Hugo would have been more than fine with other methods of distraction, but he also knew that Hazel would more likely disengage from a horror movie and fall asleep. Not out of comfort, it was simply common practice. He could probably turn on a documentary or something, but chances were that the other man would find something interesting about it and Hugo would be the one to fall asleep. That wouldn’t exactly be the goal.
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There was also 100% likelihood that Hazel would simply return to work the second Hugo was asleep again. So, it was to be a horror movie night. Hugo didn’t necessarily mind, he could have happily gone back to sleep, but he couldn’t risk the other being left to his devices. It wasn’t for lack of trust, but rather knowing his husband better than he knew himself.
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Hazel was quick to snuggle up against him, seeking out warmth in his body. It was cute, to say the least. Hugo certainly would never complain if the other chose to be clingy.
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“Devil in the wood or something, haunted woods and a cabin or something.” It sounded creepy enough, but Hugo was a big skeptic with movies (horror or not). He waited to place his judgment until the end, but it was likely only to disappoint him. The movie began in a dark woods, as most were prone to. It didn’t wait long to get to the horror aspect, though it was more atmospheric than jump scare ridden. More his type of movie.
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It was all a ploy though, he’d probably turn it off as soon as Hazel was out anyways. No need to provoke nightmares.


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

Hugo was well-aware he was not "normal" by many standards. Even if he was more than capable of pretending to be otherwise. He made do on hcarm alone, and he was thoroughly certain that was the only reason Hazel stuck around long enough to find out he had a mime and a cursed doll as his pokemon and an unhealthy penchant for weird things. Now, it was too late for him to back off.
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Of course, he had to set boundaries, like the fact that Mr. White was no allowed to come out in the night time hours because, even to Hugo, that shit was kind of freaky.
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"Okay good," He said with a little giggle. Then, without much warning, as the other pulled up from the chair, he picked him up. Though he was prone to picking Hazel up without much explanation, it still made him feel like they were newly weds and not well-seasoned old crones. "To the bedroom then." Not for the things he might have preferred right then, but horror was a close second in his list of priorities.
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Sidestepping Nico, he placed Hazel in the bed and grabbed the remote. "If you get too scared though, can always turn it off." It was spooky season though, which mean fear was an enjoyable quality, right?
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He turned it on before rolling into the bed beside him.



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

Hugo had a pretty strict separation between work and home. Mostly, because he knew that if either of them wished it, they could so easily become swallowed up with things that didn't matter. He also noted they and not just Hazel, because it wasn't like he didn't get wrapped up in things. There had been artifacts he'd been annoyingly invested in obtaining or trades he'd been forced to counsel over. His job was as tumultuous as stocks or gambling, so it wasn't like he couldn't understand his husband's stress.
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Though in Hazel's case, it was more personal. It was about his health and Hugo didn't like realizing that they could so easily be pulled in two different direction at the drop of a hat. It was good if Hazel was invested in things that could save him, but even more so there was always the threat that such determination could prove harmful. Hazel was tenacious and stubborn, more than Hugo ever could be.
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"If I wish to do my job or not, that's my decision." Even if the risk of pissing off powerful people wasn't his prerogative. There was very little he wouldn't do for his husband. To hell with the rest of it. Hugo planted on last kiss on his neck before stretching. "Well... it is spooky season and I was watching a pretty spooky movie. They always put me back to sleep. Wanna join me? If I get scared, you can comfort me."
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Out of the two of them, as a collector of things that both were and looked haunted, Hugo was in no threat of being scared. Plus the movie that he was thinking about was a chill spook. The scares were spaced about between long periods of nothing where they faked anticipation before dropping a jump scare. Ideal sleeping movie.

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

Hugo tried dutifully to ignore the pleased little feeling that nudged forward at that little smile. Maybe the flowers had been a good idea after all. It was a wonder how such a small sentiment could cause such a bold reaction, especially in one as seemingly reticent as Hazel Albrecht. It was like a sneak peek into the other's mind and he'd be lying to say it wasn't satisfying. "Well that's a shame, though I'm happy to have proved an exception already."
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Having already made a good impression it should be smooth sailing from here on out, right? Easy peasy. Only it didn't exactly feel easier, he could still feel an anxiousness that wasn't like him. The inside of Hazel's home reflected his impression of the other man. Neat, orderly, but with just the right dose of enigmatic to still prove a mystery he wanted to uncover (in more ways than one).
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The irritated espeon in question was none too shy in its apparent distaste. In truth, he couldn't blame it. He had a history of vexed pokemon and his own could be... questionable. "It's cute. I'm not bothered." He chuckled, note the shift in expression that said so clearly that it did not appreciate the disparagement of such a term as "cute".
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He'd be hard-pressed to pull his gaze away as the other man sauntered to him, having now addressed the flowers and returned to their date. "Funny, was just about to say the same thing." Where were they going again? He cleared his throat then, wracking his mind for a location. "Elderflower... or something, I've never actually been, but very fancy. Not sure if you've been, it's close by though so could walk there." He opened the door for him, eyeing the seething espeon.

