jamesthorn | (open)

(open)

When his father said he wanted to throw a formal dinner party for Daniel and his new girlfriend Amelie Coombs, what he really meant was --- James needs to throw a dinner party for Daniel and his new girlfriend Amelie Coombs. Because his father's dealings in the affair was simply calling James and yelling about caterers and invitations and place settings. While ordinarily his father is quick to hire event planners to handle this type of thing, this is one event where secrecy is key. No one wants this mingling of sides to become public knowledge until it's absolutely necessary. His father is attempting to make nice for Daniel, but who knows if that's actually going to happen. Plus, some of his father's reputation and business dealings hinge on the fact that he's not exactly pro-witches or pro-magic, and to be seen with any of the Coombs family would be scandalous to say the least.

James understands all that, but still, the absolute last thing he cares about is a dinner party for Daniel and his girlfriend. Coombs or not. But, he does it, not for his father, but for his brother. Who knows how serious Daniel even is about this woman, but James cares about his brother too much to not help out.

That's the only reason he spends his day off running errands all over town trying to get all the last minute arrangements made. His last stop is his normal suit shop out on the northside of town. Everything's being done too late, but the family tailor always manages to squeeze them in. The one thing James does care about is the fact that Davin agreed to accompany him for the night, and so he hopes to look his best.

It's been too long since he's had any semblance of a date, but he likes Davin and he's anxious to see how the evening goes. His tailor assures him that his suit will be delivered in time for the dinner, and after paying his bill, he steps out onto the busy sidewalk. Heading in the direction of Seaside Bakery so he can grab a quick coffee, he pulls out his phone and checks through the list of errands he was supposed to finish.

OOC: Find James grumpily running all over town preparing for the Thornton / Coombs dinner party that is coming up. His father is attempting to make nice with Daniel's new girlfriend, but it's probably going to be a disaster.

Rest assured James is probably super grumpy.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Audrey doesn't even bother to pretend she's not showing off her rear as she conspicuously bends over to rummage through her knapsack. Smiling, she slowly returns to stand upright as she presents her busker's paperwork.

"You done frowning?"

With an even bigger frown at the spectacle she makes at bending down to get the paper from her bag, he snatches the paper out of her hands. After a second he looks up at her, eyebrow raised. "Audrey is it? You are blocking the sidewalk with this---" He gestures at guitar in her arms.

Audrey rolls her eyes. "You are literally the only person who is upset about this," she says, leaning up to pat him on the cheek in the most patronizing way possible. "How about you just calm your handsome self down. I take requests."

"Who cares. You can't block the sidewalk," he insists. There were rules, and rules are important. "How about I take you down to the station and let them sort it out?"

"Actually, I'm safely in an alcove with my guitar case angled not to trip anyone," she continues sweetly, already waiting for his next complaint.

"You're the one who's standing directly in the sidewalk blocking traffic." Even as she says it, a girl shoots him a dirty look as she circumvents the much bigger man. "And if you're going to play citizen's arrest, I'm gonna want to see proof that you're actually authorized to do anything. Or else I'm gonna start crying to the cops about how you're harassing me."

She says it all in the same charming voice, syrupy sweet, but it's clearly a warning.

James hears her fake, syrupy tone, and he just shakes his head and digs into his pocket for his badge. "I was not harassing you. I asked you a couple of valid questions," he says, putting his badge back in his pocket.

Audrey just smiles a little too wide, until it's hard to tell if she's making a social nicety or if she's baring her teeth like a wolf. "And I've answered them. I'm allowed to be here. I'm not chasing people for money. Now unless you have a song request or want to have a quickie in the alley round back..."

James shakes his head, wondering if this woman is being for real. "So, are you picking up a police officer for sex and indecent exposure? Is that what's happening right now?"

"Hey, I never said it would be indecent." She grins wickedly again. "I've been told I give very decent blow jobs."

James just sighs now becoming frustrated by this woman and this conversation because who even says things like that to a stranger? "Well, you've made regret stopping here. If that was the intention."

"You know, you're the one fixating on my sexual deviance. I did offer song requests."

Feigning thoughtfulness, Audrey scans him up and down, "You look like a Jesse's Girl kinda guy. Am I right?"

"I'm not fixating on anything," James protests, but he is a little bit. But that's because she is very easily annoying him. "Please. No songs. I don't need you to sing."

"You can donate to the...not-singing fund," Ashe teases, back to playing the cute card. "But I guess that counts as soliciting and we don't want to get your panties in a bunch."

"The not-singing fund?" James tries not to respond to the cute look on her face, but the irritation he felt over her solicitations is waning. He does have other things to worry about today after all. "Why would I do that? That's just me giving you money."

Audrey nods, though she's likely soured her welcome by now with the arguing. No one likes cranky entertainment and no one ever pays for it. Already, she's collecting her cash and putting her guitar away.

"For one dollar, I'll be silent for five minutes."

That actually is the last good thing he's head in awhile, considering he's been dealing with party stuff all day. With a shrug he digs into his pocket and pulls out a bill. "I only have five bucks," he says showing it to her. "What's that buy?"

"What're you willing to pay for?" With a snap, Audrey closes her case. If she'd been able to swing it for anther full hour, Audrey thinks she would have been good for utilities for the month but the best laid plans are apparently nothing in the face of crabby authoritarian fun-haters.

"I don't suppose you plan parties in between you post collecting money for not-singing," he says watching as she puts away her equipment. He only says that because his phone dings about three times with a received message alert. It's definitely his father. "Or murder for hire?"

"I don't have the organizational skills for either of these things. Or the upper body strength." Audrey flexes her arms and, despite what she says, she's all lean corded muscle from hauling equipment and swimming.

"But right now, I need to find a new place to busk."

James pulls out his phone, unable to just ignore the messages. He's tried that. His father simply calls then. "That's too bad," he says distracted, as he reads over the message, then looks back at her with a curt smile. "Find a new place that is actually designated for solicitors? Such as the park or the Boardwalk. Yes?"

"Or, you know, places where people like fun." She smiles at him, still a little saccharine because he's failed to convince Audrey that he's not a dick.

James just smiles back because she's made quite an impression him too. One that will probably lead him to keep an eye out for her in the future. "I don't think I got your name," he says.

"Mm, that'll be another dollar, babe," Audrey says. She slings her guitar on her back. "Or a drink. And you don't look like you believe in fun."

"What does that mean?" James asks, somewhat affronted. Though he's not fun. It's a problem. He still couldn't believe Davin wanted to go out with him in the first place because Davin's fun. James is not fun. But she just met him. She doesn't know that.

"I mean, grumbling a harmless busker who has all of her permissions in order and basically cheating me out of an hour of honest work by arguing with me. That does not spell fun in my universe."

Never let it be said that she's always friendly, all the tme

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