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Fic: When in Central City, Part I
Title: When in Central City, Part I
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters: Adora, the future Tin Men and an OC (mention of Ethan and a handful of other OCs)
Rating: G
Summary: Still at the party, Adora makes a new friend, a faux pas and gets some help from Levi.
Warning: pre-series *after Frozen Reflections, by at least half an hour. tm_challenge Big Damn Prompt Table prompts: Prodigal, Mistakes and Food. My thanks for your patience... ♥
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine.
What is This Feeling? | Perfect | Every Little Trait, However Small | Special Delivery | Friday Night Dinner | Intimidation | Saturday | Shoes, Hair and Spoons... Oh My! | Frozen Reflections | When in Central City, Part I | When in Central City, Part II | Relocation | Lost Boy
PRODIGAL
Adora's brow tightened as she looked around the ballroom. There were large, ornate statues in every corner, a massive display of flowers on the back table and tray upon tray of foods she'd probably never even heard of. Every table had far too many dishes and vases overflowing with more flowers than necessary.
She understood that the secretaries were trying to make the place look nice for the party, but - for Adora Springer - it was all too much. The parties she went to were usually in Isaac's barn; there was hay on the floor and one plate was plenty.
"Just once, I'd like to attend a party in Central City that uses different colors," Adora heard beside her. Blinking, Adora looked away from the large display of cakes and pies and saw one of the six daughters standing next to her, looking a bit bored. "I mean," the girl continued, giving a slight wave to the walls, "it does look lovely... but, these colors really don't do the room justice."
Sighing heavily, the girl dropped her shoulders and forced a smile in Adora's direction. "It must be an unwritten law that every gathering in the Outer Zone uses red, green, yellow or silver." The girl shook her head again and jumped slightly. "Sorry," she said with a slight laugh, "I just wanted to make sure someone thanked you for your assistance earlier."
Adora turned as the girl nodded to one side and she saw the table of reorganized spoons. "Oh!" Adora exclaimed and turned back to the girl. "Is your sister all right?"
"Oh, Dilly's fine," she replied with a handwave. "I'm Pearl, by the way. My father didn't do a very good job of introducing us earlier," she added with a slight eye roll.
Adora smiled and nodded, then tilted her head slightly. "'Dilly'?"
Pearl nodded. "Her name is Adelle, but we call her 'Dilly'." Pearl quickly pointed out her other sisters before turning back to question Adora about her dress. "What shop made this? It's absolutely beautiful." Adora felt her cheeks go slightly red as she glanced down to look at the dress again.
"Thank you, um... I... I don't actually know," she finished with an embarrassed frown. Pearl gave her a look and Adora shrugged. "It's my mother's." Without thinking, Adora turned to see if she could spot Ethan in the crowd.
He would know...
A heavy sigh from Pearl brought Adora back and she looked sideways to see Pearl leaned forward slightly as she reached down to her foot. "You had the right idea," she heard Pearl say before the girl straightened again. "As nice as these shoes looked in the shop, they are not for standing. Walking... sitting..."
Adora couldn't hold back the smile as Pearl glanced around the room. "It's not a bad turnout, really," Pearl said with a nod. "Least it's a bit more lively than the Hospital Balls." Pearl turned and made a face. "Talk about torture... being stuck in a room with the stuffy elite of Central City; everyone talking about who bought the newest car, how many houses they now have..." Pearl's voice trailed off as her eyes scanned the room.
"You don't see that at the Hospital Ball," she breathed quietly. Adora turned rather jerkily to follow Pearl's line of sight, but the only thing she could see was a pack of recruits - some from her barrack - moving toward the beverage station.
MISTAKES
Adora wanted to laugh as she watched Pearl stare at Charlie. "Why don't you go talk to him?" she asked. Pearl spun back, eyes wide.
"That would be improper!" she exclaimed in a whisper. Adora frowned and shook her head before she remembered that this was the city, not the Eastern Guild.
"Of course," she laughed, "what was I thinking?" Pearl gave her a similar look and glanced toward Charlie again. Adora looked over to her fellow Tin Men-in-training and watched as Charlie, Levi and Billy discussed the various foods on their plates, occasionally laughing.
