"Those Are Two Of My Favorite Words. Closely Following Diamonds And Presents." She Had Never Made An

"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."

"I do love dressing up for Halloween as well." Although their reasonings were different they did share a love for the same holiday. Serra didn't see the reason for hiding behind a mask as her face was so beautiful it would be a shame to hide it away. "I do enjoy masquerade balls as well. They have such a sense of grandeur that I've always liked. You know... I do still live on the family estate and we have an excellent ballroom. One of the best ballrooms in all of society." Serra boasted. "The war is going on long enough already. It is incredibly inconvenient. There are too many mudbloods running around, thinking that they are our equals." She shook her head.

He thought about it though he knew the answer if he was honest. “Halloween. A day when monsters and darkness abound, mischief and fun people can let loose without agonizing over it. Also the costumes. People don’t mind if you put on a mask. Masquerade balls are rarer these days, but Halloween parties are annual. I think if I hosted a ball it would be a masquerade around halloween, but I don’t have much reason besides whim. Beyond that, I no longer live on the family estate. It’s expected to have a proper place if you are hosting elaborated balls most times. People are too busy with their weddings and wars for whimsy, a sad thing, but true.

He chuckled at it. “Such a problem to have, that your taste for parties exceeds your grasp. I’ll have to push someone into throwing it for me.”

"Not when the other option would be listening to you talk." Serra smiled, overly sweet. Onlookers would think they were having a grand old time, catching up with family. Meanwhile Alara was her least liked family member. "So what?"

"Do you ever shut up?" It was amazing how much Serra frustrated her and she didn't understand where this competition was coming from. That is what it felt like. She wanted her cousin to be happy, but constantly dragging her down made it hard to even convey any of it. "I don't think I remember asking who you came with." She stated, feeling bad for the wizard in question.

"Well then try it and tell me what you think of it." She knew Mira had good taste, certainly better than that younger sister of hers had ever displayed. Then again, few could be as excellent as she could, competing would be hard for anyone. Especially someone that inferior. "Thank you. So do you. I like your dress, the color suits your complexion."

While Mira wouldn't openly admit it, she hadn't really wanted to attend the party. There was too much going on, too much turmoil for her to truly enjoy herself. Still it would have been unacceptable not to make an appearance, and so she'd arrived with a smile on her lips and a small wrapped present in hand, adding it to the already growing pile that had been left for the birthday girl. She snagged a glass of champagne from a passing tray, taking a drink as she watched her cousin make her way over to her. "I just grabbed a glass actually. Happy Birthday Serra, you look gorgeous tonight."

I dont ever have to make sense cause im cute

#Legend

"I do quite enjoy getting gifts. I get them quite frequently but that does not make me like it any less." Whether it be her parents or Malcolm, she often got gifts without special occasion attached to it. Of course she considered her birthday the most special occasion, so it only made sense that she got more gifts on this day. "They always think they know what is best for you." Her parents had often said that she had made a mistake by ending things with Malcolm, that she had been too much of a kid to understand that his transgression was perfectly normal. Still, she did not see it this way to this day. It had been a talking point a few times already.

"I have had a glass or two, but I do not see why I can't have more." She snapped her fingers together for her house elf to appear ordering two glasses of champagne.

“Glad you enjoy your gift. Yes I often find it’s best to save that for special or at least particular occasions.  Merlin forbid you are wrong it is not a thing they will easily let you forget at least if they are anything like mine.  Whether they bring it up in a boisterous way or a passive way almost not mentioned, but just aside enough to play it off it can be something that digs.”  Antonin’s face darkened, but only slightly and only for a moment, though it was enough to cause him to wish he had started drinking a bit earlier. “Nothing so serious it can’t be solved with a drink though.  Have you had anything yet?  It is your birthday after all it would be criminal not to share a drink with the birthday girl would it not?”

"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."

"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."

"I am very beautiful, that's true, but you should not sell yourself short. Of course I am the better looking one out of the two of us as I am a woman and naturally more beautiful but you are handsome as well. I would not show interest in you if I found you undeserving of my attention." Serra was very particular with who she paid attention to and who she didn't. She liked to pick and choose who she believed was worthy of her time. "Why not?" What reason would he be giving her, she wondered.

"I would never settle. If I choose the person I want to be with it is because I decide that is who I want. I deserve to have the best of the best, one that will shower me in gifts and in compliments. Just me. Not anyone else." Her voice turned sugary sweet as she focused her attention back on him. "If you want to continue seeing me, you will not be seeing other women. The choice is yours. If you are unsure and are interested in others, then your answer is made and this is where we say goodbye. I deserve undivided attention and focus. I am the best, but I will not compete with other women for your affection. While I do not want to get betrothed or married yet, I know my worth."

“Hmm.”  He moved a hand to stroke her cheek. “You are beautiful, effortless, beyond reproach, but I am, not.  I feel undeserving when I’m around you, you say you’re inexperienced, and I enjoy experiencing you, but I feel that as I am I can’t give you what you deserve even if I would like to.”  He stopped as if struggling with the words or how they might land.  “I worry that you will be done with me as you grow, become the perfect thing that I know you are, and regret settling. You shouldn’t be forced to settle, and I’m not in a position to be as serious with you as I would like to.”  He looked at her, deciding he should be as straightforward as she had been.  “I’m seeing other women.  I’m worried you might have heard something or gossip, or will and this is something you should hear from me.  I feel like it’s something I need to do before I get serious about anyone.  At least to the level everyone is rushing into betrothals and bringing other people into them.” He moved closer looking into her eyes and squeezing her shoulders.  “Breaking a betrothal or getting into a marriage that was a failure is not something I will do.  I couldn’t leave someone I cared about that much or betray them after making that kind of promise.”