Age is a Number, Silly. Who: Felicity and Rupert What: Business lunch When: Friday noonish Where: Rupert’s office Warning: None
Felicity hadn’t gotten the full story why Rupert had taken Tuesday off. Considering the man never took time off, even when he was sick, it had to be important. Whatever it had been, must have been very important. She’d given Izumi the day off as well, since she could manage her own small caseload herself. The younger woman had a baby she probably could use an extra day off with, or maybe the young single mother used the day for some well needed me time. She wanted to make sure Rupert was all right. Emotionally and mentally as well as physically. Plus they had a few cases to discuss and the usual for a business lunch.
She’d walked over to pick up lunch at the little Chinese place on the corner. Their food was really good, but Felicity tried not to eat there more than once a week, because it wasn’t very healthy. Today was a good day for an exception though. Armed with food, she knocked on Rupert’s office door. When he answered, she let herself into the room. “Hey,” she greeted as she walked over to his desk and set the grease stained paper bag on it. “You ready for an unhealthy business lunch?” Unhealthy in more than one way, meals should be relaxing. But such was life. She settled into one of the chairs across from him. She’d gone with a much healthier alternative, the only greasy thing in her lunch was the two egg rolls she couldn’t resist. She had steamed rice and vegetables with grilled pork. Her concession to it not being her designated ‘kill my arteries’ day. “So how’re you?” she prompted as she dropped a napkin in her lap and pulled apart her chopsticks.
Rupert was exhausted. There was just too much being dumped in his lap all at once. He now had a whole new clientele base of nutters simply because his sister started dating a hunter. Rupert had to admit he liked the young man somewhat, but he was also cautious. The Lasko name was one that supernatural creatures feared for centuries. That family had killed more of them than Rupert could really wrap his head around. And his little sister was dating one. If that had been all of it, he could deal, but it was not. He had a kidnapping victim, a murder, and a vampire victim all dumped in his lap as well. His life had become a snare of shite. He desperately needed a vacation.
He looked up at his co-worker Felicity came into his office. The smell of Chinese food hit him and he let out an appreciative sigh. "You are a Goddess among women." he told her with a tired smile and made room for their lunch. He wasn't so worried about killing his arteries. He loved food too much. "How am I....Well, that is a bit of a loaded question." he said with a small chuckle and a shake of his head as he broke apart his own chopsticks and digging into his food. "I would say better now for lunch, but bloody well fucked in all other aspects of my daily life." She would know it was a bad day if he was swearing.
Loaded question, huh? “Uh oh,” Felicity said, starting to mix up her food in the container with her chopsticks. Especially since he was swearing. “You want to talk about it?” she asked, then took a bite of her food. Felicity was overweight and had a family history of heart disease. She had more to worry about than skinny old Rupert, who was one of those guys who ate what they wanted and never gained a pound.
Rupert sighed as he took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead. "I do, but considering the nature of some of it, I'm afraid to put you in the same position that I am in." In their line of work they were supposed to go to the police if they suspected anything that would or had caused harm to their patient or others. Needless to say if anyone found out what he knew and turned him in, he would spend a very long time in prison.
Felicity shook her head. “You know me better than that, Rupert,” she reminded him. He knew about her brother and the fact she would never turn him in even though he’d accidentally killed their parents on his first full moon. The laws didn’t compensate for things like that, until they changed, exceptions had to be made. Besides, there was priviledge as well. “If it’ll make you feel better, we can go in to my office and use my couch, then I can cite confidentiality.” She smiled at him to let him know she was joking. “Tell me,” she said. “Maybe I can help and you know I’d never do anything behind your back when you confided in me. If it’s bugging you that much, you need to get off your chest. Right, doctor?”
Rupert chuckled a bit then let out a sigh. "Alright." Felicity could handle it, he knew, he just wasn't one to confide in people. Ironic, wasn't it? "The cliffnotes is my sister started dating a hunter. Said hunter's brother's girl got herself taken by some nutter, and in turn my sister's boyfriend family killed him. During all this I had a young girl thrown into my lap who has had her entire memory wiped by a vampire." That was just the summery and even to Rupert it sounded like a huge mess. "Bloody hell, what have I gotten myself in to?"
