( open ) time is tickin' I cannot waste it love

[scarcastically]

CHARACTERS: Erik Stevens + Everyone / Mingle! I’m not the boss of you.
LOCATION: Open Field near ish the Palace
DATE: Sometime in July
CONTENT: Party, drinks, dancing.
WARNINGS: N/A


( i. party hats )

[ this had been the stupidest condition of his goal, but it’s a doable one so erik handles it the way he would handle any kind of mission; single-mindedly. he gets to work and makes a couple of dozen party hats of various colours and size. some might seem too small, others too big, a few that are just right, no he doesn’t accept constructive criticism. ]

Just put the damn thing on, it won’t kill you.

( ii. food and stuff )

[ unfortunately there are constraints. if they were back in usa, setting up the supplies of food and drink would be a cinch. however, he’s working with fantasy asian cuisine, out of which he knows half of. still, his position as a nobleman’s attendant gave him a hefty salary and he put it to good use. there are plenty of caskets of booze, all the kinds he could find and various eateries and snacks. some from the palace, others he cobbled together with the use of their kitchen like basic butter cookies and wafers.

eat, drink, he’s not here to card you kids ]

( iii. dancing )

[ and of course, there’s music. lively music, slow tunes. erik managed to hire a band (like three people on instruments but details). the sun was setting, the breeze was cool and maybe for a brief moment, you want to enjoy yourself. give up your worries for a day. the light hits the flowers, giving the scenery a warm orange glow.

grab a partner and have a little fun. ]

Comments

i.

[silverneedles]

[ This is too much.

Wen Qing stares at the brightly colored, polka-dotted thing in her hands. After months of indignities and then ending up somewhere completely foreign, having some demand she wears a— a— she can't even call it a hat—

No.

She snaps the elastic cord meant to secure it, glaring at Erik. ] This can be used to strangle someone. Or create a choking hazard. No.

[scarcastically]

[ uhh. erik squints back at her, not the least bit bothered by her glare. ]

It's a party hat, princess. The worst it can do is give you a papercut.

[silverneedles]

[ Narrows her eyes, still glowering at him. ] I am not a princess.

[ Fidgets with the party hat, then forces herself to stop. ] Is wearing one required for the party?

[scarcastically]

Could have fooled me.

[ who goes on a rant about paper hats? ]

And no, I guess not. It's up to you.

[silverneedles]

It was not my intent to fool anyone.

[ she does, obviously. look at them! they're ridiculous. she twists the hat she holds in her hands, still dubious. ] If they are not necessary, then why offer?

[scarcastically]

[ he rolls his eyes. ]

They're just part of my personal goal, s'all. It's a kid's thing at parties.

[silverneedles]

[ she starts to snap at him not to roll his eyes, only to press her lips together for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. ]

Your goal is to get people to wear these... party hats?

[scarcastically]

My goal was to make 'em. Don't think wearin' them or not makes a huge difference.

But I don't like wastin' shit and they ain't half bad.

[silverneedles]

[ The casualness of his speech gets him a look, although her glare certainly isn't as intense this time. ] What a ridiculous goal.

[ But she's encountered even more ridiculous before, so she places it on her head, slightly off-center so her guan doesn't get knocked askew. She bows, then heads for the liquor table, the entire reason why she even showed up. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik's speech patterns are deliberately rough and ramshod. it leaves people with a particular opinion of him, one he cultivates and carries with ease. it's not hard to make people think less of him. or think nothing of him at all.

weird though. after all that fuss, she took the hat anyway. he revises his opinion carefully. just in case. ]