Nothing about the ball or what it entailed interested Val in the slightest, but all Mimi had to do was pout her lips and, well... any argument he had faltered, mumbling a mere ‘alright’ under his breath as he gave in to her request. He always did. And then suddenly there he was, dressed in the velvet tuxedo she had put him in for the evening, sipping through any and all flutes of champagne that happened to pass him, and keeping within eyesight all possible exits for when he’d inevitably convince Tati into leaving the whole shit-show behind them to find some fun elsewhere.
Still, Val made it a point to find Mimi throughout parts of the night to see how she was -- undoubtedly was she enjoying the unparalleled glamour of the Roux castle in full-swing for a ball this size, but it was one of their first big events like this since they had arrived in Auradon. He wanted to ensure she’d be alright and that no one would try anything with her just because she was a VK, though Mimi had proven time and time again that she was more than capable of defending herself.
Halfway through his glass of champagne -- he had lost count of how many he had had at this point, but still had his wits about him -- he found himself at her side and sparing only a glance at the surrounding royals, he turned to her and said, “You know, of all the princesses here, you’re the most beautiful tonight, Meems.” And he meant it. Every word. “It’s only a matter of time before you’re out here stylin’ all of ‘em. Gods know they’d need the help,” he muttered while watching a princess walk past them in a dress so unflattering, it had to be a joke. Val knew shit when it came to fashion, but even he knew one shouldn’t get dressed with their eyes closed.
