UNLIKEABLE

All the signs I don't read. Two sides of me can't agree. When I breathe in too deep. Going with what I always longed for Feel like a brand new person (but you make the same old mistakes) Luis Cholmondeley. Forty-one. Fashion Designer

[luiscivious]

pleadforme-montgomery​:

Ella shuffled forward slightly, so that Luis could fit behind her as he walked over to the lounger. When Luis got closer, Ella reached out and took Luis’s wine. “It’s been relaxing, I’ve missed the sun.” Ella said as she took a sip of the wine before she handed the glass back to Luis. “How have you been? Have you had a chance to relax yet?” Ella asked as she turned and looked at Luis’s, poking the male softly in the leg. “Not working to much I hope.”

If there were ever someone who deserved the relaxation, it was Ella. He had come to know her in little ways, watching how she carried with her the grace of someone who’d had the world on her shoulders. He didn’t know all the details, but that was alright. The fact that she was enjoying the world at all now was the most important thing. “That’s wonderful,” he answered, letting her have her taste of the wine. If he pressed his lips to the same spot when he lifted the glass to his own mouth, it wasn’t something he’d admit. “No, no. I believe this poolside venture will be my first moment of reprieve since my arrival.” He sat down, then, next to her. “I had to meet with some insufferable popstar who thought she was doing my brand a favour by offering to wear a dress of mine on the red carpet.” He scoffed. “The gall of a girl with one viral song to her name. I might have agreed if she weren’t so unpleasant.”

[luiscivious]

pleadforme-montgomery​:

Ella finished drying herself off, before she pulled on a simple white shirt and a pair of panties. Pulling her hair up in a messy bun, Ella walked out to the living area and was about to head for the kitchen when she noticed Luis, sitting on the couch. “Oh hello.” Ella said as she walked over to the couch and sat next to the male, tucking her left foot under her right thigh. “Didn’t realize you were home, how have you been?”

@luiscivious​

It had been years since Luis had lived in a home with another person. The suites of the Malnati weren’t quite like a home for him—he did, after all, have his several in a multitude of countries—but they were close. Ella setting up residence had been pleasant in some ways and incredibly frustrating in others. She was kindhearted and outgoing in ways that reminded him of his former fiancé, but these were the exact reasons why he was so conflicted. It was as if the positives and negatives were fighting in a war composed entirely of mirror matches. “Hm?” he hummed in answer to her greeting, looking up from his book to see the woman in very little clothing. His breath hitched and he coughed furiously. “H-h-hello, Miss El...Ella...” It was all he could stutter out as he tried to right his inhalation struggles. “I’ve—I’m well. Y-you?”

[luiscivious]

d-ntes​:

with a soldier’s mind he knew what it meant to have things run without mistake. one of those could result in… well he knew the consequences and lived with it every day. even though being at war and fashion were two different fields but still had the same idea of how important it was to trust everyone made it easy for dante to at least connect the two and relate to how luis was feeling. “look. take a look at it like this. it’s better this happened now then what… a week before your release? now, imagine having to deal with it then. you’d be really shit out of luck. but now you can push that flake aside and pull out the next big push. if you have to find a person in the industry that you can maybe collaborate with. someone who you can have to work off of and maybe use their platform to get this whole project out. that is how that stuff works… right?” he was really clueless when it came down to it but he tried. at least to appease his stressed out friend for a little bit so they can enjoy themselves. “ah… the big shift. i should have seen this one coming.” dante said needing more alcohol to even know how to start on hos own week. “well, i mean, where do i start?” just like a band aid. “i have a sister… half sister but i mean what is really half when you come from the same place? i don’t know, whatever… i kind of… walked out on my family when i turned eighteen and uh. she lives here. like out of every damn person i cut out of my life it had to be the one person who never deserved it. and now i don’t know how to even speak to her.” he said with a sigh. “and that is only the beginning when you add harlow to this mix of people i threw away in my life.” 

