Who: Cate, Freddy, and Iris Adler What: They are pretty princesses, tyvm When: Monday, April 8, 2019 Where: Freddy and Iris's house Warnings: Mild language
"I can't believe we had a tea party with actual tea," Cate said with a laugh, reaching up to straighten her tiara. Iris had begrudgingly gone down for a nap, but Cate had stuck around in hopes that she could chat with her brother. "Childhood has gone all bougie while I wasn't watching. When I was a kid, I had fake plastic cups and inflated food."
She sank down on the couch, not bothering to all Freddy to transfigure her shirt back yet. It would revert on its own after a little while anyway, and the green dress Iris had picked for her was rather fabulous anyway. "Thanks again for working this weekend. Or being willing, anyway. Did you and Benny figure out who was taking it?"
Freddy gave his sister a shrug as he removed the cape, a transfigured bath towel, that Iris had insisted he wear if he wasn't going to wear a dress. "Iris is very insistent upon authenticity at the moment," he commented. "I've no idea where she got it from. The crazy thing is it's not even realistic authenticity she's after but whatever she's decide is the right and proper thing."
He honestly had to admire her imagination and creativity really -- even if it meant having to dress up whenever Iris declared it time for another princess tea party. He went and joined Cate on the couch. "You know I'm happy to help out if I can. Yeah, I'm going to cover the shift and Benny's gonna watch Iris for me," he replied before grinning. "So you know Iris will be excited since she gets to spend time with her furry cousins."
Freddy looked at his sister a moment before casually asking. "So what have you got happening this weekend then anyway? Or is it a big secret?"
"Obviously she's an expert. My herbal blend was excellent." She could only assume her niece had picked it because it brewed up pink.
Cate shrugged, though she doubted the gesture looked quite as casual as she intended. It was much more difficult to pass that sort of thing off to her family than it was everyone else. "It's not a secret. I'm going to the San Francisco Flyboys season opener party with Tony. Dressing up, fancy digs, and then brunch and the match on Sunday. And yes, before you ask, it's a date-date."
"Not in what she likes however, or at least it's only for the next five minutes or so before she changes her mind," he said, exaggerating somewhat in regards to Iris' whims when it came to what she did or didn't like. And while not as frequent as five minutes her interests did seem to change -- about the only constant, at the moment, seemed to be unicorns and dragons.
Freddy let out a low whistle. "Very swanky," he said teasingly. He raised an eyebrow at the mention of Tony. That was definitely news. Not that he was worried, concerned yes but not worries, he knew well enough that Cate could take care of herself just fine. "A date-date with Tony Wyrzykowski, huh? That's new. But... huh. I thought he and Kent Brightstar had a thing?"
And there was the question, the one she knew would be coming. In some ways, it made communicating this particular information that much easier. She'd have to thank Kent and Tony later for their blatant PDA. "He is. We are. Me, Kent, and Tony. The three of us. It's a thing. So, yeah." Cate closed her mouth to stop the rambling. It wasn't that she was embarrassed, exactly, but there wasn't a really a good way to explain and normalize it.
It would've made for an odd photo, Freddy there with a stunned expression whilst wearing a very sparkly tiara. It was hard not to be stunned at that kind of news though. "Huh. That's... definitely a thing," he parroted, as he attempted to gather his thoughts into some recognisably coherent combination. "I'm not going to say I'm not at all worried because let's face it I'm your big brother and I'll always worry about you regardless. But... I'm guessing, and hoping, the three of you have at least talked about this and everything?"
Cate gave him a playful salute. "Lots of chatting. Far more than any other relationship I've ever been in. And believe me, I get it. It's not an expected thing. Which is the only reason why I'm telling you now rather than letting the rumor mill get a hold on it first." She shoved his shoulder lightly. "And congratulations! You took it better than Dad did. Cool as cucumber in comparison."
"And boy would they have a field day with this," he pointed out. "You going to be okay with that if'n they do?" Freddy snorted indelicately at the comparison. "I think I know how well Dad probably took the news. I can get why he would, and if it wasn't for trying to remind myself all the time that you're a grown woman who can take care of herself I'd have probably reacted the same."
Freddy hoped that whatever their dad's exact reaction was that Cate wasn't taking it to heart. He ruffled her hair slightly, and then immediately straightening the tiara he'd nearly knocked off her head. "You know he cares though and that he's just worried about you - the same as any of us would be, right?" he pointed out. "I'm sure Dad'll come around to it once he's used to the idea and all."
Cate waved off his reassurance. "Dad's fine. I honestly think he'd have reacted the same way if it was either of them individually, too." You didn't grow up in a town as small as this one and not hear stories, and that was doubled by the fact that drink people tended to talk. "He never really has understood how Kent and I are friends in the first place. Tony he gets as my friend, but thinks I should know better than to date him." She shrugged. "It isn't as if finding someone without a reputation would guarantee things would go better. Case in point: Jared." She turned her wrist to look down at the heart tattooed there that had covered up her first serious boyfriend's name.
Freddy gave his sister a relieved smile. Cate made a fair point, and to be honest their dad probably would've had the same reaction to any person she decided to date. "To be honest I still sometimes don't get it but I know you wouldn't be friend if you didn't get along and all. Yeah, well kind of helps that Tony seems to get along with or be friends with just about everybody." He reached out and soothingly rubbed Cate's shoulder. "True enough, and personally I'm still glad that asshole wasn't the same Jared that I'd punched back when I was kid or I'd have probably done it again. Maybe? Probably."
Leaning forward in his seat and, being mindful of where his sister was, stretched his arms out before getting up. "Now does the lovely and fair Princess Catherine the Magnificent want something else to eat or drink before she either has to leave or before our fearless leader awakens?"
Cate made a face at the mention of the Jared who'd bullied her—or, well, true—when she was a kid. It had been ages since she'd even thought about him. His family still lived around the area, but she hadn't seen much of him since he went off to boarding school. "Please. If either of them came around causing trouble now, I'd punch them."
Her dress was already starting to turn back into a t-shirt, but she smoothed what was left of the skirt as she stood. "Well, Princess Daddy of Glitterland, I could stay and talk about who I think you should be dating." She gave him a mischievous smile. "But probably better if I get to the Kestrel. I still haven't told Mom." She rolled her eyes on a way that indicated just how much she was looking forward to that conversation.
Freddy grinned proudly. "Of that I have absolutely no doubt."
If it wasn't a matter of pleasing his daughter and making her happy he could really seriously regret allowing her to be in charge of what their names were for the princess tea party. "Suddenly I'm very glad and relieved that you must leave," he responded, making a face that perfectly described his feelings about dating again. "Well, that can't go any worse than it did with Dad, right?"
Cate gave him a look. "Sure. I love her unspoken disapproval. At least it's silent." She kissed her brother on the cheek. "See you later, Freddy. Tell Princess Iris I love her and will see her later, too. Oh, and well I guess I love you, too." She stuck out her tongue and then waved before bouncing out the front door.