[Is that a compliment, or a dig? Either way, it works for her. Prepare for twenty texts in a row, each one consisting of one (1) winky-face emoji...
..Maybe. Possibly. Hilda isn't, like, Lorenz's mother; she's well aware that he can handle himself, but as she looks up at him—]
A little, [she honestly admits, allowing her mask to drop just a bit.] We've been here for so long, I know, but...
[But they come from a war-torn land where Bad Shit just happens, etc etc, so surely Hilda doesn't need to say it; she's free to go back to her carefree sort of self, swinging her arms a bit as she picks right back up with:]
But you're here now! And you met someone. I'm glad.
[Aw, Hilda. It's probably true that he could have been lost somewhere with Bad Shit happening, just logically, but he'll appreciate her moment of concern for what it is instead of admitting that he still only has about 10% of an idea of what's going on in this place. Compromise!
Or: aw, Hilda!! He's touched, which is why he doesn't immediately turn around and go back into the apartment building when she brings up his sinful existence again. This is going to give him a permanent twitch.]
That's... [hildaaaa] a highly inappropriate conversation for brunch.
[Or ever, if he has any say in it, but fine--] Believe me when I say you need not make it into a whole production.
[Hey, she was honest; that means he needs to be honest, in turn, or... something. That's friendship! That's what he's signed up for, whether he likes it or not! And something, something, Lorenz's happiness is as important to her as the happiness of any of their fellow Deer, so here she is. Invested in Lorenz's love life, because he's picky and she knows it.]
I won't! It's not like I want to know everything.
[There are Deets, Lorenz, and then there is TMI. She is only interested in the former, hence the, mmm, innocent(-ish) look she shoots him. Loreeeeeeeeeenz...]
But I do want to know about your tea date. Tell me about them?
[He rolls his eyes but in a good-natured way, for sure. She's nosy and he treasures her, so she can have the bare minimum amount of Deets he can get away with before he evaporates in shame on the spot.
Probably, they have different thresholds for Deets Shame. It's fine.]
Well... he is an artist. Quite skilled. I learned a great deal about the application of artistic works to improve the quality of one's... soul. Possibly.
[You know, it was a little unclear; there might have been magic? It was pretentious enough for Lorenz (tm).]
[How far away is their favorite brunch spot, anyway? Probably not too far, which is as big a draw as its bottomless mimosa special—but they still have just enough time for Hilda to wonder why Lorenz is the way that he is. Only Lorenz would learn something like that during... well, something like that. Whew.
But it is her job as Best Friend to support him! Always, which is why she claps her hands together excitedly.]
Ooh, an artist. How perfect for you!
[Because Lorenz is a connoisseur of the fine arts, etc, etc—but then there is the briefest of pauses. A sign, perhaps, of what is to come, because as Hilda turns to better face him:]
So... is he a work of art? [she asks, the perfect picture of innocence.] Did he "improve the quality" of...
[Hmm, yes, she will let that sentence trail right off. A simple kindness.]
[He has priorities? Can a man not learn about art and pretentious magic whenever he pleases? When will he be able to drink too many mimosas in peace...
In any case: he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation, if only because he anticipated these questions and she still found a way to make them more ridiculous. Hilda, good gracious.]
Truly, I am a changed man. [Flatly; but actually, you know,] Hilda. You know my standards are as exacting as they are lofty.
[Lorenz Hellman Gloucester, settle for an uggo? He would sooner perish.]
[If she can't go giggle with someone about this—because she would never—then this is the price Lorenz must pay! Hilda having her fun right here, right now, which honestly isn't as bad as it could be. She is... holding back, in her way. Kind of.
...Anyway, accept this friendly arm bump.]
Oh, I know—but I had to make sure! You deserve the best.
[That's sincere, really; like, Lorenz is a good-looking guy and she'll fight anyone who says otherwise, but rule one of Brunch Club: don't smash ugly guys? Duh?]
Aren't you going to describe him?
[Because she is, of course, super fuckin' curious.]
[Don't smash ugly guys is indeed in the sacred brunch texts, good call. But oh, he must actually provide a description... Let's see.]
In a word... [and as he is Lorenz, he could come up with a dozen on command, but he also has some dignity left on this brunch walk, so,] delicate. Small, although not as small as you.
[Everyone is small to Lorenz, etc etc, but still. He could be more poetic about this, as is Lorenz Tradition, but heaven forbid he accidentally say something kinda horny? He would honestly never recover.]
Dark eyes, dark hair, far too elaborate if I'm being quite honest. Intricate. But fitting.
[Oh damn, he's actually describing his date—aaaaaaand that is? Not quite what she expected to hear? Small and delicate, that is, because she remembers Lorenz's, mmm, great respect for Holst (ew)... but while she does give him a curious sort of look, she manages to keep herself from saying something silly. Everyone has different preferences, etc, and it isn't as though she's given a great deal of thought to Lorenz's...
But hmm, hmm, hmm.]
Fitting, [she repeats, drawing the word right out.] It does sound very... artistic.
[Artists should look interesting, it is Known... anyway, follow her across the street to their brunch spot as she hums.]
So he's good-looking! And he sounds interesting—but do you like him? [Not in the, like, high school kind of way? It's more like, hmm—] Will you see him again?
[God yes he needs to be in a chair and ordering six mimosas ASAP, let's do this. He is pointedly not answering any more questions until they are seated and mimosas are ordered and he has a menu to look at, as if they don't already have a Usual for brunch.
Anyway, he will be generous enough to speak up before she feels the need to ask again, so shh,]
Perhaps.
[the end, no-]
I would not be opposed. [That's the end, he's tapped out, so now it's Hilda's turn:] Now then, I barely saw you at the ball.
