Post by Hildegard von Lindemann on Jan 19, 2020 22:34:15 GMT -4
There were some people who would find any excuse to throw a party, and some who would find any excuse to attend one. Hildegard was neither of these, but she wasn't about to turn down the invitation, even if she couldn't quite be certain how she'd gained enough notice to be invited. One of the local big names, whom Hildegard had only met once thus far, was hosting a gala for charity. Having only been in Japan for a year -- and she wasn't sure it had even been that long yet -- Hildegard didn't know anyone else on the guest list, but it was a chance to make some connections. And more importantly, it was a chance to enjoy good food and fine wine. That was enough to get her out there, dressed in an elegant black dress that created a sharp contrast with her military-inspired hero costume. In the interest of not causing a stir, she was here as Hildegard, not as Dreadnought, although if the worst came to worst she was not completely unprepared to fight.
It was a soldier's patience that allowed her to get through all of the opening announcements, toasts, and acknowledgements. Hildegard was no stranger to high society, but she would never fully get used to how some people loved to hear themselves talk. Beyond that, however, she was quite at home, mingling with the crowd as though it was the most natural thing in the world. She'd managed pleasant introductions with a businessman from Shibuya, an international corporate liaison who would soon be heading to Europe (one of the rare conversations where the other person was practicing their German, rather than Hildegard practicing her Japanese), and a local police lieutenant who was thus far the only person who'd put together Hildegard's hero identity.
For the moment, though, she was standing on her own, a fresh glass of wine in her hand, listening to the piano player playing a composition that Hildegard was sure had tried very hard to copy Johannes Brahms. Not that she minded too much - the pianist was certainly quite talented. Hildegard was certain she stood out in more ways than one. For one, as the only German at the gala (that she had seen, at least), she stood a head or more over most of the rest of the attendees. For another, she was certainly the only one who could be seen to be listening to the piano, rather than accepting it as a backdrop and paying it no mind. And the results of standing out soon made themselves apparent, as Hildegard soon caught the eye of someone she was reasonably certain had been stealing glances at her for the last hour.
The other woman was similarly blonde-haired, but shorter and with noticeably red eyes. But it was her attention that had caught Hildegard's own, and so after another long, slow sip of wine and a pause to allow the pianist to finish his current song, she caught the other woman's eyes and waved her over.
It was a soldier's patience that allowed her to get through all of the opening announcements, toasts, and acknowledgements. Hildegard was no stranger to high society, but she would never fully get used to how some people loved to hear themselves talk. Beyond that, however, she was quite at home, mingling with the crowd as though it was the most natural thing in the world. She'd managed pleasant introductions with a businessman from Shibuya, an international corporate liaison who would soon be heading to Europe (one of the rare conversations where the other person was practicing their German, rather than Hildegard practicing her Japanese), and a local police lieutenant who was thus far the only person who'd put together Hildegard's hero identity.
For the moment, though, she was standing on her own, a fresh glass of wine in her hand, listening to the piano player playing a composition that Hildegard was sure had tried very hard to copy Johannes Brahms. Not that she minded too much - the pianist was certainly quite talented. Hildegard was certain she stood out in more ways than one. For one, as the only German at the gala (that she had seen, at least), she stood a head or more over most of the rest of the attendees. For another, she was certainly the only one who could be seen to be listening to the piano, rather than accepting it as a backdrop and paying it no mind. And the results of standing out soon made themselves apparent, as Hildegard soon caught the eye of someone she was reasonably certain had been stealing glances at her for the last hour.
The other woman was similarly blonde-haired, but shorter and with noticeably red eyes. But it was her attention that had caught Hildegard's own, and so after another long, slow sip of wine and a pause to allow the pianist to finish his current song, she caught the other woman's eyes and waved her over.
