Tea Party for Two [Priscilla]

 

Oh, she had really done it now. What do you do when you have to pledge loyalty to the family that your own family owes its entire present being to? Why yes, certainly canceling on the meeting just a few minutes before for a prior engagement sounded about right. What a perfect course of action! It makes so much sense to look like you didn't care enough to even check for schedule conflicts before arranging a meeting when you are trying to present yourself as their go-to person. It spoke volumes about her attentiveness and responsibility towards her duties.

Walking up the stairs balancing a large box of pastries in one hand and a drink caddy of coffee in the other gave her plenty of time to berate herself further for her inexcusable oversight. It was like penance almost, fixing one stupid move with one that made her life even harder as she prayed to not deform the delicate cakes or spill the coffee on herself, which better still be warm at least. She had been too scared to check once she conquered the topmost step, but now in the delicate garden behind the posh dorm building was the moment of truth. The girl set down her precious cargo first on one of the two seats as she swept the surface white metal tabletop with a napkin. She attacked the vacant seat afterwards with a fresh napkin, wiping the seat and intricately designed metal seatback. Once it had been cleared of dust to her satisfaction, she left to wash her hands in a nearby drinking fountain- how useless all that cleaning would have been if she managed to get their food dirty in the process. The girl shook the water off her hands, and then wiped them back and front on her white ruffled skirt. It sounded like a good idea at the time, which was while she was dashing to a study group and trying to think of an even more rewarding alternative to what she had just stood the Kaneko heiress up for. Being able to think on her feet was a point of pride for her, and she stood by that hasty decision. 

Now that the pretty pink box was on the table top and laid flat to reveal its precious cargo of pastries and sweets, she stood back and took a good look at the set up she had for herself. Two coffee containers to-go, and small paper plates to arrange the unbelievably expensive deserts on, this sorry looking attempt framed by a garden that would otherwise scream fairy sanctuary. The idea was sound, and perhaps even ingenious, though the execution was even more embarrassing than the original faux pas she was trying to make up for. The packaging and product design was all exceptionally pretty and delicate and femme, she consoled herself. Who was she to think to try to stage a grown-up tea party for a corporate princess who probably had seen more than enough heirloom china by the time she was 5? No, it was out of the question that she could have ever hoped to compare to that level of luxury, or whatever she assumed these obscenely wealthy people did. This would be petty bourgeouis-chic: not entirely slumming it but just the right amount of lowbrow to keep it unpretentious. She had been asked to help Priscilla learn to relate to the little people, so this would be an acceptable way of introducing this way of living to her. If you gave her enough reason to, Eva could sell even the most outrageous and threadbare of excuses. 

After setting a plate and a plastic fork before either seat, she took out her phone and checked her reflection in the mirror. She had made it a personal mission to be able to climb the stairs with a full face of makeup and emerge looking none worse for the wear, and that had been reached at least a month ago. Most of her hair was secured in a topknot, and she brushed the remaining tails behind her as she sat down and crossed her knees. With her hands folded across the top knee, she remained poised as she waited for the younger girl to arrive. 

OOC: Breaking hiatus to post so people can stop whining already