Dominik hunched forward, eagerly awaiting her reaction to his toying 'round the issue of art and folly.  He wanted to gauge her reaction to both things - his hidden artistic talent as well as his status as bachelor within the greater community - and only belatedly did he realize how he had danced away from the former and towards the latter topic, perhaps to ease the pressure.  Instead of baring his soul, it did seem safer to see how far he had to go to be the marrying type - if he was really going for a finer caliber woman.  Now, Dolores St. James was probably another issue altogether, he realized that; in order to repair damages done and be seen as fresh and inviting again to her... well, it was probably ten times more difficult a pursuit than trying to fit into a very structured mold and do very plain-to-figure actions to secure a respectful... wife with which to mate.

He had thought about it before, naturally, and knew that he would love to have his children with Dolores.  Aside from a million and nine other reasons why, they were sure to be adorable.  But he knew it was far to reach, to expect that to happen still.  Maybe courting others and getting ready for the next step in his life would prepare him for Dolly.  He wasn't sure any more.  One thing present on his mind was the fact that he needed structure.  He'd spent all Summer bumbling 'round trying to figure himself out, and hadn't gotten far at all.

Liadan was slow to start, clearly using some amount of tact in her navigation of his feelings.  Nothing wrong with art, she seemed to say, mentioning her cousin Lothario - who was, indeed, quite a successful and handsome Wizard, when you forgot about the fact of his recent run-in with the Law.  Dominik nodded, making mental notes to himself.  He couldn't remember ever seeing wild and moody artistic catharsis being paraded around in their community, least of all by respectfully matured pure-blooded men, but Lothario did have a thing going.  Briefly he imagined himself with long hair pulled back in a ponytail, dressed in a sleek black suit, but then he was distracted by Liadan beginning to address his second question. 

"Yeah?" he said, a silly grin appearing.  His enthusiasm was somewhat tempered by her further elaboration, which certainly seemed hopeful that he would direct his affections elsewhere.  He tilted his head - squinting at her and letting himself wonder, if only for a moment, what being married to her might look like.  "You're way out of my league," he said with some amusement.  "But thank you for not telling me it was absolutely impossible.  Better to reach for the stars, yeah?"  Dominik winked at her.  He wasn't trying to be vulgar. 

Turning from amused to pensive once again, Dominik turned his gaze to the ceiling, puffed his cheeks out and released the air slowly.  Then he went to problem-solving.  "So," he said.  "If I was to take one of your daisies out, or seven, are there... specific ways on how to court them that you might share?  I mean, I'd like to know, say, what you expect of a Wizard who you might like to marry.  And is it acceptable to - I dunno - to be courting multiple Witches while I figure it all out?  Throw myself in the dating pool, so to speak?  Or, to the wolves, more-like.  Bless me, Lia, I'm bloody hopeless, you know.  If you want to go right now, I wouldn't stop yeh." 

He should have known all of this already, really.  Sadly, he didn't.  But he was sure Liadan would.     

Liadan was flattered when Dominik claimed that she would be reaching for the stars. "I assure you, Dominik, I am not quite the level of the heavens. My affections are simply placed elsewhere. There is a wizard of whom I am quite fond, and have found myself hoping that perhaps I will find myself married soon. I trust you will keep this strictly between us, as you know how gossip tends to go in our circles. Suffice it to say that Liadan O Morain is, in her own opinion, a taken woman."

"If I were on the market, I would- at the very least- give you a chance to prove your charm and your mettle. And, if you were to fall short, I would coach you on how to improve. I care very much about your well being and your future, and I am certain your family would appreciate what help they could get with you."

Liadan arched a brow at him- yet again- when he added or seven to that sentence. She paused, pondering his question. "It is not unacceptable, in my opinion. I find that it is normal for a single witch to be courted by multiple men, it would only make sense that those men had their sights set on more than one lady- as surely they could not all hope to marry the same one. However, if you were to take out one of my relatives, I would prefer you only choose one... at a time, at least. Things get tricky when dating within the same family." She had witnessed this first hand while staying in France.

She waved her hand, dismissing his offer for her to leave. "I am quite content to chat with you about the ending of your seeming perpetual bachelorhood, Dominik. I am quite relieved, actually, to hear you have given true thought to your future."

