<div class="floatright">(http://www.u2mtv.com/files/actor/9/7/97f4b8ceb7d493913b51f5c63b8d03e9.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Juliet Rhodes (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=281599.msg13847695#msg13847695)<br/><strong>Wearing:</strong>Navy mini-dress and taupe, strappy heels (http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Viacom+TCA+Summer+2016+azEUeWS62uXx.jpg) (wearing name tag)<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Hilton Hotel Ballroom<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Tanner, Evion, Richard, Open!<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Juliet couldn't help noticing that Richard felt as if he had filled out slightly since the last time she hugged him - how long had it been? His grief may have played a role in the weight that he lost back then. She recalled how he looked on the day of the wake - hollow. Like a shell of the person he once was. Juliet was so saddened for him. She couldn't help frowning when he mentioned Elisabeth's name. Hers was not a name that she heard as often as he likely said it.<br/><br/>In an effort to make up for the look of sadness that crossed her features without her permission, she strained her cheeks and willed her lips to smile. "Oh, I'm sure you haven't just come all this way to see me," she genuinely stated - not fishing for compliments, but sincerely reminding him of what she assumed was a fact.<br/><br/>"But, thank you!" She chirped at his compliment about how she had outdone herself. He confessed that it was nice to get out, which made Juliet's authentic smile return. After he explained where the kids were and how nervous he felt about leaving them with grandparents, Juliet nodded.<br/><br/>"I can only imagine. You're not a helicopter parent, are you, Richard?" There was nothing chastising in Juliet's tone, nor was it anywhere near judgmental. Rather, it was a lighthearted question, one that suggested she may have still struggled to think of him as a father.<br/><br/>When Richard turned to address Tanner, Juliet purposefully took another sip of her drink, averting her eyes away from their conversation, as if that made it less awkward that they were speaking about her as if she wasn't standing inches away. Richard's stance was that courteousness, at times, was complimentary, rather than debilitating. Tanner, on the other hand, revealed that he had just gone through a divorce and apparently, gentlemanly behavior won him no rewards.<br/><br/>It wasn't until Tanner snapped at Richard about his previous put-down to the guys, that Juliet involved herself, holding her drink up and placing her free hand gently on Tanner's chest. "Hey," she was looking at Tanner, her jade gems sparkling as they seemed to plead for him to let it go. "He didn't mean it like that, okay? It was just a jab in good fun. That's all." Juliet blinked when she looked down at her hand upon his sweater, faintly flushing as she withdrew it. Her gaze lingered on Tanner for a moment, but before long that moment had passed.<br/><br/>Juliet sighed smally, turning back to Richard as Tanner and Evion continued with their conversation. Chewing on her lower lip without realizing it, Juliet wondered about Tanner's ex-wife, and their marriage. How much had it changed him? Richard brought her out of those thoughts with his question. "Oh, I've been well." She chuckled faintly. "Planning this was occupying most of my time - outside of work, that is - and now that it's happening, I haven't really thought about what's next on the agenda." A shoulder shrugged as she regarded him.<br/><br/>Her statement may have seemed insignificant, but for Juliet to not really have a direction or a plan, was very much the antithesis of her high school persona. "What about you, how have you been?" It may have been a loaded question, but it was only fair.