I Agree With My Opinion And Thats All That Matters

While they were still surrounded by people she did her best to stay quiet and calm, smiling when people clapped in congratulations. Stealing one last look at her parents she noticed them both beaming with pride. She couldn't remember them ever looking this happy. They were both more on the reserved side, but clearly they were happy about this. Would they have done the same thing if they had a son instead of her? One capable or even willing to take over the shop? She let out a huff of frustration. This whole party had not been to celebrate her it seemed, but a ruse to gather as many of their peers as possible and announce an engagement she herself was clueless about. Clearly she was the only one surprised. Engaged. Merlin, what a birthday present. She was engaged. Engaged to the one guy she had fallen for, the one that broke her heart all those years ago. It was a cruel idea of a joke. Although, Malcolm's eyes didn't mirror the shock and surprise hers held- even if only for a second. Without the prying eyes of others she had no reason to school her features into a mask of indifference. It took her a few moments to process, for things to settle in. For his words to register. "You knew about this?" He knew and yet he didn't deem it important enough to inform her? "Were you expecting me to just go along with this?" Her eyes were blazing with anger, when she got stuck on his last word. "Again? What do you mean again?"

Much to his expectations, Malcolm didn't have time to reach Serra or her parents once he got through the party. There were so many people and he caught her eye a few times, but it seemed she was putting as much effort into avoiding him as he was trying to find her. But all he got were stolen conversations with people he didn't want to be stuck talking to; they were all boring small talk, some shop talk, and Malcolm couldn't think about anything else other than talking to Serra. It was one of the few times he panicked and could feel every stroke of a clock in tandem with his heart. Like everyone else, he gathered along with the crowd when someone was about to give a toast. And like everyone else, his eyes followed Serra's parents to the makeshift stage. Fuck, his mind seemed to say like a broken record. He officially ran out of time, but he could catch them after the toast. Malcolm clapped with everyone else, holding his champagne flute and his arm went slack when he heard his name. His heart instantly took a cold plunge to his stomach. In that moment, the walls felt like they were caving around him. Malcolm shrugged off the congratulations around him and the eyes that swiveled towards him. This was the worst way to find out and he needed to talk to Serra. "Serra-" he said, breaking through the crowd to reach her once she started to make an exit. There had been a speech planned in his head and it would've gone so much better than now. "Serra-" he called again once he was closer, not even realizing they were outside as he reached for her arm. Malcolm's face softened when he turned to face him. For once in his life, he wished that Serra could look at him like he didn't betray her trust every single time. A million things were hanging from his lips, but nothing came out. Malcolm's shoulders relaxed away from his ears and he sighed out. "It's true, I found out a few days ago. Listen, I tried, okay-I contacted lawyers…i-it cannot be annulled. Again."

"I look way better than you do." Serra scoffed, looking at her cousin. There had always been this sort of competition between them, at least on Serra's side, she couldn't think back to a time where she didn't despise Alara. "Please, I have excellent taste." That was something she was sure of. "I chose to end things due to my move to Paris." The move to Paris was something she had decided on after things were over with Antonin but Alara didn't know that.

"I think it's pretty obvious, Serra." Her eyes rake over the dress her cousin was wearing, not too impressed by it. The brunette let's out a snort. "They may have better taste, but that doesn't mean you will." Alara takes a sip of her drink and then notices who is on Antonin's arm this time. "Where is your date?" Her eyes attention falls back on Serra."

The Great Gatsby (2013) dir. Baz Luhrmann | Promising Young Woman (2020) dir. Emerald Fennell

"Somewhere where you won't be." She replied as if it was obvious, a sugary sweet smile playing on her lips. "You don't need another address. You can address it to my parents house and the houseleves will get it to me." She did still live there after all, but if he came by and her parents got wind of it they would get the wrong idea. He already ordered the present after all, it would be a shame for a perfectly good pair of shoes to go to waste. And she did like the dress, there was no harm in accepting the presents, it didn't change anything. "I am having a party. Invites have already been sent out. I just don't want you there, so if my parents happened to have sent you one, ignore it. If you want to send me a gift, I need new earrings. Emerald."

Malcolm knew he was playing with fire. Serra was absolutely right. She should turn down his advances as he had thought to buy back her forgiveness rather than have a painful and honest conversation. That didn't seem like him and he needed to ask Agatha about that. Yet, her words, though expected, dug into him and left a mark. "And where will you be? I should need a new address if I am to send you Italian shoes to go with the dress from the other month," Malcolm grinned. "Well, it is a special birthday so I should hope you are having a party in some capacity. Please, if I don't get an invite at least tell me what gift I can send in my absence."

"I do not like dancing with someone who does not how to do so. A man is expected to lead during the dance, but I will not be dancing with someone that has no rhythm or two left feet. It makes me look bad." Serra explained, figuring he would understand as he was a capable dancer himself. "Perhaps another time when I am wearing a shorter dress where I can move my legs more freely." The prospect of dancing with him again was exciting, she always enjoyed dancing with someone skilled. It was the only way it was fun.