The corner of Adora's mouth turned up in the slightest grin and she leaned toward Pearl. "Would it still be improper if I introduced you?" Pearl turned her head so fast that Adora was certain the girl had broken her own neck.
Pearl stared at her for a moment, eyes narrowed. "You know him?" she whispered, her tone somewhere between shock and amazement.
Adora nodded slightly. "I know all of them."
Pearl's eyes went wide as she made the connection and her voice dropped to an even quieter whisper. "You're the Tin Girl..."
Adora was so surprised by the comment that she could only blink. The look on Pearl's face was almost disturbing - no one had ever looked at her like that. Closing her eyes, Adora shook her head and replied: "Um... yes... Come with me," Adora said, catching Pearl's elbow.
Pearl pulled away and continued to stare at Adora in horror. "You're not serious?" When she could see that Adora didn't understand her error, Pearl shook her head again. "You can't just go up to a young man," Pearl nearly hissed.
"But I know him," Adora explained.
"It doesn't matter," Pearl continued, still shaking her head. She pulled Adora toward the table and gave her a very serious look. "Unless it's your father or brother, a lady does not approach a man." Adora was confused; she approached all of them almost daily, between classes and training. And, at the parties at home, if you wanted to dance with someone, you walked up and asked them.
"All right," Adora nodded, "stay here and I'll go-" Pearl grabbed Adora's arm again and shook her head.
"You can't go up to him, either." Adora's head was beginning to hurt.
"Well, if I don't go to him, and you don't go to him, how do I introduce you to him?" Pearl opened her mouth to respond, but said nothing.
"I don't know," she finally answered. "But, a gentleman approaches a lady, not the other way around." Pearl nodded sharply and threw another look around them, to make sure no one was listening to them.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Adora muttered and looked over toward the table and her friends again. 'Wait,' her brain supplied, 'friends?' Shaking the thought away, Adora took a deep breath and nodded to Pearl. "All right. You stay here. I'll take care of it." Pearl began to object, but Adora had already moved along the edge of the table.
FOOD
Adora stopped next to a basket of apples and looked at the table the boys had claimed. One of them had to look up at some point. Adora wondered if she could throw one of the apples at the table without anyone noticing. As she was pondering the chaos which would ensue if she did. Adora almost missed Levi giving her a look.
Adora gave him a quick nod, trying to get him to come to her, but he didn't seem to get it. Levi raised an eyebrow and shook his head slightly, so she repeated the gesture, tilting her head a little more the second time. Levi nodded to her, again with a questioning look, and she nodded.
"Where are you going?" Jack asked, turning as Levi pushed his chair back.
Levi pointed to his plate. "Have to get a full serving of fruit or my grandma will come back from the dead." Porter shook his head as Charlie reached for his glass.
As Levi neared Adora, she turned and gave him a small headshake. Levi gave her a polite nod and, as he leaned forward to inspect the apples, he whispered: "What?"
"I need a favor," Adora said, reaching for one of the closest apples. Levi looked at her and she nodded toward the table. "I need you to bring Charlie over," she told him, inclining her head back toward where she’d been standing with Pearl.
Levi turned to look over his shoulder and then gave Adora a look. "Why don't you just go over there?"
"Apparently, a lady does not approach a man," she replied, sarcastically.
"But you're not a lady," Levi replied. "You're a Tin Man," he finished, giving her a smirk.
Adora narrowed her eyes, tried to force back a smile and nodded her head slightly. "My seven," she directed. Levi's eyes shifted slightly, catching sight of Pearl over her shoulder.
"Charlie?" he mouthed. When Adora nodded, Levi replied with an almost-too loud: "Really?" He quickly turned back to the table and tried not to laugh. Levi nodded to her and grabbed a second apple before turning away.
"Try this one," he said at a regular volume, then gave her a small wink. Adora had to raise the apple up to hide the smile on her face. She'd have thrown it at him, had an elderly couple not just stepped between them.
Postings should go in order, here on out. Aside from the occasional back-drabble.... Or not.
