"I Would Love To." Serra Liked Public Events And Dancing With Handsome Men, Who Wouldn't? So When He

@alaraselwyn

location: flint and vanity wedding status: open for everyone

"Have you seen some of the dresses people came in here with? it is a shame that taste is not something that everyone's been born with." Serra grimaced, her tone pitiying letting her eyes glance over a woman in a black feathered dress. It looked like she wanted to emulate a raven and failed terribly.

"Don't bring that thing anywhere near me." She grimaced, not bothering to hide the disgust that was so obviously noticable in both her tone and her expression.

where; a park whomst; open

Clyde enjoyed many different things about life, chief among them spending time with Bonnie, his pet ferret. He'd always loved ferrets; they were smart, affectionate, and amusing creatures. Great for distracting young children while their shitty parents fought in the other room. ... Not like he'd know, or anything. Bonnie wasn't his first ferret and she certainly wouldn't be his last. She was the first that truly loved taking walks however.

"Why are you gawking?" He asked as Bonnie ran circles around his feet, tangling her leash. "It's like you've never seen a ferret before."

"They are." She grimaced in annoyance. What were all those people doing in here? Shouldn't they go to work or something? Surely not all of them were as well off as she was, not having to work at all. "And I would much prefer sitting at your table than at the one of the likes of some of these people."

Location: Diagon Alley, Cafe Open to all

"Hm?" Davina glanced up from the magazine she was perusing. It never got easier, looking at fashion magazines with the knowledge that she couldn't buy things the way that the other socialites could. But she certainly had gotten good at mimicking their designs so it appeared that she was just like them. After all, appearances were more important in her mind than actually affording them. At least that was what she told herself when she felt particularly low. And lately, that feeling seemed to follow her everywhere she went. But her mother kept telling her it wouldn't last forever, and she was trying to believe her.. "Oh, are all the other tables full? I suppose you can join me then. If you must."

While she enjoyed being showered in gifts, she was known to be proud and hold a grudge. He hadn't just hurt her feelings, he'd hurt her reputation. Nowdays, not many people knew what happened between them in Hogwarts, too many years had passed, but this wasn't something she could forgive and forget. Being in his office? Presumably alone with him? Yeah that wasn't happening. Serra chuckled humorlessly, shaking her head. "No thanks. There are very few places I'd like to be in less." How did he have the nerve to try flirting with her now? She was glad she didn't share a last name with her cousins, at least there was that. "I won't be home." Not for him anyways. It wasn't lost on her that he hadn't told her when he planned on stopping by. "It is. Don't hold your breath for a party invite."

Malcolm knew that she was at least enjoying her gifts that he sent over the years because he never received anything like a cease and desist. Even if she had sent one, he probably would have ignored it. It was one of his favorite pastimes, and it made him smile, wondering if she would be wearing it and what she would think. The imagination wasn't so much of a bane of his existence, quite the opposite, as she was wearing one of the said presents now. Malcolm tried to let his face remain stoic so not to seem too proud. There had been times he wondered what he would say to her again, but none of those ideas seemed inspiring now. "I agree. Perhaps you would like to come by my office and test that theory," he said openly, his lips twisting into a familiar grin. Even with years separating them, he managed to slip back into their camaraderie as if nothing had changed. Except, everything had. Two different people were standing there than the ones they left behind. "I'm sure they're working out how to get the stain out," he said both in the literal sense and not. "I was hoping to call on you at your home after your trip. It's your birthday soon is it not?"

She started pacing around, not getting very far on the balcony with her - now inconvenient- large dress. The dress was meant to make a statement, to ensure that all eyes and all the attention would be on her. What she hadn't expected was her parents announcement, betrothed. She was betrothed to Malcolm and everyone knew it. It would hit the gossip magazines by morning, there was no way that this information would remain solely at the party, only a fool would believe that. In her mind, she understood that that is why her parents have done it this way, a further assurance that this couldn't be ignored or swept under the rug. "We have no choice. The damage is already done." Serra cared for her reputation, what people said mattered and she refused to be a laughing stock. She was surprised at his reasoning behind the many gifts he had sent her over the years but kept her expression blank on purpose, not wanting to show weakness in front of him. He must have thought about her quite a few times then, if her jewellery cabinet was any indication for it. Or the shoes and dresses she'd received. Serra wasn't going to tell him that, but she enjoyed his gifts, the first ones she planned to throw away, too angry back then to even consider wearing them, but in time her curiosity had won out. He knew what she liked, there hadn't been one thing that didn't suit her taste. Still, he didn't need to know how well he had her preferences down. "Clearly my parents do not listen to reason, they have made up their mind. If we back out of it now we look like fools and I will not be made a fool by you again. I expect a ring by tomorrow morning. If I don't like it, I'm sending it back and you're buying a new one. " She paused, thinking for a moment. "I want a big diamond."