"As far as what I expect of a wizard I would like to marry..." Liadan trailed off, smiling faintly to herself as she thought of Oscar. "Purity is first and foremost in my mind. An appropriate pedigree and a family worthy of association is always a plus. Of course, ladies always attempt to marry up in society. Good looks are a benefit. A man who is handsome will always find it easier with the ladies. Appropriately aged. Young men seem a bit flighty. I would never consider marrying a man unless he was older than I- and I have come to find men who are thirty or older are more attractive." Many of these things seemed to describe Dominik already. "Of course there is the matter of how successful he is. A good job, and if he is unemployed, a bottomless vault at Gringotts. I have no intentions of supporting a husband on my own fortune. Responsibility, intelligence, charm, wit..."

"Of course, not every man is going to possess every quality that a woman is looking for. Many will compromise on some things if the others win them over. You, Dominik, are quite endearing. You are thoughtful and you care very much how others perceive you and of their feeling- at least, this is how I have come to know you- and many women appreciate that."

Liadan reached forward, and patted his hand gently. "You are not nearly as hopeless as you seem to think that you are. If you simply had a different occupation you would be absolutely perfect for almost any lady in society."

Dominik's face lit up in surprise and intrigue.  Liadan had settled on who she was going to marry?  His lopsided smile seemed to say he was happy for her, but it did look a bit disappointed as well. 

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it; won't say a thing, love," he reassured her.  Dominik was almost as bad about gossiping as was Liadan, if you got him in the right circles, and he was already dying to know who it was that she was interested in, but he knew at least how to try to stay out of other people's business.  Sometimes.

"Who is the lucky Wizard, then?" said Dominik.  Cocking his head, he felt it really was impossible to simply not ask.  Ridiculous as it might have been, he was actually starting to feel the littlest bit jealous, too.  If she'd have coached him and not asked him to be in love but just to do and say the right things and make of it some kind of business relationship... well!  And they got along smashingly, didn't they?  It wouldn't be a bad deal, at all.  What was it she said was what most people could only hope for?  Mutual respect and affection?  Why did she have to be settled on someone else, then?  It wasn't fair, was it? 

Dominik couldn't help but think of Dolores and how she 'courted' several men while expecting him to remain celibate or something.  That wasn't fair, either, he thought.  Of course he should be able to date around, if nothing else it would get him out of his habit of fascination.  He nodded at her mention of dating only one Witch per family, at least.  That could get messy rather quickly, couldn't it.  Dominik wouldn't dare date anybody who was related to Dolly, for instance.  It was weird enough that they all felt like his sisters to begin with. 

Of the things Liadan mentioned as being most important, Dominik thought he only wanted for a decent job and a greater sense of responsibility.  Everything else he thought he had, to some degree or other.  And she thought that he was 'quite endearing'!  How about that!  Everything she had said just then was glowing and kind.

"Thank you, Liadan," he said deliberately and sincerely.  "It means a great deal, coming from you," he told her.  He sighed.    "I do appreciate your help.  As I've said before, it isn't an easy transition to make.  Weird as it is, I think I've rather come to like playing the villain.  Now I'm mostly just trying to figure out who I really am, and what comes next.  I do want a Witch all my own to settle down with.  You really don't think love factors into it at all?"

Liadan hesitated for a moment when Dominik asked who the lucky wizard was. But she trusted him to keep things to himself. And it wasn't exactly a secret that she had been seeing Oscar. Liadan was generally rather open with her extracurricular activities, and if her closest girlfriends knew she could see little harm in letting Dominik in on the secret. "I've been seeing Oscar Whitman," she finally told him. "I had gone a date with him before- at Melly's request- but got sidetracked by Vedir Prideaux for a while. Oscar sent me flowers every day until he got to see me again, it was quite romantic. He even visited me when I was-" Liadan paused, frowned. "Well, when I got into that spot of trouble with the ministry."

"He is a charming, handsome man and I find myself quite fond of him." That was likely an understatement. Liadan was more than "quite fond" of Oscar Whitman, but was doing her very best to keep her excitement under control. Things were still precarious, and she was worried it would take very little to ruin the relationship that they were building.

