it does count for something. his efforts had been more than anything she'd ever done, so it's unfair for her to hold them against him when she herself had done fuck all. it's why she lets the topic pass with a small breath of a chuckle.[break][break]

"that's right! two. you're falling behind, leo. stop slacking."[break][break]

champagne pours into glasses.[break][break]

"believe it or not, i never wanted to run devon."[break][break]

mulling it over for a moment, she shrugs.[break][break]

"but it needed to be saved."

[attr="class","ooc"]Leonidas Stone[break]

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

"i know it can."[break][break]

after the soft nudge, she turns and returns one right back as she makes her way over to the kitchen of her penthouse apartment. she could've stayed at the estate, of course, but every now and then she prefers her own space.[break][break]

"good. serves you right for not calling all these years."[break][break]

she soon returns with two glasses fit for champagne.[break][break]

"i hear you've been busy with eventide."

[attr="class","ooc"]Leonidas Stone[break]

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

a small little scuffle? ana doesn't quite believe that but she presses no further, letting her hand fall back to her side.[break][break]

"i don't mind at all. it's good to see you again after all these years."[break][break]

years, said so casually that it's a wonder if ana truly minds all that time apart.[break][break]

she leans on the door frame, not moving to let him in just yet.[break][break]

"champagne is good. but for the future, i prefer wine."[break][break]

a smile creeps as she finally takes a step back, allowing him into the safety of her home.[break][break]

"i'll get us some glasses to celebrate."

[attr="class","ooc"]Leonidas Stone[break]

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

gently, she leans into summer's touch, feigning a level of bashfulness that seems unbecoming of her.

"perhaps i will."

for tonight, though?

"kiss me."

Summer Atreides

☉

"and i'll do my best as well."[break][break]

modest as ever, ana starts on her side of the painting as well, though she takes a different approach than her partner does. no sketching and straight to painting.[break][break]

yes, they'll be sitting together for a while, so she figures it might be nice to get to know him as well even if he does seem a bit...interesting.[break][break]

"i do, actually. why? would you like to visit, aaron?"

[attr="class","ooc"]aaron faust[break]

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

ana shakes her head.[break][break]

"no, fiorelli floristry is only involved with the feature we're filming on hoenn."[break][break]

so many projects that she has to take a moment to remember and to wrap her head around them.[break][break]

"the commercial will be for rotomtv itself. we need to ramp up our advertising! it's tough to crack into the hoenn market, you know."[break][break]

her reputation helps a little with that, but she'd rather avoid starring in the commercial herself.[break][break]

"something i know you can help me with. you're very charming, cyg."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

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

though nerves may pinch at her, ana lets none of it get to her as she strolls into the store bright as ever. time may have pulled them apart but she pretends as though nothing's changed. pretends as though there's no rift between them.[break][break]

but, clearly, there is. how could there not be?[break][break]

"daphne! oh, i've missed you."[break][break]

hug? ana certainly tries to.[break][break]

"you look...well! i think. are you?"

[attr="class","ooc"]DAPHNE STONE[break]

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

family.[break][break]

oh, they'd been so close once upon a time. how she imagined they'd all walk their own paths but still stay connected to each other. they did the former but fell short on the latter.[break][break]

it's unlike stones to fail but in this instance, they all did.[break][break]

"brother."[break][break]

her gaze flicks up and down as she feigns indifference. after a moment, she reaches a hand up to hold his face, fingers brushing against the lines of the scar across his cheek and nose.[break][break]

"what happened here?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Leonidas Stone[break]

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

through coincidence, fate, or maybe just her caring assistant wanting ana to branch out and pick up actual hobbies besides work, she finds herself in a painting class sat next to a particularly cute boy.[break][break]

"oh, i wouldn't worry too much. it's been years since i last painted so i'm sure we'll be equally as bad."[break][break]

but like the kid in class who'd say they think they failed the test only to ace it, ana's painting will surely be among the best in the class. but with aaron on her team? not sure.[break][break]

at his question, she reaches a hand out to draw a line down the middle of the canvas.[break][break]

"we could divide the canvas into two and be responsible for or own sides?"

[attr="class","ooc"]aaron faust[break]

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

nepotism seems commonplace in her world that she doesn't even think twice about it. now in a position of power and privilege, why shouldn't she help her friend? but it's that kind of thinking that further cements their separation.[break][break]

reaching out for her hand, ana squeezes, reassuring.[break][break]

"i know i don't have to do anything, cyg. i do them because i want to."[break][break]

returning her grin, ana nods.[break][break]

"good. i'll let you know the schedule soon."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

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

"hm. i've never thought about it in that light."

to her, mauville seems to be an indoor metropolitan as though such a concept makes sense (it somehow does). busy, dense, crowded. perhaps she'll need to look at it in a different light.

"romantic. maybe it'd be better to experience it with someone."

Summer Atreides

☉

leaning into summer's touch, ana muses as she sips her wine.

"tell me more about mauville. i feel as though i haven't truly appreciated the city."

her memories of the city are vague at best. it's not somewhere she'd venture to often. it was always alex who tagged along with their father. always alex who was expected to carry the family legacy.

not that she minded. not anymore.

Summer Atreides

☉

ana is so used to being in a position of privilege and power that she can come off ignorant at times. she catches herself a little too late this time but she hides it well under her mask.[break][break]

"i can't promise anything, but..."[break][break]

softly, she smiles.[break][break]

"i can introduce you to a few people in rotomtv. directors, producers, writers, and you can pick their brains a bit, if that's something you want."[break][break]

she continues.[break][break]

"and as for your dream dream, once you feel ready, i'd be more than happy to help you pursue it."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

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