Jon awoke realizing he fell asleep in the tux he wore to the Oscars. He was going to take it off last night, but then he saw a weird message on the wall above his bed. So then he was going to send Karyn a picture of it, but it was already late and he wouldn't appreciate a text notification if he were already in bed. Then he thought about it laying on his bed, but then he fell asleep.
He rolled out of bed, the tux feeling oddly restrictive in the shoulders. Beside his bed a small cupcake, devils food, white frosting, confetti sprinkles, candles burnt down, wax dribbled all over the frosting. Jon didn't care why he was being given a cupcake, he was just thankful someone remembered him while celebrating. He glanced at the wall while biting into the treat. The was was clean with no sign of sharpie markings. He must have imagined it. Checking his phone for a picture or text to Karyn... nope... a stress dream then.
He shoved the rest of the confection into his mouth, oddly ravenous despite the late snack he ate. Thinks he ate? Maybe he was hungry and dreamt that too? Under the cupcake was a card. He grabbed it and pulled it open unsure who would be giving him a card or for what. "Late labor day early Halloween?" he thought to himself with a chuckle.
It was a birthday card, a 'Happy 21st' to be precise. His next birthday wasn't until March... and he'd be 17 not 21. The off tackiness of using a birthday card out of place like this screamed dad. Opening the card, the text said "Cheers to your great achievement!" with beer mugs being clinked and the handwritten note said, "The victory is earned, The clock is turned, The blessing is made, The debt is paid" but it was unsigned and Jon couldn't place the writing.
"I appreciate the cupcake but don't understand the card." Jon called half expecting someone to be listening. No reply came. He stood up feeling like his shirt and pants shrunk since last night and he quickly removed the too small clothing since it felt on the verge of ripping. He went to his closet and pulled on an outfit which fit just fine and made note that he needed to return the rental before thinking for a moment, opening the cigar case grabbing the stone and wishing the clothes returned.
Going downstairs he made some breakfast and turned on the news listening to hear what is being said about the Oscars and offhandedly curious about the gas leak cover-up story. The news had several interesting stories but only had a small blurb about the Oscars at the end, the only footage shown was people going on the red carpet and a few awards acceptances. Jon, left the tv on as he finished breakfast, texting Karyn that he was up and could send the rental clothes back for her if she wanted.
Jon considered where his family was and grabbed some more coffee realizing he placed his plate over a note left for him. "Spending most of the day shopping, see you tonight, text if you'll be home for dinner."
Jon smiled, he has the house to himself today. He went back upstairs grabbing the cigar case which was a VIP access gift and went back downstairs grabbing his phone and coffee. He planted himself outside and lit a cigar from the case as he focused mostly on his phone taking an occasional sip from his coffee. Texting Karyn again, "Did you get any weird messages when you went to bed or woke up? Or, This one will sound crazy, did your rental clothes shrink overnight?"
Jon looked up the Oscars sure there would be something noted somewhere, but he found nothing. Something felt off to him but he couldn't quite place it. He took several more drags from his cigar and set it down on the brick grabbing his empty coffee cup for a refill. The thought occurred to him to use the stone for more, It was one thing when he was a kid, but he could have made his breakfast instantly, and countless other tasks he'd already accomplished today could have been instant and effortless.
He grabbed his half smoked cigar and continued to wait for a response from Karyn, disgusted with himself for being reduced to playing a phone game to pass the time. She finally called, as he snubbed out the last bit of his cigar. They made plans to meet in half an hour. Jon washed his hands, brushed his teeth, realized he needed a shave before going out and did so.
The pair met and they deliberated on where to go. Karyn suggested the mall or a bookstore, Jon was already getting hungry again and requested they grab food at a local pub before moving on to other adventures. In the car, Jon started another cigar as he told Karyn about the strange birthday card. Arriving at the pub, he put the cigar out upon entering and lit it back up as they went to the enclosed back patio. Karyn didn't say anything but was scrutinizing things on her phone occasionally making noises to indicate interest and thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Jon asked absently scratching his abs, appreciating his 6 pack. He was not sure if his question would interrupt her train of thought or give her the option to explain it and get her thought in order.
"You, honestly, but thinking about it is hard and I think you're in trouble."
"Trouble? I'm the best I've ever been." Jon put the cigar in his mouth and gave a winning smile.
Karyn blushed. "You are a very handsome man, but that's what I think is wrong... when did we meet?"
Jon thought for a moment and smiled. "Mrs. Perkin's 5th grade homeroom."
"Right! So, if we were in 5th grade together we were roughly the same age give or take a year. So how is it you are old enough to be graduating college and I'm still in the middle of high school?"
Jon's gaze went distant as he processed what was just said, trying to justify it. "But this is normal for me..." just then the waitress dropped off a coke for Karyn and a stein of a dark stout for Jon, "Thank you Barbara,"
"Sure thing Jon"
"See, I'm a regular here, been coming here for years." Jon gave another winning smile and drank three huge gulps of his beer.
Karyn's brows furrowed as she struggled to hold the thought... "Been coming here for years, how long ago did you turn 21?"
Finally convinced something is wrong Jon asked, "Karyn, what's going on?"
Karyn bit her lip and admitted to having a crazy sounding theory. The food came, was eaten, was cleaned up, and through it Karyn explained what she found, thought, and didn't know.
"Last night we went to the Oscars together. we found and trapped a leprechaun spirit, freeing its mortal vessel from its influence. You would think this would anger the spirit but a Leprechaun is fey and has a lifespan of centuries, so a challenge to outsmart them is like insulting your best friend because it's a good insult. It might sting, but if it can be repaired in the next decade or so, the fun of the challenge outweighs the loss. So, you made the fey magic bound while the spirit possessed that man, freeing Robert.
As the victor, you win a prize and I think you impressed the spirit by being clearly younger than the spirit and the vessel. Fae don't celebrate birthdays since they have so many, but they do celebrate milestones. You proved yourself to it, so I suspect it's giving you a coming of age celebration, fully respecting you as an adult. In our culture, the biggest coming of age celebration is..."
"Turning 21" Jon finished, Karyn nodded. "But why am I smoking and drinking, and why does it seem normal to know all the bars in town and have favorite drinks at each?"
"Well, if 21 is our culture, maybe that's part of their culture? It was presented as a blessing from what you said, and we must be very careful about how we treat a gift given by the fey. Whether you wanted it or not, this is a show of respect and admiration from the gift giver and rejecting or returning the gift is a grave insult."
"So I'm just supposed to become a man who drinks and smokes all the time?" Jon asked absentmindedly reaching into his cigar case and pulling out another cigar... "This would be easier with a pipe..."
Karyn said, "For now, yes, but I'm afraid we need to figure this out soon before our memories become something that doesn't raise questions. For example, if you and I aren't friends because of our age gap, this conversation never happened and you aren't trying to fix it. There are probably other changes that neither of us have realized and might not notice at all unless we find a way to separate the blessing from you, but keep it... Intangible things work different for the fey. You may be glamoured so shouldn't have any relationships till we figure this out."
"Hey Sparky," a sultry voice cooed. "I like seeing you here." Sparky was Jon's nickname due to his fiery red hair.
Jon smiled wide and turned as memories of their most recent and passionate fling came to mind, "Hey Vanessa, what brings you out this way? I've been missing you in passing and have wanted to rectify that soon..." the lecherous undertones impossible to miss.
Vanessa's smile widened, "I've been thinking the same thing Sparky."
"Hey Romeo, what did we just say!?" Karyn said dragging Jon back through the building and out the front. Jon was still looking back at Vanessa mouthing call me, huge smile on his face.
