We all have our FOILbles. -- For prodigalmess

[bossyboiler]

Are you still interested in fencing?

The message was straightforward and direct as was the one that followed it.

I'm catering a special exhibition match this Sunday. I have two spare passes. It'll be fun. If you want them.

The details were then sent. The main event was a tournament put on by the United States Fencing Association. The exhibition matches on Sunday were fencers from France who were not fighting with foils. Sabers were involved but not the kind that most people expected.

Kate had been hired to provide cupcakes for the fencers and judges. She had done her research on the subject. Kate wanted to impress them with their order and the four cupcake flavors that she had brought with them were unique to this event. The Gray Jedi cupcake was an earl gray cake with a honey glaze and lemon buttercream. The Dark Side was a chocolate cake with dark chocolate buttercream that had a dash of cayenne and spice. The Light Side was a vanilla cupcake with a vanilla custard filling that was topped with a caramel buttercream. The Sith was a standard strawberry cupcake with strawberry swiss buttercream but there was a piece of candy glass in the shape of a red lightsaber.

After delivering the cupcakes and setting up the displays, Kate ventured out to watch the exhibitions. She stood out slightly in that, despite the fact that she was catering the event, she was wearing tailored slacks and a button up blouse with small cupcakes printed on it. Most of the people attending were in athleisure or jeans. Her brunette hair was pulled up in a high pony-tail and tied with a ribbon.

There was no way she was going to miss out on watching the matches.

Comments

[bossyboiler]

"That sounds so much more interesting than what I collect, depression glass and antique broaches." Also, she collects weird and unusual vintage buttons. "What's your favorite piece so far?"

[prodigalmess]

"I've seen some really nice antique broaches on various auction websites." He's thought about his mother a few times when looking at them, but they're not really Jessica's taste. "I have a katana from the sixteenth century that is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It's absolutely beautiful."

He grins. "I try not to touch it too much but sometimes I can't help myself and I have to take it out of the case."

[bossyboiler]

"It's hard to tell with auction websites but if you ever come across anything Edwardian, let me know."

Malcolm is painting quite the picture inside Kate's imagination. It causes her to smile. She is picturing him playing with the sword and pretending that he's a ninja. "Do you know how to use it? You'll have to show it to me one day."

[prodigalmess]

"Sure." He tends to use reputable dealers, ones that he's worked with before in the city.

"Oh yeah," he tells her. "I'd be happy to show it to you." Malcolm notices her smile. "What?" He... might have pretended that he's a ninja a few times when he's alone in his apartment.

[bossyboiler]

They continue to walk. They are almost there.

"Oh, it's nothing." She says of her smile. "I'm just imagining you home alone and practicing. That's all." Kate turns her head to look at him, clearly amused. She's not making fun of him. Most people, she knows from experience, continue to play well into their adulthood and beyond (even if they don't admit to it). "So why weapons?"

[prodigalmess]

He rolls his eyes playfully. So much for trying to act cool about it. At least Kate doesn't seem to think he's a dork.

"I think they're fascinating?" he answers, a tinge of a question in his reply. "They're often so beautifully made... I think it's the dichotomy of something so beautiful being used for something so deadly and macabre."

[bossyboiler]

Kate is not judging Malcolm's choice of collections, she is simply curious (or nosy). "So you collect the pretty weapons?" Her brow arches a little bit wondering if that's true. Again, no judgements because most of her hobbies and interest align with pretty things.

The Narration is going to skip them ahead to where they have reached the coffeeshop, have ordered their drinks and found a table.

"Do you collect axes? I only ask because those could be considered a tool first and a weapon second."

[prodigalmess]

"The pretty ones are the interesting ones," Malcolm says. The two of them sit down at a table in the cafe, coffee cups in hand. "Why make something that's supposed to be utilitarian such a work of art?"

He takes a sip of his coffee. "I collect battle axes. Most of them are Viking."

[bossyboiler]

"Vanity. Pride. To show that you can." Kate shrugs her shoulders a little bit. It's a motivation that she is familiar with. If she was going to go through the trouble of crafting a weapon, it would first be functional then she would add decorative details. Vanity, thy name is Kate.

Kate has ordered the most basic of drinks, a vanilla latte. She takes a sip and savors the deliciousness. Coffee addict, thy name is Kate too. "Most? How many do you own?"

[prodigalmess]

He nods. "In some cases, weapons like these can be considered sacred. The warriors who wielded them might be highly trained, upper class men." Like samurai. He's got a few katana that he cherishes.

