CLOSED • Imma break you off

[trulygifted]

Who: Nico trulygifted and Hubert bloodypath
When: Noveur 7th
Where: The Masquerade!
What: Tipsy Nico encounters Hubert, shenanigans unfold
Warnings: Alcohol

( It's rare for Nicoletta Goldstein to turn down an opportunity to party, and an invitation to a masquerade arranged by someone she's never met before is no exception to that. Kyrie spent a good deal of the afternoon a needle and thread working on the final alterations to her dress: it's scandalous, of course, because Nico likes to make an entrance, and it probably won't come as a surprise to anyone that she's ended up being all but sewn into the thing. Her look is tied together with some slick boots, a messily elegant hairstyle and a jacket she's misplaced more than once, but that somehow keeps managing to find its way back to her.

It's late into the evening when she spots Hubert by the drinks table. By then she has a flute of champagne in each hand and her jacket draped over her shoulders; it's getting a little chilly, but she's the kind of woman who won't let something like the weather impact her fashion choices. She smiles broadly, her expression lifting with genuine (if not tipsy) delight as she makes her way towards him: )

Well how about that, if it ain't Mr. Refined himself! Didn't guess you'd be the party type.

( A bright laugh follows, and she lifts her glass in a toast that ends up shrugging her jacket to the floor. Nico doesn't seem to notice; she takes a generous sip of the champagne in her right hand before offering Hubert the left, warmth twinkling in her eyes from behind her (non-enchanted) mask. )

Here, toast with me —

( Her smile grows wider, and just a little more playful. )

To business well done.

Comments

[bloodypath]

[Somehow, he manages to keep her little improvisation from throwing them off, guiding them through the next turn. Hubert tilts his head a little.]

Do you believe I'm not enjoying myself?

[trulygifted]

( Nico just shrugs. )

I dunno if anyone's ever told you this, Mr. Refined, but it's kinda hard to tell with you.

( But an easy giggle follows all the same. )

Are you? Enjoyin' yourself, I mean.

[bloodypath]

[Hubert can't help chuckling. If Edelgard herself expressed numerous frustrations over being unable to tell with him...] Frequently, in fact.

But, contrary to popular belief, I do enjoy the company of others. So yes, I am rather enjoying myself. Simply because I do not indulge in revelry as others do [Nico] does not mean I am joyless.

[trulygifted]

C'mon now, I never said you seem joyless.

( Just that maybe the things he enjoys didn't involve other people, that's all! Either way, she seems a little brighter for his confirmation otherwise. )

Anyway, that's good enough for me. I like to poke a little fun, sure, but I'd not wanna make you do somethin' you hate.

( Then again, based on what he said about the dance lessons Nico gets the feeling that Hubert isn't really in the business of humouring people, and that he'd almost certainly just turn down an offer that was truly distasteful to him. He leads her through another turn and, as it happens, ends up guiding her neatly past a couple she was en route to trip into; )

And you should know, you ain't half bad at this.

[bloodypath]

You simply imply it somewhat frequently, [Hubert fires back in what could possibly be a tease, an amused smile ghosting on his face. What else would those constant comments about having more fun, or those leading questions about loosening up be for?] I will be quite clear about my preferences, I assure you.

[The song sounds like its winding down; not a terribly long one, but they had jumped in midway through.] And for someone who never had the misfortune of instruction and has been imbibing quite a bit, I could say the same.

[trulygifted]

Yeah, well ...

( Nico just chuckles. )

My friend I mentioned before, Nero? He's pretty much the most tight-wound person I ever met, so I just had to make sure I wasn't dealin' with another one of him.

( And you know, she almost makes it through Hubert's low-key compliment without catastrophe, but it seems Fate (and a loosened boot lace) has something else in mind. It happens quite quickly: standing on the lace sends her pitching forwards into Hubert when she tries to lift that foot again, her front momentarily pressed against his smart layers. )

Whoa—!

( But you know, she's already snickering. )

Aw, shit. We were almost made it!

[bloodypath]

[They almost made it. It startles Hubert a little, but Nico's luckily rather slight and he only staggers back a couple steps in the process of catching her.]

[Hubert doesn't laugh, but the corner of his mouth does curl a little. His gratitude that Nico isn't wearing heels returns.]

The wine catching up to you, perhaps? [Now Hubert finally chuckles.] Are you alright, Nicoletta?

[trulygifted]

( Nico waves off her clumsiness with a laugh of her own before tossing a grin up at Hubert. )

Yeah, I'm all good. You might be right about the wine though — could be time for a quick fresh-air break.

( Besides, the song is over, and she already feels like she might have been pushing her luck in the first place. When she pulls back from him it's with a satisfied little sigh that leaves her lips quirked up in a smile: )

Thanks for the dance, Hubert. It was real nice.

[bloodypath]

[It had been unexpectedly nice. Hubert wasn't one to spend all night dancing, but he could admit that much. Nico seemed to enjoy it as well, despite their fumbling, and underneath all her innuendo and teasing there was an awkward sort of charm. Hubert's certainly had worse dances.]

[He takes an extra step back to allow himself the the space to primly bow, a hand folding across his chest.]

Of course. The pleasure was mine. Enjoy the rest of your evening.