Liadan's smile faltered yet again when he asked if she really thought love didn't factor into things. "I think that it is very rare for two witches and wizards of appropriate match to find themselves in love," she said. "I do not think it is impossible, but I certainly do believe that there is much more to a successful marriage and having a family than simply being in love. I believe that mutual attraction is often the closest many pureblood marriages will come to actually being in love. Though, I do believe that over time they grow to care about one another quite deeply." She might be contradicting herself, but she didn't want to shatter Dominik's hopes. Liadan could easily see herself in love with Oscar given the chance, so if Dominik wanted that then he could find it, too, she supposed- it would just be very difficult and rely quite a bit on luck.

"But I believe that if you genuinely want a witch to settle down with, that you will know the right one when she comes along. And if you don't figure it out on your own sometime soon, your parents will likely figure it out for you and you'll find yourself with a witch you'd rather feed to a dragon."

"Of course, that might be easier. I have often wished my mother and father had lived long enough to arrange my own marriage. Romance is not something I am particularly skilled at. And my standards are almost impossibly high..." She was glad now, however, that it had not happened that way. They would never approve of a divorced man as her husband.

Liadan offered Dominik a sweet smile, and reached foward to pat his arm. "But I shall do what I can to find you a few dates. It is the only way you will be able to learn what you will or will not tolerate from a lady. I will be certain they are very pretty women. It would be such a shame to see a handsome fellow such as yourself tied down to a plain little witch."

Oscar Whitman... he knew the name, at least.  He knew it as one of the notches on Dolores St. James' bedpost, but he wouldn't dare say so in present company.  Better to not let his own bitterness seep through with that, as well. 

"I'm very happy for you, Liadan," said Dominik faithfully.  He was secretly happy, after all, to learn that the Wizard would no longer be bedding with Dolores, at the very least.  And he could only hope that said Wizard was a better match for Liadan O Morain, then; he couldn't fathom doubting her estimation of this.  Dominik was also growing protective enough of Liadan to be ready and eager to destroy any thing that sought to cause her harm or break her proper, impenetrable heart, however.

"I hope it all works out as you wish," he started, "and please do know that I'm always an owl away if you ever need his face bashed in....  Er, as I would only hate to see you disappointed with anything in regards to that.  You do deserve the best," he clarified.  "I'm sure he's the best," he added, then promptly stopped his fidgeting to share an honest look toward her eyes.  If they weren't meant to be man and wife, he would at least be a loving brother towards her, and try to protect her from any foul play.

"Romance, though, there you have it," he commented.  He did remember seeing her house full of flowers.  "I suppose I should get clear on whatever I even mean by that awful four letter word.  Love."  Dominik let it drip from his mouth with mock contempt, trying that attitude on for size.  "I much rather like your take on the whole ordeal, Liadan."  If only he could tame his passions enough to think as clearly as her, he might've ruled the world by now.  It was at least clear that stupid Oscar Whitman knew the proper balance between charming attention and what most of his own lovers considered stalking behaviours.  He was starting to really hate that man!  Not that he even knew him.  But romance, if properly proportioned, could swoon a Witch as reserved as Lia.  He did want to swoon his women. 

"I don't know what I would do if my parents made a deal with another family for me."  Dominik had lowered his voice unintentionally, as though speaking too loudly would cause that very thing to happen.  He looked embarrassed merely at the thought of it.  "I would be horrified to not have a choice in who I marry," he had to admit.  "Even if it isn't lovely or romantic, I'd much prefer to have a say in who I bed with, you know?  And to know that we had mutually agreed it was at least somewhat desirable?"  He looked at Liadan a bit sadly, as though recognizing how very right she was that he had better get to it, then.  "Bugger me," he said.  "My mum and old man'd have good enough taste, I'd expect; I'm just not for it.  Not like that, yeah.  Sometimes traditions are buried for the best, I'd adventure to say."

He allowed himself a bashful smile, then, hungrily drinking up her compliment and enjoying the easy, affectionate nature she sometimes had as her little hand reached out to pat his arm.  "I won't say no to that," he allowed.  "I'm quite aware that you know only the most beautiful women in all the Wizarding World, Lia.  I'll look forward to at least having pretty faces to gaze into as I fumble through some trial and probably a lot of error in this pursuit.  Though I promise to treat your kin with only the finest kind of respect, if I can manage it."  He gave a cocky grin, half laughing at himself for once.

Liadan was surprised when her hand covered her mouth, stifling a laugh when Dominik offered to bash in Oscar's face should he prove to be disappointing. "You're ridiculous, Dominik!" she crowed at him. "The offer is much appreciated, however I do believe I am fully capable of defending myself. My wand can be quite dangerous when I find myself feeling particularly disgruntled. Hopefully Mr. Whitman won't underestimate my magical prowess and find himself on the receiving end of a rather nasty hex." Or a foot to the groin.

