For SmilingDiana. And a Happy New Year to all of you.

"So..................." (Y/n) began, finally breaking the silence that had fallen over the scene. She had to admit that this wasn't something that she thought that she would be seeing or doing today, as she made her way through the snow to get to her store. Clowns had never really been her favourite thing, not even when she was little. It was nothing against the man across from her, it was just a fact. It was the face paint more than anything. She didn't like the fact that she couldn't see their real face, it feeling as though they were hiding something. (Y/n) even recalling a birthday party that she had been invited to when she was eight, where a man dressed as a clown suddenly loomed up on her, and ended up with a very sore shin, as she kicked him and then ran away.

"Is being a clown a funny job....................?" (Y/n) continued. Shaking her head at her own terrible comment.

"Sorry, that sort of sounded wrong. I didn't mean that to sound insulting or anything.................." She apologised; not really sure what else to say, as her eyes focused on the mug of tea in her hand.

"It..............its fine................it..........it can be fun sometimes. When the children are nice." Arthur replied, he himself very much focused on his tea.

"Yeah, I bet. Kids can be really awful sometimes. Downright evil on the odd occasion, if you ask me. I don't know how you do it. How you put up with a bunch of over privileged little snots, and still not strangle them." (Y/n) chuckled, as she finally looked up from her tea.

She couldn't help but smile. This Arthur did look a little funny. He was sat there on the sofa appearing slightly uncomfortable, dressed in his costume with still most of his face paint on, yet now with a mop of longish brown hair instead of the crazy, curly green stuff. But it wasn't just that, it was that she had thought someone that was a clown would be a little more............confident. That given your job was literally to.......well, clown around all day and perform for a group of demanding kids, she would have thought he would be more talkative, more open. Less nervous. But perhaps that was why he was quiet. That was why he appeared slightly timid. Because he had to be zany and outspoken the rest of the time, and under all that paint and crazy outfit, he was just a naturally shy person, and the clown persona allowed him to be something more without fear of embarrassment.

"I've been tempted a few times..............." Arthur replied. Finally looking up as the woman across from let out a ripple of very amused laughter at his remark.

He couldn't help but find himself smiling. He could only imagine that all this must be a little strange, especially him being there to advertise her business, and her having no idea about it. But she wasn't angry at him, and she said that said that she wouldn't let her brother complain to Hoyt; so, he didn't have to fear going back into work at the end of the day. She had invited him in so that he wouldn't freeze to death and said that he could stay there for the rest of the day. That, and this (Y/n) was laughing so beautifully. And not laughing at him, like so many other people would, but laughing at what he had said. And he liked that. He hadn't meant it to be a joke, but maybe that was why she had found it so funny.

"I can imagine that you have, and I can't blame you. You could always turn balloon animals into pairs of handcuffs..............? Either that, or if you do that trick of pulling all the handkerchiefs out of you pocket, you could use it to gag and then tie them to a tree and just sit back.............." (Y/n) replied, still chuckling at his remark. Arthur feeling a little more emboldened by how open and welcoming (Y/n) was being. Feeling a little more confident, as she continued to chuckle.

"I............I never thought about that. Maybe next time, I'll try it..............."

"You should. It would definitely make for a different kind of birthday party. Though it might ruin your chances of getting hired again." (Y/n) chuckled again. Arthur sure that his heart had skipped a beat, as she bit her bottom lip. Her eyes sparkling with an interesting kind of mischief.

"So............is business so slow, that you have to take a job spinning a sign outside a store in weather that could turn you into a giant popsicle?" (Y/n) enquired, as she settled her laughter and took a drink of her tea. She was starting to become intrigued now by the man that sat across from her. What would make him stand outside in a costume that didn't look any thinker than a one ply tissue? Admittedly, she knew that people had to do what they had to do to survive. That you needed to make money to ensure that you could keep a roof over your head. But in the current polar temperatures, even the hookers on the street corners had more sense to cover up. Would even huddle around burning barrels to fight off the cold until a customer came along. (Y/n) having even heard one woman tell a perspective John, that if he didn't have a heater in his car, they weren't going anywhere.

"No............we just get all sorts of jobs. It's not just birthdays, we.........we do all sorts of things. Spin signs, hand out flyers. I even have a.........a friend, he dresses up as things like Cupid for Valentine's Day, a Leprechaun for Saint Patrick's Day and an elf at Christmas. I even do little shows for the sick kids at the hospital..................."

"I thought you were going to say that you dress up as Cupid too.........now that would be something I wouldn't mind seeing................." (Y/n) interrupted. Turning bright red, as she finally realised what she had said.

"Oh Arthur, I didn't................I didn't mean because you'd be half naked or anything.............I meant.............I..........oh jeez, perhaps I should just stop digging myself into this hole. I might just end up in China if I don't." She tried to explain. Now laughing at herself out of embarrassment.

She couldn't understand it. Normally she wouldn't blush when she came out with remarks such as that. She had always been a little outspoken and sometimes said things that just popped into her head without a care. But the man that sat, still nursing his cup of tea, seemed so sweet, so innocent, that it felt wrong saying things that even sounded slightly naughty.

"It..........it's ok, (Y/n). I've never had to dress up like Cupid, but if I ever do, I'll be sure to send you an invitation." Arthur replied. The blush to his cheeks becoming as bright as the one that graced (Y/n)'s skin.

"I might just keep you to that promise, Arthur. Now.........its nearly lunchtime, and I had no breakfast this morning. So, why don't I go and get us something from the diner across the way, and you can tell me more about you while we eat............" (Y/n) said, feeling slightly less embarrassed now, as she slowly got to her feet.

"I..........I'd like that.............." Arthur agreed. Sure, that he had never expected his day to turn out this way, when he had got up that morning.