[Thread] [EVERYONE] OPEN

[srsbznsmods]

WHO: EVERYONE
WHAT: The 2009 Cervello Publishing and Media Awards.
WHERE: Namimori Cultural Center, main theater
WHEN: Sat the 21st, beginning arriving between 7PM and 8 PM
RATING: PG-whateveryouwant
WARNING(s): *insert evil character here* oh, also, Cervello

Comments

[srslyevilbzns]

One might think the Millefiore had a preoccupation with white, Byakuran mused as he slipped free of his coat and long, white scarf, surveying the crowd of much more subdued colors before him.

It wasn't often that he was able to attend award shows. After all, the Millefiore had only been in existence for a few years and in its earlier incarnation, it hadn't won many awards that a CEO's son would need to be in attendance for. Of course, in the years near the end, that had changed quite a bit.

"And, now, here we are," he mused to himself, handing his coat off to an aide.

[aesthetic_ally]

Seeing Byakuran there definitely dampens the spirits - but they weren't in grade school, and Dino is mature enough to live with it. After all, he knows that the Millefiore had been emerging as quite the winner in a few awards categories in the past few years.

He goes over, a flute of champagne in hand and a pleasant enough casual demeanor. "Came alone? I'm surprised."

[srslyevilbzns]

"Actually, I'm meeting my date here," Byakuran matches Dino's pleasant demeanor with one of his own as he surveyed the young Cavallone with eerily pale eyes.

How rare, he thought, for the other man to address him. At least, how rare for him to address him when he hadn't been caught dabbling a bit too much in the other's affairs-- and, oh, Byakuran was always dabbling no matter which company it was.

"Things have been busy, after all," he muses, "We've had to do a bit of rearranging to accomadate some recent staff changes."

[aesthetic_ally]

Dino's unfazed, unmoved at the last comment, tilting the glass just slightly in a sort of acknowledgment. No use letting Byakuran know how much it needled him, or the damage control he had to do because of the man's latest stunt.

He could handle this setback, definitely, and he's already more than halfway through it - making sure that most of those contacts on the old editor's list didn't decide to jump ship and follow her. That would be quite devastating. It's too early to tell, of course, but he had a reasonable amount of faith that they would stay, even if it was under the assistant editor now, who had risen to the challenge just fine so far.

"Of course. It seems like quite a mess."

[srslyevilbzns]

So that afternoon hadn't been a fluke at all, had it? My, he was impressed to see that. He'd hate to think that he'd wasted his time when the challenge simply wasn't there.

He lazily snags a flute of champagne himself from the tray of a passing waiter. Uni wasn't here yet and he'd hate to seem antisocial, especially when the other's company intrigued him so.

"So it is, so it is," Byakuran takes a sip, eyes never leaving the other's, "But I'd hate to talk business on a night like this, you know?"

[aesthetic_ally]

There is a point there, and Dino concedes it. He doesn't feel like talking about work tonight, even if this is a ceremony that commends the work that they do. It's a little too unpleasant for a time like this.

"Likewise." And he is all courtesy - because he has been taught better than to air dirty linen in public. To do that would be to lose to Byakuran's game. After all, Byakuran has always had a taste for the guise of good manners and doing something questionable beneath that mask.

To succumb to juvenile name-calling and anger would only fuel Byakuran's amusement. How infuriating, and yet how challenging still. Dino begins to view Byakuran not as an enemy, but as a rival, a key competitor that would keep him on his toes. "But I'm sure you wouldn't like to talk about your personal life, either."

[srslyevilbzns]

"Ah, I think you expect too much of me, Dino-kun. I'm newly in charge of a company as large as the Millefiore," he intones, almost a little pleased to see that the other hasn't risen to the challenge. How perfectly enticing to think that there exists a possibility of tugging such reactions out of the other, but no, not so easily as it might be for those in other companies. "My company is my personal life and I'm sure yours as well."

He presses his lips against the rim of his glass, "Perhaps a happier medium can be met? Something less mundane than the weather, but something less heavy than the troubles of the job."

