The fact that she hadn’t missed a single beat when he made the reference about tea was only another reason to laugh, something he appreciated more than he said - especially about this particular company. “Tea time with Posey and Company has a better ring to it, anything without my name seems to have that.” Self depreciation was a gift, a single moment taken to laugh at himself more often than not, all things considered. Some people seemed to think his humor was too dark, but thankfully he didn’t have to worry about that here.

“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll find reasons to lift the kegs shirtless if you keep me out of the looney bin, all things considered, it’s a rather fair deal.” He flashed her an award winning grin, the expression sitting perfectly on features before shoulders shrugged. A hand lifted toward the bartender, finally gathering their attention before speaking. “Shots, on me, but let the lady decide…she’s far more picky.” 

“Me? The centre of attention and with my name on something? Shocking” The sarcastic lilt raises her voice knowing full well of the fact of her love for the spotlight and attention.. Well positive attention that is. 

 Her head shakes before extending a manicured hand, with a grin that could only be described as coquettish, “Deal, good doing business with you. Just no making my job harder than it needs to be...” She trails off as the bartender arrives before ordering them both a kamikaze shot, and to ‘surprise her’ with the chasers but ‘make them something whisky’ before turning back to him. “So since you’ve got no tea for me, anything new happening with you? Any huge love affairs that lasted a grand old three days, new tattoos or piercings? More drinks in the works, or should have I dragged you to Greece with me?”

Anton had settled himself on his couch, laptop open as he read through his business finances.  It was the most he could do nowadays to distract himself from the continued frustration over Oz’s ruling.  As usual, diving straight into work was his usual way of dealing with things.  But lately, he had Posey by his side to keep his head level.  He was growing increasingly more surprised each day at how much she impacted his daily routine.

A moment passed from his work and he found his mind wandering a little to a linger thought he had had for a while.  At the sound of Posey’s voice, however, he snapped back to reality and turned with a small smile to the submissive.  “Hm?  I was just thinking about…,” his voice trailed.  Maybe he needed to stop thinking about it and just follow through.  “How would you like to come with me to pick out a dog?  I don’t expect you to care for it, but I imagine you would be around it often enough if I decide to adopt one.”

Posey returns his small smile easily, settling on a cushion so she’s more comfortable, content to kneel at his side, before looking up at him as he speaks, fingers idly tracing at the fabric of his trousers, waiting to hear what’s on his mind. Though when he speaks? She’s momentarily floored having never heard him mention anything about a dog, or really any animals minus accepting having Duchess and Contessa float about the place. Though it makes sense the more she thinks about it until the thought of a room of dogs and puppies has her beaming from ear to ear.

Holidays meant very little to the dominant, but perhaps that was because his upbringing didn’t exactly focus on the importance behind them. He didn’t participate in any of the religious tidings, didn’t believe in a God that had never served him, and Thanksgiving - well, that was just a very American excuse to eat, but regardless, here he was. There was something beautiful about keeping mixed company, the vast differences making it easy to appreciate the other, a secret he’d learned long ago. 

That, however, hadn’t kept him from serving a sarcastic commentary at her choice in drink. A moment was taken after she spoke to observe the drink, making a face before laughter was spilling over lips. 

“You’re asking me about gossip….wait, the kids are calling it tea, I’m pretty sure…”  The thought itself was laughable, and it brought one hell of a grin to his features. “You must be really hard pressed for information then, because we both know I’d rather talk to myself than most other people.” 

The minute Rhys’ expression changes, Posey’s eyes light up as the laughter tumbles from him, trying to give him a stern look that quickly fades into her own laughter as she settles onto the chair across from him. 

“Oh so we’re not going to make that gossip podcast? ‘Serving dat tea, with Posey and Sir Rhys’ .. I’m shattered Sir, though really I’m just trying to figure out where Verona’s at since when I flew out? I’m pretty sure there was still shit on fire... And you really have to stop talking to yourself. I mean I know you only do it so you get an intelligent conversation on occasion, but it is the first sign of madness but one day someone’s gonna call the loony bin on you, and then who will I be able to get good quality alcohol from? Like I could go to Birra Glevum, but the guy there doesn’t look as good lifting the kegs, and can’t handle a bit of banter and that’s just upsetting in itself. Devastating really ”

Jim snorted as his one judgmental look inspired that whole explanatory rant. Which, like Posey, resulted in a logical gambit that was wild enough to basically make complete sense. “Have you started to add mind reading to your professional bio cause I swear you’re getting close. It’s kinda unnerving.”

“Nah, but it kinda has a ring to it. Doesn’t it? Posey Capulet. Party planner, business woman, boss ass bitch and mind reader” A wry grin is flashed over in Jim’s direction. “Or maybe I’m just starting to pick up on your expressions.. Orrrr you’re just letting that guard of yours down in your old age. I’ll have a think. Let you know while you tell me about what’s been going on here because I don’t even want to think about the sheer amount of windows that have had to be fixed” 

“Am not” though the pout automatically appears at the gentle ribbing before grinning over at him and reaching over to get a morsel from his plate. “..I’m good. Mama and Dad just wanted to get me out of Verona with everything that happened, well that and I hadn’t seen them in nearly 2 years.. 3 maybe? I can’t even remember how long it’s been, and I just kind of fell in love with Athens. Though now I’m back and have to get stuck into work and make up for what I’ve missed and go full planning. And I’m glad to see you guys, Duchy and Tessa again. But what’s been going on here, and with you? Anything new and exciting to report?”

