Tidings of Tinsel

"Not trying to be an arse about it, but... you talk to me just fine."

Christian lifted an eyebrow, half expecting her to reach over and slap him even as he presumed she'd be too embarrassed to do so. Still, he waited long enough for her to catch it and for her expression to change. Only then did he jump in again to continue.

"Besides, those other things aren't important."

Still, he did have a moment there where he saw his mother's face when she discovered that Apollo had brought Lily. There would be a stare. A sort of eye roll. And then she would turn to Christian and realized that, actually both of her sons had brought what might be the most offensive people possible. Then it would change to one of baffled mutiny.

His expression changed and he realized he'd been staring off to his left somewhere. Christian blinked and shook his head as his lips fell into a frown when he turned his attention on her again. "Okay, so it matters... Um, just- Don't worry about the dancing part. I won't ask you to," he said with a wave of his hand. "The dress, on the other hand - we can take care of that next Hogsmeade weekend."

Ace opened her mouth to argue and found the sounds tangled by her own traitorous throat. She blinked, and gathered her strength and managed to say, "Yeah, but..." But there was no but. He was right, he was rich, and she got along just fine with him. Better, in fact, than she got along with nearly anyone else. And he had money. It never really struck her, never really processed, that Christian was not only rich, but pureblood. Somehow, his brother held both of these factors on him in a way that Christian simply did not.

Oh, Merlin. Was she not going to be able to talk to him, now that she was thinking about it?

But even worse than the realization that her friend had money and influence, was his next claim. Great, she didn't have to dance. But she had to wear a fancy dress? And he was going to help her find it?

That was going to be a catastrophe.

She slowly inched her fingers towards her other hand, pinching her finger tight enough to cause an indent.

"Just checking."

((love the gifs! This might be a good place to end or time jump))