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters: Adora, the future Tin Men and an OC (mention of Ethan and a handful of other OCs)
Rating: G
Summary: Still at the party, Adora makes a new friend, a faux pas and gets some help from Levi.
Warning: pre-series *after Frozen Reflections, by at least half an hour. tm_challenge Big Damn Prompt Table prompts: Prodigal, Mistakes and Food. My thanks for your patience... ♥
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine.
What is This Feeling? | Perfect | Every Little Trait, However Small | Special Delivery | Friday Night Dinner | Intimidation | Saturday | Shoes, Hair and Spoons... Oh My! | Frozen Reflections | When in Central City, Part I | When in Central City, Part II | Relocation | Lost Boy
PRODIGAL
Adora's brow tightened as she looked around the ballroom. There were large, ornate statues in every corner, a massive display of flowers on the back table and tray upon tray of foods she'd probably never even heard of. Every table had far too many dishes and vases overflowing with more flowers than necessary.
She understood that the secretaries were trying to make the place look nice for the party, but - for Adora Springer - it was all too much. The parties she went to were usually in Isaac's barn; there was hay on the floor and one plate was plenty.
"Just once, I'd like to attend a party in Central City that uses different colors," Adora heard beside her. Blinking, Adora looked away from the large display of cakes and pies and saw one of the six daughters standing next to her, looking a bit bored. "I mean," the girl continued, giving a slight wave to the walls, "it does look lovely... but, these colors really don't do the room justice."
Sighing heavily, the girl dropped her shoulders and forced a smile in Adora's direction. "It must be an unwritten law that every gathering in the Outer Zone uses red, green, yellow or silver." The girl shook her head again and jumped slightly. "Sorry," she said with a slight laugh, "I just wanted to make sure someone thanked you for your assistance earlier."
Adora turned as the girl nodded to one side and she saw the table of reorganized spoons. "Oh!" Adora exclaimed and turned back to the girl. "Is your sister all right?"
"Oh, Dilly's fine," she replied with a handwave. "I'm Pearl, by the way. My father didn't do a very good job of introducing us earlier," she added with a slight eye roll.
Adora smiled and nodded, then tilted her head slightly. "'Dilly'?"
Pearl nodded. "Her name is Adelle, but we call her 'Dilly'." Pearl quickly pointed out her other sisters before turning back to question Adora about her dress. "What shop made this? It's absolutely beautiful." Adora felt her cheeks go slightly red as she glanced down to look at the dress again.
"Thank you, um... I... I don't actually know," she finished with an embarrassed frown. Pearl gave her a look and Adora shrugged. "It's my mother's." Without thinking, Adora turned to see if she could spot Ethan in the crowd.
He would know...
A heavy sigh from Pearl brought Adora back and she looked sideways to see Pearl leaned forward slightly as she reached down to her foot. "You had the right idea," she heard Pearl say before the girl straightened again. "As nice as these shoes looked in the shop, they are not for standing. Walking... sitting..."
Adora couldn't hold back the smile as Pearl glanced around the room. "It's not a bad turnout, really," Pearl said with a nod. "Least it's a bit more lively than the Hospital Balls." Pearl turned and made a face. "Talk about torture... being stuck in a room with the stuffy elite of Central City; everyone talking about who bought the newest car, how many houses they now have..." Pearl's voice trailed off as her eyes scanned the room.
"You don't see that at the Hospital Ball," she breathed quietly. Adora turned rather jerkily to follow Pearl's line of sight, but the only thing she could see was a pack of recruits - some from her barrack - moving toward the beverage station.
MISTAKES
Adora wanted to laugh as she watched Pearl stare at Charlie. "Why don't you go talk to him?" she asked. Pearl spun back, eyes wide.
"That would be improper!" she exclaimed in a whisper. Adora frowned and shook her head before she remembered that this was the city, not the Eastern Guild.
"Of course," she laughed, "what was I thinking?" Pearl gave her a similar look and glanced toward Charlie again. Adora looked over to her fellow Tin Men-in-training and watched as Charlie, Levi and Billy discussed the various foods on their plates, occasionally laughing.