[Hilda has done enough digging... for the time being. As they step into this cute little café, she's too busy giving the host a polite smile to ask any more questions—and whether it's the power of the combined charm or the simple fact that they've been here so many times over the past, like, three weeks, they're quickly led to a nice, sunny table by the window. Their Spot™.]
Well, of course, [she says, as airily as ever as she drops into her chair.] You were so popular! I didn't want to chase anyone away...
[Couldn't cramp ur style, sir, but as she picks up the menu she definitely doesn't need to see (because the server is already prepping their mimosas before coming to the table, duh):]
I had fun! Especially with Constance. Did you see her cute ears?
[Hilda, he is always popular, this is obvious... No one has to remember high school, we live only in the popular future (tm) now. Or: he raises an eyebrow at her over his menu. Gurl.]
I did. I do hope she managed to enjoy herself, despite the circumstances.
[Fussy nobles that hate Cordis traits club: Lorenz and Constance, co-presidents. Sure, he trusts that Hilda dutifully supported their junior honorary Deer in... her own way, but still! So he's distracted by Coco News, yes, immediately.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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But please, Hilda--]
I daresay you will figure out how to send an unobtrusive message. You are resourceful in that regard.
[In being unobtrusive for profit, he means... and pointedly: please do not call him if it's after 10pm and he's not around, he will die.]
...Were you actually worried? [Could be endearing, could be an eyeroll...]
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..Maybe. Possibly. Hilda isn't, like, Lorenz's mother; she's well aware that he can handle himself, but as she looks up at him—]
A little, [she honestly admits, allowing her mask to drop just a bit.] We've been here for so long, I know, but...
[But they come from a war-torn land where Bad Shit just happens, etc etc, so surely Hilda doesn't need to say it; she's free to go back to her carefree sort of self, swinging her arms a bit as she picks right back up with:]
But you're here now! And you met someone. I'm glad.
no subject
Or: aw, Hilda!! He's touched, which is why he doesn't immediately turn around and go back into the apartment building when she brings up his sinful existence again. This is going to give him a permanent twitch.]
That's... [hildaaaa] a highly inappropriate conversation for brunch.
[Or ever, if he has any say in it, but fine--] Believe me when I say you need not make it into a whole production.
no subject
I won't! It's not like I want to know everything.
[There are Deets, Lorenz, and then there is TMI. She is only interested in the former, hence the, mmm, innocent(-ish) look she shoots him. Loreeeeeeeeeenz...]
But I do want to know about your tea date. Tell me about them?
no subject
Probably, they have different thresholds for Deets Shame. It's fine.]
Well... he is an artist. Quite skilled. I learned a great deal about the application of artistic works to improve the quality of one's... soul. Possibly.
[You know, it was a little unclear; there might have been magic? It was pretentious enough for Lorenz (tm).]
no subject
But it is her job as Best Friend to support him! Always, which is why she claps her hands together excitedly.]
Ooh, an artist. How perfect for you!
[Because Lorenz is a connoisseur of the fine arts, etc, etc—but then there is the briefest of pauses. A sign, perhaps, of what is to come, because as Hilda turns to better face him:]
So... is he a work of art? [she asks, the perfect picture of innocence.] Did he "improve the quality" of...
[Hmm, yes, she will let that sentence trail right off. A simple kindness.]
no subject
In any case: he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation, if only because he anticipated these questions and she still found a way to make them more ridiculous. Hilda, good gracious.]
Truly, I am a changed man. [Flatly; but actually, you know,] Hilda. You know my standards are as exacting as they are lofty.
[Lorenz Hellman Gloucester, settle for an uggo? He would sooner perish.]
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...Anyway, accept this friendly arm bump.]
Oh, I know—but I had to make sure! You deserve the best.
[That's sincere, really; like, Lorenz is a good-looking guy and she'll fight anyone who says otherwise, but rule one of Brunch Club: don't smash ugly guys? Duh?]
Aren't you going to describe him?
[Because she is, of course, super fuckin' curious.]
no subject
In a word... [and as he is Lorenz, he could come up with a dozen on command, but he also has some dignity left on this brunch walk, so,] delicate. Small, although not as small as you.
[Everyone is small to Lorenz, etc etc, but still. He could be more poetic about this, as is Lorenz Tradition, but heaven forbid he accidentally say something kinda horny? He would honestly never recover.]
Dark eyes, dark hair, far too elaborate if I'm being quite honest. Intricate. But fitting.
no subject
But hmm, hmm, hmm.]
Fitting, [she repeats, drawing the word right out.] It does sound very... artistic.
[Artists should look interesting, it is Known... anyway, follow her across the street to their brunch spot as she hums.]
So he's good-looking! And he sounds interesting—but do you like him? [Not in the, like, high school kind of way? It's more like, hmm—] Will you see him again?
no subject
Anyway, he will be generous enough to speak up before she feels the need to ask again, so shh,]
Perhaps.
[the end, no-]
I would not be opposed. [That's the end, he's tapped out, so now it's Hilda's turn:] Now then, I barely saw you at the ball.
[How many suckers got fleeced, Hilda? How many??]
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Well, of course, [she says, as airily as ever as she drops into her chair.] You were so popular! I didn't want to chase anyone away...
[Couldn't cramp ur style, sir, but as she picks up the menu she definitely doesn't need to see (because the server is already prepping their mimosas before coming to the table, duh):]
I had fun! Especially with Constance. Did you see her cute ears?
[Swerve.]
no subject
I did. I do hope she managed to enjoy herself, despite the circumstances.
[Fussy nobles that hate Cordis traits club: Lorenz and Constance, co-presidents. Sure, he trusts that Hilda dutifully supported their junior honorary Deer in... her own way, but still! So he's distracted by Coco News, yes, immediately.]
What did the two of you get up to?