theidlemaiden | — open post

( it's in this moment that wanda realizes that hilda has the wrong impression about her—that perhaps she's quite the social butterfly pietro is, that she has a lot of friends to draw from. she has her work colleagues, but it hardly ever spills into her personal life; though she has friends in pietro's own, she definitely is the quieter one of the twins who prefers to spend evenings and weekends at home.

not that she 'chose' to invite hilda over a lack of want, though. )

You can choose the place. ( for the food they'll be getting. ) Just don't do something very expensive.

( 'thanks' or not, wanda doesn't want the other young woman to spend too much on her. )

—how did that renovation job at the Old House Café go, by the way?

[ But maybe she didn't have the wrong impression about Wanda. Even if someone weren't a social butterfly, that didn't mean that they didn't have plans. That didn't mean that they would want to spend it with other people let alone someone that they had met at a workout class.

Before Hilda can protest that she definitely wasn't going to pick somewhere expensive for dinner (she probably would have because that's simply how her tastes tended to skew), Wanda brings up a project that had been near and dear to her heart. It shows in the way that she practically lights up. ]

Really well! I had to pull an all-nighter to get the installation in because we received some of the last pieces at the eleventh hour which - [ She huffs at the thought because it was just last week that all of this had happened explaining her lack of response. ] don't get me started.

There was no way I could miss their soft launch! It's practically an institution in the city.

( it's almost imperceptible at first, but by the time hilda is done talking, wanda is smiling softly at the other young woman and her retelling of events—or as much as she is willing to put herself through to remember. it's not unusual, in this line of work, to find themselves working last minute due to others.

sometimes one has a solid team, sometimes — not so much. )

But you managed. Which is more than some people can say.

( in this city, it really feels like "do or die", and some people get eaten up under the expectations. )

I saw your posts about it.

( on social media. and liked them. )

[ It's not so much Wanda's compliment that disarms Hilda, tilting her slightly off centre, but the smile that she catches on her face. To say that it's rare to see a smile on the brunette's face might come across like an insult - but that's really what makes it all the more charming when it does happen.

With a little clear of her throat and a shake of her head she tries to play it off like she hadn't just been struck by the flutter of wings in her belly. ]

Oh, well you know. I'm not the first and I won't be the last.

[ The slight topic change is a blessing. She's quick to give Wanda's arm a squeeze as they cross the street, her grin bright. ]

I noticed that you liked them. I was honored, really. A heart from the Wanda Maximoff?

—I’m hardly a household name.

( wanda says, abashed, and wondering how it is that pietro manages to not succumb under the pressure of all the attention he craves and gets from adoring friends and acquaintances. wanda? she could never; she is already shying away and feeling a warmth in her cheeks at the less-than-subtle squeeze to her arm.

words seem to catch in her throat for a moment. )

Do you want to stop by the gift shop before we leave the exhibition, by the way? I hope they still have the sketch journals available.

Edited 2024-06-05 17:31 (UTC)

If you're not a household name then I don't have followers into the millions.

[ Both are irrefutable facts in Hilda's mind. She leans closer, oblivious to the effect that it may have on Wanda, simply seeing it as a means of impressing upon her that she really does think highly of her and her talent.

Whether or not that resonates with her friend however is put to rest. At least for a little while. Her eyes light up. ]

If there's one thing you need to know about me it's that I love a gift shop. Of course we can go on our way out.

[ And it also provides a good way for her to repay her for snagging the tickets in the first place. Just as they're about to round a corner, a skateboarder whips out of nowhere. Hilda lets out a gasp, quickly drawing Wanda close by wrapping her arm around her waist. Her temper flares as she calls after the skateboarder. ]

Hey, watch where you're going! You almost knocked her over!

( wanda has lived a huge chunk of her life in new york, ever since her family migrated from sokovia when she was ten. this kind of busy hustle in the city and inconsiderate behavior is, in fact, not outside of the norm. it does catch her by surprise how tenacious and fierce hilda was, though.

woah—she finds herself muttering, glancing back at her pink-colored friend.

a little aimlessly, she puts a hand at hilda's back. )

No point in arguing with them. They'll speed their way all over the city.

( ...but, her heart is racing not because of the close call with injury. wanda pulls back a touch, brings her hand down the length of the arm hilda has wrapped around her waist. it's subtle but not subtle enough, how she ends up holding the other girl's hand, instead. )

Just focus on — nicer things.

[ Still riled up by the near miss, she doesn't quite register the hand at the small of her back. In fact her cheeks are still puffed up and furious even in the face of Wanda's very sound and logical reasoning.

She's lived here long enough to know this city and the people that lived there. Everyone was always on the move, and accidents happened. But that didn't mean they couldn't be courteous to everyone else around them.