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

It seemed like it had been quite some time since he'd gone on a date. Or, at the very least, put effort into preparing for the date. Under normal circumstances, there was a motive beneath it all. He asked people out with the intent to aptly use them for one thing or another. Part of him was a man of habit, unwilling to accept that this was anything more than usual for him. @albrecht was a very good looking man and with wit to boot, just Hugo's type (if not seemingly the personification of it). So, no, he wasn't going on the date with the intent to use the man even if the man's profession could certainly be useful for him.
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"Nope, sorry my friend. After last time? Hell no." He laughed, buckling his watch on as he met the bulbous eerie gaze of the Mr. Mime that had been trying to affix a bowtie to its vacant neck. The pokemon looked despondent for a moment before accepting the firm boundary. Not everyone had his acquired taste in pokemon. Hugo was not a simplistic dresser, but he decided a simple button-down was a safe option. A pair of dress pants, expensive leather shoes. It felt too casual, not nearly showy enough, but Hazel didn't seem to him a very showy person. Good enough.
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Was he too early? He asked himself as he pulled up to the given address. They were surprisingly not far from one another. 
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Were flowers still romantic or too much? They were simple white and violet flowers, certainly hadn't made him think of the other (it was merely coincidence). Was he trying too hard? No way. He didn't try hard, he faked connections until he got what he wanted. He rung the doorbell and waited. Eventually, the familiar man popped into view, peering through the open door. "Oh.. hey, hope I'm not too early. And I'm ridiculously lame, so I got you flowers. I hope you don't mind." So much for charm. God, the man was pretty. 


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

"Never were too good at hiding." Not from him anyways. He hummed a little measure of personal amusement as he lazily settled against the other, leaning some of his weight, though far from his entirety. He was well aware of Hazel's obsession and his reasons for that obsession. [break][break]Hazel was never without his reasons and Hugo would never blame him for them. He'd be lying to say it wasn't a nagging thought in his head, a sense of powerlessness to help him. He wasn't a scientist no matter how much he pretended to be scholastic or visionary.
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"I know," He said with a sigh, choosing not to berate him. It would be too easy to pick a fight with him over petty bitterness. Truthfully, he wasn't bitter about this. Far from it. Even if it could be a little tiresome. "I doubt though that there is much you can do in your exhaustion, you know."
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It was probably better for the other man to try to work something out rather than sit tossing and turning in bed. "You know you can always talk to me right?" He raised an eyebrow, knowing Hazel wouldn't enjoy the idea of dragging his husband into his supposed "problems" but still he liked being relied on from time to time.
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"Oh you didn't, it was that annoying creature of yours." He said eyeing the pokemon that had so rudely woken him up. Though now that he was up he could at least help. "How about I distract you instead?"

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

Hugo didn't count himself amongst the naive population, but he really should have known better. "Hazel, leave it, please?" Had really not been enough, had it? Of course, he knew it was different for him. Work was over when work was over. For Hazel, work was never over. It was all up in that pretty head of his, swimming around as relentless as swarming sharpedo.
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There were occasions he knew better than to chide the other man, knowing fully well when the other was invested enough to start a fight over it. Usually, Hugo backed off pretty steadily, but there were other occasions (like tonight) where he was more adamant about the household rule of no work at home.
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He was in the midst of a rather deep sleep, entirely unaware of the vacancy beside him. That was, until a certain needy pokemon decided to attempt smothering him in his sleep. He nearly shoved the damn thing off the bed and returned to sleep, but then his arm swept over the clearly vacant and cold side of the bed that belonged to his husband.
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Seriously? Rubbing the sleep from his eyes as Nico rubbed against his side, he could just make out the dim glow of a light. He had half the mind to grumble, promptly shut and lock the door, before returning to bed. It wouldn't be the first time. Instead, with a sigh, he slipped up and out of the bed. Then moved towards the light. His hair was in its usual state of bedhead, and he didn't bother to search out a shirt.
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Rather then nag him, as he desperately wished to, he would at least try to make work less appealing. His hands slipped forward, over narrow shoulders and a slight chest. He leaned over the other, pressing kisses to the soft skin just past the sharp angle of his jaw. "What work were you hoping to get done past two a.m., hmm?" If this failed to prove more appealing to the other over his work, he was going back to bed and locking the door.


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