{se} needle and thread

"I would, wouldn't I?" Tal agreed smugly as he teased her with the box. Though not even a beautiful dress could make him charming, at least it could show off his slouchingslender figure to good effect. He'd put on a fair amount of muscle in the past two years and was no longer scrawny, but social situations sucked the confidence right out of him and turned him into a scowlingshrinking violet parked beside the drink table.

He backed away from the box with a playful show of holding his hands up, grinning as Ru dove in and made short work of the inner wrapping. "Mm. The masks were okay. I wound up in this weird suit, but it coulda been worse..." He peeked over her shoulder at the fancy fabrics within, but a grumpy hum emerged as he rocked back on his heels. "Yeah, well. Don't know how t'dance," he admitted, nose wrinkling in the beginnings of a scowl at the pink glittery silk. "Long as they have quality booze I'll be okay, though." It was important to manage expectations for the night.

He reached up to scratch at his chin, nose still wrinkled as he slanted a surreptitious glance at the Valkyrie. "How d'y'feel about capes?" He tried to sound totally natural and nonchalant as he asked, definitely not considering his own outfit.