"I love talking about myself. I'm amazing." Serra grinned. "I do not trust people who act demure and shy. If you do not recognise your qualities how do you expect someone else to do so? I think insecurity is quite embarrassing." She didn't realise how harsh her words sounded, her tone matter of fact. She'd never been insecure. "I am sure Leta will have no problem creating matching outfits for us."

At his question she paused, thinking for a moment. "I like transfiguration. And potions, depending on the ingredients. What about you?"

"Thank you. dancing with you proves my taste beyond a doubt already, but I’m glad you approve. I like to surround myself with capable people, yourself included. Knowing your background I almost want to try for a lift, but I’m not sure if your dress was made with that in mind and I don’t want to scandalize you when everything seems to be going so well.” He squeezed her hand trying to make up for it by keeping her as the center of attention, it wasn’t a hard thing she was bubbly, but in a fun way.  “I’m glad that you can keep a secret, and don’t mind talking about yourself.  False modesty and insecurity are unbecoming.  Yes it’s a date, we’ll have to arrange the shopping.  I’m curious what kind of dress you will help me pick out, perhaps I’ll let you pick out a matching outfit for me, could be fun.” It was easy to just float there discussing wardrobe and possible encounters listening, it felt easy, the nicer side of these kinds of things when everything fell into place. “What about magic, do you have any specialties, I’m sure a woman of your many talents must have a favorite?”

"Agreed. I've missed you too." While she was a few years younger than Willa, the other never made her feel listened to, both of them understanding that their value was far superior to other girls at Hogwarts so they bonded quickly.

"Oh absolutely. London would certainly be a bore without you." She was glad to have her friend around as she desperately needed someone to talk to about recent developments. "Malcolm came to see me." It wasn't exactly an answer to the question asked, but in a round about way, it was. "Said he wanted to come by the manor and talk to me."

"It's been far too long, I've missed you." Willa gushed. The woman had no problem leaving her station a little early for her lunch break, with a few other welcome witches on shift, Willa was sure that nobody would even notice her being gone. It was hardly like she was an attentive worker.

Besides, when she heard that Serra was back in London, Willa knew that exceptions could be made. "It would've been a dream to visit you in Paris, but London seemed intent on keeping me around. Things would have gotten dreadfully boring with the two of us gone. How are you?"

"Well my parents insisted and who am I to say no to celebrating me?" She smiled, happy with all the attention she's been getting. In her mind, every day should be just like this. Her being the center of attention and being showered with gifts. "Are you flirting with me Mr. Rosier?" She raised an eyebrow in challenge, taking his offered arm. Patience had never been her strong suit. "Not at the moment. It's my birthday, tonight is about me."

A nod of his head, he agreed with her statement, raising his glass of brandy to prove the point before taking a large sip and savouring the drink in his mouth. "It is a wonderful party, fitting to the star of the show." Evan conceded as a smart grin settled on his lips, letting his eyes take in the witch before him. "I'd say it's best you open it later and when alone, I might have been bold with my gift to you." The wizard allowed with a suggestive look, offering his arm for her to take so they could have a chat without being bothered by those trying to congratulate her. "No wizard by your side tonight, love?"

"Are they?" She scoffed shaking her head. "I can assure you my personal owl is looked after much better by my house elf. "Well obviously I am charming and beautiful so people will not think of my owl, but some people need all the help they can get. So making a good first impression matters."

"The post owls are well looked after." Well-looked after enough, anyways. They certainly had more muscle mass. "I get that, sure. But once someone meets you, it's not like they'll spend all their time comparing you to whatever owl brought them a letter."

status: for @themalcolmparkinson

location: borgin manor, serra's birthday bash

Birthday party in full swing she went through the room, making rounds conversing with friends and acquaintances the like, politeness instilled into her when it came to hostess duties. It was something that came easily to her, she didn't mind being the center of attention. When her parents both came up onto the stage set up in the ballroom she hadn't thought anything of it at first, assuming they'd make some kind of big announcement about her birthday and compliment her, list her accomplishments perhaps.. That was how the speech had started but things quickly took a turn. 'We are extremely pleased to take this time to announce the engagement of our daughter Serra Borgin to the one and only Malcolm Parkinson!' Everyone's eyes turned towards her and while there was a polite smile seemingly frozen onto her face, she knew better than to openly show her shock and surprise. What the hell were her parents thinking?! Why hadn't they said anything to her. Wanting to go outside to get some air she quickly turned around, wanting to make her way outside, but stopping when she felt a hand on her forearm. Turning around in a swirl of pink she met Malcolm's eyes. He didn't look surprised. Why didn't he look surprised. She had explicitly disinvited him and yet, here he was. "Malcolm?" His name on her lips betrayed her surprise at his presence, but with all eyes on them she knew she had to be careful with her words.