doesntsing | open post

Jaskier is still at home in his pajamas, raiding the fridge (such a wondrous invention!) while his family is out. Midge responds quite quickly, and he has to smile around his fork. The thank you had sounded sincere, but he couldn't be sure if she was annoyed for his stunt with Geralt('s wife). It seems he's made a good impression after all.

Indeed I did! Did you like it?

She was kind of annoyed, but she guesses that Jaskier’s motivation around telling her that Geralt is married is because he’s interested in her himself. Midge imagines that it’s tough having a friend who looks like that and it’s easy for the bard to get over looked. She’s choosing to see his very convenient mention of Geralt’s wife as flattering to her rather than selfish on his part.

I do. Midge wonders if he wrote it for her or if it’s something he already had in his notebook. I’m free tomorrow if you’d like to go to the store for your modern makeover.

That will also give her time to ask the girls about him tonight when she’s at the club.

"Fuck yeah!" he tells the empty room when she admits liking the poem. He wrote it quickly earlier just to send her something related to her art and he can already see fifty problems with it, but it's served its purpose.

Tomorrow works for me. Send me the address and we can meet there for lunch, mayhap? You could introduce me to your favorite restaurant.

Midge squints at the message on her phone. Lunch too?

Is that your way of asking me out without asking me out?

She could have just thought it, but she’s made a career out of saying what she’s thinking. Before he can send a response, she sends another message.

We can eat at the lunch counter in B Altman. It’s not my favorite restaurant, but it’s good. I used to work at the makeup counter.

[address]

I believe you already know the answer to that question.

The reply takes a few minutes to arrive. He's still learning to type, but the fact that she already said yes has filled him with glee, and he's making more typos than usual. He'd thought he'd have to beg more.

That works as well. And make-up is something you can also educate me on. Although I've already learned that men here don't wear it, same as my home world. I've worn kohl during performances, which has been risky enough. All those creams, though! They sound like something I'd adore on my skin, especially after being on windy or dry roads. I shall be your canvas, if you'll have me.

She did say yes, didn’t she? Well, it’s lunch. Midge figures that can’t hurt. She has some concerns about how many of the girls at the club he’s apparently been with and if he thinks he’s going to try to sweet talk her into his bed.

No, most men don’t wear makeup here. You can probably get away with eyeliner on stage, since it’s part of the performance. The creams are very nice though. More men should use them.

I’ll do my best to be the Henry Higgins to your Eliza Dolittle.

(Look it up.)

More men should take better care of their looks in general.

It irritates him how it's seen as a feminine trait. He likes looking good, and the world would be much happier if everyone looked good.

The next reply also takes a bit to arrive because he's looking up the names as she suggested. As soon as he reads the premise of the play, he bursts out laughing. There's a triple irony here: it kinda matches the hype-man part of his relationship with Geralt, and it makes for a funny twist to think of him as the vulgar one needing education, considering his noble background. And for the third thing--

A flower girl for the man named Buttercup. What a fitting choice on your part.

Obviously, she doesn't know what "jaskier" means, but it's the perfect chance to tease a little.

Is that what your name means? Buttercup?

That explains the flower he drew on the paper. She’ll probably stick with ‘Jaskier’ though.

She doesn't mock him for it, which continues to prove how open-minded she is. He can't wait to hear all the things she has to complain about during her act.

Indeed. A beautiful yet poisonous flower. Perfect name for a handsome poet with a silver tongue. Do you know what "Midge" means?

A man named ‘Buttercup’ is kind of ridiculous, but Midge guesses that he didn’t pick it. Plus she has better manners than to mock him.

Are you trying to use that silver tongue on me?

Feel free to run with that one, Jaskier.

A blood-sucking fly.

Yes, she’s serious. How it became a nickname for women… actually, a man probably came up with it.

But that’s technically a nickname. My real name is Miriam.

It's his turn to squint at the screen as he wonders if she's flirting back or setting up a bit of a trap to mess with him. As convenient as he finds these devices, the lack of tone and body language can sometimes make it hard to understand the messages.

Would you want me to?

The fly thing - it has to be a joke, right? Judging by the message that follows, it seems it isn't. Jaskier stares with an open mouth and realizes it'll be hard to tease Geralt for calling all his horses "roach" after this much worse naming idea.

Miriam is a lovely name. Yet you prefer Midge, regardless of its foul meaning?

As bold as Midge can be in person, there’s something about sending messages that makes a person feel even more brave. Maybe it’s because you don’t actually have to see the other person or their reaction.

Maybe. If you can convince me.

She is flirting back because, well, why not? He’s not a bad-looking guy. It’s flattering, being hit on.

I do. I picked it in high school because Miriam seems so formal and old-sounding. It’s a real nickname, despite what a midge is.

I’ve been told that Miriam means “beloved” or “wished for child”, but I’ve also been told that it means “bitter”. Take your pick.

Jaskier throws his arms in the air to celebrate, the only thing stopping him from expressing his excitement with a dirty word again being the chunk of banana in his mouth.

My witty lady has granted me a mission, one I shall take gladly. Now I can speak freely of that lovely skirt of yours and how I picture myself crawling under it.

A 'high' school - that's Cirilla's age, if Jaskier remembers correctly. So she picked her name (or well, nickname) and did it when she was a teen - another thing they have in common.

I shall not take any pick - it's your name, therefore your pick to take. And if you like Midge, then Midge I'll call you. It's a cute nickname, for the record, fitting for a cute face. The meaning took me by surprise, but I understand why young Miriam chose it.