The corner of Adora's mouth turned up in the slightest grin and she leaned toward Pearl. "Would it still be improper if I introduced you?" Pearl turned her head so fast that Adora was certain the girl had broken her own neck.
Pearl stared at her for a moment, eyes narrowed. "You know him?" she whispered, her tone somewhere between shock and amazement.
Adora nodded slightly. "I know all of them."
Pearl's eyes went wide as she made the connection and her voice dropped to an even quieter whisper. "You're the Tin Girl..."
Adora was so surprised by the comment that she could only blink. The look on Pearl's face was almost disturbing - no one had ever looked at her like that. Closing her eyes, Adora shook her head and replied: "Um... yes... Come with me," Adora said, catching Pearl's elbow.
Pearl pulled away and continued to stare at Adora in horror. "You're not serious?" When she could see that Adora didn't understand her error, Pearl shook her head again. "You can't just go up to a young man," Pearl nearly hissed.
"But I know him," Adora explained.
"It doesn't matter," Pearl continued, still shaking her head. She pulled Adora toward the table and gave her a very serious look. "Unless it's your father or brother, a lady does not approach a man." Adora was confused; she approached all of them almost daily, between classes and training. And, at the parties at home, if you wanted to dance with someone, you walked up and asked them.
"All right," Adora nodded, "stay here and I'll go-" Pearl grabbed Adora's arm again and shook her head.
"You can't go up to him, either." Adora's head was beginning to hurt.
"Well, if I don't go to him, and you don't go to him, how do I introduce you to him?" Pearl opened her mouth to respond, but said nothing.
"I don't know," she finally answered. "But, a gentleman approaches a lady, not the other way around." Pearl nodded sharply and threw another look around them, to make sure no one was listening to them.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Adora muttered and looked over toward the table and her friends again. 'Wait,' her brain supplied, 'friends?' Shaking the thought away, Adora took a deep breath and nodded to Pearl. "All right. You stay here. I'll take care of it." Pearl began to object, but Adora had already moved along the edge of the table.
FOOD
Adora stopped next to a basket of apples and looked at the table the boys had claimed. One of them had to look up at some point. Adora wondered if she could throw one of the apples at the table without anyone noticing. As she was pondering the chaos which would ensue if she did. Adora almost missed Levi giving her a look.
Adora gave him a quick nod, trying to get him to come to her, but he didn't seem to get it. Levi raised an eyebrow and shook his head slightly, so she repeated the gesture, tilting her head a little more the second time. Levi nodded to her, again with a questioning look, and she nodded.
"Where are you going?" Jack asked, turning as Levi pushed his chair back.
Levi pointed to his plate. "Have to get a full serving of fruit or my grandma will come back from the dead." Porter shook his head as Charlie reached for his glass.
As Levi neared Adora, she turned and gave him a small headshake. Levi gave her a polite nod and, as he leaned forward to inspect the apples, he whispered: "What?"
"I need a favor," Adora said, reaching for one of the closest apples. Levi looked at her and she nodded toward the table. "I need you to bring Charlie over," she told him, inclining her head back toward where she’d been standing with Pearl.
Levi turned to look over his shoulder and then gave Adora a look. "Why don't you just go over there?"
"Apparently, a lady does not approach a man," she replied, sarcastically.
"But you're not a lady," Levi replied. "You're a Tin Man," he finished, giving her a smirk.
Adora narrowed her eyes, tried to force back a smile and nodded her head slightly. "My seven," she directed. Levi's eyes shifted slightly, catching sight of Pearl over her shoulder.
"Charlie?" he mouthed. When Adora nodded, Levi replied with an almost-too loud: "Really?" He quickly turned back to the table and tried not to laugh. Levi nodded to her and grabbed a second apple before turning away.
"Try this one," he said at a regular volume, then gave her a small wink. Adora had to raise the apple up to hide the smile on her face. She'd have thrown it at him, had an elderly couple not just stepped between them.
Postings should go in order, here on out. Aside from the occasional back-drabble.... Or not.