sweethymns | Mι∂ηιgнт ιη Ƥαяιѕ

[ Claude only responds with a mild 'mm' as he brushes by the group, ignoring the others asking him if he wasn't going to leave— that's his business, thank you very much.

Gus, on the other hand, has been strangely quiet this whole time, and remains that way for a few more seconds as he leads Iona inside the great hall. ]

—So! Phew, we made it. What an ordeal, huh.

[ Heads immediately turn to greet the trio, eyes on Iona as people start talking among themselves about who the young master's brought to the party tonight. ]

Well... Let's not get too comfortable.

[Because now that there are eyes on them, Iona's beginning to feel... a little self-conscious. It doesn't show, but Oren is able to tell and so while Iona conducts herself with grace and grants a charming smile or two towards the other guests, Oren stands tall and composed, his usual troubled walk changed to a long stride as he walks behind Gus and his charge.]

I gotta hand it to you Gus. Whether or not I'm here, you're always the center of attention aren't you?

[She says this jokingly because. You know. The attention Gus gets tends to be mostly for his life oops]

Edited 2015-08-17 05:17 (UTC)

[ He laughs at that, mostly because he's learned to take the attention with a grain of salt, and also because he knows that it's slightly inaccurate, at least for tonight. ]

Me! No no no no no, they're all looking at you, because you're so beautiful tonight!

[ He beams, because he knows he's not lying... ]

[...and then, under his breath: ]

And everyone is looking at Oren anyway, I hope he trips into the punch bowl.

[She whispers back to him, trying to hold back a laugh at his chagrin towards Oren.]

Hey, he can't help it! And for his sake, I hope there's no tripping.

Ah, speaking of which...

[Iona turns her head to look at Oren whispering to him in English.]

Oren, act natural!]

... Right.

[Oren diverges from his path behind Iona and Auguste, paying no mind to the eyes that are on him. When the golem's eyes does settle on a group of people (mixed of men and women), he actually smiles, giving a nod of acknowledgement, his gaze slightly flickering as if...

And then he speaks, smoothly, and calmly, like a practiced gentleman of experience.]

Bonsoir. Thank you for having us tonight.

[ If this were a shoujo manga, there would have been swooning sound effects coming from some corners of the room; some women cover their mouths with a soft 'oh', and others turn mid-conversation to see who everyone's looking at.

Gus, of course

looks butthurt. ]

Is that natural?! Is that natural for him?!

[Iona only replies lightly (maybe even wistfully)]

It used to be.

[Oren is allowing himself to engage in conversation with the nearest group of people (mostly women) and keeping his distance from Iona.]

Think of it this way! He won't be shadowing your every move for the time being.

Y...yeah! This is our chance, Iona...!

[ She has a point!! So he takes her hand and leads her a few yards away, towards the dance floor.

If Iona looks over her shoulder, she'll see Claude, shacked up in the corner with a tray full of champagne, looking so, so, so amused. ]

May I? ...have this dance, I mean?!

[ so suave. ]

[Oren's just gonna take it easy on you tonight Gus... But never again. Maybe.

YIKES CLAUDE. Iona makes a mental note to herself to hassle him into going back to the Midnight Grind with her and Gus after all this is done.

In response to Gus's invitation, Iona lets go of his arm so that she can curtsy.]

If you insist. How could I refuse?

[ Alright. Alright, you got this, Aubert. She curtsies, and that prompts a long inhale, a second to brace himself before he bows with practiced ease and takes her hand to get into position.

Surprisingly, he's fairly good at this. ]

I can't insist— even if you refuse, you've made me the happiest man in this party regardless.

[ He says, and looks proud of himself for landing that line, which promptly ruins the effect. But that's Gus, and he winks at her as the song starts up, a mid-tempo waltz that he sweeps her into with warm hands and a careful hand on her waist. ]

[And so she loses herself in the dance, a magic without actual magic, but the kind that lets Iona feel elated as she enjoys the present moment.

(Iona remembers something again, talking with her mother about being witches; why witches? She'd prefer to be a princess or a queen. Witches sound ugly, scary, and lonely.

Her mother smiles gently, saying yes, they could be those things, but they could always be so much more...)

Although her surface emotions flow easily, these deeper thoughts don't show themselves. She lets Gus twirl her around making her dress glow in the low lights of the room.]

I should have known that you really know your stuff! I'm having fun Gus, I really am.

[ He's done this before a thousand times, but somehow, it feels newer now that he's dancing with someone who he's shared a heap of secrets with; it's cozy, comfortable. Playfully, he bends he backwards for a second, keeps her there before twirling her around just a little too much to be polite. He's having fun. ]

Yeah?

[ His expression brightens like a lightbulb, attempted suave wiped out for the moment. ]

You deserve a little fun, you know? You're always working really hard.

Right back at you. Thanks for inviting me out again.

[As the waltz nears its end, she slows down, just in time to see Oren lead one lucky lady out to the dance floor. She's sticks next to Gus though, sighing with contentment.]

I told you before haven't I? I like making my own fun, but getting surprised like this is a real treasure.

I hope you'll let me continue surprising you, then! I'm good at that.

[ And he takes that hand he's holding to his lips, kisses it while Oren is busy... score. ]

Maybe surprise you with champagne?

[Oooooh, champagne.]

Sure! It's been a while since I've had a nice glass of that.

[Mental note, must take the brothers out for actual drinking... (although she stops herself from making that suggestion since... Well. Oren would lecture her and she remembers Claude telling her not to be a bad influence. Yeah. What she wouldn't give to see their faces if they tried tequila...)]

Champagne sounds like a perfect refresher after a dance.

[ The brothers would be a mess at a modern bar, and maybe Claude might actually get drunk, for once. Terrifying.

Gus is more than eager to please, so he perks up and moves her away from the dance floor, towards the tray of champagne that...Claude is nursing, god help him. ]

Champagne is the one thing we never consider a waste of money. Drink as much as you want!

Turn your back to Oren so he doesn't see what we're doing.

[OREN KNOWS GODDAMN WELL THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE DRINKING, but he's gonna play good cop and let the kids have their fun. For a few more minutes.

Iona helps herself to a glass although she looks a little worried for Claude.]

Are you gonna be okay?

Fine.

[ The answer is maybe a little too immediate, as Claude reaches for another champagne flute.

This is likely his...what, fourth?? It's only been about 10 minutes, god save him. ]

The alcohol is making me unapproachable, mercifully.

[Iona takes a sip; it's tasty! But Claude, please, you're making this hard.]

You might wanna slow down though? Just a thought.

As a doctor, I know precisely how much I need to drink to give myself liver failure, thank you. Do tell them not to hold a funeral for me, as I can't abide by crying.

[ Oh no, he's even more of an asshole tonight. ]

Nah, I was just looking forward having to carry your drunk ass bridal style if you became too far gone, that's all.

[And that's said in English, so no one nearby can be aghast at her unladylike language. Still because of ~*magic*~ Claude should understand quite well!]

Bridal style. You've not even given me a ring, I think you're moving far too fast for my taste.

[ Claude?! Stop this. ]

True. We haven't even danced yet.

[She'll fight you Claude, she'll goddamn fight you.]

Edited 2015-08-26 08:10 (UTC)

Do you dare, mademoiselle? I'm without my gloves tonight, whatever will you do if you catch an incurable disease by touching my hand?

A risk a wise woman surely wouldn't take.

[ Fight him, Iona?! ]

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