Dante had a good point. It wasn’t easy to find any sort of positivity in what had happened, but there was merit to being thankful that this happened now and not somewhere further down the line. Designs were final, sure, but if he’d managed to get full pieces done and have them tarnished in the same manner as the designs themselves, he’d be ruined in ways he wouldn’t so easily recover from. Fashion was a fickle business. All it took was one failed release for a brand to get a bad mark on its record. “I don’t believe I’ll have the right time to conspire with any of my industry colleagues so close to launch season, but you have inspired me to phone some of the designers on my team in hopes of creating an inter-brand collaboration,” Luis told Dante, voice still a bit pinched. It was clear he was peeved at having to go through the trouble of all this at all. “It would have to be named something just campy enough for the collaborative effort to look planned.” He’d pitch the workshopping of a name for the project at a later date with his team, once he’s decided on which designers of his would fit best for the aesthetic of the line. He wouldn’t worry about it now, though. “Oh...” It was all he could say at first. How does one really respond to that amount of information all at once? Luis blinked away his surprise and wandered over to where Dante sat, tipping the bottle of expensive alcohol into his glass for a refill. “It is never easy when the past makes a reappearance in the present,” he started, face scrunched up as he tried to find the words. “...but if atonement is the journey you seek, the best first step would be...to just speak to her at all.” At least, that would be what he’d want from his family in the event that any of them showed up here. “Spare her the small talk if you can help it. You know as well as I that life is too short to not say what we mean...what we feel.” He took a seat as well, turning his head to offer his friend an open expression. He wasn’t the best at being comforting, but he’d try for Dante. “And for every misstep and mistake as you navigate such a rickety path, I’ll be here to listen and help you to your feet when you fall.” That was what friends did...right? “What...uh—Are there things you want to say to her? It might help to air them out so you don’t stammer them out all at once later.”

[luiscivious]

r-bygrxxves​:

ruby let out a soft but heart felt sigh. it was hard to combat with luis’ stubborn yet pure ways. though ruby did, she always had her way of thinking about the man who had taken her in as family and as much as she could say this to him she would never know how to truly show him how much she appreciated him. being so close with her father growing up it has made her homesick and just to have someone living a few doors down who reminded her so much of the great man so far away from her was the most comfort the girl could get. “luis, my love. i know that is how you think but this amazing brain of yours is going to make you work until your knuckles are just tiny little knubs and you are wilted down to nothing. i have seen you some nights, a brilliant machine making such amazing things… but to me that is all they are. things.” she had rose from her seat and took his hands in hers and gave them a squeeze. “ah… see? i think your hands are looking smaller already.” she said with a giggle looking back at him with ocean blue eyes and a wild smile. her body turned to the skirt and she nodded. “it is a magnificent skirt though.” she said brushing delicate fingertips against the fabric. 

turning for the fridge she began to rummage through and find the most creative things she can add to the sundaes. “tonight we will deal with this fake whipped cream but next time you give me a little wiggle room and i promise i can have a real ice cream sundae bar prepared for you. but the homemade fudge is a must and you’re just lucky that i know how to make it in just a few minutes.” ruby worked in a kitchen the same way luis did in his studio, not missing a beat and determined to create something amazing to impress whoever would enjoy her food. “oh we should watch a nice romance movie. have you ever seen stardust? now it’s a fantasy movie but i think you will really like it. at least to enjoy the costume work and robert de niro wearing a corset and a feather boa.” she said with a smirk as she stood over a pot of heating chocolate. “sure! if you could order some soda i will set the movie up on nextflix and then we can finally relax!

Like a breath of fresh air in a den lacking oxygen, Ruby managed to encapsulate the very essence of life that Luis found so endearingly enticing. She could take the complexities and tribulations of the world and simplify them. While juvenile, her insight was always welcomed for its purity. He allowed his looks to soften at the exaggerated image of his hard work, giving himself away to the images of his fingers turning into knubs. He could understand her desire for matters unrelated to things. It was where their sentimentality differed the greatest. “It is a wonderful skirt, yes,” he agreed, eyeing the fabric for a moment before sighing. “I will do my best to be more physically present. I do not wish to have my hands get any smaller than they already are.” The words were absolutely absurd without context, he realized. Yet, that was what made them so beautiful.

Once his hands were perfectly cleaned in the sink, Luis grabbed a paper towel and dried them off meticulously. He then moved over to grab all of the utensils they’d need for the making of the sundaes. Bowls, the assortment of ice cream scoops he’d gotten just for this occasion, and a few spoons to eat with. He then moved out of her way. This was her field of expertise; it would be unwise to get in her way. “We’re having homemade fudge as well? To what do I owe such pampering treatment?” he questioned jovially, even managing to let out a low chuckle. His interest had been sufficiently piqued by the blending of romance and fantasy, not to mention the prospect of glimpses at fantasy-esque costume designs. He was always one for avant-garde statements in high fashion. “I’ve never watched such a film, no. I would absolutely remember having seen Robert De Niro in a corset.” It would no doubt become an image burned into his mind in the most positive of lights. The man was, understandably, quite the looker. “I’ll get to placing the order for the soda. Any preference in flavour?” he called out to her as he lifted up the phone for room service.

