[attr="class","milaatop"]

[attr="class","milaa"]

"maybe."

[break][break] mila's quip was coy, glancing at Remiel Calcifet as if she held all the secrets in the world and she was considering on letting him in only one of them.

[break][break] "if it was an invitation, would you take it?"

[break][break] she smiles as she leans forward, plucking a slice of pineapple from his drink and popping it into her mouth.

[break][break] "i've always liked you when you were jealous, remy," she said in a low murmur.

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet

☉

[attr="class","mila2"]

continuation from league party

[break]

Mila knew it. She knew that Gunner wasn't going to fuck his boss, and yet —

"You aren't?" she said haughtingly, eyes flashing in a daring look. "You could've fooled me, with the way that you were eye-fucking her."

[break][break] And not her in her dress. Mila had spent forever on her outfit, giddy with a feeling that she refused to name, as she got all the preparations ready for the party. It was the first time since taking over Primarina that she would be showcasing her outfits.

[break][break] And yet he had taken the time, instead, to fawn over some bitch in a red dress, taken the time to give her drinks, taken the time to ignore Mila.

[break][break] But he wasn't ignoring her now.

[break][break] Gunner had reached over and advanced forward, closing in on her space, with little disregard for anything else. Mila hated the traitorous turn of her heart, or the sudden spike of lust she felt the sight of Gunner Graves's furious face above her own, jaw clenched as he released a deep growl that went straight to her gut.

[break][break] It was that, and the fact that he'd said he wanted her — and all to himself.

[break][break] Fuck.

[break][break] "I wasn't flirting with him!" she said hotly, ignoring the way that his compliment made her cheeks flush. 'He thinks I look hot?' "He's just - he's just a friend, Gunner!"

[break][break] "A client!"

[break][break] He grabbed her wrist and she knew she could rip away from him, to stalk away and follow those partygoers into the hall where paxton concordas probably was. She didn't have to deal with this, she didn't have to deal with him.

[break][break] But his furious gaze only propelled her own, catching like wildfire in her eyes.

[break][break] "Fuck you," she growled. "Fuck you for ever thinking that I would do something like that, after what I told you on your birthday."

[break][break] She's promised him that she wouldn't see Paxton anymore, at least, not like that. And though Mila had a history of breaking promises, she was trying to do better by it — do better by him.

[break][break] Instead of pulling away from him, she found herself pushing against him. The champagne glass slipped from her hand and into the floor, grabbing his tie and attempted to pull her down to him.

[break][break] "Plus," she hissed. "You're one to talk. I saw the way that she was looking at you. She wants to fuck you. You're telling me that you're not going to let her?"

[break][break] Bitterly, Mila still remembered the way that AmiGo had ruined their entire summer. Something between them that had once bloomed with warmth when he'd come back from that dream of his had quickly turned nasty when both started to revert to their old habits.

[attr="class","ooc"] Gunner Graves [break]
FESTIVE FLIRTS

☉

[attr="class","milaatop"]

[attr="class","milaa"]

gunner moved his arm, pulling her closer in a gesture that mila wasn't expecting. briefly, her eyes snap to his.

[break][break] fuck. he was hot. why was he hot?

[break][break] she hated him.

[break][break] she swallowed thickly, ignoring the heat in her gut, and instead forcing her attention on more important things. such as that bitch PENELOPE LIVY.

[break][break] mila didn't miss the spark of flame that ignited within the councilwoman's expression, which was made even better with the way that handsome man choked on his beverage as soon as she'd asked her question. both of their reactions were exactly what she wanted; they had not disappointed.

[break][break] to make matters better, it appeared that Caleb Harcourt really did intend to take the other woman off for the dance floor. more importantly, away from them.

[break][break] the moment couldn't have come sooner.

[break][break] she glared furiously at the other woman but when she cast a glance at her outfit, undoubtedly trying to look at condescending as mila had moment's prior, the fury that was mila alexopoulos shifted once more. this time into pleasure at the fact that she'd forced such a response from her. mila preened at the attention, lips twisting into a broad smile.

[break][break] "why thank you," she said. "that's exactly what i was going for."

[break][break] but her good mood was quickly dashed to pieces when the councilwoman leaned forward, whispering something in gunner's ears. hot, angry jealousy burst in mila's gut, her fingers digging sharply into the elegant fabric of Gunner Graves's suit. so much so that she probably would've drawn blood if not for the thick material of his outfit.

[break][break] boss or not, gunner was hers and this woman had no business getting that close to him.

[break][break] eyes sparking fire, the fashion designer opened her mouth for a scathing reply. but already, the councilwoman was taking herself and her not-date away from them and to the center of the room, likely for a dance. mila had a thought to follow her - maybe even steal that handsome boy from her arm - before suddenly, Gunner Graves was dragging her across the room.

[break][break] "gunner - !"

[break][break] she stumbled, her heels catching the floor as she struggled to catch up with him. a cold blast of air greeted her as gunner led them to the only place in the observatory that could catch a moment's quiet — one of the balconies that were strung with beautiful ivy and vibrantly festive ribbons. it would have been a romantic moment for the two of them, if not for the fire in Gunner Graves's eyes.

[break][break]

SPIN OFF: BURN FOR YOU

[attr="class","ooc"] Gunner Graves PENELOPE LIVY Caleb Harcourt [break]
dress

☉

[attr="class","mila2"]

continuation from league party

[break][break] "What is your problem?"

