( 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]

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. ]

[winscenario]

Mm, yeah? Dancing's pretty fun. More fun when you're doing it with someone you like. Someone you actually want to dance with.

[ He means both in Finn's case. He likes him so far, even if he doesn't know him too well yet. ]

I'm no expert by any means, but I can always teach you what I know, if you want.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn smiles, partly bashful and partly delighted, seeing as he apparently fits both of those descriptions for James. ]

I would love that, actually. Maybe we can even find something I can teach you in exchange.

[winscenario]

We could do that, [ He agrees, holding Finn a little firmer and guiding him through a slow turn. It's swaying more than any proper dancing, but he'd rather be able to keep talking to him. ]

What kinds of things are you good at? Preferably something you can teach me.

[hatejakku]

[ Oh, they're turning! He's quiet while he pays attention to the steps and where he's going but ends up with a big smile simply for doing the whole thing without stepping on any feet. Congrats, Finn.

But, gosh, what is he good at? ]

Honestly? A lot of combat stuff. Hand-to-hand, firearms, that sort of thing. My friend's been teaching me how to be a pilot, too, but I'm not great at it.

Oh, and I'm pretty good at Sabacc, too. Another friend of mine has even started to teach me his, uh... tricks for winning. But I was good at it before he started corrupting me.

[ It tracks for Finn that the main thing he'd learn from an over 200-year-old Wookiee is how to cheat at cards. ]

[winscenario]

[ Those are pretty interesting suggestions, though it's true that Jim is familiar with all of them to some degree. And the last one, well, it just makes Jim chuckle. ]

I'm a very good pilot. Probably could teach you a thing or two, even, so maybe not that one.

[ Plus they don't really know when they might get the opportunity to pilot something. ]

Never heard of Sabacc, though. I'm assuming it's some kind of betting game? That could be interesting.

[hatejakku]

Yeah? I'd love to learn. [ Though, that means he needs two things to teach Jim, if that ever actually comes up. ]

It is. It's a card game. Pretty fun, mostly a good way to waste time and spend money. Though, I usually bet meal rations on it.

[ There aren't many other things Finn knows how to do (that he can think of) and it's kinda bumming him out a little. His life has largely been on a single track, after all. A very very narrow track.

But he's still clearly enjoying himself. ] I can show you when we get back to the station.

[winscenario]

We'll have to see if we can make that happen.

[ If not on the station, then some other planet they visit. Even during stressful missions, it looks like they might be able to get the time for it. Hopefully. ]

We don't have money at all where I'm from. But I'm sure we can come up with something to bet on when I get good at it.

[ Not if, but when. Finn better be ready for a real challenge. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Oh, well then. Finn kind of expects the flying idea to go no further than the dance floor but he's kind of excited about it, anyway. ]

No money? Wait, when you get good at it? [ He laughs. Someone's confident. And someone else already forgot about the lack of capitalism thing. ] Actually, yeah. I don't doubt that you'll be beating me at it in no time. You seem to know a lot already.

[winscenario]

[ Well, you never know. Maybe the opportunity will come. If it does, Jim will definitely remember this conversation. ]

Oh, yeah. I'm very good at card games. And strategy games. Well, any games. [ Consider yourself warned, Finn. ] Well, you'll have to teach me all the rules first, before I can figure out how to bend them.

[hatejakku]

They're easy, don't worry. And there are plenty of ways to bend them. But with all that talk, maybe we should find more games you're good at.

[ Finn's also a pretty good Dejarik player, just sayin'. ]

[winscenario]

I'm sure there are plenty. I'd love to learn more— oh, have you ever heard of chess?

[ Pretty sure they were supposed to be thinking of things Finn could teach him, but whatever. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Ah, details. Finn's keeping score, anyway, so there's no need to worry about the balance here. If he has to learn new things just to teach Jim something in return, so be it. ]

Yes! I think. There are a couple of different versions, if we're talking about the same thing. I don't know Shah-tezh but I do know Dejarik.

[ Shah-tezh is the closest equivalent to what Jim's talking about, not that Finn knows that. ]

[winscenario]

[ Finn's answer just makes him laugh. ]

I don't know either of those. But I do know tri-dimensional chess, so there's that one. How about I get us a classic chess set and we can work from there? I really like chess.

[ Like, a lot. Like the huge goddamn nerd he is. ]

[hatejakku]

[ He perks up a little. Tri-dimensional? What in the world? ]

Yeah? That sounds great! I'll have to teach you Dejarik, too, since you like it so much. [ And he already likes how Jim laughs so keeping that up sounds like a plan. ]

Don't know if I'm as good a teacher, though. This dancing thing's getting pretty easy, I think.

[winscenario]

[ Oh, he's always down to learning new forms of chess, so hell yeah. ]

That's because you're having fun. And I'm a very good dancer, clearly, [ He winks at Finn. ]