Hobbs There was a woman standing across the room, and she very much had his attention now. Her bosoms were pressed up to her throat in a daringly low cut dress, and many a male eye had noticed. Hobbs was no exception. The young man touched his hair, smoothing it down ever so slightly, and brushed imaginary lint off the velvet of his coat. She would be his by the end of the night, he told himself. Pep talks always helped on nights like these.

Hobbs With a glass of wine in hand, the man strode elegantly across the room, his walk slightly too feminine, the set of his shoulders slightly too girlish for a man. He didn’t seem to notice. The wine, of course, was not for him. No, that was silly. Hobbs only drank scotch. The wine was for the fine lady spilling out of her corset. A wise man once said, “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.”
Hobbs took that advice to heart.

Hobbs She was close now; Hobbs swallowed down the lump in his throat that clung like a bitter pill, refusing to go down. That lump of nervousness always came about at moments like these. He smoothed the silk of his pocket square, a habitual gesture. The red wine in his hand was held high so he could walk through the crowded room. Bodies jostled against him, flesh touching flesh. A stranger’s sweat slid against his arm and he cringed away, closer to the bar, trying to get away from the reek of human normalcy. He only cared for beautiful things; sweat was so mortal and unbecoming.

His foot caught on the leg of someone’s chair and he hurled forward, barely catching himself on the bar. The wine in his glass- held high- arced through the air, a thing of beauty. It landed with a splatter all over the plain librarian was unlucky enough to be beside him.

Hobbs Hobbs did remove his hand, but he looked far from scolded. A slow smile crept up his face and he laughed. “Why, it was a compliment!” he tried to assure her. “My dear, it’s nothing personal. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not exactly my type.”

His eyes slid to Kat and he whispered conspiratorially. “Now her. She is most definitely my type.”

He lowered his voice even more. “Any chance you could help me seal the deal with this one? That drink you got was actually for her, so you kind of owe me.”

Hobbs [color=fuchsia]“But… I…” Hobbs stuttered, as Danachlea turned away from him and stormed off. Mouth gaping, he looked in surprise at Kat, as if to see if her expression would mirror his own. It didn’t. For some reason she didn’t seem shocked over the haughty librarian’s behavior. Women! What was it with them? Did they have some kind of secret code he was missing out on?

No. Normally his tactics with women succeeded. Clearly tonight was an off night. Normally women were quite happy to be the object of his attention, but now this woman- and a plain one at that!- not only like him, but wanted nothing to with him!

An odd twinge occurred in his stomach, like something he had never felt before. It was refreshing being turned down by a woman like that! His eyes trailed after her and her hair caught a glint from the dim bar light, reflecting a lustrous sheen. She wasn’t plain, he realized with a start. He had been blind! He had made a disastrous mistake.

He locked eyes with Kat and mouthed a quick apology before darting after

Hobbs “But… I…” Hobbs stuttered, as Danachlea turned away from him and stormed off. Mouth gaping, he looked in surprise at Kat, as if to see if her expression would mirror his own. It didn’t. For some reason she didn’t seem shocked over the haughty librarian’s behavior. Women! What was it with them? Did they have some kind of secret code he was missing out on?

No. Normally his tactics with women succeeded. Clearly tonight was an off night. Normally women were quite happy to be the object of his attention, but now this woman- and a plain one at that!- not only like him, but wanted nothing to with him!

Hobbs An odd twinge occurred in his stomach, like something he had never felt before. It was refreshing being turned down by a woman like that! His eyes trailed after her and her hair caught a glint from the dim bar light, reflecting a lustrous sheen. She wasn’t plain, he realized with a start. He had been blind! He had made a disastrous mistake.

He locked eyes with Kat and mouthed a quick apology before darting after Danachlea. “Wait, come back!” he called after her, twisting through the maze of bodies.

Hobbs People seemed to purposefully get in his way, obstructing his path that led to her. His perfectly fixed hair became ruffled, someone tugged roughly on his fine, velvet coat, and proving that the universe was truly karmic, beer splashed down the leg of his trousers. He didn’t slow till he reached her, and then he paused beside the booth, one palm flat on the scratched wooden table, looking down at as he sucked in a quick breath.

“Wait- I don’t really think you need a corset.” He said apologetically. That was the kindest, sincerest thing he could muster, and he said it with absolute honesty. His dark eyes, out of place in his pale face, stared down at her from under furrowed brows, anxiety creasing his high forehead.

Hobbs Without being invited, Hobbs sat across from her, pressing his hands flat against the table in a supplicating gesture. He looked at her remorsefully, also taking in her appearance with new eyes. How did she look so different to him now? A fire seemed to light her from within, transforming ordinary features into extraordinary ones.

“I said you don’t really need a corset. Your breasts are wonderful without one.”

Hobbs No, that wasn’t the proper thing to say! Damnit, the words had already slipped out! His lips thinned and a bit of the color of his face behind his pale makeup drained. “I meant- I meant-“

He stammered uselessly, floundering like a fish on dry land. “It’s just, I’ve never really met a woman like you before. And normally I say these things and girls pretend to be offended but really they’re flattered, and they giggle and they blush, then they go home with me. But you- you really don’t like me, do you?”

Hobbs His expression had previously been hopeful, like a puppy waiting for scraps, but at Danachlea’s words, Hobbs’ face visibly sagged. He slid down a little in his seat, shoulders drooping forward. He sighed, scrubbing the back of his hand across his forehead. White makeup came off on his hand, leaving behind a bit of natural coloring close to his hairline.

“I’ve ruined it,” he sighed melodramatically, eyes downcast. He glanced back up at her and drew in a deep breath. “This is going to sound mad to you, but you’re actually the first woman I’ve met that seems interesting clothed.”

His charm could only go so far, but he was certainly trying.