#//YURIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII MY GOODFRIEND YURIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

[albwreckt]

…Of course he’s not wearing a shirt.

“It’s the middle of winter,” is their dry announcement of their presence, the mockingbird slinking up behind their fellow wolf, then twisting to stand in front of him. Lilacs look him up and down with a scrutinizing eye, before a hand finally reaches up to idly adjust his collar and straighten his blazer. “Though, I suppose I shouldn’t expect any more than this from you.” He could’ve done without a top at all— they do not doubt his ability to commit to the shirtless life.

Only when they are satisfied does Yuri step back, draw a pearl from their string, and drop it into his hand. “Don’t get into trouble.” It’s half a warning, half a plea. Then, a hand beckons him forth. “I want to see how much champagne I can get. Play chaperone for me— they never think I look old enough.”

Balthus clicks his tongue. He shouldn't have expected any more than forked words from Yuri, either, but still he found himself bugged by them. For their banter, the bird earns a furrow of their bro's brow. "Cash was tight, alright? I checked every bargain bin this side of the monastery, and no one was willing to let me haggle them down on a suit." Which, for most, would be a lesson in time & place. Shop after a big event to get a good deal on clearing stock, not during the last precious minutes leading up to a ball. But Balthus was not like most. "Had to get creative."

He thinks he did a bang-up job, too, until Yuri steps back. Next to them, Balthus looks like a slob. The smug smirk he wore with that thought fades, and he has to tear his eyes from the striking scarlet of their dress to receive the pearl.

"You sure you don't need your head checked or something? Just asked me to do two contradictory things, pal!" He bellows a laugh, knowing from experience that Yuri and Trouble are joined at the hip. But his head cranes round the entrance to the ballroom to scope out its champagne table. Not a noble in sight; the iron is hot. Arms link together, since if he's chaperoning, he ought to look the part.

Balthus then produces a bell to equip Yuri with: a contingency plan. "Give that a ring if you get caught. I'll come running." Nevermind that this now sets the precedent for Balthus running up to any of the plethora of bells that might ring tonight.

"Alright, let's get to it."