[ Her nerves persist up until the moment he says something. For all the years she's spent trying to read those around her, whether it was actively or passively, she finds it difficult to read him as he turns over the pieces in his hands with a scrutinizing eye.
Despite her best efforts, the little sigh of relief that she lets out from under her breath is probably audible enough for him to hear. Or maybe it isn't considering how exasperated she sounds in the next breath. Some part of her recognizes that he's being kind. And that in some other world, his world specifically, this is what someone would equate to praise when it comes to Rufus.
That doesn't mean she can't be a little bit sassy back. ]
You could just say, "thank you," you know. I'm not some business deal.
[ Although that's exactly the sort of deal they'd struck, wasn't it? Attitude gives way to mild embarrassment. ]
I'm glad you like them though. Hopefully your friend will like them too.
[ Is there an emphasis on 'friend' in the hopes that she'll find out more about this unknown receiver? Maybe. ]
Aren't you? I hope that's not a suggestion that you'd like to terminate our business relationship.
[He wags one of the boxes at her, in indication, before replacing it back in the bag.]
Particularly not when I can already see myself putting in another few orders, since this is the quality I'm getting back.
[Is he stalling a little bit to delay the bait he knows she's laid in the water? Absolutely. And normally he'd just dodge the subject altogether, but...well, call him crazy, but there's something about the fact that Hilda isn't afraid to give as good as she gets, and banters with him instead of being perpetually deferential, that makes him relax where he might otherwise stay guarded.
And besides, bragging about the guy he thinks is cute is...an interesting prospect.]
They're for someone I know from home. He's done a lot to make sure my adjustment to the resort went...smoothly. [A pause.] I've never — actually gotten him anything, before. This will be the first.
[ As much as she doesn't love the idea of being referred to as some kind of business transaction, that doesn't mean that she's about to give up a creative outlet. She lets out a noise that sounds a lot like a strangled laugh. ]
Not so fast. Just because I enjoy making things and you happen to have the chips and willingness to spend on the materials doesn't mean that it has to be called a "business relationship". Why can't it just be mutually beneficial?
[ And if he enjoys being her so called art supply sugar daddy, who is she to say no? But no, Hilda! Stay the course. He's clearly just stalling. Isn't he? Her own reassurance/reminder to herself is soon answered and some of her previous embarrassment from before fades. ]
[HE CAN'T PUT "ART SUPPLY SUGAR DADDY" ON A BUSINESS CARD HILDA, FOR ONE THING IT WON'T FIT]
...I suppose we first met when I was seventeen.
[He's quiet a moment, but this time it doesn't feel like stalling so much as reminiscing silently; his eyes go a little distant with memory, like he's trying to figure out how to frame the recollection.]
I wasn't afforded much autonomy, but I did manage to persuade certain people with pull that I would benefit from learning a set of practical skills. Self-defense, crisis response, things like that. And he was the poor rookie saddled with the unenviable job of babysitting the VIP.
[He pauses, throwing a sideways smile her way.]
I'm sure this will come as a complete surprise to you, but occasionally it's fun to be difficult for the sake of attention. I certainly was. But he wouldn't give it to me, and it just made me want to act out more, to see if I could get a rise out of him.
[ Why not? Just get rid of "CEO of Shinra" and make his name a little smaller - you could totally make it work! She'll even do mock-ups for free.
Unfortunately she does knows exactly what he means by being difficult if it means entertainment for herself. But she isn't going to let onto that despite her huffing a little and looking away for a brief moment when he smiles at her. She had always made it a point not to be disarmed by anything anyone did. Particularly men. But when Rufus smiles, however small, she can tell that it's genuine as he recounts his history with someone that really does sound like a friend.
Even if she has that moment of clarity that whatever Rufus presents himself as someone who isn't this cool, collected individual isn't the whole truth she still manages not to miss a beat. ]
Oh, it's more than a bit. Spoiled, pigheaded. I've heard it all and most of it is entirely true.
