zirconium

From a contemporary writer, KJ Charles. For some reason I was able to leapfrog over two holds when I looked up Subtle Blood yesterday, and from there it was off to Proper English (Think of England being truly on hold) and then to a good helping of fic at AO3 -- and it feels a bit like old times, when I was active in Elizabeth Peters and Dorothy L. Sayers fandom, what with certain turns of phrase, and some very good stories in the mix (including some fun crossovers, with Wooster/Jeeves and Miss Fisher and their like). From Subtle Blood itself:

[Will and Kim] were still kissing when the door opened and a cloud of chiffon, powder, and perfume announced Phoebe. "Oops! So sorry, Kim. Will, darling, how utterly glorious to see you!"

Will reeled back from Phoebe's scented embrace into a bear hug as Maisie caught him round the chest. "Oh, you. Missed you."

"You too," Will said wholeheartedly. "Blimey, it's good to see you. Where did you two spring from?"

"Paris, darling," they said in cut-glass chorus, and burst into giggles. Maisie grabbed his hand. "Come on. Let's sit down."

"Yes, and Kim, darling, cocktails at once," Phoebe ordered. "Of course it isn't too early, don't be silly. Goodness knows we need a drink. We came over in the most appallingly tiny machine -- with a lady pilot, I'll have you know, in trousers -- and it was positively terrifying, not to mention that my mother will find out any moment that I'm back and want to know why we aren't staying with her as if that isn't obvious."