"of course," his response is swift, almost breezy.

[break][break] when paxton concordas offers the bracelets to him, rather than taking him, he holds his wrist out. assuming that the other would clasp the bracelet around his wrist for him.

[break][break] he blinks.

[break][break] "ears?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] paxton concordas [break]

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

[attr="class","luci2"]

"one day, i will make you something just as grand."

[break][break] his lips flit into a smile.

[break][break] malcolm carver had caught his eye ever since they had met in a mutual class a few weeks ago, despite having nothing that he should have been concerned with. but there was something tantalizing and charming about the way the other carried himself, despite being his junior.

[break][break] he looks down on the other as lips brush against his knuckles, his heart humming with the thrill.

[break][break] "you flatter me, malcolm."

[attr="class","ooc"] Malcolm Stone

☉

luciano was a petty person.

[break][break] it wasn't something that he liked to discuss, because it involved him opening up about his insecurities - of which he constantly affirmed that he had none - but it was something that was true.

[break][break] and when he'd seen paxton concordas dancing with someone else, he'd promptly turned away. he'd wanted to be bitter about it, sour-faced and upset that concord would choose to dance with someone else at his affair — and avoid him until the end of time.

[break][break] but then concord had texted him. and he'd been unable to say no.

[break][break] luciano arrives a little bit later, wearing a bright blue scarf that illeana reyes had once gifted to him and dressed in a fashionable peacoat. he smiles blithely, as if nothing is the matter.

[break][break] "hello. hopefully i'm not too late?"

[break][break] knowing full well that he had been.

[attr="class","ooc"] paxton concordas [break]

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

[attr="class","luci2"]

"hm."

[break][break] luci's expression turns thoughtful. though he would like to pry, he realizes that this may be impolite — at least for right now.

[break][break] perhaps there would be another time to push it.

[break][break] instead, he contents himself with watching the sea until the handsome boy speaks up once more, offering yet another tidbit of information. luci chews on this one as well, trying to temper himself.

[break][break] the curiosity makes his eyes bright beneath the summer sun.

[break][break] "you have siblings too, then?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson

☉

"ah."

[break][break] @symon spreads understanding, and luciano is relieved to know that this was not the place that his ex spoke in such high esteem. no, that would have been quite disappointing.

[break][break] he flushes slightly at the laughter that peals out of the ginger's mouth — whether it's because the other is laughing at him, or he is embarrassed by a memory is hard to say for sure. he dabs a napkin to his mouth.

[break][break] "why the disbelief?" he says, clearing his throat. "i think i was quite adequate."

[break][break] then again, it wasn't like he was much of an athlete.

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

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

"a dynasty."

[break][break] she is, after all, the head of coin industries. more than that, she has an elegance and grace that is not easily replicated, even among luci's collection of people in his life.

[break][break] "but also a friend. a confidante." he smiles at her, letting their hands slide together as they walk through the crystabloom field. he hums as he considers her inquiry, before deciding on a follow-up.

[break][break] "define different."

[attr="class","ooc"] ophelia coin [break]


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

she pushes, and he pulls back. such was the nature of their relationship.

[break][break] luciano simply gives an elegant laugh, lips pressed into a smile, but otherwise doesn't answer her jest.

[break][break] he knows better than to fall prey to her antics, as appealing as they may seem in the moment. she may be as beautiful as a serpent, but he is no mouse to be ensnared.

[break][break] "we both know, president, that you are more than a muse."

[break][break] if he chose her as a muse, that would mean she was dispensable. he thinks of the fleeting moments he had with others. with illeana reyes or Laurence Anderson . his relationship with ophelia coin was more than that.

[break][break] whether he meant that she was more than a muse to him, or simply in general, he left open to debate.

[break][break] a flush bleeds into his cheeks as she grabs his hand, but he allows it.

[break][break] "what kind of portrait are you thinking of?"

[attr="class","ooc"] ophelia coin [break]


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

[attr="class","luci2"]

one of the bottom pieces that he worked on — perfect and spherical in shape — suddenly goes poof! luci blinks with surprise, tearing his gaze away from paxton concordas to see the back-end of one Alexei Ivanov scurrying away.

[break][break] his hand falls away too.

[break][break] by the time he looks back to paxton concordas , the moment is over. instead, he turns his attention to inspect his own snowboy to make sure that it is all prepared. luckily, the bottom piece was just an extra.

[break][break] "what were we talking about, again?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] kfMFfnI| [break]
paxton concordas [break][break]

sabotaged duplicate bottom [break][break]

x1 bottom (5)[break]
x1 middle (26) [break]
x1 top (68) [break]
x1 decoration (94) [break] [break][break]

snowboy complete!

☉

[attr="class","luci2"]

luci is so distracted by paxton concordas that he would probably make a great person to sabotage. as it was, the artist looks down fondly at the lilycove pd agent, ice-blue gaze blinking down fondly at him.

[break][break] "would it be much of a trouble?" he says. "i don't want you to be cold either."

[break][break] he smiles, reaching down and brushing one gloved hand against the blond's cheeks, flicking off a snowflake.

[break][break] "i could take you out for coffee."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] 5fVr_5Fz [break]
paxton concordas [break][break]

x1 bottom (5) (19)[break]
x1 top (68) [break]
x1 decoration (94) [break]

☉

[attr="class","luci2"]

"hm," he says. "interesting."

[break][break] luciano wonders what other things that he did not know. this arcade seemed like an interesting location... perhaps paxton concordas could include it on his tour.

[break][break] as they walk along, the sinnoh native finds himself enjoying the candor of concord's voice. it was a sound that he missed.

[break][break] "that sounds wonderful," he says with a brilliant smile. "perhaps you can include the arcade on the way? i am interested in the "arcade" you mentioned. i've curious how they could fit ice hockey in such a small space."

[attr="class","ooc"] paxton concordas

☉

he flushes.

[break][break] "ah, yes. lilycove."

[break][break] his words form around the word as a test, before he finds himself nodding along with the other. he makes a mental note to look more into this lilycove so that the next time they meet, he doesn't make another mis-step.

[break][break] a deep sigh.

[break][break] "not quite the enlightening experience i was looking for," he admits. "considering much of it was spent picking up pokeballs off the sea floor."

[break][break] his mouth wraps around the straw of his drink as he sucks up some of the pearls, chewing them thoughtfully.

[break][break] "but the diving itself was thrilling. it reminds me of my days in alto mare."

[break][break] he smiles.

[break][break] "what about you? did you partake in the festivities?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]

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

[attr="class","luci2"]

a pause.

[break][break] "what is your father like?"

[break][break] his words are genuine and innocent as he regards the blond. he's curious, his tone light but not pushy.

[break][break] but the conversation shifts, and luci allows it to happen.

[break][break] he joins in the laughter as they observe Laurence Anderson pokemon. he can't help but be awed by them in some capacity. they look so free, so at ease, and it's with this light-hearted feeling that he glances up at the swablu that lands on his head. he blinks, bright-blue eyes fluttering up to look at the cloudy wings. he offers a nut to the swablu who has perched on his head.

[break][break] "they're lovely," he murmurs. "they must take after their owner."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson

☉