She nearly dropped her chopsticks when he explained all of that. That was... okay, that definitely qualified for well fucked. But it couldn’t be all that bad, or Rupert would still be at home trying to talk sense into Jayne. “Sounds like you had some week,” she observed. “I have a billion questions, but who wouldn’t. I’m assuming said hunter knows Jayne’s a witch and is okay with this fact? Also, you don’t seem to think she’s in imminent danger. Unless you’ve locked her in her room and set an army of ghosts there to guard her.” More teasing. He looked like he needed it. “I don’t know what to say about the second part, you know how I feel about violence.” As for the last one. “But I might be able to help you with the girl who’s memories have been erased. Do we know anything about her at all?”
Rupert let out a sigh. His life really was getting complicated. "Jayne's bloke wants to stop hunting, as do his siblings, well, most of them anyway. He knows she's a witch and is alright with it and it's not like I can keep her from seeing him. She is an adult." He took another bite of his food and a swig of soda before speaking again. "As for the girl, not a clue who she is. They call her Mouse. And to make things more complicated, Jayne's bloke's eldest brother and this girl are involved with one another romantically."
“But you’re concerned because even if he’s done, who knows how many people he’s hurt who might come around looking for revenge?” she prompted. “I can understand why you’re a bit upset. But if he and his siblings want to quit, it’s probably better to encourage them. Less hunters around is better for everybody.” That was a more positive way to look at it. As for the girl called Mouse. “That could be a good thing too,” she pointed out. “If he’s supportive and helping her gives him something to do other than hunt, then she’ll have someone to be there as well. Have you met this brother? Is he one of the ones who wants to quit hunting?”
Rupert sighed and leaned back in his seat. "I can protect my family from whatever might look to harm us. You don't get as old as I am as a medium without knowing a few tricks." He had spent years on his abilities and could even give a ghost enough energy to take corporeal form for a time. And nothing can hurt a ghost. "The eldest, his name is Joshua...He's the most blind to what they are...I'm hoping the girl can help him as much as he's helping her..."
Felicity nodded. “The you’re just stressed out because he was a hunter, then?” she asked. “Or because you can’t stop her from getting involved with someone who’s potentially dangerous to her?” Really, either or both was understandable. As potential bad boyfriends went, this was probably one of the worst ones Jayne had picked, at least history-wise. “So what’s he like, except for being a hunter?” Because that really wasn’t as important as if he was good to Jayne. She nodded and took a few bites of her food as he explained. “Make it a group effort?” she suggested. “Tell him if he wants to help her, he has to help himself. Teach them both things to empower each other and themselves. Sounds like a good plan to me.”
The British man rubbed his temples. "He's a caring man, cares about his family, cares about my sister...I can't fault him for any of that. He's....older than her. By much more than I care to like. Closer to my age than hers. If it was just that, I could handle it, but I worry for Jayne. Hunters are not people to be mixed up with, especially seeing as she's a witch and myself and my daughter are mediums." That was another thing bothering him. Odette was coming into her powers. He had hoped she would be human, like her mother. He didn't wish his particualr gift on anyone, much less his daughter. "It;s just so much all at once. I'll be putting Mouse in the hospital as we know nothing about her to make sure she's healthy, and seeing as Josh is with her, I do hope to use that to get him the help he needs as well."
There it was. He was much older. Which also explained why he was oblivious to a certain female co-worker’s obvious crush on him. Felicity’s brows raised. “How old is he?” she asked. “Because when its consenting adults, which Jayne is, age matters a lot less. Especially if he’s good to her.” She nodded. “She’s a smart girl. Plus if he cares about her, he’ll help protect her. Those skills he picked up can be used for that as well. A much better use, if you ask me.” Felicty nodded again. “I’ll go and visit them if you want. He’ll probably find me less intimidating, seeing how I’m female and not supernaturally talented in any way. Maybe I can get him to open up and talk a bit.”
Rupert shrugged. "I think 27 or so. Honestly I've felt like I've been going bloody mad with everything going on." He looked to Felicity with a smile. "I would be grateful to the help with this lot. I think some of them would feel more comfortable talking with a human. Thank you." he said. "Now, what is it that you've been dying to talk about with me since you walked in the door?" he asked with a knowing smile. He was very good at what he did and he could read her body language.
