Status: For @thelionshrt Location: Malfoy Wedding

"That is good, I am glad to hear it." Serra said, without lying for the sake of politeness. She did not wish ill upon him, the ending of their liasion much more amicable than the one she had with Malcolm. "I have enjoyed Paris very much I must admit, I did not expect to have to be back in London so soon, but my parents insisted." She sighed, shrugging her shoulders. Defying them was not an option. Her eyes shined with excitement when she took in the diamond bracelet. It was gorgeous, more understated than expected but she understood his reasoning once he explained it. It made sense, that way she could wear it every day without it becoming stale.

"I like it. Thank you. You chose well. Did Leta help you with it or did you choose it yourself?" She trusted the other witch's taste.

Antonin’s brow furrowed as if recounting recent events.  He laughed.  “I have been busy, but well enough, I appreciate you asking, but know you’d much rather talk about your adventures.  Paris seems to have agreed with you.  I’m sure you didn’t come back just to celebrate your birthday, you must have something juicy to gossip about.”   He gave Serra a soft smile still toying with the small box almost tucking it away.  “I bet you were born with a sparkle in your eyes weren’t you?  A token.“  He relented, opening the box to show her a diamond bracelet.  The stones were a good size and cut enough to add to an outfit without drawing focus from it. “Something for every occasion. I’m sure you could pull off anything sparkly enough, but why give a gift whose only use is to fill a box.”

@alaraselwyn

"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.”

Knowing how to handle herself in a public setting was something she had been taught at a young age, never losing her cool and keeping a mask of passive indifference even if her enotions were going haywire. She hadn't expected to run into Malcolm, they'd successfully managed to avoid each other for years and now here was right in front of her, thinking he could talk to her like nothing happened. How dare he? Sure the presents were nice and she was currently wearing a bracelet he'd sent to her a couple of months ago, but that didn't mean she'd forgiven him, it was not the jewellery's fault that he was a cheater. "I look good everywhere." She dismissed his compliment. "No one liked her anyways, so they're all over it by now." Serra crossed her arms, having to look up to keep eye contact, but not wavering. "What do you want?"

At first, Malcolm thought that he saw a ghost and when he realized it was really Serra, he opted for a ghost instead. It had been years since he saw her, doing his best to keep his distance and not cross paths. It was a moment of relief when he was told that she went to Paris. Malcolm would have done the same thing if he had a family member who dismantled the family name. He was glad to not have any siblings any only a few well-behaved cousins. Malcolm also thought that the Loire Valley would've been his choice if he were fleeing from domestic disputes. But it was because of Serra being in Paris that he was forced to readdress the first gift there and after that, he sent messages to French boutiques to send her locally designed jewelry and clothes. "Well, you look much better in London than in Paris," he commented, not shying from offering a compliment. It was only an innate reaction. "You're still saying her name? I can't help but feel sorry for the rest of the family. I hope they're well."

"Resplendent is a great choice of compliments. I like it. I would also take stunning or breath taking." Serra smirked, feeling comfortable in the public eye. She saw people whispering when she came in with Antonin, their matching outfits adding fuel to the fire. Not that she minded. Appearances were important and what would it look like if her date's outfit clashed with hers?

Where:Fulsom Palace Who: @serraborgin Antonin arrived linked arm in arm with Serra. She was as resplendent as she said she would be, he liked to think he added a little something pairing his own outfit and playing the small part in picking out her own. Tonight would be interesting. He gave her a peck on the cheek. She was on top of the world was it right to ruin that with a bit of truth? "You look resplendent. Even able to pull off a dated accessory like me."

When they were children, Serra didn't mind Alara's company. In fact she had even welcomed it as they were around the same age and she would finally have someone to play with that wasn't a maid or a house elf. Growing up as an only child was only and when she saw her cousin running around with her two older siblings she'd gotten jealous. Jealousy had always been the root of their issues, not that Serra would have ever admitted that aloud. "Oh I have a nail appointment in a couple of hours, I could move it to give it to you. You look like you need it." She grimaced, looking down at Alara's hands. "Please. My hair is never flat." Serra scoffed, making a mental note to get out her pocket mirror once Alara left. To make sure. That's all. "How should I know?"

