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

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. ]

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[ 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. ]

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. ]

Yeah?

[ debatable. ]

Why don't you name a few, then?

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. ]

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

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

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. ]

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. ]

Yeah?

So how do you get 'em?

I ask very nicely.

[ He grins at Erik. ]

Hmm. Dunno what that looks like.

[ 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?

I'm just saying I haven't seen you ask nicely. Needs more frills.

[ he's teasing, obviously jim has been very nice. ]

I’m sorry? I asked you very nicely for a dance.

Or is there something else I should be asking for?

I'm just a tough act. And technically, I agreed to a dance to save you from rhyming.

I thought you liked my rhyming. [ A pause. ] And dancing with me.

[ erik could be mean. he's tempted because this is dangerous. getting people close is dangerous.

but he's alive. there's no more people to fight. what would he choose to do? ]

. . . Guess I do.

Good.

[ He’d have been admittedly disappointed if Erik had chosen to be mean or tell him otherwise. Especially since he’d be fairly sure it would be a load of crap. ]

That’s always an auspicious start.

[ but where will it lead to? ]

This is the place for it. We're all workin' on ourselves here.

Or for ourselves. Depends on what each of us is more focused on here.

[ Jim's more focused on helping in any way he can, particularly when it comes to everyone else's survival for however long they're here. Can't be much of a surprise to Erik at this point. ]

Or that.

[ he shrugs. ]

It's all kinda vague anyway.

Guess we're ll all going in pretty blind, aren't we?

[ He smiles. ] Well, at least none of us are alone.

[ not alone, huh. ]

You think so? We're pretty disjointed as a group.

I didn't say we were coordinated in any way whatsoever, but no one here has to deal with this on their own. So there is that.

[ Hold that thought, Jim... ]

Let's hope it stays that way.

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winscenario - 2021-07-16 01:37 (UTC) - Expand

scarcastically - 2021-07-16 01:45 (UTC) - Expand

winscenario - 2021-07-16 01:46 (UTC) - Expand

scarcastically - 2021-07-16 01:47 (UTC) - Expand