( 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

[winscenario]

[ Good, laughing is good. It makes Jim immensely pleased that he's managed to get that out of Erik, and he beams as he takes his arm and urges him over to where people are dancing. ]

I'm better at dancing than rhyming, I'll have you know. I hope you can keep up with the flow.

[scarcastically]

Yeah? I'm gonna hold you to it.

[ erik's not bad. his training is well-rounded but he doesn't do it for fun. ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim doesn't answer this time, instead smiling and focusing on the dance rather than some silly rhymes. He moves to face Erik, resting one hand on his shoulder and taking his other one in a loose hold. He's not sure how formal the dance should be, but something like this is probably what works best with the music. ]

[scarcastically]

[ for a moment, erik's expression flickers, not used to being touched. it's been some time since linda and even then, it was . . . just a means to an end.

I'm sorry, Erik.

instead, he relaxes, placing one warm palm at jim's waist. ]

[winscenario]

[ The shift in Erik's expression is enough to make Jim's movements stutter for a moment. He seems to relax soon after, but he still tilts his head, setting the whole rhyming thing aside for a second. ]

Everything alright?

[scarcastically]

Yeah. S'all good.

[ he shakes his head, pushing it back. ]

Just thinkin' about how this is the closest I've been to someone.

[winscenario]

No it's not. Come on.

[ Jim just assumes Erik means physically, but either way, it sounds kind of surreal to him. ]

Really?

[scarcastically]

[ he shrugs. ]

Just never had much luck in that area.

[winscenario]

Kind of hard to imagine that, I'll have to admit.

[ Erik's been pretty friendly so far, charming in a unique way too. Plenty of people are attracted to that. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik smirks. ]

It's just circumstance. Not what I'd call a personal failin'.

[winscenario]

No, not at all. I didn't mean to imply that.

[ His lips curl into a smile, and he shrugs. ]

Lucky me, then, huh?

[scarcastically]

Very lucky. You better take it for what it's worth.

But I'm also the lucky guy who heard you bust some rhymes, so it goes both ways.

[winscenario]

Don't worry, I never let a good opportunity slip from my grasp.

[ He lets a part-laugh, part-groan at that. ]

Well, shit. Guess I've failed on that one by now.

[scarcastically]

[ erik gives a sharp laugh. ]

Well, you held on for pretty damn long. You should be proud.

[winscenario]

I'd be more proud if I'd managed to do it for the whole two hours, but it's fine.

[ He did get this small yet genuine moment with Erik, so screw it. He can always try again later. ]

[scarcastically]

[ he smiles, teeth flashing. ]

You can do it.

[winscenario]

I'll try again later. [ He shrugs. ] I'm enjoying myself right now.

[scarcastically]

Yeah?

[ his hands tighten briefly. ]

. . . So am I, actually.

[winscenario]

I'm glad to hear. It'd suck if it was just one of us.

[ Jim presses his lips in, giving their steps a little sway while they dance. ]

We can always do it again, some other time. Not necessarily dancing, just... hanging out. Doing something you like.

[scarcastically]

[ erik hums under his breath. he's not sure what to make of that, but it doesn't feel inherently untrustworthy. just . . . strange in ways he doesn't want to examine.

or he's just a passing fancy. that's been known to happen. ]

We're surrounded with magic and aliens and you wanna hang with me? Bold choice.

[winscenario]

[ Or it could be that Jim just genuinely enjoys his company. That's a perfectly plausible option. ]

I've been surrounded by aliens my whole life, [ He points out. Magic's the only new thing so far. ] Anyway, I didn't mean right now. I don't think that we'll get a lot of quiet downtime while we're here. Maybe once we're back at the station, though.

[scarcastically]

[ nah, sounds fake. erik rolls his shoulders. ]

Sure. I'm up for it.

[winscenario]

Great! I'll be holding you to it.

[ Actually no, he obviously wouldn't push Erik to follow through if he didn't want to, but he'll definitely remind him of it once they're back. In the meantime he can take the time to wonder whether or not this is a date. Anyway. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik huffs, amused. ]

I ain't going nowhere. And — [ he's careful but dips jim in one swift motion. ] — I was promised a dance.

[winscenario]

[ Jim doesn't get the time to say anything; he's dipped back suddenly enough that he lets out a surprised sound, laughing while his arm clings tighter around Erik's shoulders. ]

Thought— that was what we were doing!