Liadan was still having a hard time believing that she was intending to make peace with Dolly St. James and that she had put so much thought and effort into the task. Her official birthday present- the publicly presented one- had been a lovely collection of spirits of Ireland. But Liadan knew that it would take much more than a collection of expensive liquor to convince Dolly that she genuinely wanted to bury the hatchet.

After some asking around, Liadan had discovered that Dolly was in the guest house. She had a small, velvet box in hand and was wearing a simple white dress for the day. Not exactly seasonally appropriate, but it was comfortable, and Liadan knew that she would be spending the days inside. She was pointed in the direction of the bedroom where Dolly currently was and knocked gently upon the door. Liadan had no idea how this interaction was going to go- and had worries that it would not go well at all. Liadan had been particularly nasty to Dolly in the past... Not necessarily to her face, but the way you talked about someone like Dolly behind their backs would get back to them.

When she heard Dolly's voice instruct her to come in, Liadan came through the door and quietly shut it behind her. "I hope I'm not intruding," Liadan said, trying to keep her tone quiet. For some reason she thought even her presence might put Dolly on the defensive. "I wanted to bring you a gift- something a bit more special for your birthday. I was also hoping you might spare a little time for us to talk for a while."

Post-Brunch and gifting Dolly needed a bit of a lie down, or to just get away from Dominik's scowling face for awhile. It was meant to be a languid day anyway, then tonight they'd all don their finest and celebrate her glorious birth all over again. Her mother had come for a short time, long enough to drop and icy kiss on her cheek and chat with Nora a bit. Frankly it was exhausting being the center of attention this prolonged period of time. Dolly liked to glitter and shine but three days of having most of the focus be on her; from people she had dated, slept, with, couldn't stand, or hardly knew... she just shook her head as she removed the pins from her hair and kicked off her heels.

Liadán Ó Móráin was just about the last person on the planet she thought would come knocking on her door. Dolly knew she'd be at the party, the brunch, the black tie event - but not out of any real love or respect for the birthday girl. She would be there because she was trying to repair her image and a little good press never hurt anyone. To say the two had had a contentious relationship would not exactly be true. Lia said hateful things, and if Dolly had been the kind if person to care when people said hurtful things then it would have been contentious. Dolly wasn't that kind of Witch though; she had lived her life and made her choices, she had her demons to fight but what Pureblood Society thought of her had never been one of them.

When the petite blonde let herself into the room Dolly tilted her head to one side, curious. The Irish spirits had been a nice enough thought - really getting Dolly alcohol could put most people in her favorable graces. Even though she had cut back considerably, there was the collection aspect of it that not many people knew she enjoyed. Her favorite place to hide when at the family Villa Marittima was the wine cellar. She had done some of her best drinking and writing there. Liadán's voice brought her back to the moment, the box in her hand, and the idea of an actual conversation between the two of them. She had been perfectly polite the last two days but Dolly wondered what was going on behind those baby blues of the blonde.

"Of course, Lia. Come, sit," she gestured to the two chairs a few feet from the bed, her other hand ridding her hair of the bothersome pins and shaking out the dark locks. "Would you like some tea? I'm still utterly stuffed from brunch but I'm sure Bonkzie wouldn't mind," despite what people thought Dolly had mastered social graces and polite conversation ages ago. She just found it all terrible boring, but on the off chance Ó Móráin was up to something tricky Dolly played along. In a way, given the other woman's recent run ins with the law and whatever was going on with her farm, not to mention the family's general disgrace over the whole Declan thing from years ago, her visit wasn't completely surprising.

She needed a reputation boost, Dolly wasn't stupid. Of course, it might have been that having gone through all the things she had recently and feeling the sting of public rejection and brutal judgment had given the younger witch pause to consider, and she truly wanted to make amends. Leaning forward, her chin resting on her palm, diamond bracelet (a gift from Cam earlier in the day) catching the afternoon light as it dangled from her wrist, her voice was smooth, warm and inviting despite how guarded she felt in the moment. "We've ages before I have to start trying to pour myself into tonight's dress. What's on your mind"? The dark haired witched reached for her cigarette case and held it open for the blonde, well sculpted eyebrow arched as she waited.

"No thank you, I don't think I could hold anymore after brunch, either." Liadan knew that tea would just be something to distract her from the task at hand. She would end up spending too much time deciding the right amount of sugar for her tea, or the right amount of cream, or honey. Then she'd spend far too long choosing the right biscuit. No, tea would only be an unwelcome distraction. Liadan knew that such long pauses could be easily misconstrued during conversation.

