He tilted his head, eyeing the stranger. "You think I'm light?" there's a slight lilt to his words. He's teasing. Just a little. Paxton blinks, leading the man in practiced steps. A beat or two more, just long enough for him to fall into the motions of it, and he smiles. "Why not, for this first one, you just focus on me?" he asked, giving a quick wink. [break][break]

As if on cue, slows down, just like all the rest, and dips his partner. "We can put the chase on pause for a few minutes." he added as he pulled them back up and continued their steps. After all, one dance for yourself is the bare minimum reward for going through the effort of attending such a fancy gala. "How'd you learn how to dance?" he asked, not giving them an opportunity to protest. [break][break]

Arber hovered near Molly, glancing from her to their trainers and tilting her head curious.

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+ thomas nightingale [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

They spin slowly, Paxton's eyes dart away once to track those aorund him to keep from leading his partner into other couples before staying firmly on his partner. He seemed to adjust their trajectory but other than that keeps to the same movements. "I'd care." he stated, pouting for a moment before a small smile returned. "You're too gracious a partner." he added. "I tell people." [break][break]

He watches close before murmuring to the stranger, "Should I not do that again?" he asked referring to the dip. He can do something else. "Once you start dancing, you don't really stop." he noted. "More to come with me, with others. A person becomes 10 times more desirable on the dancefloor." he explained. [break][break]

"Oh? A Galarian noble? I hope my technique is somewhat up to snuff." he said with a small laugh. His eyes darken a little, as they always do when he talks about his history. "As an a military officer, there are times I am- was expected to participate in formal dinners, galas...you know. Upholding tradition, uplifting morale. A rare occurrence but possible all the same sometimes..." he began, before carefully moving both hands to his dance partner's hips. One, two, lift- It's a wide spin and Paxton sets them down gently. "So...aside from some basic manners, one country boy learned how to dance fancy." his hands go back to position.

[break][break]

+ thomas nightingale [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Good." he said, touch light as they twirled about. "Waltzing can get pretty boring. It's good to mix it up some times." he said, grinning as they continued to the orchestra behind them. "Enjoying yourself then?" he asked, more than happy to be the reason for it. Everyone deserved a little fun at parties like this. "If you can't bring yourself to share your dance partner, I mean." he was pleased at the compliment. More Thomas' interest than the insinuation others would be. After all, he didn't really care much if people liked or admired him. Just specific ones. [break][break]

"Your Kalosian elite must be pretty boring then." he countered with a snort. Though, its obvious he thinks naught for the response other than a bit of pride by the way their steps complicate just a little. "I forgot dancing's only fun when you have a good partner." he said after a moment. Even strangers amongst strangers, he's more than content to spin lazily with the man before him, having a grand conversation about little things. [break][break]

"What's a Galarian noble doing all the way out in Hoenn? Curious after our dome came down?" he continued.

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+ thomas nightingale [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Paxton can hardly imagine what it's like to grow up rich, in a weird noble society steeped in tradition and old customs. He's from the suburbs. He's used to running around barefoot in the trees, sleeping on lake shows, building secret bases. Far from a graceful thing. All that sort of mannerism had been beaten into his bones by his brief career in the military. "Was the food as good as I heard it was?" he asked, the slight grin a tell that he's teasing. [break][break]

"The most fascinating thing about me is the mask." Paxton said, humbly rebuffing Thomas. Though his expression is relaxed. He debated giving up his name, but the dance isn't over and that would defeat the whole purpose of this little charade. So he holds his tongue, and lets them speak as he leads them through the large ballroom. [break][break]

He watched closely, allowing his dance partner all the space in the world for dramatics. "Ah, well it makes sense for a professor from Hammerlocke to want to stick aorund after Kyurem of all things appears." he said. "Well, that's good then. I don't have to worry I'm keeping you from your partner." he said. "I don't think I could handle a duel for honor...god's forbid." he said, feigning worry and fear. As if he hadn't done more than his fair share of fighting. Then again...sword...fencing? He couldn't do that. And that sounded like the sort of thing Galarians got up to. [break][break]

"Well. Anyway." he cleared his throat. "I'm glad you chose to stay. You've been," dramatic pause. A smirk. "Fascinating...I hadn't really planned to dance tonight either." He hadn't planned much of anything. He's shown up, practically in a daze.

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+ thomas nightingale [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The loud laughter reverberates through the music. But if other's stare, Paxton only grinned. "A spinster for one society might be an eligible bachelor in another." He said back. It's wild to think even in old society, they'd still classify his friend as that. He didn't seem much older than him. [break][break]

"You're more intriguing than you know." Paxton asserted as they came to a slow with the last notes of the orchestra plucked and sent off through the air. "Stay in touch?" He whispered, playful and conspiratorial. He offered his arm for his dance partner to lean on as he led them back off the dance floor. [break][break]

Pulling further along until he can find a corner for them that's a little less crowded, less noisy. He pulls over a chair but doesn't force them to sit. "Forgive me if I break protocol, but I think I've played along for long enough." He said hands leaving his partner and moving up to pull his mask up and rest it on his head. "Nice to meet you. I'm Paxton."


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+ thomas nightingale [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He tilts his head, holding his partner's gaze with his own as he finally gets to see what's underneath. Paxton studied him, form his cheek bones to his nose, to his eyes. Remembering, memorizing. He's tucking it away in a rolodex for contacts as they speak. "Thomas." he tests the name out, attaching it to a memory of him for further reference later. [break][break]

"I had a wonderfully interesting partner to perform for." he said, a nod punctuating his words. "Oh-!" he breaks eye contact to reach in his jacket pocket. A few business cards clipped together by a pale yellow hairclip is retrieve. He pulls one out before palming it over to him. [break][break]

"Let's get coffee, really. I want to hear more about your position in Hammerlocke, Professor." Paxton said. "I'll make time." he added, assuring his companion he was trying to be sincere before they parted ways.


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+ thomas nightingale [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]