Number 31: Flowers
Ling Tong sat on the couch, trying to decide if he wanted to watch a history show about the Dark Ages or soccer. It wasn't that hard of a choice. Soccer sucked. But watching something intelligent, no matter how cool, seemed to make him want to cringe. Sadly, his computer was charging. It held a charge better if he left it turned off, and he'd need it Monday for his lab.
He glanced up to see Gan Ning walking in the door, the jingle of keys and the ring of his phone announcing his arrival. Gan Ning ran a hand through his hair, shaking it a little and yawning as he read the text. He glanced up and glanced at Ling Tong's attire. Sweat pants and a sweater. He raised an eyebrow in question. Ling Tong shrugged, changing the TV to the history channel. He hadn't wanted to get out of bed, so he brought the cozy with him out to the couch.
"Xiao says you need to get dressed and not leave the apartment until they show up. Be prepared to change," Gan Ning said, shoving his phone into his pockets.
"What?" Ling Tong said, face scrunching in confusion. Gan Ning shrugged, making his way back into his room. "Hey!"
"Shut up. I'm changing."
"Why?"
"So they don't turn me into some sort of shitty Ken doll," he yelled back, slamming the door shut. Ling Tong stared down the hall before glancing back at the television.
"Who is 'they'? They is plural," Ling Tong yelled, switching the television off and making his way to his room.
"No doubt her and Da," Gan Ning said as if it was obvious. Which, it should have been. Sun Shang Xiang didn't do dress up, Ling Tong thought a little snidely. So, following Gan Ning's example he put on something decent, only to have Gan Ning laugh at him as the older man pulled a soda from the fridge. Ling Tong grumbled and turned back to dress better. Especially after seeing Gan Ning in a simple white collared shirt, of course the top four buttons undone with all his necklaces still on, and slacks. Something was up.
Finally there came a knock on the door and Gan Ning hollered for them to "get their asses inside before he decided to lock it" and Ling Tong snickered. Xiao and Da Qiao made their way inside, Sun Ce leaning in the doorway. All of them were nicely dressed. Sun Ce's tie even matched Da Qiao's red dress. Ling Tong glanced at Gan Ning, who shrugged as he plopped down onto the couch.
"That isn't going to do," Xiao Qiao said, pointing to Ling Tong and both of the other men snickered. Xiao and Da Qiao stepped around him, making their way to his room. Ling Tong sputtered, trailing after them.
"So, how many times did you have to change?" Gan Ning asked Sun Ce, who sat down on the opposite end of the couch.
"It's black on black man. She brought me the tie and told me to brush my hair. She's got me trained." Sun Ce said with a chuckle. "Zhou Yu too, only took one try. Though I wonder what they'll say about you when they're done spicing up Ling Tong."
"Probably to button up and tuck it in," Gan Ning said, crushing the can. "Why are we dressing up?"
"This time its Shang Xiang's birthday party."
"That bitch wouldn't plan something this prissy looking," Gan Ning said, glancing back when he heard a yelp from Ling Tong as well as a wail about his hair.
"Nope. She doesn't know. Apparently Da and Xiao have convinced her to a girls night at this fancy joint. We're jumping her there for her birthday."
"Fantastic," Gan Ning said with a yawn and stretch. "Why weren't we informed?"
"You wouldn't come?"
"Don't got a present."
"You're paying for part of the tab."
"Shit."
Sun Ce grinned at him as Gan Ning grumbled and tossed the can towards the trash, missing. They heard the door shut and both Da and Xiao Qiao made their way out, Xiao Qiao giggling about something, giving a spin to point at Gan Ning. "Sun Ce told you already?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good! What do you got in the fridge?" the younger girl asked and skipped away, giving a shriek when her short heels almost tripped her. Da Qiao watched after, shaking her head.
"Have you gone around and checked the others?"
"They don't need it," Da Qiao said, giving him an accusing stare. "Taishi Ci knows how to dress up, as does Zhou Tai and Sun Quan. All three of them have worked jobs that tell them how to dress. Lu Xun I trust to make the right choices after telling him where we are going. You however, I cannot. And Ling Tong has just proven that neither can he."
"Yep! We wouldn't want to embarrass Sun Shang Xiang."
"Speak for yourself, pipsqueak," Gan Ning huffed.
"Button up the shirt. And tuck it in. Why don't you have a belt?" Da Qiao said in response, and he grumbled as he did as he was told. It was better than arguing with both of them. Sun Ce snickered. Finally Ling Tong made his way out of his room, face a rosy red as he scratched at his hair. Da Qiao turned to inspect him, Xiao Qiao sipping from a cup of water as she too looked on from the archway into the kitchen.
"I guess this is the best we're going to get," Da Qiao said, pulling at his shirt to try and smooth a wrinkle. Ling Tong pulled away, glaring at her and fixing her shirt back to the way he liked it. She raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him and Sun Ce snickered in the back, again. Da Qiao swatted at his hands, fixed it, and then pointed her finger in his face. "On the way to the restaurant you're going to take Xiao and she'll help you pick out some flowers for Shang Xiang."
"What?" Ling Tong said, blushing a little more. Gan Ning laughed this time, commenting to Sun Ce about the rosy cheeks. "Why?"
"Because I am quite sure you don't have a gift," Da Qiao said, spinning away from him and moving to talk to Xiao Qiao about the kind of flowers they would be bringing.
"Don't worry," Xiao Qiao said with a wink, "I won't take any credit. It'll be all you, Romeo." Ling Tong glared at her over his embarrassment as both of the other men broke out into a fit of laughter.
The Qiaos have long since learned that subtlety does not work on the men of Wu. They have also learned that none of them particularly like dressing up, and a few are even a bit rebellious. They have acted accordingly. Anyway, finally got this one up. Reviews appreciated.