She took the seat which was offered, carefully smoothing out her dress after she was perched on the edge of the seat. Liadan couldn't help the scrutinizing look she gave to Dolly- slightly surprised at the warm welcome, wondering if perhaps she was so transparent that Dolores had already deduced the meaning behind the visit.

Liadan did not miss the sparkling diamonds around Dolly's wrist, the piece was beautiful. Of course, Liadan would be surprised to see any (supposedly) well bred witch wearing a cheap or less than tasteful bit of jewelry. Especially someone whose life was so constantly in the public eye. She rested the box on the table between the, running her fingers through her hair. Liadan shook her head when Dolly offered her a cigarette. "No thank you." Liadan did not smoke. It was a habit she had avoided. Her mother and father would have disapproved. Besides, she had tried it once, and disliked the taste and the way the smoke had caught in her chest.

Liadan spent a few moments adjusting the way her dress was gathered around her legs, unsure of originally planned direct approach... But Dolly did not strike Liadan as a witch who would have her time wasted, and thought that perhaps Miss St. James might actually appreciate Liadan getting right down to "business" rather than mucking about with small talk that mattered little.

"I was unsure about attending your birthday festivities," Liadan finally spoke. "Our relationship has never been a particularly good one- something that I know I must take the blame for. As I am sure you are aware, this has been a particularly horrible year for me. The last few months I have spent keeping myself at home, out of the public eye. I have given much thought to the direction which my life was headed, and the poor decisions which I have made to bring it to that point. I have made the decision to make attempts to put my life in sorts. I would much prefer staying out of trouble rather than getting into more of it."

"I have been horrid to you, Dolly." If Dolly was going to call her Lia- something that normally was reserved for the closest of friends- Liadan assumed that she was equally at ease to use the informal nickname of Dolly. "And I cared little about that until recently. There is no use to lie or to make excuses for my behavior. You and I would both know them to be false."

"But I have come to realize in the last few months that I have very few true friends. Merely associates or business contacts or acquaintances. It is... a terrible feeling to realize that I have managed to estrange so many people in society- for whatever frivolous excuses I thought reasonable at the time. My mother always taught me that pureblood women ought to stick together- that you needed confidantes you could more or less trust. Yet I find myself with Melanthe and Charlotte and nobody else..."

Liadan was surprised that she was being so candid. Parts of this speech were rehersed, yes, but it was all honest and did come from the heart. "I need to rebuild many of the bridges which I have burned. Life has been awfully lonely as of late. And I saw this as a great opportunity to try to extend an apology to you. And perhaps, if you are willing, a chance to kindle some kind of friendship."

Dolly's lips were drawn together, hiding her genuine surprise that the other witch would be so willing to own up to her faults and mistakes. She found herself even more surprised to be sympathizing with the other woman. It wasn't that Dolly had ever particularly delighted in Liadán's misfortune, it was more a sense of justice. The young woman was obviously reaping the poisonous seeds she had sewn. Dolly though the fall of an witch or wizard came down to the sort of life they had led, that there was such a thing as cosmic retribution. She wasn't self absorbed enough to think the nasty judgmental things that the other woman had said about her were the reason she had fallen so far from grace; but that behavior was indicative of much a much deeper flawed way of thinking, and that way of thinking had been what proved to be Lia's undoing.

Snapping the cigarette case shut she gave a short nod of her head. She understood it all in a way that she'd never be able to express, having nearly lost Dazmond - no matter how desperately she kept trying to repair the friendship the trust was gone. She had booted Dominik from her life, while she adored Darian she knew better than to think he understood any of the emotional implication of her life. For all her posturing Dolly's heart was big, capable of great love and forgiveness. Darian didn't have that problem, he loved himself best of all and so long as Dolly remembered that they were alright. Clearing her throat she gave the other witch a small sad smile, "It hasn't been an easy year for any of us, I'm afraid". She didn't go into detail, her pain had been more private than public; losing Tabitha and everything that had happened in April...

Taking a deep breath she placed both hands on the table and squared her shoulders, looking the other woman in the eye, "Friendship and trust take time to cultivate. You understand that, for what it's worth I believe you're sincere and I appreciate your willingness to be so candid. Strangely enough I find myself in a similar place, I've just had the luxury of dealing with it behind closed doors," her voice was gentle without being condescending - were such a thing possible. Toying with the ring around her middle finger she considered what she could say next, she didn't completely trust the other witch, it would be stupid to open herself up to what could be an attack - though she failed to see what Liadán would get out of it. "I am more than willing to accept this olive branch you offer - on the condition you understand that being your friend is not going to change the way I live my life".

