Workin 9-5 for the MAN

[ella_of_frell]

Who: Hattie, Ella, and Open
When: Friday 12/14 to Friday 12/21
Where: Uzushio Ryokan
Summary: An average day at work turns not so average when Hattie stops by for a day at the Uzushio both before and after being evicted from Ella's house.
Notes: First two threads are reserved for the two days Hattie visits Uzushio, but there will be an open thread for anyone else who wants to pop in.
Prose/Action: Will match~!

The Uzushio, while not really the typeof place Ella would have seen herself working (but really, she hadn't counted on having to find a place to work at all since returning to this land), wasn't really so bad. Her coworkers were easy to get along with, the employers were just as pleasant (if huge trolls - and not the literal kind), and even the clientele hadn't been causing any trouble. The work was simple but satsifying, and gave her plenty of time to coordinate things outside of work, such as the donation drives, and think in general.
All in all it was a pretty good day.
She would have reason enough to reevaluate that 'good' part of that thought in due time.

Comments

That strikeout is just COLD.

[blondandperfect]

"Isn't it??" Hattie cries, fingertips raised to her cheeks, "I could be getting wrinkles just thinking about it, I'd better just forget about it forever. For the rest of my life. We shall never speak of this again."

Beat.

"There's been a lot going on for me lately, I don't suppose I'm doing too bad now that I think about it. I could tell you all about it, but I wouldn't want to pull you away from work. We should talk over tea sometime, when do you go on break?"

"What -do- you do here anyway, Ella? I bet is isn't nearly as fulfilling as your old job with me. And your outfit isn't nearly as cute."

>:D

[ella_of_frell]

"Oh?" Ella leaned closer, thoughtful. "Hey, you know, you're right, I think I see them." Wrinkles. ALL OVER YOUR FACE.

And waving a hand dismissively. "Oh that's all right, I'd hate to pull you away from your busy schedule. My break isn't for a while." Like. An hour from now.

"I don't know how much more fulfilling it is, or how 'cute' the outfit was, but I like it. I keep the rooms clean, help the clients when they come," She trailed off a little, a tiny stone of dread suddenly hanging out in her lower intestines.

[blondandperfect]

"WHAT" Hattie reaches into her handbag, takes out her compact and flips it open. After roughly fourty-five seconds of careful inspection, she peers over the accessory to Ella with a not-so-friendly look in her eyes.

She, curiously enough, drops that subject as she snaps the compact shut. "That's true, I suppose you don't know. Well, we made dresses. Beautiful dresses, of course, and I even have a car and driver. So whenever you're done playing housekeeper, I'd be willing to take you back to a more glamorous profession."

She checks her watch, ".. How long is 'a while'?"

[ella_of_frell]

Heh heh. Worth it. Ella's face is all innocence when Hattie looks back towards her. "Thanks, but I'll still pass." The only thing that'll make her quit, is if you told her to quit, and she was glad that your fake-nice attitude was preventing that. For now.

"I'm happy you're doing well for yourself." That part is at least genuine. Seeing Hattie check her watch, Ella was relieved a second time; clearly Hattie was in enough of a rush she wouldn't want to hang around that long. "In an hour."

[blondandperfect]

Naturally Hattie grumbles a bit, muttering something under her breath about Ella being stubborn. She crosses her arms, starting to get impatient, when she's caught by surprise by the next comment.

"Well for myself?" Hattie repeats, "Well I suppose from outside the window looking in it looks rather well, but I certainly don't think so. Here is nothing like at home you know, I didn't really have to do anything. Now I have to do everything, it's aggravating. I mean, seriously, I'm a Princess I shouldn't have to be doing any of this nonsense! Look at me.. I've been reduced to this. Really? I mean, seriously? I should be in a castle with a filthy rich prince, ruling over countries, not sewing dresses and chasing after you and my own fiance'. If anyone at home knew about this, I'd be a laughing stock. Mother would drop dead from disappointment.."

The blonde is quiet for a moment, then she waves her hand dismissively, "Well, whatever, if you change your mind you know how to reach me. Also, I still don't appreciate you pushing me off to Warsman for the donation drive, just so you know."

[ella_of_frell]

"You poor thing. I feel for you." Ella replied with as deadpan a tone as she could muster, while still looking polite. Although Hattie referring to herself as a Princess gets a small snort. "You are many things, Hattie, and a Princess isn't one of them." Under her breath, she adds, "I weep for the country that would have her as a Princess." Or the man who would have her for a wife.

"I can't imagine why. He is your friend, after all." Your friend. Not hers. And she didn't want anything to do with your friends if she could help it. "What does it matter who you deal with?" Seriously, charity is charity, who cared who accepted it as long as it went to the right place?

[blondandperfect]

".. I appreciate that, Ella.. Thank you." Hattie replies, looking a little surprised. Yes, it was delivered boringly, but that's natural as Ella is a boring person, you see. To the comment after that, though, the blondes brows raise, "What, you mean you didn't know?"

She smiles wide, "Oh goodness, you really don't! Oh you poor thing, you've missed out on only the best news! Well, actually, it's fitting since you disappeared for months. You see, Sir Edgar requested to see me, he sent me a royal invitation and everything on the most gorgeous parchment. Long story short, he gave me Prince Char's hand in marriage in exchange for a most important favor.. So.."

Hattie gives such a smug smile, "So I'll gladly wait for an apology for your blasphemous words."

A pause, then she frowns. "'What does it matter', she says. Get a clue, Ella."

[ella_of_frell]

God, she was just so dense that even being sarcastic and flat didn't phase her. "What." No really, what? Sir -- he... wh..

