jamesthorn | (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

"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

"So this is your only job?" James asks because if it is, he actually would feel marginally bad about making her move. "You sing on the street?"

"And spin in clubs and play any bar mitzvah, prom, sweet sixteen, or wedding that hires," she says, not bothering to care when he's inevitably unimpressed. "Passion doesn't put food on the table. I mean unless you're a really artistic cannibal."

"My brother paints," James says because it's the only reasonable thing he has to add to the conversation, as he himself is not artistic or musical or anything like that. He actually finds Daniel's art phase somewhat silly, but his brother hasn't grown out of it yet. "But I think his trust fund puts food on his table."

"Aren't you lucky?" Her tone plants a flag into the middle ground between sweetness and barely disguised contempt.

"Well, since some of us gotta work for a living, I'll see you around, Trust Fund."

James recognizes that look on her face, and he can't help defend himself slightly. "Hey, I do actually have a job," he says, certain that's probably not going to matter.

"Yeah, flashing your badge and scolding honest people off the street."

Guitar on her back, she starts walking, already checking out her phone to look at the current state of her bookings and options.

He follows after her because she's headed in the same direction his car is parked. "I didn't flash my badge at you," he protests, and then adds after a second. "Much."

Rolling her eyes, Audrey just keeps walking. Why does he have to follow?

"You already got what you want. I'm leaving, aren't I?"

Now James feels like he's been a proper jerk, and it's very possible that he has. This is why, June, his baby sister tells him, he's never going to find someone to marry him. He appreciates her honesty on that front, and it's likely true. "Look, I'm---sorry. I didn't mean to be rude," James says.

"Yeeahh, but you were. So..." Audrey looks at him over her shoulder and gives him an exaggerated shrug that practically challenges him to actually do something that makes up for it.

James sighs because he had been rude, and his foul mood over this dinner for Daniel had caused him to make a very bad impression on this complete stranger. "I know. I'm apologizing," he says. "Let me buy you a cup of coffee. For being a jerk."

She pulls up short then, eyebrow raised, because he's been a total asshole but now he's offering to try and make up for it.

Maybe she can get a whole meal out of this guy.

"Yeah, okay."

There's a decent coffee shop just up the block, and he leads the way there uncertain if she's actually going to come with him. "I would like to say I'm not always like this, but that's probably not true," he says.

"I'm guessing that'd be like me saying I'm not always a trashy musician with chronic motor mouth, huh?"

Audrey's following him, mostly out of curiosity. She knows this shop and nods as he steps in, "Ever had the chocolate cake here?"

"Hmm. I don't know. Are you...a trashy musician with a chronic motor mouth?" he asks as they enter the coffeeshop. He means it as something of a joke because he guesses that's what she is if she says it. He looks around at the fairly empty shop, as he pulls away his scarf. "I've been in here a couple times. It's it a cliche to say I've only had the donuts?"

Audrey raises an eyebrow at him and gestures at herself, all torn jeans and the guitar case on her back. What else can she be besides a trashy musician. "Cops and donuts, huh? Maybe you should vary up your routine."

He walks up to the counter and orders a couple slices of chocolate cake and coffee for them both. "Vary up the routine? I'll try to keep that in mind," he says taking his cup of coffee he ordered over to the condiment area to dump in some cream and sugar.

"Yeah, like tipping the charming street musician instead of scaring her off," Audrey teases. "But I guess that's what the coffee and cake are for."

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jamesthorn - 2015-02-18 02:49 (UTC) - Expand

dj_esebel - 2015-02-18 04:19 (UTC) - Expand