She settled back in her chair, crossing her legs carefully as she pressed the tips of her fingers together eyeing the other woman, "I know that there is much of what I do that you don't approve of, I happen to be of the opinion that a Witch has a right to live her life as she sees fit. I will grant that many of the things you seemed to take such issue with I no longer engage in myself for personal reasons, however, genuine friendships take time to cultivate and nothing causes them to wither and die faster than fear of judgment. I happen to live my life by my own moral code rather than the indoctrination so many Purebloods fall victim to. That's something you're going to have to accept if we're going to even attempt a friendship," her voice was gentle but firm as she finished, lips pressed together, "I can help you, I can be the kind of friend you need, but acceptance and support from you will be expected in equal measure". 

"I do understand that," Liadan agreed. "I do not expect us to be the best of friends overnight. But I would like to try to, at the very least, find some common ground and something a step above civility." Normally Liadan would considered civility more than satisfactory when it came to reparing damaged relationships. But her judgment had been right- Dolly did appreciate her honesty, and seemed to identify with the struggles that Liadan had been going through. And there had been a lot of them.

But it would not be a conversation between purebloods if there were not rules, stipulations, and almost contractual agreements to be had before attempting even as simple an endeavor as being friends. Dolly bluntly stated that she did things that Liadan did not approve of... Which, in the past, would be an understatement. However, as she had learned even before Dolly confessed it, she didn't partake in many of those activities anymore...

She was currently dating a pureblood, Liadan had heard. Not just any, but Cameron Rosier and he was quite a powerful man indeed. Liadan found him pleasant, and  with her recent interactions with the DMLE had found she rather liked the man. He was handsome, capable, and in a position which most women would clamor to be attached to. It was the next best thing, after all, to being romantically linked to the Minister of Magic. She had read less in the tabloids lately of Dolly being a partier and a possible philanderer. It seemed the woman had taken to keeping a rather low profile, her celebrity being set aside. Liadan appreciated that.

"If you can agree to be equally as supportive, I believe I could manage it. I pride myself on being the sort of pureblood that my family would be proud of- and hardly consider myself a victim of indoctrination. I shall keep my distaste and comments to myself- if you can respect the fact that I am the product of my upbringing and that I intend to reclaim my place in society as a capable pureblood witch."

"I need to make changes in my life, Dolly. Many of my old circle- to be quite blunt- are not strangers to skirting the law. If I intend to keep myself out of trouble, and away from scrutiny I must change my social circle. Associating with those who would lead me to temptation could be my ultimate downfall. That I have somehow managed to avoid a cell in Azkaban is nothing short of a miracle. To stay out of that place, I need friends who are equally determined to stay out of that kind of trouble. I am very truly trying to change my ways- but it is very hard. You are a woman who grew up in our world. I have had to adapt, and become strong to hold my own. Unfortunately, I sought strength and success in dark corners."

Liadan pushed the velvet box across the table toward Dolly. "I am fully aware that this seems like a bribe- but I assure you, that it is not. I intended to give you only one gift. However, when shopping, I found this. It made me think of you- it seemed to be in your tastes and thus, I bought it for you. Let us consider it the physical manifestation of the olive branch which I am extending?" Inside of the box was a diamond tiara with matching hair clips. It was a beautifully crafted piece. And since it was Dolly's birthday, she deserved to feel like a princess. Liadan had always thought a beautiful tiara was necessary to feel like all eyes were on you.

Dolly nodded in agreement with Lia, "I think, as women especially, in a patriarchal society we have to find ways to cope, to stand on our own. You and I are not so different, we just happened to differ in our attempts. I understand and can accept you are who you are because of the culture we were raised in. It isn't easy. I've burned my fair share of bridges, but I've also amassed my own wealth completely separate from the family fortune. I've stood on my own two feet for the better part of a decade - needing neither family nor a man to do it... but I did have friends," there was a sort of wistful sound to the word as it left her lips. Friends, yes, the strange and sad fact was Landis (currently the only person left from her old life she still trusted implicitly, even if they didn't like one another) wouldn't even take part in the weekend's revelry.

Again her smile was sad, but understanding, as the younger witch admitted that many of her friends were less than savory. She thought of Dazmond, the Wiedmans in general really. They were all connected to the darkness of the Wizarding Worlds past. She loved Dianora and Alec but they'd sent their only son in on what would turn out to be the wrong side of the war. Vaguely she wondered if Nora had meant it when she had openly (though possibly inadvertently) called their choices mistakes. "It's difficult to disengage, to change a life path once it's been chosen. Look at Dom," she gave another small sigh, her brows knitting together, "No matter how many chances he's given he dooms himself to repeat the same mistakes again and again because he isn't willing to see how his actions perpetuate his misery".

