[ Fortunately, Sylvain is alone for the moment and not involved in anything that would have Hilda blushing. Although he does hastily swing the door open with a puzzled expression as he blinks down at her. ]
[ The expression on her face is genuine bewilderment as she wiggles the box in front of face. ]
Do you not see the gigantic box I have with me? [ And then with more genuine concern: ] Are you sure you didn't get heat stroke the other day being in the desert with Claude?
[ Her eyes glint right back with a mischievous quality but she gasps as if offended before moving the box away just out of his reach. In reality though Sylvain's arm reach alone could probably just pluck the box from her without much effort considering he has a full foot on her. ]
You'd really say that to someone that's gifting you something out of the goodness of her own heart? Is this how you normally react to having presents given to you?
[ Instead of reaching for the box, Sylvain reaches out and snakes an arm about her waist, lifting her with an easy strength and pinning her against his chest as he then turns and spins her inside his room with a smirk. ]
[ The noise that leaves Hilda's mouth is a mixture of surprise and protest as her stomach swoops at being lifted from the ground. A flush colours the apples of her cheeks as she's suddenly brought much closer to Sylvain's face than she was before. She would have instinctively hooked her arm around his neck to steady herself had it not been for the box.
She huffs and wiggles in an attempt to be put back on the ground but there's the undeniable hint of a smile on her face. ]
Aw Sylvain, if all you wanted was a hug you just had to say so. I wouldn't have had to go and spend my time and money on getting you this.
You shouldn't be spending your money on me anyway. [ Sylvain just chuckles, not setting her back on her feet until he carries her over and lets her drop to sit on his bed, since Claude's been on a binge and there are books covering most of the free seats in this place. Sylvain's about to pitch them all out the window. ] But I will always take a hug.
[ He casts her a playful wink before casting a skeptical look at the box she holds. ] What did you get anyway? And why?
Consider yourself lucky then. I don't just spend my own money on people that are already using their money to buy me things.
[ Hilda doesn't even spare a glance towards Claude's bed as she's placed gently onto Sylvain's. By process of elimination it has to be his - it's not covered with books or swords after all. Her fingers drum across the lid of the box that's now in her lap, the same mischievous glint back in her gaze. She pats the spot on the bed beside her motioning for him to sit beside her. ]
All of those can be answered if you open up the box. I promise it won't bite. But I know you kind of like that so maybe that's a bad thing.
[ He obliges her, sinking down to perch on the mattress beside her. But her words get an amused laugh from him as he casts her a smirk and a playful wink. ]
I do indeed like that sort of thing, but I'd prefer it from you rather than a box. [ But he holds out his hands and makes grabby motions with his fingers all the same. ]
[ The box is exchanged between hands and she can't help but eagerly cozy up to him to watch him open it. As much as Hilda enjoyed receiving gifts (maybe enjoyed wasn't the right word to capture it, she loved receiving them), she enjoyed giving them just as much. There's an art form to gifting that she'd like to think she's mastered. Even though gift boxes and paper were eventually tossed away, the thought that went into the presentation of a gift was just as important as the gift itself in her mind.
This gift to Sylvain is no different. When Sylvain removes the lid, swathes of tissue similar to the colour of the ribbon covers the gift, enveloping it in a perfect nest. And underneath it? Well, Sylvain probably guessed what it was before he unearths it. Either way, Hilda can't hide the absolute delight and laughter in her eyes when he's holding it in his hands. As ridiculous as the hat may look, Hilda took the time to personalize it for him. On the inside of the hat at the back is a meticulously embroidered outline of a lion's head and Sylvain's initials beneath it. ]
[ He shows ample appreciation for her excellent wrapping skills. Or maybe he's just delaying the inevitable, because that smile on her lips spells all kinds of trouble. And when he finally tugs out... is that a hat? He's not entirely sure, actually. ]
[ Her enthusiasm should have been a dead giveaway that she knew exactly what she was doing when she had picked out the hat. Hilda knew it looked silly, but that was kind of the point. In the same breath, the hat was also extremely practical for someone as fair skinned as Sylvain who had come back from his desert excursion a little more than pink than he usually was. ]
There was a red one but I figured that this suited your complexion a little better.
[ Her grin widens a fraction, her eyes shining. Oh, she was loving this. ]
Wha - Sylvain! It took me so long to do my hair this morning.
[ Her whine is partially muffled by the hat. All that remains of her pout is a pair of pink eyes glaring at Sylvain through the slit between the brim of the hat and the neck cover.