Well. That opened the door didn’t it? She raises an eyebrow.

I knew you were having impure thoughts about me when we were in that cell.

Seriously though, we haven’t even known each other for 24 hours yet. How do you know that you want to crawl under my skirt?

Lust is simple and men aren’t picky?

I didn’t know it was also the name of a fly when I picked it. I think it’s technically a nickname for Margaret, but that didn’t matter to me.

Be right back, choking on the banana as he laughs at her reaction.

Those are rather judgmental words coming from the woman who was ready to mount my best friend outside the police station. How did you know that you wanted him to kiss your hand?

Two can play this game, missy.

Young Mirian was right, it matters not. Your name is part of who you are, it's what represents you in the outside world - it must be what feels right, Margaret be damned.

She snorts a soft laugh at that response.

Please, I’m a lady. He can at least buy me dinner first.

Sadly, the only one mounting him is his wife, who you were so quick to bring up.

Did your parents really name you Buttercup?

And have I not been a gentleman?

His wife is a literal witch, so if you think about it, I was watching over you.

An exaggeration, of course. She's not wrong about his goals behind the wife comment.

The idea of his parents naming him 'buttercup' gets a short yet very bitter laugh out of him.

Goodness, no. You're not the only one who chose a name for themselves during puberty.

You have. I invited you not to be. But I am still a lady.

She wants him to remember that, despite whatever happens between them.

He didn’t seem interested anyway, but at least now she doesn’t have a reason to turn me into a toad.

Why did you pick Buttercup?

Maybe it’s not feminine to be named after flowers where he comes from. Still, he didn’t make fun of her for the fact that her nickname is a type of fly, so she won’t make fun of him for Buttercup.

Well, at least not maliciously. Teasing is never off the table with her.

Indeed you are. A lady with plenty of wit and things to say, things I want to listen to and things that make me laugh. So I assure you that my initial lustful reaction has already grown into enjoying chatting with you. If my flirtations don't take us anywhere, I'll still be happy to have gained a new artist friend.

And that's sincere of him. He already wants to watch her on stage, but he knows that if he goes tonight, it'll be too much, considering their date tomorrow. (Is it a date anyway?)

Hey, I meant it yesterday when I said you shouldn't take his attitude personally. He's not used to being flirted with, and he was trained not to express any wants. Take it from me when I say he didn't find you unattractive.

Ah, what I explained before wasn't mere poetry - those were my reasons. The dichotomy of poison hiding behind such beauty, which I believe represents the power of words. You're a woman of many a word too - don't you agree with my conclusion?

That makes her smile. If he’s being genuine. It’s hard to tell via text whether he genuinely wants to spend time with her or if he’s just saying that in order to get under her skirt.

You two talked about me?

I do. Should I be worried about your poison, Buttercup?

She’s going to have so much fun calling him that.

That would depend on your definition of "talking", since when it comes to Geralt, that usually implies me doing all the rambling and him doing all the grunting. And that was the case last night, as usual. I told the story of what happened, and when I asked "she's pretty, isn't she?", he did his agreeing hum. That said, I could've already told you last night that you weren't the problem. I've known him for years, I can read him like a book.

But even after all those years, it still feels weird to chat about his relationship with Geralt with someone he's trying to bed. Two different corners of his heart that could be awkward if they met.

Midge calls him Buttercup, and Jaskier chuckles, the smile on his lips soft and genuine. She's adorable, and his fondness is growing by the second.

Only if you plan to hurt me or my family. Should I be worried about your comedy, Lady Vampire?

A little joke refering to the "blood sucking" part of the fly that names her.

I see. Very flattered that you think I’m pretty.

Midge knows that she’s pretty, but she tries not to use it for personal gain. She tries even harder to never use it for professional gain. If she makes it in this industry, she wants it to be on her talent, not because she slept with someone.

Only if you have no sense of humor.

I write bits about the people I know, but I think it’s pretty early in our friendship for you to be the subject of one yet.

You’ll have to wait if you want me to suck you dry.

Double entendre very much intended.

Good. Because you're stunning.

Bits about people she knows, huh? Now he's even more eager to see her act, curious about the juicy gossip. He throws his head back to laugh at the innuendo, delighted to see her play along.

As someone who writes songs about personal experiences, I can respect that. I want to joke about who may make it to each other's art first, but I suppose I'm already at a disadvantage considering the little poem I opened this conversation with.

And yet you've already trapped me in your thrall. Promises, promises.

You aren’t so bad yourself, bard.

You just probably shouldn’t stand next to Geralt too often.

It’s probably a good thing for Jaskier that Geralt is a) taken and b) not a flirt.

I don’t think I could be with a man who didn’t say much. It’d just be me talking all the time, to the point where even I would want myself to shut up.

Besides, she likes banter, which Jaskier is more than providing.

It was a sweet little poem. Thank you.

Are you performing anywhere soon?

Way to hurt me with that compliment! Who is being the poisonous flower now?

Her next words make a good point, one that Jaskier's friends have provided before. He enjoys banter as well, so everyone has always been confused by his relationship with Geralt. He wonders if sex and romance would've killed it, and his stomach turns. Better not let his thoughts wander down that road. It's in the past, even if a piece of his heart will never move on.

I've been told I don't know when to shut up, so you've met your match.

An elf-owned bar on Friday night, and the possibility of a little something on Saturday that is waiting for confirmation.

she's not completely wrong, sadly Geralt doesn't do court manners

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