17 Little London Court
Dolly St. James' Penhouse
Informal Sitting Room
around 3:00PM

It was that time of the month again (no not that time), the full moon time. It didn't matter that there had not been another Direwolf attack since March, or that she knew she was perfectly safe barricaded in her sitting room with the fire going. On the days the full moon fell Dolly simply couldn't focus on anything. Molly had been hovering and dotting, which drove the writer more insane so she'd sent her home for the day. On this particular full moon day she was in luck because one of her favorite romantic inspirations just happened to be stopping over for a spot of tea. Madame Knight had been unable to attend the Author's birthday festivities. Much like Dolly's wayward boyfriend Cam, Aisling had a tendency to work too hard. All would be forgiven however once the elder witch arrived and they had a bit of time to talk.

It was as though Dolly's birthday had been particularly eventful, especially for something that lasted three days. She managed to only threaten to poison Dominik once (she was rather proud of herself)! Her status as claimed women kept her from fully giving into her hedonistic nature. She wasn't about to do something to tarnish Cameron's name. She was perfectly dutiful and dotting, it may have lacked the long burning passion she'd felt for Dominik but passion could get a girl in trouble. Passion got your heart broken, passion kept you from finishing your damn novel because it just didn't feel true anymore. Masked truths, truths that resisted simplicity had always been the core of her storytelling and now... now what did she have? She had Cam, and Sunday breakfasts he was inevitably called away from.

The reality of the day to day seemed to take away from the magic she had thought true love possessed...not that she thought she was in love with Cameron Roiser. That would just be ridiculous. Resting her chin in her hand, blue eyes lingered on the warm fire that flickered and danced over charring wood. She needed to get out of her own head, it wasn't doing her any good sitting here stewing over all the things that had or hadn't panned out. She smiled faintly as Dotters scurried about the room, rolling in a cart teaming with cakes and biscuits, the rattle of good china shaking Dolly from her personal pensive as the door bell clanged loudly. "Please show Mrs. Knight in. I'll serve today," Dolly politely dismissed the house elf and stood to wait in greeting for her guest.

Aisling had come directly from the Ministry. Matters had, fortunately, not been too busy, which made excusing herself a little early easier. That and the extra time she had put in a couple of weeks back. A concussion on a day she was supposed to have off did tend to earn a little flexibility.

The wind outside seemed a bit cold, even accounting for the spectre  of the full moon that evening. Whatever its other attributes, such a moon seemed to carry a chill these days; a chill amplified by the concern Tarron tended to display whenever his wife stayed out late on such nights.

Such made Aisling quite glad to arrive quickly, and safely at Dolly's flat. Her ringing of the door bell was soon answered by the small figure of a house elf, who led her into the sitting room.

"Dolly! You look lovely. It's good to see you again." She smiled.

There was a familiar warmth to seeing Aisling, a comfort that Dolly had never quite been able put to name. It wasn't as though she thought of the woman as a maternal figure, there was just something very peaceful about the elder witch. She exuded a nurturing strength that Dolly had found very much lacking in her life outside of Dinora Wiedman. It was often hard for Dolores to fathom how Knight could be Darian's aunt; adore him though Dolly did...there was no denying the salaciously inclined tendencies of her old friend.

Smiling brightly as she extended her arms toward Aisling (she never had been one to shy away from outward shows of affection) she gave a contented sigh followed by a small laugh, "Oh, this old thing? I wear it whenever I am absolutely dead set on not getting a single word written for the day". She stepped back, holding the other woman at arms length, gaze appraising. "Now you, on the other hand, do not look like a woman who nearly had the sense knocked out of her a few days ago. You're positively glowing. I would find it highly unfair if I weren't so terribly fond of you darling. Come sit"!

She ushered her guest toward an empty chair near the fire, tone more relaxed and happy as she slipped into the role of hostess, "How fairs the good Master Knight? I was so disappointed you were both being workaholics and couldn't lavish me with birthday wishes". She gave Aisling a teasing smile as she turned over a rose printed tea cup and offered it up, "I've been looking forward to this visit for ages. I adore Cameron but this whole being a working woman with a semi-steady boyfriend mess has severely limited the time I get to spend with people not of the publishing world or under my hire," she prattled on as she carefully filled the other woman's cup, she really had perfected idle society chitchat.