This wasn't going the way she wanted to at all. In one fluid motion she tugs the hat from her head and launches herself at him with a surprising amount of speed and force in an attempt to get the hat onto his head. How successful she is is anyone's guess though. ]
[ He just laughs as he’s suddenly toppled over by a pink hurricane, landing on his back on the bed as he tries to fend her off from returning the favor. ]
But you make such a darling model, Hilda! Don’t be so shy!
[ She's somehow managed to straddle him, pinning him between her thighs as she tries to find a way through his flailing arms to get the hat onto his head. It's a bit of a tougher feat with his head against the bed though. Her words come out through some gritted teeth here and there as she struggles against Sylvain's own strength. ]
Oh, I'm not shy Sylvain. I love modelling things but I think you have to get over your fear of being a fashion icon! Nothing says fashion forward like being sun aware.
[ Hilda can't help but laugh at his paper thin lie despite being in a somewhat compromising position that would make a more modest person blush. ]
I feel like I'm getting mixed messages here. A shy Sylvain would never be caught dead in this position, give in and try on the hat if I was straddling him. [ She huffs again in frustration missing the slight gap in his arms and therefore her brief window of being able to tug the hat onto his head. ] Did I mention that I got you this hat with my own money?
[ The first move being forcing a hat onto her that was clearly his.
Caught wrists definitely make trying to force a hat onto someone more difficult and her brows knit together again. They had been been taught scenarios like this before in hand to hand combat - not that she's had to do this very often or in a while - but muscle memory is a powerful thing. Hilda lets the hat drop onto Sylvain's face, pushing her hands down and around so her wrists were on the outside of Sylvain's arms. With a force that she claimed she didn't have, she broke free from the hold before snatching his wrists and forcing his arms over his head. ]
But you've taken mostly good care of me while I've been here. It's the least I can do. So when you think about it, it's really hurting my feelings that you won't just try on the hat for me.
[ He's too busy grinning that she'd broken his hold to even mind that she'd dropped the hat smack on his face. But he turns his head enough so that it slides off to the side as he lets her pin his wrists above his head. And tries very hard not to stare at how close that brought her breasts to hover over his face. ]
Maybe if you had your wicked way with me, we'd both feel better. [ As suggestions go, it's offered in the sweetest, most innocent tone possible. ]
[ She can feel you staring Sylvain. Despite that she lets out another sigh that sounds suspiciously like a laugh along with an eyeroll. When she does reply her voice is just as singsong-yy as Sylvain's innocent tone. ]
Maybe if you accepted my gift we could talk about wicked ways later.
[ Skillfully she snatches both of Sylvain's wrists in one hand before grabbing the hat and dangling it above his head with a smile. ]
[ That just has him laughing, although he sighs a very deep, put-upon sigh. ]
I'd say that sounds very much like you avoiding the topic entirely. [ He states this with mournful disappointment. ] But if it will make you happy, Hilda, fine, I will accept your hat.
[ Hilda’s smile is nothing short of brilliant. It’s the smile she gets when she’s gotten her way and it's like all the work the wrestling she had to earlier is a distant memory. With her victory in hand, she shuffles backwards slightly to help Sylvain into a seated position before placing the hat on his head with such reverence that you’d think that it was sacred. ]
How do you feel in it?
[ Personally, she thinks it looks perfectly ridiculous. ]
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Hilda? What's wrong?
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[ The expression on her face is genuine bewilderment as she wiggles the box in front of face. ]
Do you not see the gigantic box I have with me? [ And then with more genuine concern: ] Are you sure you didn't get heat stroke the other day being in the desert with Claude?
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If that's a hat, I'm going to start filling both you and Claude's beds with sand.
[ Not really, but the fact that they've both picked up this running joke now means he can tease both of them about it. ]
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You'd really say that to someone that's gifting you something out of the goodness of her own heart? Is this how you normally react to having presents given to you?
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I'm sure it's just the heat exhaustion talking.
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She huffs and wiggles in an attempt to be put back on the ground but there's the undeniable hint of a smile on her face. ]
Aw Sylvain, if all you wanted was a hug you just had to say so. I wouldn't have had to go and spend my time and money on getting you this.
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[ He casts her a playful wink before casting a skeptical look at the box she holds. ] What did you get anyway? And why?
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[ Hilda doesn't even spare a glance towards Claude's bed as she's placed gently onto Sylvain's. By process of elimination it has to be his - it's not covered with books or swords after all. Her fingers drum across the lid of the box that's now in her lap, the same mischievous glint back in her gaze. She pats the spot on the bed beside her motioning for him to sit beside her. ]
All of those can be answered if you open up the box. I promise it won't bite. But I know you kind of like that so maybe that's a bad thing.