*sneaks in* Hi bbs~ <3

[onlyluminous]

She had not intended to be late, and especially not to arrive after Byakuran-sama; Uni's panic, upon receiving the phone call that informed her of Byakuran's arrival, caused her driver to careen through the roads with suck reckless speed the black limousine very narrowly avoided colliding with whatever cars presumed to hinder their way. But now she is at the venue and there is no longer any use scolding the assistants who had delayed her with all sorts of needless questions. Uni gives her cellphone one last piercing look, smooths down her dress, waits for her composure to return, then steps out of the limousine and into the blinding light of camera flashes and what seems like a million glittering crystals set in countless huge chandeliers

hiiiii!!!

[aesthetic_ally]

Dino was quite about to reply, when he pauses. He's already spotted her a little way away. It's difficult not to, when her simple elegance stands out from a sea of women decked in magnificent jewelry, a sleekness contrasted with gaudiness that makes him notice.

Dino Cavallone has never met her before, but the co-CEO's reputation precedes her, and he's sharp enough to make an educated guess. He offers his hand to her, silently wondering at her apparent subservience to him before he dismisses it quickly. It is not his business.

"Not at all. Uni Giglionero, is it?"

/obligatory comment about starting a threesome now

[srslyevilbzns]

Byakuran inclines his head to her at the curtsy. Her arrival was just as expected. Truly, he would have preferred to come with her, but there had been few things he had wanted set into place beforehand.

Besides, it was good to make the occasional appearance apart. He'd hate to have anyone come upon the misguided notion that he was her keeper more than her partner. Such rumors were hardly uncommon, but ones he wasn't fond of propagating too much.

"So glad to see you were able to make it after all, Uni-chan," he greets, a hand on her back as he returns his attentions to Dino, "That's right. My co-CEO."

Byakuran-sama DDD:

[onlyluminous]

It is to be expected, her greeting and his response, the touch on her back that exudes a familiarity no one else could lay claim to. "It is lovely to be here," Uni says, smiling. Which is just a little distance away from the truth -- she has attended too many awards nights and formal events for her taste -- but then again, it is the polite thing to say, and perhaps something might happen later that will distinguish this particular event from the ones that have come before it.

She takes Dino Cavallone's hand, her touch light, her blue eyes guileless. So this is him. "An honor to meet you, Cavallone-san."

[aesthetic_ally]

He notices, of course. There's no way not to. Dino doesn't question that relationship beyond acknowledging it. He lifts Uni's hand to his lips, and affords a brief kiss over it - simple courtesy, of course. He had been brought up with such manners, and old habits died hard.

She seems almost a butterfly, fragile and light to be the co-owner of such a company, but he keeps his comments to himself, and keeps his expression pleasant. Now is not the time to pursue business like this, and to make a comment about it would just be rude.

"It's a pleasure, Miss Giglionero." He's never quite bought into the traditional Japanese greeting - there is a stubborn Italian streak still left over.

[srslyevilbzns]

Byakuran lets out a soft hum, watching the two. The elegance of the pair is certainly unrivaled and he's more than content to be at the side of both. His fingers do little more than ghost her skin as he tilts his head to her.

"Dino-kun's become quite a strong contender for us in the market," Byakuran continues, a touch of playfulness coloring his tone, "We should probably be cautious, mm?"

[onlyluminous]

She has heard much about Dino Cavallone and committed as much of it as she could to memory, so the response to her greeting, old-world courtesy mingled with effortless charm, is as Uni has expected, if delivered with more flair than any imagined idea of him. The pleasant memories his accent evokes, however, are not, and for a few moments Uni finds herself missing the land of her birth more than she should.

Only for a few moments, however. Not long enough for it to matter.

Another gentle smile as Uni follows Byakuran's lead, saying, "The Cavallone publications are certainly very beautiful things." She tilts her head to the side, looks up at the blond man. "It is no small wonder they have such a wide following."

[aesthetic_ally]

Become a strong contender? Dino can't help but feel mildly offended by that; he had been in the industry longer than the upstarts, and to think that Byakuran's assumption -

He catches himself before he can go too far. One fatal weakness of old, established companies like his were that they overlooked the ability of newer companies, and Dino was not about to make that mistake. Even if that line particularly tried just a tad bit of his patience.

"Indeed, I would be cautious if I were you." Dino smiles with courteous ease - the amiable words directed only at Byakuran before his gaze flickers back to Uni; softening just a little further. He'd always had a fondness and respect for women like her; the rare serenity and elegance of an assured woman, found less and less these days.

Small talk, polite banter, and Dino nods with a faint smile. "I do my best, Miss Giglionero. And I do thank you for such praise. I do hope the future publications won't disappoint."