"One lump or two, I can never remember," she looked mildly bashful at the admittance, waiting for Knight to answer as she poured herself a cup adding a little cream, "How are the girls doing? They must be terribly excited for the Yule Ball, I can't even imagine. I'm still trying to figure out how to worm my way through the door," there was a devilish sort of grin that twitched at the corners of Dolly's mouth as she took a careful seat across from her guest and motioned toward the tiny cakes and open tin of biscuits, "help yourself and tell me absolutely everything. I feel like I've been exiled while I work on the latest book"!

Aisling allowed Dolly to lead her to the chair, and sat down before responding to the flurry of questions. They certainly served to remind of how long it had been since they'd actually talked. "Just one lump, please. I fear it is my fault you wouldn't remember, it has been much too long."

In an unsurprising turn of events, her sweet tooth got the better of her and she started with one of the small cakes. "Tarron is well. Busy, of course. I'm still unsure what I should do for his birthday. Things get so busy around Christmas, especially with Yule Ball." She gave a somewhat guilty look at the cakes. "Those are much too good, I fear I may eat far too many of them." Then a quick smile as she took another of them.

"The girls haven't written about the Yule Ball yet, though they've sent pages on the Tournament, so I'm sure they're thrilled. Rowena's been begging for a kitten, and I have no reason to say no to her now. Especially not with them being gone for so long." There was always a bit of softness in her voice when it came to her daughters, and such was particularly pronounced today. "I'd expect that Mr. Rosier will be receiving an invitation to the Ball. We haven't gotten ours yet, so he might just not yet have his."

Another flicker of a smile, this one more reassuring. Aisling forced herself to nibble slowly at the cake. "I'm relieved to hear I'm not interrupting your writing, though. Still have a space saved on the bookshelf for your next book. Though our bookshelves tend to fill up so very fast. Why, I found the most lovely divination tome just a couple of weeks back. Never seen the like before. Just filled with old diagrams, notes, histories. I simply couldn't resist." Books had always been one of her more obvious weaknesses, and one that hadn't changed much with since her school days as well.

Dolly sipped her tea, seeming to visibly relax into her chair as Aisling carried on with the small talk. It was always good to hear about Tarron and the girls, Dolly didn't particularly want children of her own but she did have a soft spot for them. She knew with Cam, however serious they ever got, it wasn't really an option. Of course she probably wouldn't be marrying him either, he had four of those under his belt and the idea of being tied down after finally breaking ties with Dominik just seemed foolish. Even if she hadn't acted like a married woman she'd spent the better part of her life tethered to someone else and now she finally wasn't, at least not really. She cared about Rosier in a safe way, keeping her secrets and self close to the chest. He'd never be able to hurt her the way Dominik had...and she hoped she wouldn't hurt him the way she had Elliot.

As her companion commented on the so far lack of interest in the Ball, Dolly's lips curved into an amused smile, "They're not quite at that age yet are they? Livi has been planning what to wear since our trip to Italy last summer," Aisling's girls were a good bit younger than her goddaughter, the whole affair would have a completely different meaning to them. "I've never really grown out of being a giddy sixteen year old when it comes to trying on pretty dresses, I'm afraid. I'll use just about any excuse to don sequined gowns or be dripping with diamonds. It's half the reason I agreed to help Lia with the St. Mungo's New Year's Gala". She actually had found herself rather enjoying the endeavor much more than she had originally expected. Lia had proven much easier to work with than previous interactions would have had Dolly believe. She really wasn't bad once stripped of her twenty pound attitude.

"You two are attending, yes? You can't really tell me know, you missed my birthday after all and it's for a good cause. Mungo's have seemed dreadfully barren this last year, and since they saved my life the least I can do is drag every single connection I have out for a night of drinking and dancing," in actuality a part of her was worried about having to see Dominik again so soon. True, it was nearly a month away; but no one seethed like a Wiedman scorned. She also had a feeling he'd probably bring that terrible harpy Niobe, and Dolly knew without a doubt if those two started acting lovey she would be forced to vomit all over one of them. Of course the talk turned to her writing and Dolly merely sighed shaking her head, "sadly, it might be awhile before that spot is filled. It's the last book and for a time I thought the ending was clear and certain... now I'm just not. I'm hoping after the holidays I can settle in and get some real work done".