[Though of course, most of the time he's heard it in tones that weren't teasing, and in ways that weren't complimentary, and his natural response had been to ignore them and rise above it, lofty and self-centered and dismissive. The fact that Hilda will banter with him, even if it's occasionally at his expense, is...
So strangely welcomed, really.]
And I did, but not before he got one of out of me first. That's when I knew I liked him — when I realized that we were alike. People being what we had to be, outwardly, but with...very interesting secrets.
[ It takes being on the receiving end of such insults to know how to skillfully turn them into something where levity can be found in them.
The way she had gracefully floated through life had meant that very few of those insults actually made their way to her; it was a combination of most people liking her, people wanting to curry favour with Holst (or who straight up feared the repercussions if word ever got back that they were bad mouthing his precious baby sister), or her acting blissfully oblivious to comments like that.
She acted the part of a spoiled brat because it was and is an effective means of having people purposefully think little of her. How else was she supposed to shirk responsibility? How else could she guarantee a life free of hard work and all play except for maybe the horrors of childbirth?
The fact that he's willing to poke fun at himself makes her lips curl a little higher. So he did have a sense of humor.
As he answers more about himself and this mysterious not!friend she takes several sidesteps towards the café, a silent gesture that maybe this would be way more enjoyable with smoothes in front of them. Her eyes gleam playfully at the mention of secrets. ]
He must really be something if he got a rise out of you. [ He's too cool with his (indoor) sunglasses!! ] Although it can't be that difficult - I just have to spend more time with you. And if there are secrets involved that's just more incentive.
Oh, is that how it is? That's a clever way of inviting yourself into my company more often.
[But he can read a hint, and so he heads with her in the direction of the cafe — and the disparity in treatment, even implicitly, is frankly astonishing. Where Hilda gets sidelong looks and scrutinizing gazes from the resort staff and assembled residents, they all seem to sit up a little straighter and take notice when he sweeps in at her side. A funny little bubble of protection, almost, that he casts just by existing in the vicinity.
Not that he notices, really. That type of treatment is entirely what he's used to — perhaps even with a little less groveling than he might otherwise expect.
Still, with him in the lead, the trip up to the counter is fairly short — as people who might've been thinking about getting in line prudently decide to wait until the Ten has been served — and he gestures for Hilda to put in her order on their arrival.]
Whatever she likes. Charge it to my room — and it had better come out correct.
[ There's no point in denying it. If she wanted to be subtle about it she would have been. And she gets the impression that someone like Rufus appreciated some level of straightforwardness. Her intentions are clear as they had been before this but she's got enough of a read on him now to know that friends isn't a concept so easily grasped when you are used to reading into potential ulterior motives or doing it out of personal duty or responsibilities handed to them.
She allows him to take the lead up to the counter, ignoring the way they scrutinize her with barely veiled distaste and at Rufus like he's very nearly hung the stars. The forced ignorance isn't something she's used to quite yet though there have been moments where she's found herself appreciating it. But she would be lying if she said that she doesn't appreciate being taken seriously even if it comes at the expense of having to be with a higher ranking guest. Rufus' demand is met with a sidelong glance from her but she wastes no time ordering, punctuating it with a sweet smile of thanks that is only hesitantly returned out of fear by the staff behind the counter. She waits for him to finish ordering before they seat themselves and launches right back into questioning him. ]
Is your friend the only one that you know from home?
[Truth be told, there's something eminently enjoyable about having Hilda at his side when he throws his weight around like this; it's one thing to be fawned over, and certainly he'd have his objections to it if he were ever deprived of that particular birthright of his. But what's even more fun is the power play of knowing full well that the resort staff doesn't want to extend the same courtesy to his companion that they're delighted to offer him. Getting what he wants is always sweeter when he knows full well his opposition doesn't want to give it up.
And Hilda, too, seems to grasp that game, if her winning smiles are any indication. When they sit, he opts to play it up just a little, sliding one hand across the tabletop to rest just the tips of his fingers over her own, like a warning to the staff that his influence covers her as figuratively as his touch does literally.]
He's the only one that matters. Evidently there have been a few others around; none that would be all that eager to spend time with me.
