p r i n c e

“Oh, please, it’s a great party but don’t it go to your head. It’s already looking a bit swollen,” they joked, moving to tap the man’s forehead. “Maybe not a charity ball, but… Kit, you know I would plan the help out a fundraising event. Don’t tempt me.”

“Very difficult to fit through a door these days without smacking my head on the side of the door frames,” Kit smirked. “Why not a ball? Everyone can get dressed up all nice, I think it’ll be brilliant! But if I wanted someone to help me plan, it’d definitely be you.”

Phillip and Eric share the top spot, I can't put one before the other. Ella. I think Zarina is making her way up there, even though she might not like me saying that. I can't pick a fifth.

   it was a bit of surprise when she noticed the look in his eyes,“ i wasn’t serious.” it was a bit too late since he was heading outside. she merely stood there, surprised that he was coming back with a pair of trainers. a small laugh escaped from her before she was reaching to take them,“ i suppose i should buy you a drink as a way to say thanks,” she mumbled before she was going to put them on,“ god talk about a shitty night.”

Kit handed the pair of trainers over the bar. “I don’t need them back....so if someone else happens to vomit on you, please don’t send them back to me,” he chuckled, trying to make light of a bad situation. “I’ll never say no to a free drink. From the sounds of it you could do with one too.”

“Well, I am. Fine.” Celia quirked an eyebrow at the mention of Kit’s reputation. “Oh really? What’s that supposed to mean?” This was starting to make Celia think about the fact that her network connections didn’t necessarily extend to people under 30.

“Well....you know. Charming parties? C’mon, don’t tell me you know my parents but haven’t heard of a Charming party. They’re the talk of the town....sometimes. When I kick things up a notch anyway.”

Hopefully soon.

“Well, what’re you doing with it right now?” Nala asked, taking a bite from their sandwich as they walked. “You didn’t even pay for my lunch, so it better be going to some great cause.” Nala truly enjoyed messing with Kit. He seemed to be butting heads with his inherent poshness and what Nala assumed was a good heart.

“Hey! You hardly gave me half a chance to offer,” Kit protested half-heartedly. “My money funds the best event in Carthay every week. And I do give to charity....although I’m now going to rethink which charities. Maybe I should host a charity ball some time.”

    megara had been puked on before. though it had been quite some time. plus she really did like the shoes that she had worn that day. she barely realized that someone was trying to help up until she heard his voice. her head tilted as her eye brows arched up,“ well you can start by not calling me miss,” stated megara after a moment,“ and unless you have some shoes for me to wear, don’t think so.”

Kit frowned at her words but then his eyes lit up. “If you just hang on, I think I might have a pair of shoes in the car. They’ll be big, but I guess it’s better than walking around a bar barefoot, right?” Kit reasoned, heading out to his car. He shortly returned with an old pair of trainers that he left in the car for the rare occasion he went to the gym.

“Why? What’s so wrong about Googling costumes?” Anna asked, a little confused, “I promise I’m adult enough not to have nightmares from the probably creepy easter bunny costumes that come up.”

“Just....lots of adult bunny costumes, that I don’t think anyone really needs to see,” Kit shook his head. “I mean if you want to then be my guest, but I just....from experience I wouldn’t.”

“I was trying to make you feel better but if you insist. Yeah, that was terrible. I have no idea where you got that from.” Aladdin played along with him. It was best if Kit forget the name Aladdin. “I’ve only been here for about a month now. I’m renting out a place in Santa Cecillia. It’s nice and big. Can’t complain.” This glass of wine was really getting him relaxed. He forgot that he was kind of a light weight. “Ooo oh, is that so? I guess I’ll have to see if I officially become addicted to Kit Charming parties. Is it true they’re like trips to Bali? You can’t just go once.” Hearing the word ‘friend’ come out of Kit’s mouth had Aladdin beaming. His whole face lit up with fondness. He was one step closer into getting to his close knit group. “I know that all too well.” He didn’t. “But as I said before, I haven’t dipped my toes in any other Carthay parties, so I can’t rank you too soon. Though I doubt you have many competitors.” 

“Well I appreciate that you were trying to save my feelings,” Kit laughed, leaning against the breakfast bar as he took another sip of wine. “I frequently make a whole heap of shit up when I’m drunk, so it’s probably that,” he shrugged. “That explains why I haven’t seen you around much. That does sound good. Maybe you should host a party there some time,” Kit winked. “I hope you will get addicted, if people don’t come back then there’s no party at all. Just me drinking alone,” Kit laughed. Ali’s beaming smile was heart-warming, but Kit did think he was perhaps a little too enthusiastic. Ah well, he could put it down to the wine. “I hear Ernesto de la Cruz hosts parties, but I’ve never been over to one.”

“That’s a really nice present. But just as a precaution, you should know that if your building is over 25 floors, your chances of surviving a heart attack up there decreases significantly,” he says, genuinely concerned. Wasabi could not relate to the wandering thing; he always had a place to go or thing to do. “I wish I could give you some recommendations while you’re in this part of town but I think… that I don’t go much of anywhere except work and home. Oh! Have you been to Lucky Cat Cafe?”

Kit inclined his head in confusion at the other man’s words. “How the hell do you know that? You seem incredibly smart....mangoes, heart attacks. I guess I know who to come to if I have a question that’s vaguely scientific,” he grinned. “I have not! I don’t even know where it is or what it serves, but it sounds good.”

She didn’t know what to say, she didn’t even imagine things getting this far and this clustered. She couldn’t help but feel bad that she was burdening him yet again. She stepped to the side as she entered, standing near the door, gripping the strap of her duffle. “Thanks, I…” she trailed off quietly before clearing her throat. “I don’t know how to thank you for something like this.” She couldn’t help but laugh at his offer. “Sure, dealers choice.” 

“Look, Z. You don’t have to thank me, I told you my place is always open if you need it,” he offered a small smile before he moved over to the kitchen, opening the fridge to grab two beers. “Is beer okay? If not I probably have some wine somewhere....or vodka,” he mused, glancing around his kitchen. “You can stay as long as you want.”

“What? Is being a cassette guy too old school for you?” The aspiring musician arched an eyebrow. “I’m actually a mix of all three, pero if I had to go with one, I’ll say I prefer records the most.” Miguel said as he finished off his sandwich. “Can’t say I’m surprised seeing how your familia is one of the big names known around here. That, and Charming is not the most conventional surname.” He added. Another reason that he recognized Kit’s last name was due to the parties he has heard Ella mentioned to going to from time to time. She had tried to convince him to go to it once, but Miguel had to declined since he already had to do something else at the time.

“I don’t even know anyone who owns a cassette player any more. Although when I was a little kid every car still had a cassette player in, and that does make me feel old,” he reminisced with a small smile. “Records are making a comeback, they’re really popular these days,” Kit mused. “It is a strange surname, but that’s not usually the reason. It’s the parties and the family more than anything,” he muttered. “You hang around with Ella right? You should come to a party sometime.”