“That’s not closer to your age,” she pointed out. “It’s still significantly older, but its not as bad as you made it out to be.” Which wasn’t completely surprising. His baby sister was involved with an older guy who was at least until recently, a hunter. “All you had to do was ask, Rupert,” Felicity reminded him. “They probably will. Especially since I’m also a woman, which makes me less of a threat in people’s eyes. And I have no ulterior motive, like you might considering one of his siblings is dating your sister.” She chuckled and took a few more bites of food. “Well, speaking of large but insignificant age differences, you had Izumi worried sick on Tuesday, as you never take time off or cancel appointments. I gave her the day off, but you might want to talk to her and let her know everything’s all right. Or alternately, everything’s not all right and you need someone to talk to. Maybe quit pretending you don’t know she’s attracted to you and you’re not attracted to her and ask her out?”
Of all the things he expected for her to say, he was certainly not expecting that. Izumi. Their receptionist. Rupert had noticed how beautiful she was the first moment he met her. She was not only beautiful, but smart, kind, and a wonderful mother to her son. To Rupert, she was the perfect woman. But it was completely inappropriate. He was her boss and older than she by quite a bit. "Izumi is a lovely girl, but really Felicity, she can't be interested in me." he said with a shake of his head.
“Why not?” Felicty challenged. She knew for a fact the girl did and was simply too insecure to approach him. “You’re quite the catch, after all. A doctor with his own successful practice, good looking, well mannered and you have that cute little girl who any woman would love to be the mommy of. Izumi is a sweet girl and a good mother. But she’s too shy to approach you because you’re her boss and she’s thinking you couldn’t be interested in her. You both are on the same page, but in the wrong book.”
By this point Rupert's face was completely red. He had daydreamed of asking Izumi out before, but he couldn't see someone so young and beautiful with something like him. Of course, Felicity was pointing out all the good things about him. "I don't even know how to date anymore, Felicity." he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She'll laugh at me..."
“It hasn’t changed that much,” she pointed out. “You ask the girl to the movies, out to dinner or one of those boring professional functions we all hate going to. Not that hard, Rupert.” She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the excuse. “If she laughs at you, it’s probably going to be shock because you finally asked her out. You know, the ‘I can’t believe I’m this lucky’ giggle.” She took another few bites of food, fully expecting more excuses.
Rupert ran his hand through his hair. He knew Felicity wasn't going to let it go until he agreed. She was a stubborn woman that way. "Alright, alright. I'll ask her to dinner. I'm not a fan of the cinemas." he said, raising his hands in defeat.
She sighed. “Oh, like its such a horrible thing,” she pointed out. “Geeze, Rupert. Taking a nice girl out on a date will be fun. If you let it be. Tell me under the gut wrenching nervousness you aren’t a little excited?” Really, he was behaving like a shy teenager.
"The last time I had a date Izumi was in pigtails." he pointed out. "But since this was your idea, Miss Felicity, you get to watch the kids." he said pointing his chopsticks at her. "And I don't want Odette to know I'm going on a date. I don't want to get her hopes up with anything." His biggest worry was his daughter. She was everything to him and he didn't want to rock the boat with everything going on.
“She’s not in pigtails anymore,” Felicity pointed out. “She’s a grown woman. And I’d love to babysit. But if I’m watching both of them, then I don’t think that deception is going to work. Since she’ll know you’re out with Izumi. You should just be honest with her and tell her that you’re trying it to see if you both like it. She’s going to get her hopes up, especially after a night of playing with Noah.” She took a couple of bites of food. “I know you’re afraid of getting burned again, but Izumi is not your ex. Don’t punish her with your doubt because of what that woman did to you and Odette. Go into this with an open mind and open up your heart too while you’re at it.”
"Have you considered a career as a match maker?" he asked with a perked eyebrow. "I'll do my best. I have to ask her first, don't I? She could just as easily say no and then all this will be irrelevant." His eyes flicked to the clock. "Well, I have an hour before my next appointment so I best head to the flower shop." he said as he stood up and buttoned his suit jacket.
Felicity rolled her eyes. “I am just doing this because if I have to watch you two stare longingly at each other like lovesick teenagers, I might scream,” she told him. “Quit acting like this is such a chore. She will say yes and and you will both have a lovely time. If you let yourself.” But he was moving. “Good start. See? You have this down already.”
Rupert gave her a crooked smile. "I'll let you know what night you need to watch the kids." he said then stuck out his tongue at her before heading out of the office. He would get her a bouquet of wild flowers. Not too pushy like roses, but not too generic either. Rupert really like Izumi and while he needed the push, now that he had it, the good doctor was going to go for it.