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I do indeed like that sort of thing, but I'd prefer it from you rather than a box. [ But he holds out his hands and makes grabby motions with his fingers all the same. ]
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[ The box is exchanged between hands and she can't help but eagerly cozy up to him to watch him open it. As much as Hilda enjoyed receiving gifts (maybe enjoyed wasn't the right word to capture it, she loved receiving them), she enjoyed giving them just as much. There's an art form to gifting that she'd like to think she's mastered. Even though gift boxes and paper were eventually tossed away, the thought that went into the presentation of a gift was just as important as the gift itself in her mind.
This gift to Sylvain is no different. When Sylvain removes the lid, swathes of tissue similar to the colour of the ribbon covers the gift, enveloping it in a perfect nest. And underneath it? Well, Sylvain probably guessed what it was before he unearths it. Either way, Hilda can't hide the absolute delight and laughter in her eyes when he's holding it in his hands. As ridiculous as the hat may look, Hilda took the time to personalize it for him. On the inside of the hat at the back is a meticulously embroidered outline of a lion's head and Sylvain's initials beneath it. ]
Well? What do you think?
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Hilda. You shouldn't have.
[ No, really. ]
It's very blue. And excellent shade, I'm sure.
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There was a red one but I figured that this suited your complexion a little better.
[ Her grin widens a fraction, her eyes shining. Oh, she was loving this. ]
Are you going to try it on?
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At her sparkly-eyed look, he sighs deeply. And then smirks as he plucks the hat out of the box. ]
Oh, but then I won't be able to see it to admire it. Here, you model it for me instead.
[ And he promptly tugs it down over her head. ] Oh my. What a good look for you.
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[ Her whine is partially muffled by the hat. All that remains of her pout is a pair of pink eyes glaring at Sylvain through the slit between the brim of the hat and the neck cover.
This wasn't going the way she wanted to at all. In one fluid motion she tugs the hat from her head and launches herself at him with a surprising amount of speed and force in an attempt to get the hat onto his head. How successful she is is anyone's guess though. ]
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But you make such a darling model, Hilda! Don’t be so shy!
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Oh, I'm not shy Sylvain. I love modelling things but I think you have to get over your fear of being a fashion icon! Nothing says fashion forward like being sun aware.
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Well, if you'd offered me this while straddling me earlier, I might have taken it better.
And I don't have a fear of being a fashion icon. Maybe I'm shy.
[ He is definitely not shy. ]
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I feel like I'm getting mixed messages here. A shy Sylvain would never be caught dead in this position, give in and try on the hat if I was straddling him. [ She huffs again in frustration missing the slight gap in his arms and therefore her brief window of being able to tug the hat onto his head. ] Did I mention that I got you this hat with my own money?
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Technically you're the one that manhandled me here, so I'm not responsible for my current position in the first place. My poor scandalized virtue!
[ As if he'd ever had any of that to begin with.
He does cast her a playful scowl as he catches her wrists, however, and easily holds her above him. ]
You shouldn't be spending your money on me, you just got here.
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[ The first move being forcing a hat onto her that was clearly his.
Caught wrists definitely make trying to force a hat onto someone more difficult and her brows knit together again. They had been been taught scenarios like this before in hand to hand combat - not that she's had to do this very often or in a while - but muscle memory is a powerful thing. Hilda lets the hat drop onto Sylvain's face, pushing her hands down and around so her wrists were on the outside of Sylvain's arms. With a force that she claimed she didn't have, she broke free from the hold before snatching his wrists and forcing his arms over his head. ]
But you've taken mostly good care of me while I've been here. It's the least I can do. So when you think about it, it's really hurting my feelings that you won't just try on the hat for me.
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Maybe if you had your wicked way with me, we'd both feel better. [ As suggestions go, it's offered in the sweetest, most innocent tone possible. ]
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Maybe if you accepted my gift we could talk about wicked ways later.
[ Skillfully she snatches both of Sylvain's wrists in one hand before grabbing the hat and dangling it above his head with a smile. ]
What do you say?
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I'd say that sounds very much like you avoiding the topic entirely. [ He states this with mournful disappointment. ] But if it will make you happy, Hilda, fine, I will accept your hat.
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How do you feel in it?
[ Personally, she thinks it looks perfectly ridiculous. ]
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Also she's not wrong in her observation. He absolutely feels ridiculous. ]
Muffled.
[ Hilariously, he also sounds muffled. ]
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