Malcolm was known for many talents, but even he recognized his shortcomings with humor. "I wish I were," he sighed. Already, things weren't unfolding as planned, and he regretted her parents' public announcement. "There probably aren't many options, actually," he mumbled honestly. Lost in his thoughts since seeing the marriage contract, Malcolm hadn't considered Serra's perspective. While his own world felt like it was collapsing, the contract did mean being with her. The idea of happiness achieved through the wrong means felt deeply corrupt. They were adults and should have the autonomy to make their own choices. Yet, his answer to most things would always be Serra. "My guilt?" he echoed, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Perhaps initially, yes. I've done many things I regret, certainly, including what happened between us. But I assure you, the gifts weren't meant to revive a bad seed. I gave them to you knowing you would like them, every time I thought of you." Malcolm glanced around to ensure their privacy. "There was a marriage contract forged between our families when I was in school. I annulled the original, but that wasn't the end of it. None of it makes sense, I know. I wanted to discuss this with you or your parents properly."

location: malfoy wedding status: for @alaraselwyn

"I guess congratulations are in order. For you that is. I'll be sure to personally give Evan my condolences for being stuck with you." Her smile was saccharine as she looked over at her cousin, her eyes blatently trying to figure out how many carats the engagement ring on Alara's finger had.

If there was one thing that was constant, it was her dislike of Alara. The two of them had never gotten along, despite their parents trying to force them together at every family event growing up. It only made Serra dislike her more. "Please, you wish your hands looked as well maintained as mine. Here I thought you'd be proud of your workers hands." She rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't want to be in charge. But they'd totally leave me to it if I wanted to be." Which was a lie.

One would think cousins were close, and she would have wished that, considering they were close in age, yet the opposite happened — driving them apart. Azure hues glance down at her perfectly manicured nails, keeping them tidy for work. "I'd hate to take it away from you. Your claws really need working on." A sweet smile on her features. "You sure about that?" It shouldn't come this naturally to insult family like this. "You are here, in the shop, and I can assume they would not leave you in charge." The place would surely burn to the ground if she was left alone to her own devices.

"Well obviously. Yeah." She rolled her eyes, as if that shouldn't come as a surprise to him. Being the center of attention was something she excelled at, she liked having all eyes on her. Serra had never been shy after all. "They said they would cut off my allowance." With no money she'd eventually have to start working and that didn't appeal to her.

“     𝐚𝐫𝐞     𝐲𝐨𝐮     𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞     𝐮𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐭     𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭     you’re     not     the     centre     of     attention     ?     ”     he     can’t     help     but     wonder,     after     all,     he     couldn’t     even     bring     himself     to     actually     care     that     serra     was     back,     all     he’d     been     trying     to     do     was     enjoy     a     early     morning     coffee     before     quidditch     practice,     however     it     seemed     luck     was     certainly     not     on     his     side     as     she     blew     in.     “     you     are     a     person     of     your     own     free     will,     correct     ?     couldn’t     you     have     just     stayed     were     you     were     ?     ”

Serra knew appearances mattered and that her reputation was at stake right now, but for someone who normally put so much care into that fact she could not for the life of her stay calm and unbothered like she knew she should. At fifteen she felt like this was a catastrophe of epic proportions. Charity seemed calm, too calm. Did it mean that it was true? Or that she was lying? She claimed not to be a liar, but that itself could be a falsehood. "He has plenty of fun with me!" None of the sexual kind however. He'd told her he was fine with waiting, but she didn't think that meant he'd go cheat on her! Especially with someone that wasn't as pretty as her nor looked like her at all. Not even a brunette? It just didn't make sense to her, it felt like her world was thrown upside down. She was literally drop dead gorgeous, everyone could see that. To throw all this away for that? "I don't believe you."

Her eyes settled on the other as she was seemingly throwing a fit over the words she'd just shared, a calmness taking over Charity as she simply stared at the other. A part of her didn't understand the emotionality behind her act, how terribly affected she seemed by the truth, but another part of her simply felt a peculiar kind of delight at seeing the one who'd treated her so badly in previous encounters simply losing it. "Merlin, did you get flustered." The witch simply commented, as if remarking on something utterly obvious. "Well, if you didn't break up, he definitely cheated on you." She stated unfazed, though she was definitely bothered by Serra saying they were still together, annoyed that Malcolm had lied to her instead. Her brows raised slightly at the insult, not the first time she'd heard it, chuckling inevitably. "Weird as I may look, at least he had a good time. Funny thing he'd go looking elsewhere, unless he wasn't having any with you."