Hugo delighted upon giving Hazel experiences he'd never had before. Unexpectedly at first, that hadn't been a difficult task, considering his husband had been seemingly neglect of many experiences that Hugo found relatively normal. He came from a big family, however, and not a rich one at that. There were many things he'd wanted to try and been unable to, so for many things, they got to experience it together. Sadly, for Hazel, this wasn't the first time Hugo had skated.
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It wasn't like they were figure-skating or anything. The bare minimum of expectation was to scoot along the ice and pray that they didn't fall on their asses. They most certainly would, but at least they'd get a laugh out of it (hopefully Hazel was in the mood to laugh over it rather than pout).
[break][break]
Hugo paused at that revelation, "Of course you haven't." He teased at that, grinning. His hands reached out to hold the other's wrists as steadily as he could. While Hugo had done this before, it wasn't like he was a master or anything actually admirable. He simply had gotten to a point where he could propel himself forward and not fall on his face. This didn't discount the fact there were other skaters, equally unsteady, that may make this even more difficult.
[break][break]
"There you go." His voice wavered as Hazel wobbled awkward and he clung a little to keep him upright, which didn't help with his own balance. "We'll be experts in no time." He didn't sound too certain about that.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht | m: festive flirts [break]

"Suppose that's true." Hugo really should have done the same, connecting that was. However, this event wasn't about work and he had learned to keep old obsessions at bay. Hazel helped with that, of course. Life wasn't about making up for life's lowball throws. Working wasn't his purpose in life and he was happy in ways he hadn't been years ago.

Though he knew that @albrecht had plans and he wasn't about to keep him from doing the things he wanted, but he'd be damned if they went to a masquerade and didn't at least dance. Getting Hazel out to parties was entirely too elusive for him to risk losing out on, that was for damn sure. Hugo laughed at that, "Thank you for kissing my ass, but we all know that isn't true. Lying isn't your greatest talent, darling." As if anyone could look better than Hazel, regardless of a mask or not or even of Hugo's obvious bias in the matter.

As the event began, he realized he'd have likely very little time to take advantage of this before Hazel was whisked away by museum fancies. Admittedly, Hugo was rather interested himself, though he'd been to this museum plenty of times before. As much as his own was filled with stolen artifacts, even grand places like this were merely displays of theft and grand cultural larceny, put behind glass and called an exhibit. The National Museum of Natural History was a fancier setting, but GIDEON GRAVES  was no less a thief than himself.

He looked over at his husband, after plucking a drink from one of the waiters and handing it over. Luckily there wasn't too much in the flute to get the slighter man drunk over, but they both knew where this was going. "Dance with me?" He asked, attempting as much charm as he could to entice the other before adding, "Please. Don't make me beg."

---

- open to interaction [break]
- wearing tailored suit & mask[break]
- asks @albrecht to dance, of course.[break]
- fulfilling prompt 1[break]

Hazel was actually looking forward to the masquerade, it was actually rather cute. Of course, the other man didn't let on to such a fact. His husband kept such things close to the chest, but Hugo had long since learned to approximately read him by then. They arrived a little later than Hazel probably liked, being that he was usually so prompt. Fashionably late, Hugo insisted. Even being the partier himself, a stuffy ball was not his idea of fun, admittedly. But there was also something gaudy and enjoyable about masquerades. They were tacky, in a good sort of way.

At the very least, it would do well for him to at least attempt to appear posh and maybe get some additional contacts in the mean time. Very likely there would be at least someone he recognized. Despite his somewhat obnoxious nature earlier in his years, he had somewhat subsided from any foreseeable spotlights. Why? He wasn't exactly certain. He liked to say it was because he'd found what made him happy, which was the easiest and most obvious responses. Yet, unfortunately, his husband could see through him too.

For reasons well beyond his understanding, he felt tired. Maybe it was simply due to the fact he'd been a chaser of the limelight and was tired now of running. Maybe he was old, hell if he knew.

"Meeting with anyone of interest?" Certainly there had to be a reason that his introverted husband wished to go to this gaudy affair. Though he doubted the younger man would say it was because he wanted to have fun, which was a shame. "Did I tell you you look handsome, by the way?" He did, several times now.

