TEA PARTY - ELEGANTE STYLE! Dated for TOMORROW NIGHT, 7/22

[entirelybonkers]

[Alice is determined to find her Hatter, so much so, in fact, that she's gone ahead and gotten to work on that tea party she had invited you all to not so long ago! She's gone to a lot of effort, you see, and - along with the help of a certain cabin boy named Siran (who, unbeknownst to Alice, has slipped in a few little savory tricks, uh oh) -

Comments

[AWKWARD ALIEN]

[skinbrand]

[Networking. Goodwill. Right.

Nel hovers next to the table with scones, eyes ticking cautiously between the green and pink frosting. As always, she's purposely misinterpreted 'party' to mean 'attend in full gear'.]

[skinbrand]

[Kevas should recognize the withering exasperation flicking across her poker face before it smoothes back into concern.]

Is this your normal size?

[pimp_hat]

[The troll shakes his head and points back at the pastries.]

Not in da least. Dem liddle cakes did sometin' to me.

[He hikes up his pants and tries to get back to his feet.]

[skinbrand]

[When did her hand get on his shoulder and apply so much pressure? Oops.

(She'd only like for him to sit down)

Nel handles the communicator awkwardly with only one hand, but can maneuver the screen to face him after speaking into it and pushing the appropriate buttons.]

If the effect even marginally strays from 'benign' than I might be able to reverse it.

[pimp_hat]

[He doesn't look amused after being forced to sit back down. Great, not only is he short but he's not nearly as strong as he used to be.]

I'm bein' manhandled by a ladymon who should be half my size. I t'ink dis be past benign.

[Kevas makes sure not to translate that smartass comment. Instead he just decides to let her help. She's making it obvious that she won't let him leave until she does anyway.

He speaks into his comm and turns the screen towards her.]

If joo t'ink joo can help it'd be much appreciated.

[skinbrand]

[Calmly ignoring whatever sass he'd thrown her way before translating his last addendum, Nel begins with her hand over his face--not touching--and slowly bringing it down as the scan progresses. Her mask of reserved nobility twitches to vague irritation.]

Whatever was in those cakes has made itself a natural, harmless part of your system.

[Nel had wanted to heal, but she squashes the disappointment, thinking how useless a soldier-healer is without people to fix.]

[pimp_hat]

[His disappointment is obvious as his shoulders sag.]

T'anks fuh tryin' anyway ladymon.

[Great, now he's stuck like this for however long this lasts which, knowing this boat, could be anyone's guess.]

[skinbrand]

[Baww, dejected monster-man. Nel mulls the problem over, finding Kevas oddly endearing.]

You're welcome... mon?

Does this happen to you very often?

[pimp_hat]

[Did...did she just say mon? Okay that makes him smile.]

More den I'd like. Joo really gotta be careful 'bout what joo eat at parties like dese.

[skinbrand]

[She can glean from the phrase that it's a casual bastardization of 'man', and the word sounds really weird rolling off her tongue, but so far as she can tell it's not offensive. And, look-- Nel got him to smile. For her that's rare, and never deliberate. Unless you happen to be Clair.]

A good thing you spared me the adventure, sir.....?

[pimp_hat]

Kevas, and I be glad to help jah.

[And lucky for her that she's a ladymon, otherwise Kevas wouldn't have even bothered to give a warning.

Kevas tries standing again, hoping that this time she'll actually let him. If she does then he'll do a polite, and slightly careful, bow for her.]

[skinbrand]

[Now this is the kind of courtesy Nel is accustomed to. When he stands, so does she, bowing less carefully and with the fluidity of practice at court.]

I am truly sorry I couldn't reverse what the--

[Pastries. Height-depleting pastries.]

.... scones have done.

[Neutral face, it is rude to lol.]

[pimp_hat]

[Thank you Nel, for helping him preserve what little dignity he has left now.]

Don't be. Dis ain't be joo doin', but t'ank joo fuh da sentiment.

And if joo don't mind me askin', might I have da pleasuh of knowin' joor name?

[After all he told you his.]

[skinbrand]

[After she finishes reading, Nel doesn't miss a beat. She puts her balled fist over where her heart should be. Debatable, since her biology is structured differently than what you would find in a human.]

Nel Zelpher. I would give you my rank, but it doesn't matter here.

[And, really, despite the unlikelihood of anybody realizing what it means to be the Queen's right hand, Nel is okay with no one on the boat associating her with 'Crimson' or 'Blade'. Sometimes it's best to be underestimated.]

[pimp_hat]

[So serious this one. One way or another Kevas will get her to lighten up, or at least get her to laugh. Here's hoping it doesn't involve any shape-shifting scones.]

It be a great pleasuh in meetin' jah ladymon, even widout knowin' what joor rank be.

[Oh Kevas knows the benefit of being a nobody that's for sure.]

[skinbrand]

[Cliff has been trying to do the same for some time now. Good luck to you, Kevas-- Nel's funny bone is buried under layers of self-imposed unquestioning servitude.]

You flatter. That's the refreshing point with the passengers I've met. King or beggar, it doesn't matter, does it?