Wow. WOW. She really felt sorry for Char now. Assuming Hattie was telling the truth, and knowing her? It was just as likely that she was lying through her teeth. "Poor Char." Ella murmurs absently, only to eye her stepsister again. "Keep waiting." It isn't going to happen in your lifetime. OR any lifetime, for that matter.

"You really think I believe that you and I are just the -best- of friends. Ridiculous. I don't for a second believe your act."

[blondandperfect]

Hattie looks very proud of herself, needless to say, she's positively glowing to Ella's initial reaction. She's only slightly, very slightly put off by the lack of congratulations, or apology, but should she really be surprised at this point?

After that, she gives a fluttering laugh, "What? Best friends? Don't flatter yourself, Ella, you're a loooong way from that position. We are, however, family." she smiles cattily, clearly up to something. "Or are you suggesting, perhaps, that being the only related people upon this Port is an act? That you don't believe it?"

"When I first arrived at the port, you treated me like family. Now you're making it quite difficult to return the favor. Are you scared of me?" Bend to her will, Ella, bennnnnnnnnnd!

[ella_of_frell]

"Trust me, I don't want that position after what you've pulled." You've NEVER apologized, Hattie. Ever.

"I know the fact that we're stepsisters isn't an act. Your -attitude-, however, is. That is what I don't believe."

She pauses, because she had her sincere doubts that her relationship with Hattie was half as smooth as her stepsister was making it sound. What she wouldn't give for someone to just tell her to remember everything she forgot. The information would be worth the pain.

"Scared?" She echoes in a scoff, "You have got to be joking."

[blondandperfect]

"Are you still going on about that when you know you ruined my skin? You got your revenge, and you expect me to what? Apologize?" Hattie gives an amused snort, "Why would I bother doing that? You wouldn't accept it even if I did, right? So not only are you stubborn and unladylike, you're also selfish. I never understood why people like you so much."

"I think you are scared," Hattie then says, crossing her arms as her voice gets softer, "You've been avoiding me at every turn, after all. You're scared to death that I might actually be different."

[ella_of_frell]

"Back at you." Ella utters flatly. Seriously a little rash is /hardly/ revenge for -everything- she's been put through.

And Hattie's theory causes ELla to just BELT out laughter. No really, she's laughing all too hard, she can't even answer that for a few minutes. "OW my sides." She leans on the counter for a few deep cleansing breaths.

But she didn't care if Hattie was different - "Oh I needed that laugh. You can claim to have changed all you want. I'm not seeing it, and words are meaningless. If you want to claim you're so different now, prove it - because what I'm seeing right now? You haven't changed one bit."

Still spoiled, Still arrogant, and still untrustworthy.

"By the way, you said you had a fiancee here?"

[blondandperfect]

Hattie's eyes glimmer for a moment. "What? Of course I would! I would shove it in your face, yes, but I'd still accept it~." but that glimmering is brought to a stop when Ella laughs in her face. Just.. Just.. Man! Her cheeks burn red, and of course looks offended by it. What was so funny??

"..." Her eyes narrow for a moment, though she's also a bit disappointed with herself, as she was certain she had been backing Ella into a corner. Slippery little worm. "Well then you're either legally blind or expecting far too much. Or both."

Her expression then brightens at the mention of her fiancee', "I do! It's sort of like an arranged marriage, really, all sorts of bothersome politics.. But he's really handsome!"

[ella_of_frell]

Close call? Yes. And maybe Ella was being unfair to Hattie - if she really had changed, great! But she wasn't willing to just believe her stepsister so easily. "So you're unfaithful." Ella quirked an eyebrow at the other girl.

"You claim you're already wed to Prince Char, why would you get engaged to someone here?" She was glad Char wasn't here. Even though she really wished she were home, to see if Hattie's claim was true.

That girl would be the worst sort of Queen.

[blondandperfect]

"Unfaithful?" Hattie replies, "I could see why you'd say that, but what happens here and what happens at home doesn't make the slightest bit of difference in the end. I've returned home once, and I did not remember a thing until I came back here."

"And besides, I can't help being in love! Really, I think I may finally understand how my mother felt, and why she had re-married so often. Love is such a fickle, magical thing, that drives people to do what seems like mad things to those whom have never been." Just replace 'love' with 'money'. "Not that you would ever understand, of course. Anyway, that's your answer. Love! It really is the greatest thing~. A true lady cannot live without it."

[ella_of_frell]

Ella just... just...facepalms. Hattie logic is truly staggering and she may have taken 1d12 sanity damage from that argument.

"Oh for the love of..." Oh I see what you did there. Well far be it for her to say anything to what poor soul is engaged to this shrew. "I hope you're very happy together." Because she seriously doubted the truth to your words about home, missy.

... she really doesn't want to know what her future is like if Hattie was being truthful.

She really. Really doesn't.

"I shouldn't keep you from your errands though, now should I?" Keep your love, Hattie. Ella wanted her freedom.

... I wish I had an icon like that. :(

[blondandperfect]

Hattie pauses a moment from her being happy to give Ella an accusing glare, "You know, Ella, you could at least pretend to mean that."

She pays a glance to her watch, though, which causes her to gasp in surprise, "Oh, yes, you're right! Well then, I had best get going, and it looks like my work here is done, right on schedule! Toodles, Ella~." she wiggles her fingers, then turns around to head right on out, apparently not needing a visit to the spa today. Out the door she goes!



After a moment, there's the sound of high-speed heels clacking, and Hattie leans back into the doorway, "By the way! I want a Prada bag for Christmas! Thank you~!" and she's off again.