Summer merely shrugged. It was no one's fault that they were in this spiral of trauma and bag memories. Only their past did it to them, and they couldn't change it now. "Don't apologize. I feel like we needed to get some of this off our chests."

She unpinned the hat from her head, tossing it in the corner of the room just to make herself more comfortable as she settled herself close to him. There was a comfort, something soothing, about how his hand stroked the back of her head. So, she just took a moment and breathed.

There was only a moment of silence, the thudding sound of music outside their private room to remind them of where they were.

Only when Callan reached for the neck of a bottle of whiskey did she sit up again. Summer leaned back, watching him tilt his head back and swallow it like it was nothing.

And she'd do much of the same when it was her turn, opening her mouth and tilting her head back slightly so alcohol wouldn't pour over her throat.

"Let's forget. Me and you."

Callan Young

☉

There was a cooler with water that they were to put their catches into for the exhibit. Summer fiddled with the line, trying to pull the fish off to slip it in. But his next guess, or guesses, caught her off guard.

Luckily, she managed to get the fish into the container before it slipped onto the deck of the boat.

"I think that's enough of this game," she said, not bothering to drink or answer the question. "Perhaps we should focus some more on the fish."

It was a silent way of telling him he was about to cross a line.

CIAN MAHER

☉

"Of course, my dear. I just hope none of my fellow colleagues were too hard on you," Summer said with a small sigh, shifting her pillow to get a bit more comfortable facing him.

There had been a few individuals that made comments about status during the party, which was definitely to be expected. Summer knew that it was going to happen and which people would say what things. But, Gunner stood up for himself well. He didn't seem bothered by them, and if anything...

It was all down to Summer whether or not those people got to stay. Disrupting the peace was a no no.

Goosebumps crawled on her leg as he traced a few circles around her leg, which she decided to hike up over his own to bring herself closer to him. She thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"No, not really. It's just another year. Another circle around the sun, more paperwork, and more planning. Call me sad, but it's not significant to me. Do you?"

Gunner Graves

☉

"Really? Now that's a shocking statement," Summer said with her brows raised. Though it really did seem like Gunner had no idea that she was related to Merrick Prescott at all.

After all, after their little rendezvous in the museum, she had only given her first name, not her last. She couldn't fault him for not making the connection there.

"Oh? So you're not here just for good relations between your firm my company then?" she teased him, laughing softly into her glass. "If you treat me right tonight, we'll see how things go..."

It was fun to tease him, Summer decided. Her first impression of him had been someone that was stiff, someone who needed to have a good time. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe he knew more than she thought he did.

"I have a New Years party that I'm throwing with many high status individuals. You can say that throwing parties are something I enjoy doing. Not the process of setting it up but actually partying. The drinking and sorts."

Gunner Graves

☉

His statement was obvious. Of course she was sick. Summer hadn't felt like this in a long time, perhaps not since she was a young girl. She'd push through everything to please her father and earn his approval. Work had always been her top priority.

It still is, in a way. But, now that she had important people in her life without her father looming over her head... could she afford the break?

Cade's words spun something in her chest. It made Summer's face, already red from the heat of her fever, feel hotter. She wasn't sure what he meant by that, but she wasn't sure if she wanted him to clarify it either. Either way, she was uncharacteristically quiet for a few moments, her mind reeling over that statement until he asked for whisky or rum.

"Who do you take me for?" Summer asked teasingly, going to her cabinet slowly. It was a wide liquor cabinet, decorated beautifully with jewels and engravings, filled to the brim with various types of alcohols.

"Take your pick."

Cade Atreides

☉

When Cade stated that he was writing, it surprised Summer. For whatever reason, she wasn't expecting him to say that. She was more expecting something along the lines of training his Pokemon or even his body. After all...

He didn't get his physique without hard work and dedication, right?

"Can I inquire about what you were writing? Unless it's private, of course. I just wasn't expecting such an answer," she said, tilting her head to meet his blue gaze.

Her hand continued to wander of his leg before she decided to close some of the distance between them. Pushing herself from the water, Summer straddled his lap, thankful that the water still rose high enough to cover her skin to keep her warm. Both her hands rose to his chest, rising above to his shoulders.

"Should I massage your shoulders? You almost seem a bit stiff..." Summer said, leaning to press a small kiss against his neck.

Cade Atreides

☉

"I agree with your reasoning there. Though, it can work as a, hmm... mask of sorts as well. People always talk and have suspicions, but if you're always a good and charitable host, there's no way you can be associated with the evils, right?"

She smirked, shrugging. There was a tug at her line. She pulled, a heart-shaped LUVDISC appearing from the depths.

"It has," she said, sipping her drink. "It always will, one way or another..."

CIAN MAHER

☉

"No, no, I mean..."

Summer trailed off, caught in the deep lull of his Paldean voice. Something about it was soothing, endearing, and warm, much better in comparison to the noisy television in the background. She reached blindly forward, managing to snag the remote and shut it off as she managed to psuh herself up with whatever strength she had.

"Why are you doing this? For me, I mean...?" she asked tentatively, bringing her hand to stroke over his EEVEE's fur.

She watched as he went to the kitchen, conjoined not far from the living area. Summer was still able to see Cade, watching him pull out a plethora of ingredients. She sniffed, grabbing a tissue to wipe at her nose before standing up with the blanket tucked around her shoulders.

"What are you doing?"

Cade Atreides

☉