"As I recall, thanks to you, we dance quite regularly." He said with an added glint of mischief that inferred he wasn't actually talking about "dancing". A kind he'd hope they might continue at a later, far more secluded time, if he was lucky. Granted, Hazel rarely refused such an offer, unless he wasn't physically capable at that time. He waved off the dirtier thoughts that invaded and instead focused on the flow of the orchestral music, the way they fitted together as if they were made for this kind of movement.
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Dancing in a more formal setting was certainly more rare than their wine-tipsy sessions in the house. It fit into Hugo's flavor of grandeur, where he could at least pretend to be of high standing than he was (rich or not). The setting itself was ideal for Hazel, so he couldn't complain too much about the set up itself.
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He raised an eyebrow at Hazel's suggestion. "Been reading a lot of novels lately, little prince?" It certainly sounded like something from his gaudy novels, but in a way he likely knew that Hugo would have loved purely on the drama of it. Maybe in their early dating years, but now well... "We'd probably just get frustrated looking for one another." He laughed at then, knowing that wasn't really the truth. As if he couldn't find his husband in a sea of masked individuals. The foreplay of it all, maybe he'd grown lazy with the instant gratification that marriage offered.
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"Are you wanting to roleplay, dear? You can play the prince, I'll play the desperate peasant. Though, you always look better with a touch of desperation."


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[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht  

“It isn’t? That’s a shame.” Hugo couldn’t quite help himself. Though he was still observant of the other’s condition, it couldn’t be helped. Not that he wanted the other to think that he saw him as delicate or anything. That was furthest from the truth in Hugo’s opinion. It was still hard for him to separate his personal feelings and concerns. Hazel pushed himself too far and if Hugo didn’t look out for him then who would? It was really that simple.
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For all of his teasing, the only likely end was that he was going to insist they go home and go promptly to sleep. He would insist that he was tired and old. Hazel wouldn’t believe him but would go along with it anyways (although sometimes he insisted otherwise). They weren’t prone to fights, but they were also both equally stubborn and proud.
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“I’m impatient and want instant gratification, so it would annoy me.” He said, attempting to suppress his own smile. It wasn’t exactly a lie, he was petty and impatient, but not where Hazel was concerned. He could take all the time in the world then.
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He spun them around with very little warning, dipping the other. His hand slid further down the other’s lower back. “I’m always in the mood for it.” He was being quite honest, wasn’t he?
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“I don’t know, your desperation is by far finer than mine. So…” He shrugged. He wore desperation with an edge of irritation, quickly giving in for the sake of weaker needs and his own husband’s pleasure, though he didn’t think himself easy. Hazel was by far the more rewarding of the two of them, in that regard.


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[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht  

"Sometimes, I can't quite help myself." He said with a laugh, biting down on his smile with the shake of his head. His hand smoothed over the flat of his back in response, slow and purposeful. In part a tease, but also more than that. It always felt like a representation of love, this kind of movement. Dancing was always romantic to him, though he assured himself and Hazel that he was not a romantic. Hazel just brought out a different side of him.
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Hazel could be stubborn, more so than anyone else that Hugo knew. It was a fond sort of stubbornness, even when it was a little exasperating and managed to bring out that tone shift in his voice between patience and irritation. Usually, that nerve was only struck when the other's health was in question. Though it had never bothered him that Hazel had limitations, it was only that his husband felt it necessary to push regardless.
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As with their first date, taking their time was not something they were particularly good at doing. Not when one another was involved, though Hugo rather enjoyed pushing his luck with the other's patience. They still had their marital games, things were never boring.
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"As my husband you can tell me no at any point and I usually regrettably choose to follow your word. Got me wrapped around your finger." That would come to no one's surprise, of course.
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Both of his hands settled on the other's hips, it felt more like a school dance than a fancy gala waltz now. "I would never tell you to be less desperate and more difficult because I know you'd take that as a challenge and most certainly win. Though... you don't need to prove anything to me, my love."


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[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht

Despite the frequency of their dancing, this still felt like a rarity for him. Even if he took every opportunity to engage in some kind of dance with his husband, be it in actuality or a game or something more. It never felt old to him, he never got over this.
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Hugo laughed at that, "You tell me no all the time, dearest." Usually in jest, but still... the other was quite opinionated and no amount of claims otherwise would change that opinion. Granted, that usually came in regards to the other's health, which was usually a delicate topic between the two of them. Both of them suffered from varying pasts, be it years spent in frequency at the doctors or a sick baby sister, both had their issues in regard to it. Hugo didn't like testing fate, but he also respected his husband's decision more than that.
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For the most part, they often found themselves in agreeance, even if Hugo had to reword things to be more palatable to the other. After all, Hugo had barely been sick a day in his life, he could accept weakness in other instances and readily did so, so that his husband didn't feel like an exception.
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He liked the closeness of their movements, the intimacy there. To hell with the rest of the masquerade. "True... I'm not very good at these games." Hazel murmured into his ear and he let his lips trace the curve of a pale neck. "That's alright, I'm a patient man."

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht

The first few years together had been a learning curve, to say the least. Their natures were similar, not always in the right way, but they cared enough about one another to know there were limits about certain things. Of course, Hazel's health would always be the primal point of discontent or concern.
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Hugo never wanted the other to feel like the problem in their relationship because of it, but it was never the health that was the issue, in Hugo's opinion. Rather, it was the neglect the other had for it, especially without realizing why Hugo was so concerned. That was the point that he could no longer remain level-headed. Yet, luckily, they so rarely strayed into that realm. Sure, maybe they were just glossing over a fracture in their natures, but it didn't make sense digging up disagreement just for the sake of it.
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Just because something wasn't perfect, didn't mean it needed to be. That was the point. Hugo also had his own imperfections to deal with that Hazel tolerated. As doting as he tried to be, he could very easily become overbearing and controlling, it was in his nature and he tried his best to prevent that. Luckily, Hazel was a force of nature he couldn't seal away in a bottle even if he tried, or even if he wanted to (which he did not).
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Hugo smiled at that, "Well then, I guess that we'll just have to test your patience then, huh? Sounds like a fun game to me." He could be wicked still, when he wanted to be. Even then, he still gave the other an innocent pinch on the ass before leading him out of the dance floor.

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht