After her brief embrace with Ollie, the group expands to include her science sister, illeana reyes, whom she greets with a small hug as well. Followed by Elise Calcifet who she acknowledges with a warm smile and tip of her glass. She chose not to interrupt the blossoming conversation by offering her more. So many things happen at once that she barely noticed PENELOPE LIVY’s sudden departure. Not that she minded. Out of curiosity, her gaze briefly followed the Councilwoman over to paxton concordas, another familiar face.

As she watched Penelope go, a familiar, and comforting, flash of white caught her eye.

”Freya!”

She got the warmest smile of them all. Eva shifted to offer her a small hug in greeting before settling back into the small group of league officials. Her eyebrows rose at the mention of illeana reyes’s date. She wasn’t left in suspense for long, and she grinned widely at the approach of ALEXANDER STONE, “I like yours too,” she nodded in respect.

To be honest the conversation was growing a bit boring as it dipped into polite, casual, conservation. Perfect time to sneak out. It seemed ollie morales had the same idea. She should go converse with people she didn’t know, but she gravitates towards the familiar, “C’mon, let’s go get another drink,” the hushed suggestion is whispered to freya morningstar, along with a gentle tug of her sweater to follow her.

Eva still had quite a full drink, and so did Freya, so it was obvious she just wanted to do something else, “I love your sweater, looks very cozy,” Eva tugged at her own that was long enough to be a dress - and it was, “For a little while there, i thought I was going to be the only one in a sweater. Their definition of festive casual is not very casual.”

---

freya morningstar
outfit

In one fell swoop, her lifeline came and went, leaving with no more than a curt word and eyeroll.
[break][break]

Time only allowed for an icy glare to serve as a response. But it didn't matter; at least Gunner Graves was still here. Though, something was...off. Maybe it was the sudden appearance of the unordered martin, or the rigid aura of a brooding man, but there certainly some unsaid tensions stirring in the air.
[break][break]

"Thank you, thank you,"she laughed, "You don't look too bad yourself."
[break][break]

A curious glance to her left was all that was needed to scout out the mysterious woman beside them. The loud color of her outfit was the first thing that drew at her attention, the second was the way Gunner Graves avoided her gaze.
[break][break]

"Sorry, i don't think I caught your name. I'm PENELOPE LIVY."
[break][break]

She extended a hand, the gesture anything but kind. If nothing else, it was an experiment of sorts. A test of the waters.
[break][break]

"So, Gunner, I hope you're making sure to take tonight off. No extra work until Monday, right?"
[break][break]

In the corner of her eye, a pleasant surprise greeted her. DEREK HOFFMAN - the ghostly ranger who somehow avoided her for these rolling weeks. If their eyes somehow meet, she would give a genuine smile and wave.


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] mila alexopoulos Gunner Graves paxton concordas DEREK HOFFMAN[break]


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

her gaze slants away from eva's warm greens. she is reminded in an instant of the professor's texts she's left unanswered, the meetings scheduled around hers, and all the aching nights lying awake wishing she could go to the one confidant she could count on for over two decades. 

but she knew how that story would end, and so she abstained. for eva's sake.

when alex walks up, the complicated knot in her chest tightens. and then, after a beat, pale golds wandering to the hand on the small of illeana reyes's back, that knot loosens. behind the thick velvet curtain of selfishness that covers freya like a cloak is care - after the anger and the frustration and the despair came worry. 

worry that her friend would have no one. worry that she'd leave another fractured in her wake. and as much as it pains her that he's turned his back on her, she's happy. 

"it's good to see you too, illie."

happy that he can still find happiness. 

her own takes her by the sleeve and whispers in her ear and she nearly forgets herself, cheeks smattering pink as she allows eva to take her away from the growing crowd. she glances down at the fingers pinching her sweater and smiles, following them when they go green fabric instead. 

"i was starting to worry i'd read it wrong. but i still don't look as festive as you." she takes a sip from her glass and then scrunches her nose, reaching up to poke at the antlers on eva's head.

"maybe i'll just have to steal these, even if they are adorable on you."

LEAGUE HOLIDAY PARTY

☉

[attr="class","milaatop"]

[attr="class","milaa"]

"of course it is," she said flippantly at paxton concordas. "do you really think i'd do anything less?" a laughter trickles from her throat, smiling inexplicably at his praise.

[break][break] at the sight of a redhead approaching him, her eyes flicker towards PENELOPE LIVY.

[break][break] "oh thanks! we designed his suit, actually —" she smiled wide at the councilwoman, offering a manicured hand out to shake. "my name's mila —"

[break][break] suddenly, the inclusion of one another diverts her gaze.

[break][break] she's tugged towards Gunner Graves like a string of fate, dragged towards his chiseled jawline, slicked hair, and flawlessly tailored maroon bespoke suit — a creation of her own design, not merely a garment plucked off the rack like paxton concordas's suit. her own hands had once personally obssessed over the fabric that currently covered Gunner Graves's handsome body.

[break][break] heat coiled in her stomach, causing a light flush to her cheeks that had nothing to do with the alcohol that she held in her other hand. yet, gunner's next words triggered a frosty cascade that felt nothing short of being plunged into an ice bath.

[break][break] her hand - the one that had been left out for PENELOPE LIVY - abruptly dropped.

[break][break] "here's your drink, penny. a martinez, as requested."

[break][break] her gaze transformed into razor-sharp blades, fuchsia eyes ablaze with ENVY as gunner complimented her.

[break][break] that is, the other woman.

[break][break] and to make matter's worse, gunner wasn't even looking at her.

[break][break] haughtily, a hand placed at her hip.

[break][break] "thank you, pax. you look handsome too," she said, stubbornly ignoring Gunner Graves. her back was turned to him. "the suit i made for you looks just great."

[break][break] then paxton concordas offered to refill her beverage, which only made her smile wider.

[break][break] "oh darling, of course. you know what i like."

[break][break] "sorry, i don't think i caught your name. i'm penelope livy."

[break][break] it was then that her eyes cut to the other woman, her expression full of cold jealousy, a stark opposite to the charming expression of the mask she'd worn just mere seconds ago.

[break][break] "huh? sorry, i wasn't paying attention. what did you say your name was?"

[break][break] the hand was left in the air, her manicured hands curled around her glittering clutch, making no effort to even abide by the other's handshake.

[break][break] heat coiled in her belly - of a different kind than before - as she noticed the other woman make comments regarding Gunner Graves's work habits, but mila said nothing.

[break][break] instead she stepped towards gunner directly, slipping a hand possessively around his bicep.

[break][break] "gunner, you look so handsome in your suit. didn't i say you would?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] paxton concordas Gunner Graves PENELOPE LIVY [break]
dress

☉