[text] You’re not wrong darling. 

“I’m not judging! No, really! I’m just used to being the only one to get hot chocolate when I’m out with people so I’m a little shocked,” Liana said with a laugh. “That cinnamon cookie hot chocolate sounds amazing though so I couldn’t resist.” She took her drink as well and grinned as they made their way to a table. “I don’t know if there is a whole lot. There was the masquerade, which was amazing, but not much other than that. Oh! I might be opening up an actual office space here in the city. So that’s news.”

“I’m usually all about the caffeine but I’m pretty sure I got heart palpitations the other day so I’m trying to ease up.. And well Christmas drinks came along at the right time.. I should start getting them in skinny though because holy shit, my waistline is going to start expanding...” Settling into the table, she lights up at the mention of an office space. “....That’s awesome! You’ll be able to do it how you want, and actually having that space makes everything so much easier, and just kind of ... Secure you know? Have you found anywhere or have your heart set in any part of town?”

Elle snorted a laugh. “I wasn’t judging! Just saying that I can’t function without my coffee, so I’m settling for a peppermint latte.” Elle ordered that and a biscotti before turning back to the redhead. “I’ll fill you in on everything as long as you tell me how Greece was. I miss it! Were my adoring fans all over?” Her question was punctuated with a laugh, showing that she was clearly teasing. “The Romano Halloween party was a hit. Mateo was gorgeous.”

“I’m trying to cut back. I swear the other day I started vibrating because I had that much caffeine in my system. Planes always make me so tired?? There’s something in the air vents” Her head shakes from side to side before giving a laugh. “Everywhere. I couldn’t even step foot from the house Mama and Dad rented without people complaining that Elle Capulet wasn’t with me. A modern day Greek tragedy really.. Though Mama and Dad both say hello and send their love...” She takes a sip of her drink before cursing quietly. “...Shit. I knew I missed an event. But that’s good it went off well.. That’s their first big event right? Did they at least let Mateo chill a little for the night, or are you just big on him when he’s all on duty and serious?”

“Hm…” Georgie continued to look at the drink with disdain, though as her gaze flicked back up to Posey’s bright smile, her features softened. How could anyone not smile around the redhead? “Fine, fine, I suppose we can move on. Though that depends how long you’ve been away because, girl, I haven’t seen you in what feels like years.”

“Since ...3 days after the riots?” Posey muses as they make their way to a small table. “My parents finally decided to touch back down on European soil. Dad’s got a new dig site in Athens so I went and hung out with them. I hadn’t seen them in 2... 2 and a half? Wait. No. Nearly 3 years and I think they kind of wanted me out of Verona while things calmed down.. But I feel you about the years. I haven’t seen you out and about in ages, that being said. I’m doing monogamy instead of barhopping these days.. But where have you been?”

I think I’m good. We’ll come by probably tomorrow. You just focus on everyone that needs your attention. Honestly I just don’t really want to go onto the streets until they’ve been cleaned up a bit you know? 

 xx

I was worried about you, and so was Cristian. I’m glad that you’re okay, and Anton as well. Please let me know if you need anything at all. Think you can swing by my office and check in whenever you’re back on the Estate?

The feeling’s mutual. Leo

I think I’m good. We’ll come by probably tomorrow. You just focus on everyone that needs your attention. Honestly I just don’t really want to go onto the streets until they’ve been cleaned up a bit you know? 

I’m hoping that everyone has made it through this madness in one piece. With that being said, I need to hear back from everyone. Please tell me whether you’re okay, or whether you’re in need of assistance. I need to know the status of everyone in the family, this includes any injuries, or any security concerns. I’m on hand to help anyone in whatever way that I can. Please get back to me as soon as possible.

-Leo

It wasn’t that uncommon for Angelica to work past normal hours. So when the power went out at the hospital Friday night, the Domme was still there. Her administrator instincts kicked in almost immediately, as did the generators, bringing up all essential needs in the hospital, but still casting some of the halls into shadows.  She helped various parts of the hospital put their emergency protocols into place, and basically, the Domme was running back and forth throughout the hospital.  She worried for her family members once she heard about the verdict and as people began arriving at the hospital and word of the tumultuous night in the city began trickling into the hospital.  Her priority of course, was to keep the hospital and everything/everyone in it, as safe as possible.  In her head, she started keeping track of all the Capulets she saw so that she could pass on that information, if needed.  

Angelica was so focused on the next task she needed to complete that she almost didn’t hear her name being called, before she looked up.  “Sorry, how can I help you?”

“Miss...” Posey breathes a soft sigh of relief seeing that at least one of her family members was safe and well. She unwraps her hair from her scarf having kept the trademark red locks from being recognised on her way to the hospital. “...I..I came from in town. I’m fine.. I was supposed to meet my Dominant but the phones went down.. And I don’t know where he is. I couldn’t get into Montague territory and I.. I don’t know where or how he is. Has he checked in here? Or anyone with the name Anton Spectral come in?” Her words stumble over each other, each one more worried than the last. “...I haven’t heard from him. But they’re mad Li.. They’re so mad... They were throwing Molotov cocktails, car windows.. Brawling.. It’s like old times but on a heaps bigger scale... I know it’s probably against policy, but can you at least tell me if he’s been brought in? Please?”