Rising Shards

Kitty Kilander had called Alix after Alix accidentally sent a picture of us in bed together (again, not a remotely salacious one, it was one I’d be fine having on social media even), and now she wanted to talk to me.

”Er, yes?” I said. ”Pippi speaking.”

”Kay, girl to girl, if that was the worst experience of your life, tell me and I’ll fire her ass right now,” Alix said.

”No, it was...it’s been a really nice date,” I said, giving Alix a thumbs up, which she pretended to catch in her hand and eat like I blew her a kiss.

”Oh, cool,” Kitty said. Hearing a pop star (or former pop star? she certainly wasn’t as famous as she used to be but still) ask about my sex life was pretty surreal. Hell, just her being my boss asking was probably not great, but I knew my red flags and they weren’t fully flying yet.

”I’m not even allowed to fire anyone anymore,” Kitty said, continuing before I even said anything. ”Such a stupid job, but what else am I gonna do? My tour dried up, career’s pretty much shot, so it’s like I’m stuck in principal mode now.”

”Uh...huh...” I said. ”Well, it was just a silly mistake on our date. Sorry to bother you.”

”It’s fine,” Kitty said. ”So, date, huh? How bad was she? Can I ask that?”

”Um, you may need to do that spiel again.” I said.

”Huh? Why?”

”I think you’re technically my boss,” I said.

”Whaaaaat?” Kitty asked. ”At Rising Shards? Really?”

”Yeah, I’m IT,” I said. ”Pippi Willowbee?”

”Like the computer people, got it,” Kitty said. She sighed and got her notecard out again, reading it even more robotically this time. ”Is this a conversation I can be frank with you or whatever about potentially sensitive topics and such? If not, I will disengage immediately. Or. Whatever.”

”I’m...cool with it?” I said. Why was I cool with this? Alix and I did have some machinations brewing about Kitty joining us, but surely this random call wouldn’t lead to that. Right?

”I’m so bored that this is the highlight of my day, seriously,” Kitty sighed. ”I could be doing like, Endoran stuff but it takes so much work, and it always falls apart anyways. Then all the fucking lawsuits, you know? It’s honestly easier to just do my job regular style, even if it’s boring as hell.”

”You’re not at work right now, are you?” I asked.

”No, I’m just doing my nails at my place,” Kitty said. ”And speaking of doing, how bad was she?” Kitty said.

”Pretty good, actually,” I said.

”No way,” Kitty said.

”I mean it!” I said, blowing a kiss to Alix this time. She pretended to try and catch it, also pretending to miss catching it, falling off the bed.

”What was that?” Kitty asked.

”Alix just...fell,” I said. Alix’s head popped up. ”She’s OK.”

”She probably told you, but we were kind of having a fling,” Kitty said. ”Not romantic, so I won’t get in your way.”

”Er...” I had no idea what to say to that. She just brought it up like that?

”You can say yes, it’s fine!” Kitty said. ”I told her not to tell anyone, but I know she’s probably told everyone. Was kind of hoping for another round of ’Kitty fucks’ headlines, that always gets me a boost, but even the tabloids aren’t on my ass about anything anymore.”

”Oh...dang...?” I said. What the hell was happening here?

”Yeah, it sucks,” Kitty said. ”Well, congrats on the sex.”

”Thanks...?” I said, torn between wondering if my boss should ever say that to me and giddy excitement that a pathway to Kitty joining us maybe was actually opening just a crack.

”What are you doing next weekend?” Kitty said.

”Why?” I asked.

”What do you mean why? I wanna hang out,” Kitty said.

OK, maybe the pathway was opening a little more than a crack?

”Um...you heard the part where I said Alix and I were going out, right?” I said.

”Uh huh, I won’t get in your way,” Kitty said. ”And, well. She can come with too, I guess.”

Alix and I both probably looked just as perplexed.

”Oh...uh, sure then?” I said.

”Sweet, we’ll figure it out from there, toodles and see ya darling and such,” Kitty said, quacking for a second before hanging up.

”Um...” I gave Alix back her phone. ”I don’t know if she wants a date, but she wants to hang out next weekend.”

”Well, that’s Kitty for ya,” Alix said. ”Very, very forward.”

”I’m not entirely sure she knows who I am.” I said.

”By the time we’re done with her, she will!” Alix said. She sighed in relief, flopping back onto the bed. ”Really thought that was it for me.”

I patted her head. ”All good, we’re fine. Need some help winding back down to cuddle mode?”

”Perhaps...” Alix said.

”Maybe some extra special cuddling just for Alix to make clear who my number one is if Kitty actually tries to join us?” I suggested.

Alix grinned widely. ”I think that sounds most terrific. And you’re my number one too, even if we do bring some more ingredients into the stew, as it were.”

We both giggled as we got closer, kissing, our strange date having one more twist before bed, but at least it was maybe probably a good turn.