[break][break] "My problem?" Mila retorted back, hotly, wrenching her hand away from his grasp. She glared furiously up at him — and his stupid, handsome face. "What the fuck is your problem?"

[break][break] "You let me make your suit, spend hours on it making sure that it was just so fucking perfect, just so you could look hot enough in it to fuck another woman?"

[break][break] Her cheeks were hot, scowling up at him as she wrangled with the hot, angry jealousy that was twisting her gut. Mila knew she was being irrational. That Gunner would never do that, not with the way that he cared about his work. But she couldn't ignore the memory of him sidling up beside the councilwoman, handing her a drink, and ignoring her. As if she wasn't even there.

[break][break] Hastily, she turned away from him. Only to grab an empty drink that lay on a nearby table, scowling at two partygoers who stepped onto the balcony. Apparently the sight of a furious mila alexopoulos was enough to have them squeaking and disappearing back into the Observatory main room, shutting the door behind them.

[break][break] She finished a swig of champagne, hands clutched around the glass as she glared back at him.

[break][break] "What do you want with me, Gunner?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Gunner Graves [break]
FESTIVE FLIRTS

☉

[attr="class","milaatop"]

[attr="class","milaa"]

she knew it would piss him off and frankly, mila was banking on it.

[break][break] there was no other outlet for her jealousy and anger in the way that PENELOPE LIVY had looked at him, the way that he had looked at her, and of course there was no other option but to take it out onto the only available assailant in the room.

[break][break] the redhead that was so annoyingly gorgeous that, if mila wasn't so pissed at gunner, she would've made a shot at her too.

[break][break] eyes fluttered up expertly at Gunner Graves, mirroring his smile for an annoyingly placid one of her own. a hand rested on his bicep that flexed with anger, digging subtly into his skin.

[break][break] "yeah," she said, eyes darting towards the handsome form of paxton concordas behind the bar. "but i took special care for yours."

[break][break] it was nothing but the truth, but perhaps a little too convenient a truth in a circumstance such as this.

[break][break] a flare of liquid hot fury sent her eyes alight at PENELOPE LIVY's snide comment, and her hand wrung innocently around the base of Gunner Graves's tie as she spoke to the councilwoman, not at all moving from his side.

[break][break] "actually," she corrected the woman. "paxton seems preoccupied behind the bar already. he's just a friend - oh wait, don't tell me. you don't have them?"

[break][break] her smile widened, nearly as pointed as a sharpedo's teeth.

[break][break] it only faltered slightly at the sound of PENELOPE LIVY's kind offer, one that did not fail to set another flame alight in mila's gut, with resentment and annoyance. those fingers tightened against gunner's bicep, the only evidence that the councilwoman's words had effected her so.

[break][break] if there was anything beside herself that mila took pride in, it was that of her work.

[break][break] "ah," she said instead, casting a condescending look down PENELOPE LIVY's outfit. "i would have never guessed." she clicked her tongue, as she gazed slowly down the length of the woman's ruby dress, as if making a judgement all on her own. before flicking up to those amber eyes. "i would be happy to accept your offer," her lips stretched into a smile, that was a tad too wide. "and maybe even design you something for your next gala."

[break][break] her gaze cut briefly towards Gunner Graves's own face, her own thinly-veiled anger reflected in the glass that he brought to his lips.

[break][break] fuck you.

[break][break] mila turned back to the councilwoman, perhaps to aim another well-placed jab, but before she could do so, a handsome suitor approached. his cobalt eyes were about as riveting as Gunner Graves's own, though mila didn't dare to dislodge herself from his side. not yet, not while she was around.

[break][break] "mr. harcourt," she greeted instead, this time with a smile that matched her eyes. "enchanted to meet you. i'm mila alexopoulos of primarina designs."

[break][break] a pause as her eyes flickered between the two.

[break][break] "ah, don't tell me. you're the councilwoman's plus one?"

[break][break] strange, mila thought. she could have sworn she had seen another muscled man surrounded by the councilwoman when she'd walked in. or maybe, that was just PENELOPE LIVY's reputation.

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

☉

[attr="class","milaatop"]

[attr="class","milaa"]

winter was one of mila's favorite times of the year. not only because she enjoyed being bundled in all kinds of cute peacoats and scarves, but also because she enjoyed the festive season.

[break][break] it was a secret pleasure of hers, one that she probably wouldn't voice outloud, but it made her do impulsive things like this. especially since she and Gunner Graves were on the outs.

[break][break] holding a warm cup of cocoa in her hand, she walked around the outside of rink. the christmas tree in the center of it was dazzling, distracting enough that she almost didn't realize that she'd run into someone.

[break][break] "oh!"

[attr="class","ooc"] wolfgang volkov [break]
BREAK THE ICE

☉

[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

☉

[attr="class","milaatop"]

[attr="class","milaa"]

"aw, flattering me as always, remy. are you trying to butter me up so i'll release my secrets?"

[break][break] she leaned into her palm then, red lips pressing together into an enigmatic smile, but said nothing more.

[break][break] remy could butter her up all he liked; she'd hold those secrets tight to her chest in a deathgrip as long as she was able.

[break][break] her brow arched.

[break][break] "ben, hm?"

[break][break] she reached for her drink, sipping from the twisted straw of her cocktail.

[break][break] "he sounds boring. tell me, ben, is he as boring in bed as his name sounds?"

[break][break] "or is he a little like you, remy?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet

☉