THE MOMENT
"Of course you don't know me," the elderly fairy smiled as she hovered in front of Lorenzo. He'd been cursing his luck and walking through the back alleys specifically to avoid people. He wasn't in the mood for interactions and he was just trying to get home to cool off when the fair appeared out of nowhere.
Lorenzo's world had changed recently, the fae were revealed to be real. He didn't have the patience to be awed anymore, fairies were now just another facet of everyday life.
"But, I most certainly know you," she said. "You look like you're in a pretty bad spot, and I can help!" she said. Of course she could; she was a fairy. Lorenzo knew better than to deal with them.
"I'm not interested," he shook his head and moved to walk around her.
"You're just as stubborn as your great grandfather," the fairy chittered with mirth as she fluttered around him. Lorenzo paused and his eyes followed her with a stern gaze. He visibly relaxed. His shoulders dropped and he stuck his hands in the front pockets of his hoodie.
"You knew my great grandfather?" He asked. He knew it was unlikely bordering on impossible; but, she'd caught him in just the right mood to engage. He thought it would be entertaining at least.
"Oh my, yes," the fairy nodded.
"Can you...,' he started to ask, then glanced up and down the alley. It was still early evening and there were pedestrians walking by on both sides and any of them could have decided to cut through the alley at any time. Lorenzo tilted his head and stepped back further into a dead end away from the main alley. "... tell me about him?" he asked.
"Oh my, oh my where to begin!?" she flew forward eager to share her story. "I have watched over your family, been your family's Fairy Godmother, for generations. I was there when your ancestor, Cinderella, went to a grand festival and fell in love with a prince," she sighed wistfully at the thought.
"How does that work?" Lorenzo asked.
"I'm a fairy. I'm basically immortal," she replied.
"Chroma Corp. opened the magical veil...,' Lorenzo shook his head with a chuckle. "I know that much about you. I meant, how does you being my family's Fairy Godmother work? This is the first time I've ever heard of you. Bang up job of watching over me so far," he added just to get the frustration out of his system. He knew it wasn't her fault; but, it was nice to have a target anyway.
"Well,... there is a reason for that. And, you're right, and I'm very sorry...," she shook her head. "It's funny that you mentioned Chroma Corp. They're the reason I was cast out of fairy society," she said.
"Nooooo, couldn't be," Lorenzo shook his head while trying not to smile. Knowing fairies existed was one thing, but he'd never extensively interacted with any and he didn't know if she could spot his sarcasm.
"Oh yes! They're a very evil company! Ever since they invaded, all the other Faries only care about...," she dropped her voice and scrunched up her face to show utter disapproval "...money! Blech!"
"You don't care about money?" Lorenzo asked as he pulled his hands out of his pocket. He didn't want her to get suspicious, but he did want to keep her there with her back to the open alley. He idly wondered if he was actually outsmarting her, or if she still had something up her sleeve that he didn't expect.
"I don't, not one bit, not at all," the fairy shook her head. "But, I do need some," she added another extra-exasperated sigh. She flew closer to him and gave him sorrowful eyes.
"It's why I haven't been able to help you! I was kicked out of my Court and I can't get back in without paying the membership dues. If I had full access to my power, it'd be a cinch to pay you back! But, I can't get back in without $10,000."
"Wait a minute...," Lorenzo met her eyes; but, he couldn't believe things were that easy. "...Let me make sure I got this right. You're saying if I gave you $10k to get back into your Court, you can use that to fix my life like a proper Fairy Godmother?" he asked loudly and with a stiff tone. "Do you promise?" he asked.
"OF COURSE!" the Fairy nodded with eager glee. "On my magical word, I promise to help."
"Well, if you're promising...," Lorenzo grinned and nodded; except, his eyes were focused on something beyond the fairy. "...then you probably promised everyone else too," he said. The fairy yelped when a translucent purple bubble suddenly appeared around her.
"That, she most certainly did," a policeman nodded with a chuckle as he affixed the sphere into a sort of metal frame. As soon as it was slotted in, extra runes appeared on the bubble to reinforce the magic holding her. "Thank you, fair citizen, for reporting your location and scam in progress. I already know this little winged grifter has a fair bounty on her capture; you'll be receiving quite the reward," he chuckled as he turned away with the imprisoned fairy in hand. Lorenzo resumed his trek home with his mind on dinner.