[color=silver][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/rxJum2a.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/f6LGlGb.png[/img]

[i][sup]A collaboration between [@Metztli] & [@Aewin][/sup][/i]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/J93EBbt.png[/img]
[/center]
[indent]

	[i]To find that special someone you are looking for.[/i]

	Right, Gabriel was totally finding that special someone. If that special someone were a tightly rolled blunt he would gladly start his search. Instead, he was supposed to be searching for a person- a person that Gabriel knew didn't exist. He was surrounded by other people, wealthy ones at that, who would probably just toss Gabriel aside. He'd recognize quite a few, but none that he would willingly walk up to and strike a conversation. Gabriel could put on a friendly and approachable face in front of the cameras or out in public, but [i]this[/i] was out of his comfort zone. He wasn't just supposed to talk to these people but to pursue them. The next week was supposed to be for "finding that special someone." God, he was getting tired of that phrase.

	[color=7c0a02]"Maybe I could sneak away."[/color] Go smoke at the back of the deck or to a secluded area of the cruise. It was a massive ship, and after all, he wouldn't be missed anyway. He felt like a caged animal trying to escape. The thought of just talking to someone seemed too foreign to him. Gabriel didn't understand why he was having such a hard time right now. Was it the withdrawals? The incident from this week? Whatever it was, the more he thought about it the worse the weight on his chest got. He really hoped he didn’t look like a nervous wreck in front of all these people. Oh, fuck, he totally did, didn’t he?

	[color=728aa2]“If you’re lucky to make it to the exit before the cruise sets off, maybe.”[/color] Diana joined Gabriel, seeming just as unimpressed by the event. She wasn’t exactly nervous by any means, but her complete disinterest must have been apparent. [color=728aa2]“Who knows, maybe you’ll have better luck than me.”[/color] Luckily for Diana, her momentary fuck up had been mostly forgotten, instead the bold words by another had captured the attention of their interesting hosts. She would have gladly attempted to get away again, the itch to check her phone strong, but she didn't want to spook another staff member with her rare bouts of clumsiness.

[color=728aa2]“I’m Diana, by the way.”[/color] She introduced herself, finally extending a hand to shake his hand. Realising that she was sounding rather robotic and businesslike, she plastered a smile on her face, trying the humour route instead. [color=728aa2]“It'll be useful to know, just in case you don't make it out in time.”[/color]

Gabriel had been looking at a very interesting stain on the deck floor when he heard a woman's voice near him. Startled just a bit, he looked up at Diana. Ah, so she had heard him. He hadn't been trying to be quiet either. [color=7c0a02]"Don't think I'll make it off the cruise. My assistant is probably down there waiting for the ship to leave and make sure I don't get off."[/color] His instincts kicked in as he put on that camera-ready smile on show. [color=7c0a02]"I'm more afraid of him than the thought of speed dating, so I think I'll stay."[/color]

	He studied the woman in front of him, eyes careful not to stare too much. She was beautiful by all means and had been kind enough to distract him from the anxiety building up. Gabriel took her hand and shook it firmly, his signature lopsided smile spreading over his lips. [color=7c0a02]"Gabriel. It's nice to meet you, Diana."[/color] If they were going to be stuck in an oversized boat for a week together, he might as well introduce himself as Gabriel. His stage name gave people certain impressions that Gabriel did not want to keep up during the next week.

Diana understood the pain of not having a way off the boat. Although she didn’t have an assistant keeping watch like poor Gabriel, she wouldn’t be so surprised if her mother was keeping track of her using the Find My iPhone feature just to be sure. Creepy and overbearing? Sure. But without that threat, Diana would have directed the jet to Taiwan to talk with her customers directly instead of boarding the cruise.