Malcolm's coffee is an espresso because he runs on caffeine. "Battle axes?" He pauses to think for a second. "Maybe ten?"

[bossyboiler]

"Just ten?" It makes Kate wonder, "How many weapons do you own?" He has to know the exact number, give or take a little. "Or should I try to guess?"

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm grins. "Too many to display all of them in my display cases," he says. "I might have lost count of the actual number."

Then it's a bit easier to lie to himself and act like he doesn't have a problem.

"I tried to buy a guillotine once."

[bossyboiler]

"Malcolm. I know we all like to have our conversation pieces but isn't a guillotine a bit much?" Kate lightly laughs and immediately raises a hand to her mouth. "Although I would pay to see some people's reaction to it."

[prodigalmess]

"What?" he asks. "It would be a great conversation piece. I'd take the blade out. Maybe." More likely he'd find a way to lock it in place so that somebody wouldn't accidentally trigger it and end up chopping their hand off. "I feel like it would really go with the aesthetic of my apartment."

[bossyboiler]

"Oh, you would not take the blade out if you were going to keep it on display. Why cut a cake with a sword when you can use a guillotine?" Because where is the fun in not having the ability to scare your guests by releasing the blade. It is a novelty to have. "What's your aesthetic? Dungeon master?"

[prodigalmess]

He laughs and grins. "More.. neo-Gothic? Modern Gothic?" Dark furnishings, books, weapons display cases and Goya paintings. "Also, I'm definitely marking that down for my next birthday: guillotine cake cutter."

Jessica would be horrified, but it's his birthday. She can deal with it.

[bossyboiler]

Kate laughs. She finds what she's about to say very amusing. "I'll make you a red velvet cake for the cutting. I'll even add a raspberry filling for a little extra gore." High society matrons may not find the idea very humorous which is one of the reasons she thinks it's so funny. "Can you imagine the look on people's faces?"

[prodigalmess]

"Yes. That would be amazing." Jessica would hate it, which makes him want to do it all that much more. "Thank you for indulging my morbid side."

All cops have a morbid side. Most often, he has to hide it because it's not considered 'polite' in society to talk about things like murder. He's glad to have a friend like Kate who lets him be who he is.

[bossyboiler]

Jessica would absolutely loathe it and find it in poor taste.

"You're very welcome." Would pink colored frosting be too much to add? Probably. Would she still include it? Probably! "Again, I would do it just for the look on their faces and then play innocent. I mean, how could I possibly know that you'd use a guillotine to cut your cake?" Kate puts on the best fake innocent expression that she can muster.

She is glad that she has reconnected with Malcolm. It's so easy to talk to him and she feels as though they have a natural rapport. She can be honest too.

[prodigalmess]

"Maybe I'll actually agree to let mother throw me a birthday party this year." Malcolm takes a sip of his coffee. "She'll have no idea what she's getting herself into."

[bossyboiler]

"You should. I'll bake you the goriest cake for cutting that I can. And then one that's actually edible." There are a lot of things she can do with molding chocolate, ganache and spun sugar. Jessica would never see it coming nor would most of the guests.

"Just so I know, when is your actual birthday?" She needs time to experiment and plan.

[prodigalmess]

"April 17th," Malcolm says. He's kind of excited now. He hasn't had a real birthday party since he was a kid.

"As much as I'd want to see her face when all of society watched a guillotine cut my cake, I really wouldn't want to invite all of society to my party. I'd rather it be people that I want to have there."

[bossyboiler]

Kate nods her head. She might have gotten a little carried away with the talk of society watching a guillotine cut a gory cake up. "Then I'll throw you one. You tell me who you want to be there and I'll send them an invitation."

Maybe she won't actually be able to get a real guillotine and if if she could, there's the issue of cleaning one. However, she knows a fair amount of people in New York. Perhaps she can have a miniature one commissioned for Malcolm. If it doubled as a bagel slicer all the better then. It would make the perfect birthday gift. "I won't invite anyone else, I promise." She means it.

[prodigalmess]

A smile crosses his face. "That's really nice of you. Thanks." He's not used to having friends who care about him enough to want to do something nice like throw him a birthday party.

"It won't be a very big party. I don't have a lot of friends."

[bossyboiler]

"I should introduce you to some of mine. Once a month we all gather and marathon Chopped. We eat cheap pizza and drink nice wines. I should warn you. We have a drinking game but it's not for the faint of heart. You might enjoy watching it though."