[luiscivious]

pleadforme-montgomery​:

Ella smiled softly when he heard Luis call out to her again. Ella reached up and pulled her hair in a messy bun. “Hello Handsome.” Ella said as she shifted slightly and sat down on the edge of the chair. Ella hadn’t seen much of her suitemate, once they touched down in Miami. But they were both doing their own things. “I would love some company, but we may need to share the lounger. They seem quite full up today.”

It was not in Luis’ nature to pepper in compliments during conversation, but the same was not true for his suitemate. On more than one occasion, she’d been so complimentary, he felt it hard not to interpret it as flirtation. Today was much of the same, if the heat pooling at the tips of his ears was any indication of how he felt about her calling him handsome. This coloring only deepened as he took a look at what they would be sharing. Their bodies so close made his nerves prickle beneath his skin. He thought it was pathetic how easily it made his heart skip beats. Surely, he could handle being in that level of proximity with Ella. They did share a suite in the Malnati, after all. “Th-that will do just fine, Miss Ella.” It was all he could muster as he sauntered over, book in one hand and glass of wine in the other. Once he’d made it to her, he offered her a tentative smile. “How...ahem...I—Has this trip been enlightening for you?” Good going.

[luiscivious]

pleadforme-montgomery​:

Ella stretched a little before she stepped out into the pool area. Miami was always a nice place to come to, especially when one need to relax.  Ella adjusted her towel a little as she scanned the area, trying to spot an empty lounge chair. Smiling Ella headed towards one, close to the pool. Laying her towel out, Ella was about to sit down when she heard someone call out to her. Ella looked up and waved towards them. “Hey.”  Ella called out towards them. @malnatimedia​

Personal trips were not a commonality for Luis. He didn’t enjoy the thought of vacations that weren’t for educational purposes. This was a sentiment that had carried over since his youth, when his family excursions were either because of work related reasons or because his parents wanted to teach their children something new. This trip was a treat to himself, or so he told himself. Really, it had aligned with a need to go to Miami for a meeting with a potential collaborator on his new fashion line. Still, he could enjoy the little bits of ‘vacation’ he could wrap around the sneaking workload. “Miss Ella,” he called out to his suitemate back in the Malnati. She was as beautiful as ever, light bouncing against the blonde of her hair and softness of her cheeks. “Would you care for poolside company? I would rather sit with a familiar face than beside a total stranger.”

[luiscivious]

👬

HEADCANON #1

When Lia is performing a task, Luis can often get transfixed watching her. He loves the attention to detail that she puts into everything she does. He also can’t help but watch as she turns every action into a work of art.

HEADCANON #2

Luis and Lia have been part of the same circle of governmental elites since they were both very young and it can sometimes bring them both comfort to gossip about the people they were told to peacock in front of. They can get lost for hours drinking wine and just reminiscing about how some of the elites were disturbing, to say the least.

HEADCANON #3

Lia has made it on the best dressed list of several publications while wearing a custom dress of Luis’. Due to the frequency of her presence in these lists, Luis has been getting a lot of requests from other influential women in the real estate business to dress them for red carpets. He always makes brilliant ensembles, but none ever hold a candle to how effortlessly perfect Lia pairs with his pieces.

HEADCANON #4

While the two of them can agree on most things, they have very heated debates regarding literature. These debates never escalate to much higher volumes than their ordinary talking voices, but they do become intellectual roasts at times. The roasts lack any true anger, but it is fun to deliver their own versions of verbal smack-downs.

[luiscivious]

❝ See, it’s stuff like this that gives me trust issues. ❞ ( from mal ! )

“Yes...I wish I hadn’t seen,” he shared openly. His eyes were filled with disgust at the offending article of lingerie. He pulled the pen from behind his ear and used it to lift up the poorly made silk and lace material. A grimace adorned Luis’ face as he inspected it further, then dropped it back into the box it came in. “Whomever created that should be tried for malfeasance. Come. I will make you something far more enticing that would fit much better.”

[luiscivious]

Vanilla Latte : Board games or drinking games? // Iced Coffee : Do you like reading? If so, what’s your favorite book?