[He pauses.]
One was a girl. You might've gotten along with her.
[ At his touch her gaze flits down towards their fingers. And while he'll be able to see the slight twitch of her eyebrow and the lift of the corner of her lips in amusement what the staff sees is someone who leans in across the table. Her foot slides forward, touching briefly against his shoe. To them it could be seen as affectionate or possessive, but to her it's entirely conspiratorial in nature.
She's played enough of these games to know understand the subtleties being laid before her. And this, while silly and frivolous, is no less enjoyable. For a moment she can forget that she's here. She can leave the sounds of war that haunt her dreams. This is just a pleasant day spending time with someone who may or may not be her friend. ]
What makes you say that? Our nose for mischief? Our sparkling personalities?
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no subject
Despite her best efforts, the little sigh of relief that she lets out from under her breath is probably audible enough for him to hear. Or maybe it isn't considering how exasperated she sounds in the next breath. Some part of her recognizes that he's being kind. And that in some other world, his world specifically, this is what someone would equate to praise when it comes to Rufus.
That doesn't mean she can't be a little bit sassy back. ]
You could just say, "thank you," you know. I'm not some business deal.
[ Although that's exactly the sort of deal they'd struck, wasn't it? Attitude gives way to mild embarrassment. ]
I'm glad you like them though. Hopefully your friend will like them too.
[ Is there an emphasis on 'friend' in the hopes that she'll find out more about this unknown receiver? Maybe. ]
no subject
[He wags one of the boxes at her, in indication, before replacing it back in the bag.]
Particularly not when I can already see myself putting in another few orders, since this is the quality I'm getting back.
[Is he stalling a little bit to delay the bait he knows she's laid in the water? Absolutely. And normally he'd just dodge the subject altogether, but...well, call him crazy, but there's something about the fact that Hilda isn't afraid to give as good as she gets, and banters with him instead of being perpetually deferential, that makes him relax where he might otherwise stay guarded.
And besides, bragging about the guy he thinks is cute is...an interesting prospect.]
They're for someone I know from home. He's done a lot to make sure my adjustment to the resort went...smoothly. [A pause.] I've never — actually gotten him anything, before. This will be the first.
no subject
Not so fast. Just because I enjoy making things and you happen to have the chips and willingness to spend on the materials doesn't mean that it has to be called a "business relationship". Why can't it just be mutually beneficial?
[ And if he enjoys being her so called art supply sugar daddy, who is she to say no? But no, Hilda! Stay the course. He's clearly just stalling. Isn't he? Her own reassurance/reminder to herself is soon answered and some of her previous embarrassment from before fades. ]
The first time, huh? How long have you known him?
no subject
...I suppose we first met when I was seventeen.
[He's quiet a moment, but this time it doesn't feel like stalling so much as reminiscing silently; his eyes go a little distant with memory, like he's trying to figure out how to frame the recollection.]
I wasn't afforded much autonomy, but I did manage to persuade certain people with pull that I would benefit from learning a set of practical skills. Self-defense, crisis response, things like that. And he was the poor rookie saddled with the unenviable job of babysitting the VIP.
[He pauses, throwing a sideways smile her way.]
I'm sure this will come as a complete surprise to you, but occasionally it's fun to be difficult for the sake of attention. I certainly was. But he wouldn't give it to me, and it just made me want to act out more, to see if I could get a rise out of him.
no subject
Unfortunately she does knows exactly what he means by being difficult if it means entertainment for herself. But she isn't going to let onto that despite her huffing a little and looking away for a brief moment when he smiles at her. She had always made it a point not to be disarmed by anything anyone did. Particularly men. But when Rufus smiles, however small, she can tell that it's genuine as he recounts his history with someone that really does sound like a friend.
Even if she has that moment of clarity that whatever Rufus presents himself as someone who isn't this cool, collected individual isn't the whole truth she still manages not to miss a beat. ]
So you're telling me that you're a bit of a brat?
