Hutch's tuxedo fit him exceptionally well, even though it hadn't been tailored specifically for him. Celina had made the color choices, pairing a black shirt, with a smoke grey vest in a classic houndstooth pattern, with the timeless black, single-breasted blazer, and notched satin lapel. Having no clue what to do with the tie, pocket square, or whatever was in the jewelry box, he finished dressing, putting on his shoes last, before joining Julian and Casimir in the living room.
They were both adorned in near similar black tuxedos, the colors being all that had changed, with Julian in an indigo blue, and Casimir, much to Hutch's surprise, in a deep olive green, in the same classic houndstooth pattern, over their shirts of white. Their tie tacks and cufflinks, being the only thing visible of their own personal taste.
"I… um…" Hutch groaned, lowering his head as he held his tie and pocket square directly out towards Casimir. "Can you help with this?"
"Of course," he remarked, as he took them in hand, before turning Hutch to face him.
"Your father never taught you how to tie one?" Julian questioned, as Casimir folded up the pocket square and stuffed it into the breast pocket of Hutch's blazer.
"The only thing my biological father ever taught me, was how to avoid responsibilities," Hutch replied, as Casimir lifted the collar of his shirt, and set the tie into place, before flattened it and adjust the lengths of each of the ends. "And the man I came to view as my real father, Ghan'dono, had never seen or heard of a tie in his life."
"Formal wear was a bit different on Illimev, Jay," Casimir said, an odd reminiscent grin, hanging on the corners of his lips. "I'll tie this one for you tonight but remind me to teach you how to do this yourself in a day or two."
"Thanks," Hutch replied, keeping his eyes down, watching as Casimir weaved the ends together to form the complex Windsor knot. "They really should sell these things with an instruction manual. How is anyone supposed to figure that out on their own?"
"To be honest, I don't think you are," Casimir replied as he slid the knot up towards Hutch's neck and flattened down the collar of his shirt. "Celina chose a good color for you."
"You too. Half expected you to be in gold. Was planning on calling you, your majesty, for the rest of the year if you were."
"As if she wouldn't know my favorite color," Casimir huffed. "As should you, after wearing my heraldry for a decade."
"You got me there," Hutch replied, raising his hands in submission, while still holding the velvet jewelry case.
"You need help with those too?"
Hutch paused as he lowered his hands and stared at the case. "Hey, you know I appreciate everything you're doing for me, right?"
"I'm aware."
"Then you should know that I don't think I can accept whatever is in this box."
"You haven't opened it yet?"
"No," Hutch replied, with a slight shake of his head. "Every time I think of doing it, I get the same sinking feeling in my chest I had the day Barhalis gave me my first real sword; this is it, there is no turning back. There's no simply returning it and going on my way. Accepting this makes it all real. It's like it's that one step too far."
Casimir took a breath and snatched the box from his hand. "You're being dramatic over nothing. The contract made all of this real, and you've already signed it. This," he remarked as he opened the box, "is a necessary accessory to keep your tie and cuffs in place." Turning the opened box to Hutch, he revealed the set of cufflinks and matching tie tack, made of yellow gold, inlaid with small emeralds, one in each cufflink, and three across the center of the tie tack. "While she does have a taste for the finer things in life, I promise, this tux, costs more than these trinkets."
"Somehow, that did not…" his voice trailed off as Clara made her way into the room, leaving him to mumble, "feel better," as Casimir followed his gaze and turned to his daughter.
"You'll figure these out," he said as he snapped the lid of the box shut and dropped it back into his hand before marching away.
Clara looked stunning in her champagne pink evening gown of satin and black velvet trimmings, with silver and pearl accents, with matching jewelry. Her hair had been pulled back into a type of loose twist, and soft, wispy curls, framed the edges of her face. Her makeup was mostly light and subdued, but with a dramatic silver lip, and glittering silver eyeliner.
And while Hutch watched as Casimir complimented his daughter, even having her spin around for him to further admire, it was Celina, who visibly managed to steal Casimir's breath away. His hand lifting to his chest, as if to hold back his heart.
Celina was elegant and graceful. Her delicate frame on full display, in her silver evening gown. Cascades of her golden hair, softly curled, fell forward of her shoulders, and careened down her back, from her braided crown spotted by tiny dark blue crystals. Her eyes were accentuated by the dramatic deep blue hue of her eye shadow, that matched the color of the sapphires that hung around her neck and dangled from her ears.
It was obvious to Hutch, that the moment Celina looked at Casimir, everyone else had faded from the room. Celina's eyes never even waivered as Clara made her way over to where he stood.
"Try to ignore them," she whispered in his ear, as she took the jewelry case from his hand, "if you can. It never really stops being so fascinating to watch though. I learned a very long time ago, that if you ever want a chance at being the most enchanting couple in a room, make sure those two aren't invited."
"Oh," Hutch remarked as she pulled the tie tack from the box, "I'm not so certain about that. You're pretty damned enchanting all by yourself."
"Now that's some first-class flattery, Mr. Hutchinson," she replied as a blush warmed her cheeks. "You're looking pretty snazzy yourself."
"Your mother has excellent tastes, or so I've been told."
Clara gave him a bit of a smirk as she fastened his tie tack onto his tie, connecting the tiny chain to the appropriate button, before smoothing it all back down into place. "You haven't been told wrong."
"In all honesty, I have no idea what I look like right now," he confessed, as she removed the cufflinks from the box. "I've been avoiding anything that is or looks like a mirror."
"Well, Hutch, that's the nice thing about a quality Tux, or a properly tailored suit. It's not about how you look," she explained, as she fixed the cufflinks into place, first his left arm, and then his right, "it's about how you feel when you wear them." Brushing off his shoulders, she smoothed his arms down to his sides, and adjusted the pocket square, up a touch further from where Casimir had left it. "There. And now, you can't tell me, you don't feel damned good in this thing."
Hutch shrugged up his shoulder, "well, it is exceptionally more comfortably than my ceremonial armor, but I promise you, it can't possibly look as good."
Clara giggled and rolled her eyes at him. "Maybe one day, I'll have my dad hire someone to make replicas of your armor, just so I can see it for myself. A real visual comparison."
"Clara, that is a spectacular idea!" Celina remarked as she came towards them. "If you ask it of him, I'm certain he won't refuse. Now, let me take a good look at you." She smiled as she looked Hutch up and down. "You do clean up rather well."
"I can't take all of the credit, considering it was you who picked it out for me."
"That is true. But you pull of my excellent decisions incredibly well. Alright then," she announced, turning towards the elevator, where Casimir and Julian were already waiting, "come along everyone. It's nearly time for our guests to arrive, and the Salvador's are never late to their own party."
As they stood waiting for the elevator to arrive, Hutch looked at himself in the mirror of the closet door. His hair was tidy, and had been combed back, and he stood taller and straighter than he had before. Clara had been right, he did feel good dressed in that tuxedo, wearing the shiny, comfortable dress shoes, and adorned by the gold and emerald tie tack and cufflinks. He looked as if he belonged where he was. Fit to be seen amongst the wealthy and elite who would be attending the celebration, be it as a member of the family, or merely as their butler in tow.
When the elevator doors opened, Hutch waited for the family to get in and situated, before he turned off the penthouse lights, and joined them inside. Pressing the button for the 65th floor, the doors closed, and Hutch shared a glance with Casimir, for whatever happened from that point on, he knew his place, and would act accordingly.