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

Standing with Milo as the numerous conversations went around reminded Paige somewhat of her high school days with Ana. Everywhere around them it seemed people were not content talking about just the news or the weather, but about [i]each other[/i] with concealed whispers and laughter. Admittedly, she had loved stirring the pot in her younger years, being on the softball and volleyball teams, she liked being at the crux of the information flow more than playing the sports. However, her choice of profession had mellowed her considerably. She’d seen people at their degenerative worst and the knowledge of what people were capable of, often for the most base rewards, was sobering. Breaking open the bottle with the sword was more about proving a point than causing strife. 

Listening to Sio keep tabs on the rumor mill brought no surprises at first. She hadn’t really got a romantic vibe from Xia and Marlin when they met at the gym, but if that worked for her then that was great, though it seemed a little bizarre considering what Sio had mentioned before about the English girl’s attempts to woo her boyfriend, and others, before and after the Gala night a few weeks ago. Maybe it was a cry for attention. Regardless, it didn’t seem a very classy move to publicly come out of the closet on a night that was supposed to be about Sio’s artwork. Paige shook her head a little not looking at anyone in particular. 

It was the arrival of the band that really set things in motion. Followed by cameras and press, they entered as if they owned the manor reminding her somewhat of Lupe and his crew before she effectively shut them down when she put away Marlin’s jazz-night attacker. She didn’t really consider herself a “fan” of their music, but they had a certain 80’s flair that she liked and there were a couple of their songs on her music app. The one she recognized as the lead singer made a beeline towards Victoria, picking her up and making a display of their apparent relationship. Immediately, Paige could sense Milo’s rage ignite under his skin and reminded herself to make sure she deleted any Siren’s songs from her playlists.

Sio ducked back over with some news that was a surprise: [i]Vika being pregnant[/i]. Fortunately, Paige could keep a poker face for the ages and she knew that when he wanted, Milo could as well, but with that revelation, it was evident he was having some trouble. She allowed herself a slight sigh and glanced around slowly with some mixed emotions knowing how hurt he must have felt and it pissed her off thinking about it. A part of her wanted to scream, [i]I told you so![/i] But she knew he didn’t want to hear that either and she was behaving herself much better than she might have without him around. Those girls were another level of hot mess, in jail one night and knocked up the next, coming out of the closet and starting rumors. If it weren’t for money, the two of them would likely be in a trailer park somewhere

Grateful for the invitation to step outside, they were suddenly approached by the elder of their English hosts who offered a not so subtle quip about the gossip of the evening overtaking the art. Considering she and Milo had scantly uttered a word to anyone other than Siobhan, Paige wasn’t going to continue biting her tongue at the insinuation presented to them in crisp English prose, however to her surprise Milo beat her to the punch with a fitting rebuttal and a sharp glare. She looked up at him, casually lighting his cigar, with a fiery smile. She could feel the seething rage behind his tempered outward composure and the power in his anger was intoxicating. The same as when she’d watched him [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4691323] pummel Nikki’s informant[/url] that night a few weeks ago. The blood and the sweat on his forearms combined with the smell of metalwork and gunpowder in the dim light of his shop. Her heart fluttered a little at the thought of it and it gave her a slight chill that she masked badly as she hooked her arm under his and they continued outside to the gardens.

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