“Board games or drinking games?”

The question seemed arbitrary at best. “I am not a gentleman who partakes in either,” he answered. “My leisure time is spent in relative solitude. I prefer it that way. The only games that allow for this are those made for digital media consumption. I own a Nintendo Switch for that.”

“Do you like reading? If so, what’s your favorite book?”

“Of course I enjoy reading.” The words came off as dismissive. He couldn’t really understand people who didn’t like reading. “My favourite novel is The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes.”

[luiscivious]

Send a 👫and I’ll write four headcanons I have about our muse’s relationship (ruby)

HEADCANON #1

Since knowing Ruby, Luis has incorporated rubies into his daily wardrobe. His sense of fashion mostly consists of neutrals, earthy tones, and monochrome ensembles, but they’ve now adopted the use of jewelry that remind him of the girl.

HEADCANON #2

Luis has a habit of, and will continue, nagging Ruby about grabbing a jacket if the temperature outside is even slightly chillier than room temperature. He would rather look like a overly-doting father figure than to ever let her catch cold.

HEADCANON #3

Ruby is one of a very small group of people that Luis willingly looks into the eyes of, even if the action is infrequent. Luis doesn’t fear what lies behind her eyes, nor does he seek to hide from her what lies behind his own.

HEADCANON #4

If Ruby is ever free enough, Luis will take her with him on business trips. He enjoys the company, but he enjoys making memories with her in new locations even more. There’s a box filled with Polaroids of their trips together.

[luiscivious]

What does your muse think of their own diet?

“My diet?” he questioned, eyebrow quirked humorlessly. This was a rather personal question that held a unique level of gravity for those in the fashion world. Pretty hurts, after all. “I do not partake in the consumption of foods rich in saturated fats, sodium, or excess sugars. I have a predilection for lean meats and foods that are more bitter in taste, paired accordingly with a variety of wines. If I am to miss a meal for any reason, which is mere sparse happenstance, I will have a black coffee or a cup of tea.” He didn’t like this question at all. “Do not inquire matters of this subject again.”

[luiscivious]

❝ I just wondered how much practice you’ve had. ❞ - Maxwell

Years of social experience did little to warm Luis up for being performative with others, especially when the other individual wasn’t someone he particularly considered himself close to. Maxwell had helped with Meatball, however. For that, Luis would indulge. “I have no experience with handling animals.” he replied evenly. “Attempting to teach Meatball any gimmicks would surely be an impossible feat for me.”

[malnatimedia]

— MEME MONDAY MASTERLIST !!

it’s our favorite day of the week, meme monday !! i bumped up the number of memes we do now from six to eight, so hopefully you enjoy the memes as there’s even more of a variety for them !! a lot of them came from our very own members, too !! there’s a mix of all kinds of memes to keep it fun && fresh. whether you wanna use ours or not is totally up to you, but hopefully that’ll help keep memes from burning out in inboxes !! if you’re using our memes that we curated for you this week, just reblog this masterlist and people will know to send asks to you from these memes. if you choose to go with other memes, be sure to only reblog one or two so we don’t overwhelm the dash !! remember to send memes to whoever reblogs ‘em as we don’t want anyone feeling left out. a good rule of thumb is to send an ask to whoever you reblogged a post from and vice versa. just remember to have fun with it && try to develop your characters !!

HEADCANONS MEME – send a 👫and i’ll write four headcanons i have about our muse’s relationship.

IF WE MEME – send me a ♥ and i’ll fill out…

UNUSUAL QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MUSE – send me an emoji to learn an unusual thing about my muse!

ASK ME ANYTHING: TAYLOR SWIFT SONGS EDITION – a list of questions based off of taylor swift songs! 

SELF-REFLECTION MEME – questions for your muse.

‘CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER’ STARTER PROMPTS – sentence starters from captain america: the winter soldier.

CAFE ASKS – cute questions for you to answer about your muse!

TEXT MESSAGES – text message sentence starters.

as always, you can send in your meme suggestions through the memes channel on discord or in our DMs here !!