She said this, not to just completely stomp all over Dominik because she had the chance, but to illustrate a point to Liadán. She knew the two of them were chummy, it had never particularly bothered her before and it bothered her less now (were such a thing possible). "You have to be careful who you surround yourself with. Some people, despite the love we feel for them, or the history that feels as though it binds us to them, are sinking ships we have to swim away from if we want to survive. In a sense you have to change your people, places, and things if you want to fully repair your reputation. After the attacks in March I had to take stock of my life, of what I had lost, of how careless I had been with people," she was sharing this with the other woman to show her she really did understand the struggle to change, the self examination that painful process took. It was a show of good faith, a seed of truth to nurse into friendship.

Of course Liadán had a much grander gesture in the velvet box that she pushed toward Dolly. The elder witch could hardly contain her pleased surprised as she lifted the tiara from the box to let it catch the light, "For someone who has not been my friend you certainly understand my taste, it's lovely Lia. I'll wear it tonight," she shifted her blue eyes to the blonde, her smile genuine. It would be a slow dance between them to build some sort of relationship beyond civility - and it really wasn't as though Dolly could be bought. It was the gesture, the thought, choosing any sort of jewelry or piece for another woman took careful thought. You had to understand their style preferences, the weight her frame could hold. So many men made the mistake of thinking bigger was better, heavy neck pieces cluttered with too many stones. Lia had excellent taste.

Carefully setting the tiara back in the box she closed the lid, "For most of the next year and a half I'll be working on my final book. I tend to shut away from society when I'm really working, but with the Holiday Season coming up I am sure there are several parties and gatherings it wouldn't hurt for you to be seen at. For me, all press is good press, because the gossip fuels interest in my books, it keeps my name in the paper. Cam hates it of course because Witch Weekly is already speculating that we're all but engaged and I'm probably with child - neither of which is true by the way. For you, we'll have to be more strategic. You need to be seen distancing yourself from people connected to the Wizarding underbelly. We'll set up a lunch, next week sometime? Maybe go to Calavera's or somewhere, I'll invite a few people and we'll take it from there. When rehabilitating an image it's important to try and seem... personable and approachable".

Liadan frowned slightly. Was Dolly insinuating that Liadan had not stood on her own two feet? She had taken over the family business upon her graduation. Her parents had died. Her brother had been disinherited years ago. Liadan had been doing things by herself for more than a few years at this point. She had brought up the reputation of her business- though she had nearly ruined it again the last few months, Liadan was dedicated to repairing it. The business was something that was hers, now. And she knew after she finally got married that it would be the only thing that truly was hers.

"It is hard to maintain close friendships when we live our lives in the public eye." Dolly's life was much more public than her own, that was true, but as wealthy socialites their business was everyone else's business in the wizarding world. "Especially when you consider that we are taught to treat our companions more like associates." It was easier to hold people at arm's length than to let them into your life.

"Poor Dominik," Liadan said. "He seems to want to make a better life for himself, but doesn't quite know how. Or isn't quite willing to put in the work. Whatever the reasons, it is hard to see him so upset. He was one of the first to come comfort me in my time of need- and I saw a side of him that I had never witnessed before. I cherish my friendship with him. Though there is only so much advice I can give, only to watch it tossed by the wayside as his infatuations and emotions overcome his capabilities for reason." Liadan sighed a little, and shrugged. "He has so much potential that he simply squanders."

Liadan was pleased that Dolly liked the tiara. It had been a simple sort of elegance. Dolly might be a bit showy, but as pureblood women had an appreciation for refined tastes. Besides, wearing a tiara on your birthday was natural- but an understated tiara was more appropriate considering their ages.

"I've been trying to distance myself," Liadan confessed to Dolly. "I'm attempting to rekindle my relationship with Oscar. Though that is on unsure footing. I fear I made quite a fool of myself the last few months where he is concerned... But my closest friends have always been Melanthe and Charlotte. I know that my business has come under scrutiny due to my own poor decisions and choices. If I can convince the public we are still producing quality products, legally, for fair prices that would help. But the tainted ingredients getting out nearly ruined us. Of course, I shall probably hire someone to help repair the business image. Being seen at events can only do so much for that."

Personable and approachable. That had always been a problem for Liadan. She was an arrogant, elitist witch. Were she taller, she would take great pleasure in literally looking down her nose at everyone. "I've been wanting to plan a charity gala for St. Mungo's," Liadan said to Dolly. "I had discussed with one of the head healers trying for Halloween- but my own personal engagements refocused my attentions elsewhere. I would really like to arrange a very public, very noteworthy, and very humbling sort of event. I've considered picking up that mantle again, and doing a large winter event. I think having my name behind something so beneficial to the wizarding world would help."