Alara didn't understand why her cousin hated her so much, but over the years, it slowly started to build up on her side. It was how princess behaviour irked her. Serra had never worked a day in her life and expected to be pampered. She could be biased, but that was her opinion anyway. "We wouldn't want you to break a nail." A coy smile etches onto her lips. "Your hair is your best feature? Aiming low." Shrug of her shoulders. "Seems a little flat today." This was the last person she wanted to see. "Is Rafealla around?"

It was a scary thought, opening up to him again. She'd kept herself and her heart away from him purposefully, for many years now, as she'd worried about the power he had over her. They were like magnets, pulling towards each other, helpless to do anything against it. Was it the same for him? She wondered. Did he feel the same way she did? Still, she was too proud to show him how much he affected her. Of course she wanted him too, she thought a part of her would always want him, it was in her nature. He had only gotten more handsome in their time apart, the dark blue of his suit bringing out his eyes. She had only half listened when he spoke about traitors and nodded her agreement, distracted by how close he was standing. "You want me? Prove it." Her tone was playful, a hint of a challenge in it. She wasn't planning on making it this easy for him, she wanted him to put in the effort to get her back. Him giving her the upper hand in the wedding planning was a good start, she'd always known how she wanted her wedding to look like. The groom in her childhood fantasies had always been him as she grew up and he had broken her heart she had pushed those thoughts away. "I know what I want."

Malcolm couldn't remember what he had for breakfast on a good day so it wasn't a surprise that he couldn't pinpoint the exact timeline of him and Charity. There was a part of him that did remember, but it was all a haze that got lost under a weird thrill. Malcolm knew that Serra meant every word that she said and he would be the fool if he didn't believe her. It wasn't about being careful. He would've wanted this even if there wasn't a contract binding them together. "Trust me, I understand what can happen to a family's reputation. There's traitors making a mess of society and I'm glad none of them are here. I want this, I want you," he says. "I've wanted you and I wouldn't do anything to change that again." Maybe this wasn't the best place to have this conversation, but he had yet to ask if this was what she wanted. She probably had a line of suitors wishing for her hand, but they weren't the ones standing in front of her right now. "Oh, I do not question how green might look on you, but I was referencing the floral arrangements. We can plan whatever you want. I've heard that Emir had little to say in the arrangements here and look how good it turned out."

"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."

"I suppose it is?" Serra's eyebrows furrowed together for a second, confused as to why he was asking but dismissed it quickly. "Oh I heard what happened to hear. It is quite a shame that her betrothal fell through. It was so many years in the making after all. Oh you mean you want me to watch you duel? I can do that." Serra wasn't a good dueller herself, but she figured she didn't need to be. It's not like she was fighting in the war.

Her smile widened from his compliments. She enjoyed talking to him and dancing with him. "Thank you for the compliment. I am careful with the things I care about." Which mainly involved her appearance, but to her that was extremely important. Appearances mattered. "You should know I am better than all of them." Serra's tone matter of fact, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Not at all. I like talking to you. I don't think you are boring." They had liking to talk in common, especially when it came to her favorite subject: herself.

"Transfiguration is good as is potions. I swear by Valeria Flint, unfortunate circumstances surrounding the woman but wonderful for poisons and potions. I dabble in a bit of everything, anything that might give me an edge in dueling or seems fun, perhaps I could show you sometime? As far as transfiguration I think my greatest feat is summoning ropes, a nice trick especially if you can do so wordlessly, though it is important to get the gestures perfect and have a good bond with your wand." Antonin looked into Serra's eyes losing himself in them. "You surprise me though, those are both very precise magics. I pride myself at being able to read people, but you surprise me, I find that refreshing, you are not a boring woman or shallow, something to be treasured especially among most eligible ladies on offer." He looked pointedly at a few other guests around the dancefloor. "I hope you don't find me too much of a boor, I've been told I enjoy the sound of my own voice perhaps a bit too much, but I find you are easy to talk to."

"Are they?" She scoffed shaking her head. "I can assure you my personal owl is looked after much better by my house elf. "Well obviously I am charming and beautiful so people will not think of my owl, but some people need all the help they can get. So making a good first impression matters."

"The post owls are well looked after." Well-looked after enough, anyways. They certainly had more muscle mass. "I get that, sure. But once someone meets you, it's not like they'll spend all their time comparing you to whatever owl brought them a letter."