[ She's teasing him of course. ]
Did you get a rise out of him eventually?
no subject
[Though of course, most of the time he's heard it in tones that weren't teasing, and in ways that weren't complimentary, and his natural response had been to ignore them and rise above it, lofty and self-centered and dismissive. The fact that Hilda will banter with him, even if it's occasionally at his expense, is...
So strangely welcomed, really.]
And I did, but not before he got one of out of me first. That's when I knew I liked him — when I realized that we were alike. People being what we had to be, outwardly, but with...very interesting secrets.
no subject
The way she had gracefully floated through life had meant that very few of those insults actually made their way to her; it was a combination of most people liking her, people wanting to curry favour with Holst (or who straight up feared the repercussions if word ever got back that they were bad mouthing his precious baby sister), or her acting blissfully oblivious to comments like that.
She acted the part of a spoiled brat because it was and is an effective means of having people purposefully think little of her. How else was she supposed to shirk responsibility? How else could she guarantee a life free of hard work and all play except for maybe the horrors of childbirth?
The fact that he's willing to poke fun at himself makes her lips curl a little higher. So he did have a sense of humor.
As he answers more about himself and this mysterious not!friend she takes several sidesteps towards the café, a silent gesture that maybe this would be way more enjoyable with smoothes in front of them. Her eyes gleam playfully at the mention of secrets. ]
He must really be something if he got a rise out of you. [ He's too cool with his (indoor) sunglasses!! ] Although it can't be that difficult - I just have to spend more time with you. And if there are secrets involved that's just more incentive.
no subject
[But he can read a hint, and so he heads with her in the direction of the cafe — and the disparity in treatment, even implicitly, is frankly astonishing. Where Hilda gets sidelong looks and scrutinizing gazes from the resort staff and assembled residents, they all seem to sit up a little straighter and take notice when he sweeps in at her side. A funny little bubble of protection, almost, that he casts just by existing in the vicinity.
Not that he notices, really. That type of treatment is entirely what he's used to — perhaps even with a little less groveling than he might otherwise expect.
Still, with him in the lead, the trip up to the counter is fairly short — as people who might've been thinking about getting in line prudently decide to wait until the Ten has been served — and he gestures for Hilda to put in her order on their arrival.]
Whatever she likes. Charge it to my room — and it had better come out correct.
no subject
[ There's no point in denying it. If she wanted to be subtle about it she would have been. And she gets the impression that someone like Rufus appreciated some level of straightforwardness. Her intentions are clear as they had been before this but she's got enough of a read on him now to know that friends isn't a concept so easily grasped when you are used to reading into potential ulterior motives or doing it out of personal duty or responsibilities handed to them.
She allows him to take the lead up to the counter, ignoring the way they scrutinize her with barely veiled distaste and at Rufus like he's very nearly hung the stars. The forced ignorance isn't something she's used to quite yet though there have been moments where she's found herself appreciating it. But she would be lying if she said that she doesn't appreciate being taken seriously even if it comes at the expense of having to be with a higher ranking guest. Rufus' demand is met with a sidelong glance from her but she wastes no time ordering, punctuating it with a sweet smile of thanks that is only hesitantly returned out of fear by the staff behind the counter. She waits for him to finish ordering before they seat themselves and launches right back into questioning him. ]
Is your friend the only one that you know from home?
no subject
And Hilda, too, seems to grasp that game, if her winning smiles are any indication. When they sit, he opts to play it up just a little, sliding one hand across the tabletop to rest just the tips of his fingers over her own, like a warning to the staff that his influence covers her as figuratively as his touch does literally.]
He's the only one that matters. Evidently there have been a few others around; none that would be all that eager to spend time with me.
[He pauses.]
One was a girl. You might've gotten along with her.
no subject
She's played enough of these games to know understand the subtleties being laid before her. And this, while silly and frivolous, is no less enjoyable. For a moment she can forget that she's here. She can leave the sounds of war that haunt her dreams. This is just a pleasant day spending time with someone who may or may not be her friend. ]
What makes you say that? Our nose for mischief? Our sparkling personalities?