Only when Wanda's hand slips into hers does she snap out of her huff. Colour had already dotted her cheeks thanks to her outburst, but this time it's all directed towards the feeling of Wanda's fingers threading through hers. She can't help the smile that grows on her face - a little shy, but no less sincere. ]

You're right. And that's definitely easier to do when the nice thing is you.

[ She tilts her head back in the direction they had been walking making no move to untangle their hands. ]

Shall we?

( —and they do, head in to the exhibit. wanda could never come to one of these things with pietro, as her brother would quickly grow bored of what there is, and, at least with hilda, wanda can enjoy things in a more... intellectual level.

it definitely helps that there's an emotional attachment to this.

past the exhibit and its gift shop and even the food lounge, a heavy storm catches them halfway on their way back to their respective homes—thunder and all! hilda's place is closest, so they decide to take shelter there until the skies ease up on the downpour.

pietro informed, dry clothes borrowed, and incoming cup of tea—is it any surprise that wanda falls loosely on the side of the cozy couch, arms crossed, into a light sleep? it's been a long day and a longer week still, even if her schedule for deadlines hasn't been as crazy as hilda's. she just has trouble sleeping on a regular schedule, is all.

and that's how hilda will find her, quiet snores against a cushion as she presses her face into it. )

[ The exhibit is nothing short of impressive and everything she had hoped for - probably made even more wonderful by the company. The weather had been less than ideal, but she had learned how to dance even in the face of a downpour, and this is no exception to that. But she'd be lying if she said that she wasn't thankful that her apartment is close by and a convenient, cozy shelter from the storm.

It's the first time she's invited Wanda over and that fact isn't lost on her. Thankfully she'd had the foresight to clean that weekend, not because she expected company, but because she had finally grown sick of her own mess. What Wanda sees is the best version of Hilda's apartment - bright pops of colour, maximalist by every definition of the word, but very much the home of an interior designer who had reached not only industry fame but social media fame as well.

A shower isn't necessarily needed, but Hilda needs a moment to cover the nerves that had suddenly appeared when faced with the reality of Wanda possibly staying the night. The nice thing about having company over that she wants to make a good impression for (and the fact that the kettle is on), means that her normally long showers are kept succinct. When she emerges with mostly dry hair and in a cozy pajama set with slippers on her feet she immediately heads to the kitchen to check on their tea.

She doesn't expect to see Wanda curled up on the couch fast asleep but when she's confronted with the sight she can't help but linger in the entranceway, admiring the way that the lighting casts gentle shadows on her face. With care she places the mugs on the table, before kneeling beside the couch. Instinct has her reaching out to rouse her, but as she's crouched there, she can't help but lightly brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear, admiring the gentle flutter of Wanda's lashes with the faintest smile on her face. ]

( because she is prone in having trouble sleeping, wanda finds herself unable to fall into a deep sleep. it's fine and all, until she gets the feeling that she is being watched, or that there is someone nearby. year of living in sokovia during the worst of the civil unrest has ruined the mechanism of her circadian rhythm—both for her and pietro.

the feather-light touch of hilda's hand on the loose strand of hair has wanda blinking awake, feeling embarrassed as realization dawns on her of the circumstances. )

Sorry—

( she starts, mumbled, while sitting up and pressing knuckles onto her cheek (thankful that she wasn't drooling). )

How long was I out for?

[ The moment Wanda's eyes flutter, Hilda's hand draws back but she isn't quite quick enough to move away. Not because she doesn't possess the reflexes for it but because she's also tripped up by her embarrassment, the realization that she and Wanda's faces are closer than they've been before.

There's a distinct beat where Hilda hesitates and nearly doesn't get out of the way in time for Wanda to sit up. Thankfully she recovers as smoothly as she can. She's quick to join her on the couch with a laugh. ]

Why are you apologizing, silly? I should be the one apologizing for waking you up. I think it was about as long as I was in the shower so not that long.

[ She reaches out for the mug on the table, holding it out to Wanda, her fingers lingering for a moment longer than they should before reaching for her own. There's a teasing grin on her face. ]

Who knew museums would be more tiring than Pietro's workout classes?

( wanda gratefully reaches for the mug, holding it in her hands. )

He made me jog this morning with him, ( she starts to complain, mumbled, ) because he said I missed too many of his classes.

( there is something about the twins, of how close they are, and just how overprotective pietro is of her. in his own way, he's trying to look after her, make sure she gets in her cardio; he is the type of person that thinks jogging can cure any malaise.

she sighs softly into the brim of the cup, and takes a quick sip, glancing out the window. )

Doesn't look like it'll stop any time soon.

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