---

- wearing tailored suit & mask
- arrives 'fashionably late' with husband, @albrecht.

Hugo, admittedly, loved Christmas. He'd come from a big family and Christmas had been a big deal. Though they'd never been able to afford anything then, Hugo enjoyed knowing that such restrictions no longer prevented him. He still sent quite a bit of that wealth back to his family and enjoyed picking out gifts for his siblings (or rather, their kids). [break][break]He took the gift-giving sentiment very seriously. And, even more so, winter dates were very important for him. Actually, planning most dates was something he took a lot of pride and enjoyment out of. Hazel seemed to humor him at least, but he wasn't about to let their nights grow stale.
[break][break]
Ice skating maybe wasn't exactly the best of his ideas. He'd had some practice at it and it was a nice sport whenever winter came around; however, it was fairly clear to him that Hazel didn't seem to share the same err.... gracefulness? Not that he'd say that out loud. "Oh come on, it's really not that bad." He said as he stepped out on the ice. After an awkward step, he recalled a lot of latent motor memory that made it easy to pick up on. "It's like riding a bike."
[break][break]
Most people could ride bikes, not everyone could ice skate. Bit of a difference. He could also say that his baby sister could do it so too could Hazel, but he wanted to keep his marriage in tact.
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"I won't let you fall." He regretted saying that almost as soon as he did, because that was a lot of responsibility with something as powerful as gravity and motion working against them.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht | m: festive flirts [break]

Hazel knew what he wanted, that was for sure. Hugo was just surprised to find that he was the subject of Hazel's wants. That, or he was playing a very confusing game of tugging at his heart strings (and other parts). Admittedly, Hugo could feel himself falling hook, line, and sinker for every word that came out of the other's mouth. Dates had never really meant anything to Hugo. In truth, he could be a bit of an awful player, and this had been nothing less of yet another conquest. However, the longer they went, the more he realized that it was Hazel that was playing with him.
[break][break]
It felt dangerous and yet, unabashedly, alluring. This was not the person he'd thought he asked out. Unexpectedly, however, that was not a bad thing. The only thing of consternation was the fact, he felt like he was the one chasing after the other, shamelessly peacocking for his approval. It was less than ideal, but also a bit addicting.
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The view was as good as he was told, thankfully. "Yeah," He replied at that before pausing, "Oh you mean of the city— not on purpose, no." He snorted that, fully recognizing that was the dumbest thing he'd said so far. He just couldn't quite help himself anymore, especially not as the other seemed to linger closer and closer. The tension felt electric, tying them together. Maybe they should settle for appetizers and cut this short. No.... no..., talk about desperate.
[break][break]
"I'll get us a bottle, what do you like?" He said, offering the wine menu to the other man.


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht | m: sleepless in slateport | outfit[break]

Hazel was — wow. Well, in actual words, he was a lot different than Hugo had anticipated, which wasn’t the man that looked up at him right then when an almost intimidating beauty. A sudden sultry edge claimed his expression and then he was moving closer. Hugo was no more than a puppet. A fine instrument in the other man’s hands to play at will with. He folded under the pressure of the other’s hand like it was the only natural response, maybe it was. He didn’t know, but before he could ask exactly what devious plot the other had conjured up, his mouth was occupied.
[break][break]
“Oh—” A barely noticeable breath of noise past the press of lips. It wasn’t a modest or subtle kiss in any way, it said exactly what he wanted. Hugo folded almost immediately under the contact, which he found he was perfectly happy to do. Still, his reaction timing was ridiculously stunted beneath the surprise. By the time he unraveled his brain from the fog, his hands had already traveled to slip across the slighter man’s sides and his body pressed to Hazel’s a little more solidly than he might have otherwise.
[break][break]
Then, it was over. Hazel pulled away with the chime of the elevator and Hugo was left staring down at him like a flushed idiot. It was nowhere near average for him. The museum curator liked to think himself fairly smooth and in control, yet so easily it was stolen away by the other man. It was only worse that it took every ounce of control not to haul him back into the elevator for an immediate part two. There were prying eyes now and this suddenly felt like an enticing game.
[break][break]
“Yeah…” He hated the way his voice felt heavy, almost as if still clinging to the contact even with the distance put between them then. Gathering himself once more, he nodded. “Yeah.” He smiled at the waiter, “Two for Darcy.” Then followed the waiter to their table which was nicely situated in a more private corner, next to the window that looked over the city.


