"I'm Not Sure." She Sighed, Shrugging Her Shoulders. It Was Complicated. She Couldn't Openly Be Rude,

@themalcolmparkinson

"I really don't see how you could've missed me." Serra exclaimed doubtful, looking at the other witch. In her mind she was noticed everywhere she went and by everyone. It was her impeccable style and her looks that brought her the attention she believed to deserve. If there was one thing she wasn't lacking it was self confidence. "You know what. I'll be gracious and I'll accept your apology. You should watch where you're going next time."

( open interaction !! )

esther's heels clicked softly against the polished floor of st. mungo's as she made her way through the corridor, her raven-black hair neatly braided and her green eyes sharp. a stack of parchments was clutched to her chest, the top sheet revealing complex potion formulas. as she rounded the corner, she nearly collided with another person. with practiced grace, she steadied herself, her free hand instinctively reaching for her wand before she caught herself.

"my apologies," she said, her voice cool and controlled. "i should have been more careful." her gaze swept over the individual, assessing them quickly.

"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."

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.

Serra's dress for her birthday party, featuring an unnecessarily long train

"I think it's a requirement for every Slytherin to like green, but I do prefer certain shades more than others. I like a sage or an emerald green best." She explained while looking through the various racks of clothes, only needing a few seconds to decide if she liked something or not. "There's a few robes here that would look nice for the upcoming fall season." She took out four she liked, different cuts but all elegant, one shorter length and one ankle length for colder days and two more every day robes. "I do. Well my favorite holiday is my birthday, of course. I enjoy being celebrated. After that Christmas because I like getting presents and as an only child I didn't have to share with anyone. What about you?"

"Green, I will remember that, but yes you could pull anything off I'm sure, perhaps I'll know better by the end of it." He looked around at the various robes and outfits. "Does anything catch your eye?" Small accents made sense, understated but eye catching. He filed it away for future use. Even when skulking about something eye catching could make it hard for people to think of details later besides what had been put in front of them. He doubted it was how Sera might use the information, but something learned from her none the less. "Do you enjoy the holidays? Which is your favorite?"

When she looked at him a part of her missed him, they hadn't properly spoken to each other in years. When she saw him at an event she tried avoiding him as much as she could. Perhaps it was a cowardice move, but she did not want him to know that what she felt towards him wasn't indifference. After so many years, that is what it should be, she knew that, but he wouldn't let her forget him with the continuous gifts. At least that is what she blamed it on. Although his transgression happened many years ago. It wasn't just her ego that had been hurt it had been her heart too. That had been something she never fully got over. Why was he saying all of these things, openly admitting to wanting to see her again? Telling her it was good she was back.. it had been much easier when they hadn't talked and all their communication was the notes he sometimes left alongside his gifts. ""Thanks. "She sighed, rolling her eyes. Hopefully that was it for accidental run ins, but London was quite small she supposed. "You would."

There was once a time he knew everything about Serra. Not only what she liked or didn't, but she wanted in life, and for a few brief and good moments, he was one of those things. Maybe through the act of sending her so many gifts, she would want him again. So far, it hadn't worked in his favor, but he had no mind to buy more. Perhaps eventually, she would have an entire collection of his gifts, enough to fit into a closet. And Malcolm? He would ask for nothing in return. Malcolm's face twisted uneasily, not thinking her words would have much effect on him, but now he was taking it personally to his core. "Emerald," he echoed, the request tasting easy in his mouth. "I can do that. And if I don't see you until then...welcome back to London. I am glad you are back. And I wouldn't mind accidentally running into you again."

"I am never second best." Her ego wouldn't allow it, what she lacked in ego she made up for in delusion. "I do not mind spending a few hours in your company. You shower me with attention, but alas I do need to make my rounds to please my parents. Wouldn't want anyone telling them I am antisocial. I am here to represent them and our name after all." She was an only child, her parents had struggled getting pregnant and had always wanted a son to take over the business. Now it fell onto her cousin on her dad's side as she had no plans to work. "I shall let you know, but I do believe no one would dare. Except my cousin Alara, but she is another story. I can handle her."

"Of course, the second best would not do. How would you like to spend the evening? I would not mind spending it with you, but that can wait until after the wedding, it would be a crime to monopolize your attention for too long, social butterfly that you are. Well perhaps just a few hours?" Antonin squeezed Serra's arm and took her hand. He looked at some of the gossipers noting faces in case he heard anything too damning come to surface later. "Just tell me if you need your honor defended it's been a while since I had a good duel, but blasting the proper respect into someone is often considered taboo at weddings, don't ask how I know."

"That's good. I'm glad to hear it." Being a good host was important, even if technically her parents were hosting this birthday party and she was the guest of honor she felt like hostess duties did apply to her. "I speak French fluently so I had no issues there." She exclaimed quite proudly. "I was shadowing a french designer, learning her craft. It was quite educational." Fashion had always interested her. "I suggest getting them started on lessons early, it is much easier to learn a language as a child."

"I'm sure she is," Rabastan replied without hesitation, knowing that Alecto would simply make her own fun if she were bored. At her latter assessment, he laughed, quiet yet clipped. "Some of us are better made for the limelight, it seems. Do tell me about Paris. What were you doing there and have you learned any French? I will take my children when they're older. It's important they know their roots."

"I would be less disappointed if she got anything." Serra grimaced, a pitying expression on her face and not bothering to hide it. Of course she thought she was better than that one, she thought she was better than most people in attendance. "Feathers were more of a 60s thing. And even then you can be tasteful about it. Oh you're absolutely right, they reek of cheap imitation, least she could have done was charm them to lay flat."

Sipping on her Gin Astra took a careful glance to the women that Serra had eyes over, her eyebrows raised in utter dismay before tutting her lips.

"Well, not everyone can have it all I'm afraid. I guess whoever she got the dress isn't a very knowledgeable in the world of fashion, if so they would have told her the feather tread died a long time ago."

She glance over once more before finishing her statement. "Then again, from this angle those feathers look awfully cheap. No doubt fake. At least, in my opinion."