"How Long Were You Seeing Her?" She Didn't Miss That He Only Said When He Claimed To Have Stopped Talking

"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."

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.

I dont ever have to make sense cause im cute

status: for @fcrox (Leta) location: Madame Malkins

When she left London she'd been bored, a tad embarrassed but mostly bored. Things with Antonin ended amicably, with neither of their reputations catching strays. She felt lucky that this wasn't like the last time her relationship imploded. Definitely less humiliating. As the season was changing she wanted to commission a new dress at Madame Malkins, plus she wanted to go and see Leta as the other woman had played a role in the internship Serra had. While working at a shop didn't seem appealing to her, designing dresses and coming up with concepts was fun and she had enjoyed it more than she thought she would've. "Leta. I wanted to inquire about your workload in the coming weeks. Is there any way you could make the dress I am working on?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" She raised an eyebrow, haughty look on her face. As always, she wasn't too thrilled when she got to see her cousin. Alara was annoying and would no doubt hold it over her head that it was Leta attending this wedding at Antonin's side. "Parisians have much better taste. I cannot wait to leave the greyness of london behind."

There was rumours from her family when it came to her cousin and she was curious if they were true. She would not be sad to see Serra leave. "And here I thought you could do better." Alara smiled sweetly at the other. "I don't think Paris is ready for you."

"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?”

@themalcolmparkinson

"I am enjoying my free time right now. Summer is always my favorite time of the year. And I got a lot of new dresses recently so I am excited to wear them." In her mind the it was definitely worth mentioning. "You make a good point." She nods with a polite smile, lightly resting her hand in his, letting him take her to the dance floor.

"I know I could, Rita lives and dies by her adoring public, can't have a paper without readers after all, but enough about her, I'm sure you'll get to ask her anything you like, what's happening with you, anything worth mentioning?" He waved his hand at the mention of her escort's whereabouts. "I'm sure he'll find you when he's finished with your cousin, why not enjoy yourself in the meantime?" He smirked and held a hand out as if offering to take her from the drudgery of her lonely table.

"She isn't?" It was said as more of a question rather than a fact, needing the reassurance of hearing him say it again, say that she was the only one that mattered. Words were important to her, especially when they came out of his mouth. She cared about what he thought about her, how he saw her, she always had. The anguish in his eyes as so obvious right now she was wavering in her disbelief for him. Was he actually being honest with her? Was it over? Had it been over? "My birthday. After my parents announcement. He thought I deserved to know." Serra still remembered how angry she had been, how upset. Now he was telling her all the right things, what she had longed to hear from him back then. They were different people now and yet, still the same. She'd never been indifferent towards him, if she had she could have thrown out his many gifts, but she had kept every single one. "Keep talking..."

"She's not special," he corrected lowly, no longer glancing in both directions before he spoke. At least it was the first honest thing he could mean completely. There was no obligations tying him to Charity and not much of a reputation that clung to her name which was probably what made her hold his attention in the first place. She was under the radar enough, but apparently not. Malcolm's head hung for a moment, then blinked back up at her. His problems only ached more as he knew that he was the reason for placing the mistrust in the first place. He had buried it under the many years they had spent apart, but now, it was heavily back in his face. He never liked dealing with his own consequences, but he never thought of Serra as a problem or a consequence. She was more defined by everything that he couldn't understand, couldn't have. "When did he even tell you this?" he asked, brow raised. " This was clearly something he would need to talk to Evan about later. "I have no intentions of making you look like a fool, my love. She's in the past already before we even had this conversation. I will handle it later, alright? But please know that you are the only person of my affection...truly. You know that."

status: open for everyone location: Borgin Manor, Serra's birthday bash

While she had always loved being the center of attention and considered herself a natural in it, tonight was special. It was her 21st birthday, a date of great significance. There were tons of guest in attendance, more than she remembered inviting but her parents insisted on making it a huge event. She was making her rounds, her tone polite. "Welcome, thank you for coming."