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

Entry tags:

( 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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.

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.

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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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.

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'. ]

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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

Clearly. [ He laughs. ]

But you're right. I haven't done a lot of dancing, but I think it is more fun with someone I like. Someone I want to dance with.

[ Jim's smile grows wider, and softer. He pulls Finn in just a hint closer, using a slow turn as an excuse for that. ]

I like dancing with you too.

[ And, well, he likes Finn too, but let's not get mushy about that, shall we. ]

[ Oh. Well, all that combined has Finn going a little bashful. He laughs lightly, ducking his head a bit. ]

Then, we'll have to do it again sometime.

I'll hold you to it. That 'sometime' better not be too far from now.

[ And because making Finn fluster is apparently his new favorite thing, he adds. ]

You're cute when you do that head ducking thing. I mean, you're cute in general, but when you do that— yeah.

[ Finn's about to make plans about dancing, promise something hopefully in the near future, but his face is practically set on fire before coherent sounds can come out.

But he does manage a laugh because cute? Him? That's a new one to hear. And, yeah, he does the head ducking thing again. ]

I- I don't know about that. But... it's nice that you think so. You should probably look in a mirror more often, though, if you're looking for cute.

[ Well, to be fair, as cute as James is, Finn would claim he leans a little further into the handsome category. But he doesn't plan on saying that, really. ]

Why, thank you. I am pretty cute, aren't I?

[ And modest! Clearly. Anyway, right now he says that mostly to try and make Finn feel a little more at ease, but his compliment's still just as genuine. Finn's really cute. ]

Also I do know about that. I can't believe other people haven't told you, but hey— pretty glad to be your first.

[ Heh heh. You know what he means. (You do, right.) ]

[ Well, success, because Finn's laugh is a good bit easier after that display of modesty.

And, yeah, he knows what he means. Can hardly believe that they're actually flirting right now but, yeah. ]

You know, I'm pretty glad, too. I can see why they say that you always remember your first now.

[ First, only, one of those. About calling him cute, that is. ]

Mm, does that mean you're always going to remember me?

[ Well, isn't that nice? It certainly makes Jim's smile grow wider, and he moves Finn's hands to his waist next, his own arms winding loosely around Finn's shoulders. ]

There. That's nicer.

[ And he can lightly brush his fingertips against Finn's hair at the nape. Not a lot, just once or twice to tease him and make him fluster again. ]

Don't think I'm going to forget you, that's for sure.

[ After all, he doesn't know about the possibility of the whole memory wipe thing upon returning home, so this gets to continue to be adorable.

And he does fluster again with that move but, surprisingly, only a little. He does smile bashfully and duck his head, getting little shivers whenever he feels Jim's fingertips. Apparently, this turned into a bit of a crush somewhere between points A and B.

But Finn's also quick to look back up to James, a softer smile on his face and a little bit of confidence in his eyes. ]

You're teasing me.

[ He doesn't appear to be offended about it. ]

[ Well, it's a nice sentiment. Jim also doesn't know about the possibility that they'll forget all this when they're back, so instead he just smiles happily, knowing he won't forget Finn either. He's a memorably guy like that. ]

Mm, yes I am. I like your reactions a lot, what can I say?

[ He shrugs, entirely unapologetic. That confidence is definitely new, but he likes that too. But mostly it's the smiling an head ducking that gets him. ]

[ Finn relaxes visibly but only a little, not that he was particularly tense before. Knowing (or assuming) that it's just messing around and not actually meant puts him back on the status quo.

Doesn't mean he wants it to stop. ]

Well... I like hearing it a lot. [ And even that's said with a mix of confidence and some of that head ducking again, not actually leaving eye contact this time. ] But you realize this means I have to find a way to pay you back, right?

You mean I'll have to spend more time with you? Oh no, the horror. I don't know if I can put up with that.

[ Not so much having to spend time with Finn, as it is getting to spend time with him. Sounds absolutely delightful, in Jim's honest opinion. ]

You've got yourself a deal. Just name the time and place, and I'll be there?

[ He'd call it a date but Finn's head might explode. ]

[ As far as Finn's aware, this is planning out to be "Flirtatiously Hanging Out" rather than a date. But clarification would probably make his head explode, yeah.

He laughs lightly from the joking around. ]

Oh, I will. Very soon. [ Because making plans right now, with all this going on, may not work out well. ] I'll be sure to make it as excruciating as possible. I've been told that I'm terrible at flirting.

[ Which, if Jim saw or heard about what happened by the wall, he'd know it, too. ]

[ That actually gets a laugh from Finn. ]

Yes, so I've heard! We might have to work on that. Just a little.

[ To be fair, Jim is 100% fine with Finn's brand of flirting so far. Which mostly it's Finn just flustering and smiling cutely while Jim shamelessly hits on him. ]

But for what it's worth, you don't need to work on it a whole lot for my sake. I'm easy to please.

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