	She studied him in turn, his name invoking the sense of familiarity in her. Had she seen him somewhere before? A glance around at the rest of the passengers was enough to let her know that most of them were influential of sorts - business tycoons like Lilianna Reigan to the creative geniuses like Alexander Vandenburg and Sorcha O’Sullivan Mesa. It wasn’t his features she seemed to recognise, but the grit of his voice. [color=728aa2]“Although I’m painfully aware that this sounds flirtatious, I mean this in the least awkward way possible. Have we met before? It’s your voice, it sounds familiar.”[/color]

	[color=7c0a02]"Ah, well.[/color] Gabriel pulled back his hand to scratch one of the scars on his ink-covered arm. [color=7c0a02]"My stage name is Aries, lead singer of the band Fourdust."[/color] It was hard for him to introduce himself like that in a setting that wasn't in front of cameras. This wasn't some interview room or a photoshoot set, so the man was out of his comfort zone. [color=7c0a02]"And don't worry, I get that a lot- and not in the flirty sort of way."[/color] He let a small nervous laugh. He had just made it awkward, hadn't he? Great job, Gabriel. [color=7c0a02]"People just remember the voice over the face."[/color]

	[color=7c0a02]"What about you, Diana? What do you do?"[/color] Gabriel brought the flute of apple cider up to his lips for a sip but forgot it was already empty. With a chuckle, he put it down, trying to play it cool. [color=7c0a02][i]Idiot[/i][/color].

	[color=728aa2]“Fourdust, of course!”[/color] Now she knew why. Fourdust regularly cropped up in her Spotify playlists, it was hard not to give it a chance. Though Diana didn’t expect it, she grew to enjoy something far different to her regular classical pieces. In fact, she particularly enjoyed listening to Fourdust as part of her workout regime to pump herself up. [color=728aa2]“Your last album was incredible, you have great talent.”[/color] Diana complimented with a genuine smile.

	[color=728aa2]“What I do sounds far more boring compared to you.”[/color] She let out a laugh.  [color=728aa2]“I’m the VP of the Huntley investment firm. It’s… a lot of work, it’s nothing short of a miracle that I’m even on this cruise right now.”[/color] Diana admitted. As if to prove her point, she felt her phone buzz again in the pocket of her skirt, undoubtedly her secretary keeping her updated regarding the work left back at Chicago.

	Gabriel could feel the built-up weight on his chest lift up when Diana didn't change her demeanor towards him. He returned the genuine smile to match hers, a lot more relaxed than before. [color=7c0a02]"Thank you, ah, I- [i]we[/i]- all put a lot of effort into the last album."[/color] Gabriel had written most of the songs in the album, along with Daniel's help. It had been almost a year ago when the album came out just a few weeks before the breakup. While the songs in it had been mostly the typical metal songs, one of the ballads had been written for Daniel. Gabriel always laughed thinking about that. [i][color=7c0a02]How stupid.[/color][/i]

	[color=7c0a02]"I can imagine how busy it must be-and difficult."[/color] Gabriel had heard that name before, but he had never really known what they did. Whatever it was, if Diana was saying that it was a miracle she was standing in front of him, Gabriel trusted her words. Corporate jobs scared him; he knew how ruthless and determined one had to succeed, so Gabriel admired Diana's drive. [color=7c0a02]"Well, we are here now, and there is no way to escape."[/color] He raised his flute towards her, [color=7c0a02]"Here's to a hopeful relaxing week. Full of, uh, what I hope is some relaxing activities. And no work. Maybe."[/color] Again, he brought the flute up to his lips, only to be disappointed yet again.

	[color=728aa2]“And no work indeed,”[/color] Diana parroted lowly in amusement. It would be a hard time tearing her away from her phone, but as pleasant as this first impression was, Diana started feeling somewhat hopeful. She could only hope that the rest of the passengers would be the same, it would make for a decent enough vacation.  Maybe this trip wouldn’t be so bad after all. Diana her own flute, in turn, inclining her head in Gabriel’s direction. [color=728aa2]“To finding whatever we want from this trip. Whether it be love, or just a really expensive holiday.”[/color]
[/indent][/color]