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht | m: sleepless in slateport | outfit[break]

Maybe he did have a part of himself that was still gratified by a hidden world that he wished to uncover, for reasons beyond monetary gain. Unexpectedly, Hazel made him think about it, even consider it just a little bit. There was a little temptation in it, to want to be apart of something bigger than himself with someone else that he cared about. Not that he was equating that with the other man, of course, that would've been too much too fast.
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He already found himself entirely charmed though by the other's passion. The way his eyes grew bigger and a spark lingered in the soft light of his pupils. For someone so reserved, he still seemed to beam with that energy. It was, admittedly, extremely attractive.
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Hugo opened the door for him, before letting it shut behind them. The inner sanctum of the build was glamorous, maybe a little gaudy in hindsight. He didn't want Hazel thinking he was the type for the glamorous (even if he kind of was). Hugo blinked in a moment of confusion at such a bold proclamation. He could even feel a little heat on his face at the statement. Though as Hazel retracted it, something cheeky formed instead.
[break][break]
Pushing the elevator doors as they stepped inside, he added, "You wont? Well... I guess I need to try harder, don't I?" The door closed and the elevator ascended to the fancy restaurant at the top. It was more nouveau riche, but with a green touch. Clean walls and a lot of plants. What was with new rich and plants anyways? "We should have a table reserved."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht | m: sleepless in slateport | outfit[break]

Almost immediately there was an underlying electric connection between them, simmering under the surface. Hugo felt like he was gravitating towards the other man, drawn in by some invisible tether he couldn't snip. Even if he could, he wasn't sure he wanted to. There was something so undeniably attractive about Hazel and he'd be lying if he suggested otherwise.
[break][break]
That attraction only seemed to amplify as the other spoke about his passions. It was clear to see, even if the question had never been asked. He liked that about him, even if his own interests in the same field were fueled by more selfish and shallow reasons. Hugo was still intrigued by the things just out of sight. Myths and legends and curses and power, that semblance of almost helplessness before things far older and far greater than any of them.
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He smiled to himself, sensing the other coming to realization and pumping the brakes on his words. It was certainly more explanation than he'd initially expected, but not at all unwanted. "I like that about you, really. I used to... well I guess I used to be like that, but got distracted by things that don't matter so much." Wealth and power and a semblance of unique importance. Though at once time, he'd craved to understand the things that likely drive Hazel as well. He missed that part of himself.
[break][break]
He realized then that maybe that was too personal, too much like he was longing for someone that no longer existed in himself. "Luckily, my profession allows me come across a lot of unique pieces, should I ever come across something you might like, I'll definitely let you know." He paused then in his stride, moving towards the building marked with the restaurant's logo. It was on the upper levels of an expensive shopping center. He held the door open for the other.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @albrecht | m: sleepless in slateport | outfit[break]

Really, he should've known better. He was hoping that Hazel would be out of it enough to mentally check out. Hugo was awake enough to make it through the rest of the movie though he'd recognized when Hazel finally fell asleep (far later than anticipated). He probably deserved being woken up a second time that time, this time not by a feline clawing at him. He felt the jostle beside him and this time he didn't stir quite so lazily as before.
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He didn't need to pat the bed beside him to knowing the other was still there. It was almost as if they were connected after all these years, the way he just felt that something was wrong. So, he stirred awake as Hazel did. "Hey hey hey, it's okay." He attempted softness but there a sleep graze to his tone as he clear his throat.
[break][break]
He let his fingers sweep through violet and silver hair, calming the disarray a little both in the locks and in the other's mind (hopefully). "It's all okay, just a bad dream. You're okay." Admittedly, he felt like shit, having been notably the cause to this upset. "I'm sorry, guess that movie was a dumb idea. Weren't supposed to stay awake through it." He should've known better that Hazel might try to anyways. 
[break][break]
His arm traveled further around the other's slighter frame, pulling him closer. "Everything's gonna be alright." He said, not just talking about the nightmare, but everything. Everything was going to be okay, he was going to make certain of it.


[break][break]

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