( 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 + iii

[hatejakku]

i

[ Finn blinks down at the weird cone-shaped thing in his hands. He gets the overall idea of it, the fact that it's supposed to be a hat and all. And, no, he's heard that Erik made these himself so he's not going to... be critical of his work.

But he turns it over his hands and pokes at the pompom on top. ]

Well, yeah, sure, but-... You first.

ii

[ Finn's managed to relax a little after time went on. Not that he isn't still tense about everything, but it's nice to find a little calm in the mix of it all.

He doesn't strictly plan on dancing (two left feet, this one) but he has shown up to see what all the fuss was about. Besides, he has a low-key obsession with hearing new music. So he's happy enough to linger on the outskirts until he spots a familiar face and trots over. ]

Hey. Enjoying yourself?

[scarcastically]

[ erik has no real shame, so he easily grabs one and places it on his head, shifting his dreads so that it settles nice. ]

See? Easy.

[hatejakku]

[ Welp, Erik looks ridiculous. Which is good, because that's the first time Finn's had a genuine smile in a few days.

Ah, what the hell? He puts one on, too, also feeling ridiculous but it's still kind of fun. ] What are these for, anyway?

[scarcastically]

[ he shrugs. ]

They're just part of my personal goal. I was told to make party hats. Kids wear 'em sometimes.

[hatejakku]

I can definitely see this being something for kids, yeah. [ That makes a lot more sense.

... He hates that he likes them. ] You guys wear them at all your parties back home? [ Half teasing, half genuine curiosity. ]

[scarcastically]

Sometimes. It's not what I'd call a given.

[hatejakku]

Huh. [ He can't seem to stop fiddling with his. ] Not that I'm complaining - I'm not, we all could use something like this to unwind - but why would our personal goals be things like this? It doesn't help with the Orb.

[ Probably. He's pretty sure. ]

[scarcastically]

Dunno. I just know this is what they gave me.

[ and it was easy enough for erik to accomplish. ]

Maybe they thought I needed to work. Or mingle.

[hatejakku]

Or unwind? [ Erik does seem to have some kind of weight on his shoulders, even if he's not an overly serious guy. But that's just from what Finn can gather. ]

Come to think of it, this is a good idea for team building.

[scarcastically]

[ he blinks, surprised. it seems finn is more uncanny than he realized. ]

Well, yeah. Everyone can use a break. Or we burn out.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn nods, probably looking more ridiculous what with the more serious and considering look on his face. ]

Things have been nothing but tense since we arrived. I doubt we'll get many breaks like this. [ And there's no telling how long they'll be stranded there. ]

[scarcastically]

No. We're here to work after all.

[ soldiers in everything but name. ]

[hatejakku]

Yeah, and I've got a feeling work's going to pick up soon.

[ They can't do much with all the secrecy, and Finn isn't expecting any golden bits of knowledge from the meeting in the war room either. But it's clear war is exactly what they're after. ]

ii

[winscenario]

[ Jim's mostly kept to himself throughout the party too, not outright avoiding people but not going out of his way to strike up conversation either. He's greeted a few people, maybe danced a couple times, and now he's nursing a glass of a fairly decent drink when Finn comes over.

He stands a little more upright when their eyes meet, immediately shooting him a smile. ]

Yeah. Just don't know a lot of people. [ And he's not exactly the wild party animal he once was. ] And you? Having fun?

[hatejakku]

Yeah. [ Finn shrugs. ] I haven't been to many parties like this. It's nice.

[ Not much reason to party back home. Not usually, anyway. And this one is a little more elegant than what the Resistance has been known to put on. ]

Good way to get to know people, too.

[winscenario]

Well, you do know me already.

[ Not that Jim's complaining at all, mind. He likes the company and he's not letting Finn go anywhere anytime soon. ]

So, have you met many new people? Danced a little, maybe?

[hatejakku]

[ He gives a breathy laugh. ] Nah, not really.

Only people I've run into so far, I already knew. And I, uh- I'm not a great dancer. [ Not that he's tried much. ] What about you? Why aren't you out there?

[winscenario]

I'm currently lacking a partner.

[ Pointedly eyeing Finn up and down. ] If you wanna step up, I'll take you up on it.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn's eyebrows rise in surprise but his smile gets wider, too. It's like that, huh? ]

Yeah? Well, I can't say I didn't warn you. Maybe you can show me how it's done.

[winscenario]

I've been told I'm a very good teacher.

[ Well, depending on what he's teaching, but he's sure that they'll do fine in this instance. It's not like he's planning to drag Finn into a complex tango or anything.

He offers him a hand to take, then leads the way to where other people are dancing. He still picks a spot with less couples just so they don't end up stumbling or bumping into anyone. Who knows, Finn might really be a disaster at this, he doesn't want to risk it. ]

[hatejakku]

[ It's not that he's a disaster as much as he just hasn't tried very often. It was fun the few times he was dragged into it, though, so he's sure this will be no different. He doesn't even look nervous.

Finn follows Jim's direction before making assumptions on where his hands should go and the like. ]

Great, because I've been told that I'm a good learner. Guess we'll see if that holds up.

[winscenario]

[ Jim steps around so he's facing Finn, and noting his hesitance, he just guides one hand to his shoulder while holding the other up. His own free hand settles on Finn's waist, since it might be the best idea that he leads if Finn doesn't have a lot of experience.

Then he starts to move them, slowly at first. ]

Even if you aren't, I'm very patient. Just don't step on me, that'd totally ruin the mood.

i swear i only use this icon with jim

[hatejakku]

[ Oh, this is fancy dancing. Finn has no qualms with being led around, though, student that he is. But he does laugh. ]

I mean, I'll try. [ And now he's watching his feet, but he stops as soon as he realizes he's doing it. ] Where'd you learn this sort of thing? Or are you a natural?

hehehehe

[winscenario]

[ Well, it's not that fancy, but it's also not just random rave party dance. The music doesn't lend itself well to that anyway. Jim's about to tell Finn not to look down at his feet, but smiles when Finn beats him to it. ]

Wouldn't say I'm a natural. But I learned more or less on my own, and from dancing with others. It's kind of important, depending on the events I go to, and the planets I visit. Dancing's a pretty big deal in some cultures.

[hatejakku]

Yeah, it is. I just never had to participate before, so I didn't bother... I've got a feeling that's going to change, though.

[ Not here so much as back home. Now he's got all sorts of responsibilities since-... well, since the promotion. ]

Both with having to participate and actually wanting to bother with it, I mean. [ He smiles a little at Jim, because this is pretty fun. ]