tampered | (no subject)

WINTER GALA IS OPEN ~ !

Seen the sign? It’s everywhere.

And every little corner, and every little street, strident and glistening and snow everywhere. Statue here, statue there – North, South, East, West – they do call it the Square. There’s word they’re war heroes, or troubled hallows, or nothing of the sort. That might be ice they’re sculpted in – or the sliver in some champagne glass, because giants drink too, and the City knows things. The City doesn’t tell.

But the tap those statues once or twice, and tap them strong, and tap them well, and they’ll whisper a secret. The little Elf army scuttling about has seen better days for wear (mostly Thursdays), but they’re only three feet tall, and the silver powder on their cheek’s both rigidly applied, and rented. Kick’em. They’re fluent in seven languages, you know. They have a degree. Naghladi’gjamarai got a Nobel nomination last year; no one knows. The human reporter didn’t look down to his knee when he was interviewing. Humans, so damned righteous.

Like the lights everywhere can never go out.

Like they’re the first ones here, dancing all too merry.

Like it’s their celebration.

Like it’s not all coming out of their City taxes.

Idiots.

[ooc: OK, kids, as per Jesse instructions: please title your comment + replies in such a way that you mention if they're directed at anyone in particular. Free-for-all ball, enjoy ~ ! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Of course you can~! You don't need to ask."

It was a nice change from the jerks she usually dealt with. Although it was hard to admit, what Nana had said on Christmas was starting to change the way she thought about things. This place really wasn't so terribly bad.

"And I'll just call you Kline-kun." Another Very Important Guy Friend to add to her list. She was getting better at this. "Do you have a job in the City~?"

"Kline-kun is perfectly fine though you Eastern Islanders add really weird things to names and certain words."

After hearing about a job, Kline had to stifle a laugh.

"A job? Haha, no. I haven't had a job in a few years. I've been to busy wandering the countryside. I carry enough money with me to last for a while though. Bonuses of being a prince and all. Oh yeah, I happen to have something for you..."

Kline took his right arm and put it behind his back. He cocked it a certain way and a thornless rose fell out right into his hand. He brought it back around and offered the rose to Nana.

"I have this, just for you."

"Well, they have important meanings, and must be used properly." She used her 'serious explaining' face.

"Oh? So you're still using money you've had with you? Lucky~! I work for Ran-chan," she said happily, before looking surprised.

She let out a gasp. How long had it been since she had gotten flowers? Taking it carefully, as if it would break, she said "...thank you. Thank you so much! I wish I had something for you..."

"You'll have to spend more time later explaining this concept of words being used properly with me."

Kline's face twisted a little at Ran's name. That was the girl that accused him of being some kind of player! So not true in any fashion. "Yeah, I guess it would be called lucky. But I'm staying by myself and I only really have soddy Mitsuhide to hang out with. I could use some more friends."

Perfect. He scored using the rose. Great plan! "Aww, you don't have to worry about that. I'm getting the most out of this deal. A rose for spending time with you seems like a trade favored on my side, yeah?"

"I will~!" she said.

If she were the type to swoon in situations such as these, she would. A rose. From a prince.

"I'll definitely get you something in return! I hope you find a wonderful princess, Kline-kun; she'll be really lucky~"

Hopefully never finding one was more like it. Kline fanatically stuck to his single status and was afraid of any kind of commitment. But he wasn't going to let anyone catch on to that.

"You know, if you get me something, I'll feel inclined to get you something in return. So you can go ahead and reward me if you wish but expect something right back~"