"D-do I know you?"

The masked woman had asked, slightly hesitant yet still accepting of his request.

“You don’t, no.” Gideon replied in an amused tone, grasping her hand gently as she laid it in his. “But I suppose that’s the fun of a masquerade.”

And they were off. Just as he’d performed in his previous dance, GIDEON GRAVES demonstrated a layman’s level of proficiency in terms of style and grace. He could execute the routines of the waltz with clinical accuracy - void of errors, to be sure, but also of pizazz and an inherent joie de vivre one might expect from a dance partner. Still, what he lacked in the dance department, perhaps he could make up for in conversation.

“Quite the beautiful choice of mask,” He began, his umber gaze trailing from the green lattice to the tip of the adorning feather - which looked as if it had been plucked from the wing of HO-OH itself. Being the bird nerd that he was, Gideon appraised it with a critical eye, deciding that it was likely real, but perhaps dyed for a vibrant effect. It was at odds with his own mask: a blank slate of pale silver with no patterns or embellishments.

suit check + mask
mission: MERRY MASQUERADE
(repeat)

☉

Ever one for theatrics when it came time to finally taste Gideon's highbrow drinks, john nelson could have won an Oscar for some of his performances. Especially this one! Swirling it, sniffing it, and then absolutely chugging it?!

"John, you're supposed to sip it, you know. It's a cocktail, not a can of Slowbräu or some other cheap beer." Gideon scoffed, mock-exasperated. How could he possibly appreciate the complexity of the beverage if all he did was drink it in one go?? The action defied all logic.

"What am I going to do with you?" Inevitably, Gideon's feigned indignation fell away in lieu of a bright smile and an amused shake of his head. "We need to refine that palate of yours."

john nelson

☉

Recent sightings of MINIOR plummeting down to Earth had been in the news. Within hours of the discovery, scientists from across the region were tasked with helping the Meteor Pokémon, Gideon included.

The "rescue" was not necessarily fueled by empathetic concern, but by scientific curiosity. Gideon and his team had received an emergency permit to collect MINIOR for study in order to try and understand what was causing them to fall in such large numbers. It was an anomaly that needed to be explored.

Joining him to aid in the collection was Amelia Livy, who Gideon had known and worked with throughout the last few years since his return to Hoenn.

"Glad you could make it on such short notice, Lia." The professor said, although his focus was divided. Currently his umber eyes were pointed skyward, looking for signs of MINIOR falling. His DITTO, Morpho, had already transformed into one of the teams' ALAKAZAMs, ready to join in on psychically stalling the descent of the MINIOR.

Amelia Livy
mission: MINIOR MAYHEM

☉

[FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF OVERTURE]

Taking her chin between his thumb and index finger, the director titled her head upward and leaned down...

... placing a chaste, lingering kiss to Elisabeth Fiorelli's expectant lips. Nothing too heavy, nothing too taboo in the eyes of watching guests. Simple obligation under the guise of mistletoe.

Gideon pulled away just slightly, still close enough to feel the warmth from one another's breaths, and expressed in a low tone, "I hate to leave it here, but I'm sure there are others pining for your attention." Their earlier group had practically materialized from thin air as soon as she'd arrived. Already he could see hungry eyes on the periphery, waiting for their turn about the room.

"I'll be in touch, Elisabeth." Gently, he released his hold on her chin and stepped away. Speaking at a more conversational level now, Gideon added, "Thank you for the dance. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening."

With that said he let the crowds of excited dancers fill the space between them until Elisabeth Fiorelli was lost to the whims of the ballroom.

Sweeping his eyes across those gathered, Gideon looked for the telltale signs of someone with the urge to dance yet lacking a partner to do so. Inevitably he caught the gaze of Giselle Sigebrand and approached her with a tempered, disarming smile.

"Would you do me the honor?" He asked, offering his hand to the red-haired woman.

• suit check + mask
• smooch Elisabeth Fiorelli
• prompt #4 (mistletoe)
• asking Giselle Sigebrand for a dance

☉

She'd taken his challenge to heart.

Purposeful fingers curled into the dark strands of Gideon's hair, sending slight jolts of pleasure arcing through his body. The feeling reminded him of how long it'd truly been since he'd felt any sort of intimate touch.

Physical gratification gave way to emotional satisfaction. The music waned, their bodies pressed together, and all too soon the first dance of the night came to an end.

But not before one final probing test courtesy of Elisabeth Fiorelli and her strategically-placed mistletoe.

Emerald eyes met Gideon's umber. His eyebrows lifted briefly, his thin-lipped smile widened - showcasing pleasant surprise at the little detour she'd taken them on. Not one to back down, Gideon indulged in her call to action.

Taking her chin between his thumb and index finger, the director tilted her head upward and leaned down...

suit check + mask
mission: MERRY MASQUERADE

☉