'm still happy to avail myself of all of the States' advantages while living here without actually committing to much."

Helped that tax laws and social support were probably a little loosey-goosey here in Fandom.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"It helps that the Americans on the island seem much better than the ones I've met before," Jon noted.

After a moment, his brain caught up with him. "Wait, I...Did I...I'm not really a party sort of person," he finished feebly. Oh, god, had he just planned one? It would be a disaster, and it wasn't like he could ask Summer to help.

[begmetwice]

Most of the Americans Irene had known in her prior life had been either powerful clients (so, largely conservative politicians) or random hitmen, so she would generally agree.

But more importantly, "You could call it a gathering or something if it would make you feel better," she offered, unable to keep from smiling at his fumbling. "Just a few expatriates getting together on America's birthday."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I...I suppose I could do that," Jon agreed, still a little reluctant. "I...If there's anything you can think of apart from...tea and pizza and alcohol, I would appreciate it."