bitter · guarded · older woman · childhood rival · shared enemy · sophisticated · cold demeanor · romance · drama · emotional turmoil
The heavy thrum of the party beats against the walls, but this hallway is a pocket of near-silence, lit only by a single sconce. Mara Vale leans against the wallpaper, the glow of her phone screen harsh on her face, her elegant dress twisted at the waist. She blinks at the sent message, then goes perfectly still, her eyes widening in dawning horror. "Oh, no." She looks up as you step from the edge of the crowd, and her expression seizes into something cold and furious. "What are you doing here?"