I'm complaining because you're trying to rearrange my face!
[ Not a real complaint; also, not even remotely possible to do - he's pretty sure - but for good measure that's not going to stop Claude from bringing both hands up to his face after he lets go to pat it tentatively with his fingertips as if he's expecting things to have actually moved. Obviously they haven't, so he drops his shoulders in exaggerated relief. ]
Well, it seems to all still be in place so I suppose I have no choice but to continue liking you, too. I was worried there for a minute.
[ It goes without saying he was no such thing, but. He'd caught that expression flickering across Hilda's face again, another one that seems like it might align with from earlier. Or maybe it's something that needs to be layered over it for a clearer picture, a way to bring it all into focus, like a stack of stained glass fragments forming a different view than when laid out separately. Something Claude's no stranger to himself in operating the same way, and as Hilda smooths out his dress for him when he was about to do that next he watches her carefully beneath the too easy smile on his face.
All the better to catch her hands in his when she lets got of the bustle and possibly starts to step away to keep her there. ]
I will. But whether it's tonight or not, Hilda, I meant what I said. You don't have to ask to join me. Show up whenever you need to, and I'll be there for you.
[ There's more he could say - likely should say - but Hilda's probably right about not running late when he'd had the idea to show up to the restaurant in question first. So with one last squeeze of her hands he lets go to tackle pulling on those very high boots much different than his usual ones or his greaves from another life to round out the outfit, and then he's off with one last wink over his shoulder Hilda's direction as he walks out the door. ]
it's a wrap!
[ Not a real complaint; also, not even remotely possible to do - he's pretty sure - but for good measure that's not going to stop Claude from bringing both hands up to his face after he lets go to pat it tentatively with his fingertips as if he's expecting things to have actually moved. Obviously they haven't, so he drops his shoulders in exaggerated relief. ]
Well, it seems to all still be in place so I suppose I have no choice but to continue liking you, too. I was worried there for a minute.
[ It goes without saying he was no such thing, but. He'd caught that expression flickering across Hilda's face again, another one that seems like it might align with from earlier. Or maybe it's something that needs to be layered over it for a clearer picture, a way to bring it all into focus, like a stack of stained glass fragments forming a different view than when laid out separately. Something Claude's no stranger to himself in operating the same way, and as Hilda smooths out his dress for him when he was about to do that next he watches her carefully beneath the too easy smile on his face.
All the better to catch her hands in his when she lets got of the bustle and possibly starts to step away to keep her there. ]
I will. But whether it's tonight or not, Hilda, I meant what I said. You don't have to ask to join me. Show up whenever you need to, and I'll be there for you.
[ There's more he could say - likely should say - but Hilda's probably right about not running late when he'd had the idea to show up to the restaurant in question first. So with one last squeeze of her hands he lets go to tackle pulling on those very high boots much different than his usual ones or his greaves from another life to round out the outfit, and then he's off with one last wink over his shoulder Hilda's direction as he walks out the door. ]