[FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF ARIA]

After his last dance with Giselle Sigebrand concluded, the masquerade soon turned to it's next phase of the night (and arguably Gideon's favorite) - the unveiling of the museum's exhibits. They had quite the varied collection on display exclusive to this event, thanks to charitable donations made by several of Hoenn's prominent residents.

As the double doors leading to deeper parts of the museum swung open, the director allowed the awaiting crowd to pass through the threshold first. He had helped set all the displays up, of course, so there was no rush when so many curious eyes came first.

Gideon's initial stop was the Nautica Exhibit, which showcased treasures and artifacts salvaged by none other than his business partners angelo vestri and skyler dross. He idly wondered if the couple were here tonight.

As he approached their exhibit, that thought slipped the professor's mind upon seeing the small huddle of people gathered there. Truly, it was fairly desolate with only two of three partygoers observing the artifacts on display. Given the recent events surrounding METENO, perhaps most of the crowd had decided to stop at that exhibit first.

"Quite incredible, no?" Gideon asked casually as he stepped beside a young woman standing near the center of the display. "Vestiges of other worlds right here for us to marvel at."

• suit check + mask
• prompt #6 (pirate's hoard)
• talking with Naomi Sato

☉

Why must Martín del Mar be so tempting? As the banker whispered teasing thoughts into his ear, Barnaby simply smiled coyly into his champagne flute. He perhaps would have responded, egged on his partner further, even, but Summer Atreides provided a tempering, welcomed presence to their group.

Although BARNABY FINCH envied just how stunning Summer looked in her dress, it was a feeling greatly overshadowed by the warm joy that bloomed in his chest as their conversation turned to talk of his and Mars' relationship.

"It was, wasn't it?" Romantic. Now that they were safe from METENO's impact, the desperation he'd felt that night was but a foggy memory. All that stood out now was the act of their confession.

Barnaby's eyes lingered on Mars' masked face for a moment, appreciating every fine detail. Then, his gaze casually returned to their mutual friend.

"Can you guess who confessed first, Summer?" Now this he wanted to hear.

• suit check + mask
• gossiping with with
Martín del Mar & Summer Atreides
• prompt 4 (grinchmas)
• open to interaction!

☉

"exhibits?"[break][break]

clearly, matias missed the memo, because it's only then that he remembers that they're in a museum. but when he does, his face lights up in excitement as well, mirroring hers as they make their way to the nautica exhibit.[break][break]

tch.[break][break]

sea hoenn.[break][break]

"would you ever go back?"[break][break]

notes:[break]
- browsing exhibits with Eva Morales

[attr="class","ooc"]MATIAS SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-groudon"]

Strangely, @albrecht had always made him a better person (even if they were both a long-shot from good by any definition). Instead, Hazel taught him tolerance and subtlety. So, he could look at the displays and not immediately express want for them. However, at his core, he was still greedy. He was still a thief. It wasn’t a matter of competition because his museum of wares couldn’t compete, it wasn’t meant to. It was all a front for something more nefarious, which were the illegal wares that passed through it.

Even if, alternatively, he might have wished to have a museum like this, he was a poor boy dressed in fool’s gold. Sure, he wasn’t poor anymore, but his gains weren’t a product of pride and effort, but greed. “For a national museum, it’s alright, I suppose.” He glanced at his partner, before snorting at his own poor attempt to seem nonchalant.

As Hazel requested, they were headed in the direction of the Meteno exhibit. As if he could deny the other anything, especially not those scholarly interests that made the other’s eyes light up. It was sweet, of course.

“Try not to get too excited, darling.” He teased.

---

- wearing tailored suit & mask
- arriving at meteno exhibit
- express either greed or envy in some form, because hes a petty fuck

The way the two looked at each other, like two people who couldn't get enough of each other... it made Summer happy for them. But there was also a small void in her heart. She remembered her time with Casey, how it was ended. Her child too, eventually gone as well.

She was envious. Jealous. She wanted something like that too. But of course, perhaps it wasn't in her grasp yet. Her focus had to be on business. She had to become powerful, someone who couldn't be toppled over.

Strong.

"You two are acting so cute it makes me want to barf," Summer said, exaggerating as she placed her hand on her stomach and pretended to get sick. "So disgustingly cute. Gross."

She thought about Barnaby's question for a moment before she snorted a laugh and answered.

"You both like to talk, but I think you like to talk a little bit more, Barnaby. I think it was you."

BARNABY FINCH & Martín del Mar

☉