"Thank you. You look dapper as well," she said with a nod of her head.

With his arm outstretched, she looped hers around and allowed him to lead her inside. This wasn't a place she'd been to before, and she'd admit she was eager to try it. They were shown to a table for two, where she allowed him to help her sit and push her chair in as she waited for him to settle.

"I'll admit, I almost didn't expect to hear from you again after the masquerade. I wasn't sure I left such a large impression on you," Summer said with a laugh, taking a glass of wine that was poured for her.

"What brought on your sudden desire to see me again? I'm not disappointed. In fact, I'm glad you reached out to me."

Gunner Graves

☉

When Summer Prescott entered her office after a long meeting from her partners in trade, she wasn't expecting to see flowers waiting at her desk. It took her by surprise as she walked closer, looking over them carefully. She received flowers on many occasions, but she never knew if there was something to poison her or drug her should she come closer.

Paranoia, especially after dealing with her father's former supporters, was still blooming in her chest. She plucked the note along with the flowers with a handkerchief, keeping it away from her hands should it be embedded with poison.

However, after reading it over and looking at the place the flowers had come from, Summer determined that they were safe. In fact, she couldn't help a light smile on her lips as she looked over at the number scrawled below. She made a note to meet Mr. Gunner Graves at the designated time, though she didn't send him a message.

That evening, she came wearing her cream cape, covering her body and shielding her from the cold. Summer carried a handheld purse in one hand, the other sending out the last of an email for that day. She looked up and spotted the man waiting for her.

"Mr. Graves. I didn't expect flowers at my desk the other day. I'm delighted to see you once again," Summer said with a smile, tucking her phone away into the purse.

---

- outfit

Gunner Graves

☉

Summer continued to stroke his hair as he climbed down from his high, allowing him the time he needed to regain a sense of thought and control. Animalistic behaviors were set aside for a more calming and dignified one. She kept her legs wrapped around his waist as he held her.

Until she was being set down. There was a small moment of gravity pulling her down, trying to stabilize her balance as she felt heavy once more. No longer light as a bird in Gunner's embrace. He'd finally spoken, regaining a sense of mind as he confirmed her suspicion.

As she cleaned up, she wondered if he'd done something like this often. Or was he as high strung as she'd previously imagined? Summer folded away the handkerchief to hand back to him, should he wish to keep it or discard it.

Summer straightened her dress down, allowing her dress to flow elegantly once more as she fixed a few wrinkles and straightened it over her chest again. She finally met his gaze again, though it seemed fleeting from the corner of his eye. A smirk graced her lips as she watched him finish getting ready again.

With a final kiss, Summer murmured to him once more. "Take care of the lipstick on your face before you leave, my dear. See you around, yes?"

Blowing a kiss with her hand extended, she took a glance at herself in the mirror of a bathroom hidden in the corner before making her way to the floor again. Leaving him to look at her as she left.

Gunner Graves

☉

Summer couldn't help but laugh, hiding the smile on her face behind her hand as she waved her free one at the two men. Save the two of them to make such a comment. But really, she didn't mind it at all. In fact, the attention was wonderful.

It did draw in her catch for the night, after all.

"Thank you, my loves. I've been waiting for such an occasion to pull this piece out." She gave a quick swirl to show her skirts, though the stones on her chest flashed in the light.

Though after a moment of showing off to her friends, she listened to the gossip they had to spill. Rather, Barnaby allowed Mars to confirm her suspicions. A smirk crossed her lips as she practically giggled.

"It's about damn time. I'm truly happy for both of you. I'll wait for my wedding invitation patiently," she teased, sipping her drink again.

"We should get together again. Perhaps this time we can allow Barnaby to select our movie. I'm sure Mars and I can cook up a nice meal for the occasion," Summer said, nodding in consideration. "And I can host, so we don't have to wear your staff down, Mars," she added.

---

- gossiping with BARNABY FINCH and Martín del Mar

BARNABY FINCH & Martín del Mar

☉

Summer couldn't help the chuckle that left her lips as he pressed her against the wall, caught with his own lips as they met hers. Her hands explored the expanse of his chest again, having to remind herself not to grab ahold of his shirt lest it become wrinkled.

Her skirt was held aside, her legs wrapped around his waist as she trusted him to hold her up. The glittering diamonds scattered over her chest almost caught ahold of his clothing as she leaned close.

A long sigh escaped her lips, pleased beyond all measure. She consumed him with fervor and fire, trailing small bites that weren't going to mark his skin across his jaw and his neck as he spurred forth. Her breath was airy against his ear, a few soft noises escaping her.

Luckily, no one came to find them.

Summer found herself arching back against the wall, still holding tightly to Gunner as they came down from their high. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath, having held it for a moment too long it felt like. She allowed herself to slumped against him as he held her tightly.

"We haven't been gone too long, have we?" she murmured against his ear, stroking his hair with a certain gentleness she hardly reserved.

Gunner Graves

☉

Summer's hands slipped behind his head, pulling him closer as everything seemed to become almost frantic. While everyone was busy entertaining themselves, they were sure to be missed in the main hall at some point.

Yet, she didn't want this to end. Not yet, at least.

She rolled her head to the side, allowing him to kiss down her neck. Wishing that there could be more there, though she understood the need to avoid attention grabbing. Her hands explored his torso, feeling his muscles underneath the expanse of his suit.

