When She Looked At Him A Part Of Her Missed Him, They Hadn't Properly Spoken To Each Other In Years.

Serra tilted her head sideways pursing her lips, thinking, treating it as an actual question instead of a rhetorical as she immediately spotted the present in his hands. "I could think of a few things. Ideally something sparkly.." Her eyes were drifting to the present, curious and impatient. "Well, as you know, I like being the center of attention every day, but I do suppose being celebrated like this is the best way." She was wearing a purposefully bold and excessive dress, further ensuring all eyes on her. "How have you been?" She heard rumors about him and Leta, but she was curious.

Who:@serraborgin Where: Serra's birthday bash When: Serra's birthday "What do you get for the woman who has everything and just returned from an extended shopping trip to Paris." Antonin knew what he had gotten her of course, but it was more fun if she recognized that he had labored over the gift so that she could ascribe the proper level of reservation to it. He had found long ago that gifts in small packages despite their actual size held a bit of underrated mystery. People assumed elegance and class something small must be doubly expensive than something large. He held the neatly wrapped present just far enough out of reach as to subtly demand Serra's attention. "It's been a while, good to know you haven't lost a step, birthdays are the perfect reason to be the center of attention aren't they?"

It was almost inevitable that they would run into each other at events and yet she got annoyed each time she saw Alara's face. "But I do love rubbing my freedom under your nose."

If this night could get any worse, running into her cousin, sure was the cherry on top. Alara finishes the glass of champagne in her hand, not sure if that was number three or four, but she would require one after this little interaction. "Please do, you could go find him now. Spare us this conversation." She was not in the mood tonight.

Serra liked feeling his eyes on her, the attention was all consuming and she enjoyed it, feeling like she deserved to have it fully. A smirk played at her lips when he spoke, enjoying being showered with compliment after compliment. It was the way to her heart, someone telling her how great she was was something she would never tire of. "I think we should dance first. Make an impression on everyone here." She was a great dancer and she wanted to show off, it was in her nature.

Antonin turned his great powers of observation and attention towards Serra and only her.  It was what she wanted and he didn’t mind blinding himself to observe her brilliance.  It was the duty of an accessory to add to the one who adorned it after all. "I bet you can. There isn't much you can't handle, is there? You are uncompromising, all encompassing, and it's something I admire about you greatly. It leaves me unsure whether I should help you or stack up obstacles in your way just to see you run through them.  Don’t doubt you will own this wedding and I’ll enjoy seeing what you leave in your wake. You must tell me about your experiences afterwards.  I enjoy pampering you while you tell me about yourself, but what should we do first?  Drink, dance, dine?  You deserve to be seen by others the way I see you, and I’ll make sure of it."

"I would not host a ball for you, I would host a ball for the pleasure of hosting one. I am an excellent hostess. My mother has trained me well." Her parents cared about a good education and making sure she would one day make a good pureblood wife, that she knew the importance of proper etiquette. Of course she preferred not do any work and simply sit back and relax, but she did enjoy party planning, dressing nice and telling people what to do. "I would look wonderful in a gown, you are correct with that assumption." She smiled, pleased at the compliment, blushing at the intensity of his stare as he went on. Guys her age were nothing like this, she didn't have much experience with older men. "It is a much more interesting topic. Truthfully, I do not care much for boys my age." She held his gaze, challenging him.

He dismissed the thought of mudbloods with a wave. “Interesting anomalies, but ultimately nothing more than something to be foisted off on squibs or the reason for them, but I don’t want to bore you with magical theories, and speculation. Are you offering to host a ball for me, Miss Borgin? If I didn’t know better I might think you are trying to snare me, not that I mind. I am sure you would look wonderful in a gown. I can see it, a splendid thing, for you paired with a simple domino mask, not that you would choose something simple, but your face hardly needs any hiding or accent, and it would be a crime to cover those lips.” He looked at her lips smiling a bit hungirly. “Yes, nothing that would impede you talking, drinking or kissing. When was the last time you had a good kiss? A much more interesting subject than dirty mudbloods don’t you think?”

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?"

@themalcolmparkinson

Alecto Carrow had always intimidated her, there was just something about her presence, you could not miss her when she entered a room. Especially now that she had snagged one of the most eligible bachelors. She had heard he'd been betrothed to her cousin Mira for a brief stint and she did wonder what happened there for things to end up the way they did. She would be looking forward to the next issue of Rita Skeeter's column. "I agree. Evelyn looked wonderful. Do you know who made her dress? It is gorgeous."

where: fulham palace who: open

This was their first event since their own wedding, and she could feel the eyes on her, not that it mattered. She was quite content with how things had turned out and wouldn't have it any other way, slowly accepting what would be of her life. Rabastan was always there to put her at ease and turning her thoughts into a more logical one.

The witch walked around with a glass of champagne, not having taking a sip, not wanting to draw more attention since she was able to conceal her pregnancy still. "I will say, I'm impressed with how this turned out. Evelyn looked beautiful in her dress." Her head turning to the person beside her.

As always when she had to see her cousin in public, Serra wasn't thrilled. Alara's mere presence had the ability to annoy her and here she was, boasting about working. Willingly. It made her look poor and embarrassing. "I don't understand why you keep bragging about working. It's tacky."

where: fulham palace who: open

The second wedding she was attending with Evan, has his fiancé, was starting to come with an ease, considering how much time they had been spending together and getting to know him more. There was still that hesitation and the dread of getting married, but at least she was trying and no one could hold it against her.

She stood where the cake was displayed, proud of her work, once more, a few more orders had been put in and it was coming her busy. "I have to say, this might be one of my finest jobs." A smile seeps on her lips. "What do you think?"

"I care. I'd much rather receive a letter from an owl that looks well looked after, than some raggedy ugly one." She didn't see what seemed to hard for him to understand, it was completely logical to her. "First impressions carry a lot of weight Mr. Avery."

“Who the fuck would care what your owl looks like?” Clyde asked, baffled. Was everyone else really this vain, or was it just Serra? The Minister didn’t care what his owls looked like, but the Minister was also an idiot. Merlin did she actually have a point? “Wouldn’t the letter itself leave more of an impression?”

"She is very talented. She made me this dress as well." Serra boasted proudly. She had told Antonin that green was one of her favorite colors when they went shopping and when the invitation for the wedding came in, it was only natural that they would attend together, having commissioned matching robes that would work for the occasion. Annoyance flashed on her face for a second when Alara was mentioned. "It would make sense if she did."

Alecto took a moment to let her eyes rake over the witch in front of her, placing the name easily, related to the Selwyn's. She did note that the other did come in with Antonin Dolohov, which intrigued her slightly. "Leta Rosier." A small pause. "The sister to your cousin's fiancé." It had been obvious the tension that laid between the two of them. "I wonder if she'll make Alara's when the time comes."