[luiscivious]

technicalproblems-boudreaux​:

It had occurred to Luis that he was making a rash and impractical decision to spend his evening cavorting with the likes of a stranger, but there was something so tantalizing about going against his better judgement. Rationality told him to leave, but the way lips dragged along the column of his throat and a hand working over the bulge in his trousers left him desperate for more. “Merde!” he moaned out, lids heavily cascading over his eyes as he drank in the pleasure. If he could thank anything in the world, it would be for Micah’s mouth being more suited for kissing than leading conversation. When he pulled away, Luis’ eyes fluttered open and he obliged accordingly, lifting himself up to shimmy his trousers down his legs and then tugging at Micah’s shirt. “Oeil pour oeil,” he whispered. “Lift your uninjured arm for me.”

[luiscivious]

r-bygrxxves​:

“yes. and that is very nice to think about but you know what i want to remember? i want to remember you.. as a person. a smile on a sunny day enjoying warm weather before fall takes it all away. i want to remember listening to music with someone important like you are to me. sure, i can remember what you left behind, like a beautiful skirt and earrings… but it isn’t the same as a laugh while having fun. you need to make time for that, luis. even… if that time will just be seen by me. I’ll remember it.” ruby said softly yawning as she leaned her head against the chair, letting her blonde hair fall over the side and listened to him. he was wise to her, treated her kindly and helped her feel safe in all ways that she craved when face to brace the world alone. of course she always had her brother, nate, who did everything to make sure the young blonde was protected but she knew her personality was a lot and felt people needed a break from her. springing up with a clap the girl’s smile somehow grew. big in her round cheeks as she nodded. “I’d love to stay then! oh! i can put together a whole ice cream sundae for you, luis! do you have whipped cream? or do you like it homemade? how about chocolate?” she didn’t thnnk he might be just a plain bowl of ice cream kind of man. she was quick to action. and easily forgot to take things a step at a time, much like a child. “we can even watch a movie!” the girl was half tempted to pull on the male to hurry so she could get her beloved ice cream but thought against it, letting him to move around his work at his own pace. she was learning her boundaries. “do you want to know something strange? i can’t eat ice cream without drinking a soda after. i never have.” 

There Ruby was, yet again pulling Luis from his microscope’s view of the little things to see the larger picture for its majesty. He could instill in her all the reasons for the importance of the smaller details, of little tangible moments to hold onto when the memory faded, but she needed those memories just as much. Luis saw the merit in it. “I will do my best to give you those memories, mon couer. I...Memories are important, but with my brain...They—I don’t want to leave you with only memories. They can fade. These things, however,” he said tapping the skirt with the end of his sketching pen. “They will serve as physical reminders if and when things...are not the way they are now.” He gave her a smile, tight-lipped yet warm smile. It wasn’t often that he spoke on the insecurities that ruled over his fear of not leaving behind a meaningful legacy. It was a rarity that he kept hidden even from some of his closest of companions. “You deserve a collection of moments, too. I’m—I will try to be more receptive to making those memories with you.” Luis was not an overly sentimental man. The words that had just left him felt foreign, as if his tongue had been usurped by and tasked with dripping sweet honey rather than its usual salt. Yet, the words held the true meaning of his heart’s desires. For Ruby, he’d try anything. “I believe there may be some packaged whipped cream in the refrigerator, though it has been quite a while since I’ve partook in the delicacy of homemade whipped cream. Chocolate would be lovely. I purchased a variety of Ghiradelli a fortnight ago that should all be unopened,” he answered, being sure to pay attention to each question and address it. He stood from his seat and started moving toward the kitchen. “What sort of movie would pair well with an ice cream sundae, darling?” He turned on the sink to wash his hands. Cloth fibers should be as far away from food as possible. “I can’t say I’ve ever consumed a soda after eating ice cream. Perhaps we should call room service for a couple of cans to fully experience dessert.”

[luiscivious]

d-ntes​:

dante usually wasn’t up to much… ever. he didn’t know if getting older just really did mean the want to go out had fizzled from him or had his week of completely ironic reunions worn him to the bone that much? either way he almost appreciated the fact that luis has suggested a night in. sometimes he liked the company of just one person over being alone. of course he knew crowds had been a struggle for him since the accident but that wasn’t a problem now that he was in his suite and handing a glass to luis only to hear his actually movie like drama. he rose a brow and scoffed lightly before taking a sip of his own drink. “that actually sounds pretty horrible, amigo.” he said as he moved into the living room. holding up his hand and pointing to the couch giving little harold the chance to get on the couch which the dog took immediately curling up and watching the other males. “i mean, im no expert but what do you do about that? can them? im no expert on this whole fasion business thing but i do know what to do about a venomous snake and that is cutting off its head.” he said with a shrug. dante might not have the best advice and only had literally an ear to give to luis because he needed it but he was trying. he saw how much the other was stressing because of all of this. “how long will it take you to fix? maybe you can get some people you actually trust to help you get this done.” 

