[b][center][h2]Paige Kennedy[/h2][/center][/b]

There was a light applause from the small assembly in the conservatory at Paige’s bottle-opening trick and she gave a sly smile to everyone not just over the execution, but the butthurt look on Vika’s face as she trampsed down to the bar without even a word to Sio, the guest of honor, in full view of everyone else. [i]Payback’s hell…[/i] She thought to herself though oddly enough she noticed the technique seemed to draw some appreciation from the older woman tagging along. It wasn’t too flashy or really dangerous, one simply had to get it right the first time and Milo was a good teacher. She gave Marlin and Xia a playful wink as she returned the saber to its sheath remembering their conversation from the gym and content that she had made her point pretty clearly. 

The champagne flutes came round and the slightly dishevelled barman resumed his duties in dispensing the bottle’s contents. Paige noticed the appearance of royal blue in the corner of her eye and instantly turned at the sight of one part of her alma mater’s colors drawing a noticeable smile of surprise at the figure in the entryway and giving Sio a slight nudge. Knowing his experience earlier in the week had left him more reserved than his usual self, she put her glass down and approached him with a curious glance greeting him with a hug and a light kiss. “Nice threads.” She said brushing away some of her hair stepping back and taking stock of his unexpectedly matching color choice with an inquisitive hand on her hip. 

In her mind’s eye, she could remember how Milo and Ana had gone together in events like the art showing back home in Delta City and the quiet elegance they presented. She was glad he came, particularly after the week the two of them endured. Like her, a night of feeling like a normal person, even if just for a few hours, would be a healthy release and she wanted to make sure he could also enjoy himself in that same manner of class while no one knew anything of the battle they were fighting on the outside. The Marshal Service was able to keep him out of jail, though the weight of what had happened was still heavy on him. They talked about it and she recalled the first time she had taken a life in the line of duty as a Florida State Police Officer. Like him, it was kill or be killed. She could still remember it clearly.

The sword cane in his hand gave him a rather dapper appearance overall though she knew the reason he brought it. Releasing it to the person for whom it was originally intended seemed like it became a matter of principle for him- Even if that person had forgotten about it or no longer wanted or required it. It did look good with his ensemble. “I showed them your bottle opening technique.” She said with a smirk. 

Tags:
[@RoccanIronclad][@PrinceAlexus][@Almalthia]