philancer | Inbox: Abraxas

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. ]

I'll keep it in mind for next time, maybe.

[ 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?

[ 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. ]

Hilda. You shouldn't have.

[ No, really. ]

It's very blue. And excellent shade, I'm sure.

[ 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. ]

Are you going to try it on?

[ He is going to get even for this. He doesn't know how yet. But he will find a way.

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.

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.

[ He's still fending her off, but he doesn't pass up the opportunity to smirk up at her while he does so, his lips curving in a sly grin. ]

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. ]

[ 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?

[ He won't tell if you start blushing, Hilda, it's okay. ]

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.

Excuse me? You made the first move!

[ 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. ]

What do you say?

[ 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. ]

Edited 2022-12-20 21:43 (UTC)

[ He bites back a sigh and humors her, although there's amusement glinting in his gaze at her smug satisfaction.

Also she's not wrong in her observation. He absolutely feels ridiculous. ]

Muffled.

[ Hilariously, he also sounds muffled. ]

[ It helps being perceptive in moments like these although knowing someone definitely helps too. Hilda catches the glint of amusement in Sylvain’s gaze which only serves to tug her grin wider. ]

But protected from the sun, right? Go on, you can say it: thank you so much for protecting me from the sun, Hilda. I know that your kind heart is going to be the reason my handsome face stays unmarred by the harsh desert sun.

I don't need to say it when you've summed it up so accurately. [ His voice is still dry, if amused. ] Thank you, Hilda.

[ He guesses. ]

[ Delighted laughter finally escapes Hilda's lips. ]

You're welcome, Sylvain. But now that the present is out of the way, I was hoping you could do me a favour.

[ There’s a weighted silence beneath the blinding blue of that hat before Sylvain reaches up to peel the lower half up over his forehead, almost like someone would visor a helmet.

He gives her the most baleful look possible. ]

You mean to tell me this wasn’t the favor???

[ His expression is only greeted with the sweetest of smiles. It would take a lot more to deter Hilda than a baleful look from Sylvain. ]

No, that was a gift. [ And then to breeze onto her next important item - ] I was wondering if you'd teach me how to bartend. You seem so good at it and I figure it couldn't hurt to pick up a new skill while I'm here.

[ Realizing how it sounds she hurriedly rushes to add on a last bit in case he got any ideas. ] And to be clear, this is more of a hobby. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I'm starting to get bored doing nothing all day.

[ You're so lucky he's so fond of you right now.

But when she rushes off to explain, his expression softens a little and he offers her a crooked smile. ]

No, I know what you mean. It's odd, not having so much to fill our days that we feel we'll never keep up with all of it. I thought it would be more relaxing, but it got pretty old pretty fast. I don't mind teaching you what I've picked up here. Mag's always grateful to have an extra set of hands around here.

You had things to fill your day at home?

[ It’s mostly a joke. Mostly.

The smile that flutters to her face is a relieved one. She didn’t think that Sylvain would say no – but it wasn’t like she was going to push the request if he did. This wasn’t something she’d typically push or even ask, really. Not unless there was something else for her to gain. ]

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves – no one said anything about working. Who knows if I’ll even be able to pick up those heavy trays full of beer?

[ She’s spent enough time in the bar to know that those looked heavy. Not that she was admiring Sylvain while he did it or anything – or if she did, she hadn’t been called out on it quite yet. ]

Inbox: Abraxas

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