( 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]

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!

[scarcastically]

[ erik grins, the gold in his teeth catching the light. ]

Then you better step it up.

[winscenario]

Well, since you're asking for it.

[ With that he pulls up and steps closer, steps quickening while trying to get Erik to pick up pace and catch up to him. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik chuckles, picking up his pace. ]

Only way I know how to get things.

[ this is a bald lie. erik rarely asks anymore. he usually just takes. ]

[winscenario]

Really.

[ Jim doesn't sound all convinced. ]

I can think of a few other ways.

[ And not all of them involve doing morally questionable things, Erik. ]

[scarcastically]

Yeah?

[ debatable. ]

Why don't you name a few, then?

[winscenario]

Well— you could use your charm. Or you could gamble for it. You could always take, but I'd rather do that when I know it won't be unwelcome.

[ Which is to say that Jim appreciates assertiveness, but not so much forcefulness or entitlement. ]

[scarcastically]

Those options aren't always available at the same time.

[winscenario]

Mm, that's true. [ He presses his lips and shrugs. ] Guess it depends on what you want, how badly you want it, and why.

[scarcastically]

In my life, if you don't want somethin' bad enough, it'll never come to you.

[ to work for it, to want it completely at the expense of everything else is the only way erik has known to make things wor. because there's nothing in the system nothing in the hearts of people to help. ]

[winscenario]

I've never liked waiting for the things I want to come to me, honestly.

[ But he's definitely not a 'means justify the ends' kind of person. ]

[scarcastically]

Yeah?

So how do you get 'em?

[winscenario]

I ask very nicely.

[ He grins at Erik. ]

[scarcastically]

Hmm. Dunno what that looks like.

[winscenario]

[ Squinting, ] So which is it? Is asking the only way you know how to get things, or do you never ask for what you want?