Her leg stuck out from the slit in her dress, allowing him free range as she met his lips again. Summer felt almost dazed as he looked at her, pulling away to confirm their intentions. Goosebumps rose across her skin, as she pushed herself against him. Chest to chest.

"Don't stop," Summer murmured into his ear, grabbing his tie to pull him to her once more.

Gunner Graves

☉

Summer observed him as he looked around, examining his surroundings. She wondered what sort of man he was, what he did, since he was so attentive and trying his best to keep them from being caught by unsuspecting eyes. Summer could only make a few guesses, as his ROTOM flutter out of his earpiece.

A guard? Perhaps.

Summer watched the red light flicker out, leaving them alone. Then she turned back to the man in front of her, removing his mask from his features. If she didn't find him handsome before, he was definitely moreso now.

So she did the same, resting hers beside his. She peered up at him, face to face at last, as she replied, "Summer. A pleasure."

With that, Summer raised her chin to meet to meet his gaze before closing her eyes, allowing his lips to touch hers. One of her hands rose, reaching to touch his jaw as the chaste kiss became something deeper with her initiation.

Gunner Graves

☉

Summer hummed, as though she considered his question thoroughly and thoughtfully. Of course, her previous request was acknowledgement enough for her desire to stoke his flames. But would she grace him a true answer to the question?

Perhaps not.

She tilted her head slightly, granting him fair access to the expanse of her neck as he placed a kiss there. It made her skin tingle, a shiver of pleasure rolling down her spine as countless things they could do spurred in her mind.

"Perhaps we can go somewhere more private. I think it'd be uncouth to hog the dance floor in such a way..." It was tease, of course, but she winked all the same.

Withdrawing so he could follow her, she extended her hand for him to take, picking a direction to walk in where there was no one to bother them. Some would think a quiet museum, where there was little light except for a few exhibits lit, would be creepy. Intimidating.

Yet, she was thrilled.

"Quiet enough?" Summer prompted, turning back to face Gunner.

Gunner Graves

☉

Summer noticed Callan Young working away at his own snowboy, patting together balls of snow to stack upon each other. He seemed hyperfocused, ready to finish it or add details. It was kind of cute, seeing him in this element.

He was being called over by someone she didn't know. Perhaps a friend of Callan's, though it almost looked like he was too involved in his snowboy that he noticed. Nevertheless, Summer rolled her growing ball of snow closer, stopping beside Callan's.

"Fancy meeting you here, Mr. Rockstar. Enjoying the frigid weather?" she asked with a smirk, tilting her head to the side.

Beside her, Summer's THIEVUL, Loki, leaped around the snow, digging holes and burying her face into the snow. A little scarf was wrapped around her neck, a Christmas bow on top of her head.

"Loki, don't lose your bow!"

---

okcC2zD9

- approached Callan Young
- chided loki since she's being wild in her outfit
- open for interaction

- x0 top
- x0 middle
- x1 bottom
- x1 decoration(s)

PROMPTS:

SPOILER: Click to show

- express a holiday wish/gift idea
- reference a seasonal food/drink
- dress your pokemon in a holiday costume
- interact with/reference the darmanitan
- compliment another character's snowboy
- reference a holiday song
- sabotage a snowboy

Callan Young

☉

Eris Halla was truly a darling. Calling her Ms. Summer, and complimenting her nonetheless. Summer couldn't help a squeezing sensation in her chest as she looked at the young girl.

She deserved the world, more than she had been through.

"You know you can just call me Summer, right? It's okay, no formalities are needed," she said gently, brushing a hand over her head tenderly.

She allowed the girl to take her hand and lead her, Surtur the EMBOAR trailing behind them as a guard should anything happen. They made it down the street, ready to knock at the first door.

"Remember, say trick or treat! Then we can snatch the candy," Summer said with a laugh, going to the door and knocking.

Eris Halla

☉

Looking at her line, wondering if anything was gonna bite, Summer sipped away at her cocktail. In fact, she ordered a new one, since the one she'd been drinking was finishing.

"Sorry if I hit a sore spot," she teased with a grin, standing up to tug at the line.

"You think so? What's your reasoning behind that?" she asked curiously.

CIAN MAHER

☉

Summer waited to hear his reply. An outburst, curses, panic... any of it. She almost expected him to throw her from his arms, to rush and report her right away. She didn't want him to. Of course she didn't. But paranoia ate at her heart, threatening to make her sick.

Yet there was only Barnaby's hand running through her hair, a soothing motion that made her want to sob even more. Because as he spoke to her, Summer knew that he was there for her.

Her intuition had been right to trust him. She pulled her hands from her face, looking at him with a child-like expression. "You're free now."

"I'm... free?" Part of her didn't believe that. Yet, she echoed his words, waiting for him to say it again.

"Barnaby..." A soft whimper left her throat as she sat up to wrap her arms around him, bringing him into a tight embrace. Because, in that moment, she didn't know what she'd do without him there to comfort her. To tell her it was okay.

She didn't deserve his friendship and kindness.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for any wrong I had ever done to you. You're someone I treasure so dearly. I can't thank you enough for helping me. I don't deserve your friendship," she said quietly, though she rested her head in the crook of his neck as she held him close to her.

"I love you, my dear friend. Please don't ever leave me..."

Their relationship had started in a strange way, but now Summer was certain. Her friendship with Barnaby was something to last a life time.

BARNABY FINCH

☉