"My take is the one taught to me by my mother." Though her mother had been dead for years now, Liadan still maintained the opinion. "She taught me early on not to hope for too much. There are things which outweigh love. I'll admit I let myself get swept away with... feeling... in the past. It found me in a very dangerous place, doing very stupid things, and nearly ruining my reputation and my future. Love is a dangerous thing, Dominik. And powerful. I would much rather not feel giddy and simply feel comfortable and safe. Feelings complicate matters more than they ought to." Not that she zero feelings for Oscar Whitman- but she was keeping them under control and not letting herself get swept away in them.

Liadan blushed when he mentioned having a say in who he would sleep with. Again, with that conversation! There were reasons why so many pureblood men had affairs. Their wife was only there to give them offspring- not for them to enjoy. Of course, Liadan's mother had also taught her if she did not please her husband he would stray elsewhere. She would not want that kind of a scandal on her hands. "I've never had that concern," she said simply. Liadan had never thought for very long about physical relationships with a man. Even at her age she had done little more than kiss a man on the lips. Even that had not been particularly exciting. As a girl she'd liked the idea of a proper snog- as an adult, well... That was something saved for after she was married.

"The only thing I ask, Dominik, is that you do not leave my cousins with any illegitimate wizards wandering about. My family would loathe me if I set them up with a man who left their daughter a pair of twins to dangle on her knee. You had best be on your very best behavior in that manner, whether you find her... suited for bedding or not." Liadan blushed again. She could not believe this conversation was happening quite like this!'

"Now then- tell me the kind of ladies you find attractive. Are there any physical qualities you are particularly fond of? Personalities? I certainly do want the very best for you, but I do not want to set you up with a witch that you want nothing to do with past her good looks."

Dominik laughed with her, touched by a sudden revelation of his tender susceptibilities.  Liadan had quite the wiles about her, he thought.  Endeared by her admission of having a ready wand-hand, he nevertheless made a mental note to himself to keep track of any developments between the two of them, should his interventions be needed.  Notwithstanding the fact that he didn't at all doubt the power of her wrath, he couldn't very well deny the possibility that even Liadan o Morain might find herself some day blinded by love and in need of his help.  He also was sort of itching at the chance to blast any of the less than appropriate fits that had bedded Dolores St. James far into outer space.  Still, he liked a Witch who wasn't hesitant to fend for herself; some sense of severity was exactly what he looked for in a woman.

"That sounds like where I am right now," he mused.  Swept away with feeling, dangerous place, stupid behaviours, ruined reputation and muddied future?  Yeah, sounded about right.  He had to wonder what Liadan was talking about, though.  "When was this?" he asked, not one to suppress his own meddlesomeness.

He shook his head.  That was probably part of his problem.  He liked the precariousness of a messy sort of love, and he was actually quite addicted to that.  Love was a lauded thing in the world his parents brought him up in, and so he had come to be very attached to it.  His attachment was to some baser sort of love, though, one that stemmed from a place of moral turpitude, wickedness, and peccancy.  It was a long, long time ago that he had desired a normal, innocent house-wife for a partner.  Now, he thought, the more virtueless the better, but he wasn't so sure he could admit this to Liadan.

Dominik raised his brows; he hadn't been planning to leave any errant heirs around merely by dating her relatives.  Despite his relative immaturity, and in fact his relative promiscuity, Dominik didn't choose his lovers without discrimination.  "I said I'd date them, I didn't say I'd bonk them," said Dominik.  He grinned.  "I'll be careful," he assured her.  "Promise."

The question of who would be most attractive to him was a more difficult question for him to answer.  He thought immediately of the three Witches who he had been the most devoted to in his life, all three of which he'd had run-ins with in the last year:  Rocio Adair, Niobe Thursby, and Dolores St. James.  They had things in common, but locating what those things were was difficult.  "I'm not sure," admitted Dominik, growing pensive very quickly.  This was quite plainly an important matter to him.  "I suppose I like a Witch who is impetuous," he surmised.  He looked to his mind's core for the answer.  "Maybe a little... extreme.  Confident, and prideful," he gave.  "And dark, like fire in the night.  Do you know anybody like that?"