Luis ran a tight ship with a crew that never deviated too far from what was expected of them. They were encouraged to be free-thinkers who worked collectively for a common, more unified goal, creating a loyalty for his brand that stemmed from how much stake each shareholder had in the overall function of the company. To know that someone would abuse that trust, to go behind his back and jeopardize all the hard work that he and his team had done to prepare for the upcoming runway season was upsetting. No. It was worse than upsetting. It induced an unhampered rage that persisted well into the evening. Though, much of it had subsided over time and the glass of rum that awaited him would surely further ebb away the redness of his vision. “Yes...Yes! Very apt choice of words. Pretty horrible,” Luis repeated, moving over to lift up his glass and drink down its contents quickly. He then poured himself another, letting out an exasperated and bitter laugh to himself. “Oh, I most certainly canned her. Rightfully so. My garden holds no place for serpents.” Understatement. She would never work for another big name in fashion again. “Hm...” He ruminated with the suggestion that Dante offered. Collaborative projects for runways weren’t uncommon and while he had been burned by the nefarious deeds of an employee already, there were consistently loyal members of his team that he could work with. “I do believe you are onto something brilliant, mon ami. Ever the voice of reason,” he praised. Luis would have to work out the logistics of it all, though. A brand-wide meeting might be on the horizon, but for the twilight hours, Dante, little Harold, and a very expensive bottle of rum would hold his attention. “Enough of my dealings with the transgressions of former employees. What new developments are occurring with you? We have not conversed in recent days.”

[luiscivious]

r-bygrxxves​:

ruby slowly found comfort sitting in the suite on certain nights, silently curled up in a chair watching the process of luis’ work. it was interesting and int he time that he let himself slip off, something she didn’t mind in the slightest. she slowly would wonder around the suite, keeping up with small things that luis might have forgotten to do in a rush of inspiration. sometimes her hand would run across his shoulder to warm him she was behind him admiring his work. blue eyes taking in how hard he worked. but when he finally pulled away a wide grin went to her face and she got right up to do whatever task he had assigned her, even feeding the small dog. and shaking the bowl to get the small twinkling sound of dog food through the suite. “meatball.” she cooed and looked at luis. “you know. you work too hard. sometimes you need to take a break. maybe this week we can go to the park and enjoy one of those bands that play?” she suggested and sat across from the older male. she tipped her head and shrugged slightly. “i was going to just head back to my suit and call it a night… but i can stay if you want. i don’t mind.” 

Luis didn’t like those who sat on the opposite spectrum of outward personality traits to his own. He found that those who were extroverted in nature, or those who sought to be personable and effervescent, were too socially tiresome to deal with. In small doses, they were entertaining enough. They simply weren’t the kind of company he could keep for longer than a few minutes at a time. Ruby had been an exception. Her charm felt more like the warmth of a blanket than the heat of a furnace he couldn’t escape from. She reminded him a lot of his former fiancé, completely complimentary in ways that he hadn’t realized would expose his personal shortcomings. The way she worked behind him, fixing what he couldn’t or being able to see what he hadn’t in his haste, made him appreciate her thoughtfulness and attention to the overall picture where he would get lost in the throes of being so terribly detail-oriented. As she wandered over to feed the dog as he’d requested, he thought more about the woman who had once been the love of his life. He would like to imagine that should they have had a daughter, she might have been much like Ruby. She was a vision of youthful beauty and was far brighter than she let on, with wide eyes that looked to him for advice and comfort when the world was too overwhelming or things didn’t quite go as planned. Perhaps that had been another reason behind her exemption from the persecution of others like her. “I work hard to leave behind a legacy of passion that someone will be proud to have witnessed,” he admonished, eyes tenderly watching over her as she moved toward the seat across from him. “There are so few hours in the day to make that dream a reality. Though...perhaps I have been working without much outward awareness. What sorts of bands will be playing this week? I know little of the local music scene.” Luis moved a few stray pins into a container and sat back, eyeing the work of the skirt in front of him on the mannequin. “I would enjoy your company for the night, if allowed. I purchased a container of cookie dough ice cream that I thought would be appropriate for a night in together. How does that sound?”