"They're only twelve," Aisling admitted. "Suppose that I would have to worry if they had too much interest in dates and pretty dresses already. They'll be at that stage soon enough." It was terribly cliche, but Sophia and Rowena still seemed to be growing up much too fast. That they'd have graduated before their mother had even adjusted to them being away at school. "Livi is doing well, then? I'm sure she'll be lovely at the ball."

The conversation shifted towards the St. Mungo's fundraiser, and Aisling set her tea down for a moment. "Of course we'll be there. Though I'll have to pass on the sequined gowns." Such clothing was the province of younger women with less proper husbands. Or no husbands at all. "Certain I can find something, though I am rather jealous of  how simple it for Tarron to chose clothing for such events." This was followed by a soft laugh. Tarron in fine suit was not something she could object to.

"I promise I won't ask you about the book at the Gala, then. It's a noble thing you're doing with it, though. When I had 'the sense knocked out of me', it was also a time where I was able to once again see just how important the work of St. Mungo's is." She rubbed the back of her head a bit sheepishly. That wasn't an experience she wished to repeat.

"Livi is..." her voice trailed off, lips pressed together for a moment, "she is holding up well all things considered. She was very upset after the Halloween incident with Dominik, but she's far more level headed than I ever dreamed of being at that age. I took her traveling over the summer holiday and she's just so ready to take the world on". It would be absolutely impossible to miss the small glimmer of pride in Dolly's blue eyes. She loved her goddaughter dearly and was so proud of the person she was becoming, her own entity neither rebelling or allowing herself to be brainwashed. She had a good head on her shoulders, which somehow made Dolly less worried the young one would repeat her mistakes.

Dolly gave a short laugh as Aisling offered up all the sequins to be left to younger women, "Working with Liadan I hardly think I'll manage to be quite as scandalous as I would usually attempt for. This event is very important to her and I was honored when she asked for my help. The work St. Mungo's does..." her voice trailed off again for a moment as she started into her tea, "I think about last March, they hysteria, the Direwolf attacks, just how easily my life could have all ended there on the floor of Calavera's," her tone was much softer as her gazed focused on some hazy middle distance. It wasn't something she liked to think about, but when she did, she was nothing less than eternally grateful.

Shaking her head she focused back on her guest with a smile before helping herself to a frosty pink cake bite, "We're trying to get 3 Owl Standard to play. There has been some difficulty, but I'm sure the whole thing will come together in the end". If Dolly had not gone into writing books she would have gone into party planning, she was good at it and getting people to do what she wanted them to. Most of the time it seemed like a useless talent but in the case of fundraising for St. Mungo's it had proven most helpful. Eyeing her company carefully she tilted her head to one side, "Just how are you feeling, really? That tumble rattle anything loose"?

"It's good to hear that. Such matters aren't easy for anyone." Cleaning up after it had not been particularly pleasant either, but that was not the fault of either Livi or Dolly. In comparison to Dominik, at least, Dolly seemed like a positively stellar influence for the young woman. Especially with the particular expression accompanying Dolly's words. Aisling took a few bites of the cake, savoring it.

She lifted her cup back up and sipped at the tea, the amused grin at the mention of scandal half-hidden. "Tarron would appreciate a more proper event. We're both getting a bit too old for such excitement." Her hands wrapped tighter around the cup, and she shifted to focus her gaze a bit more on Dolly. "I'm glad to see you're handling it so well. Such aid shouldn't be forgotten any more than the horrors the preceded it." There was the shadow of an old shadow to her expression, for the smallest bit of a second, before it vanished as the conversation shifted back to more pleasant realms.

"I am certain you will manage. And I'm well enough. Tarron forced me to rest properly after we visited the healers, and I've managed to avoid having my brains knocked about since then. A bit of loud music won't jar them loose." She rolled her neck slowly to serve her point. "No noise there. And I do have quite the hard skull. So long as I don't go about catching rocks with it, I will be fine. Though it is terribly kind of you to ask."

"That is sadly the general wake Dominik Wiedman and his path to self-annihilation,"  Dolly's voice was sad, lacking the usual judgment of her first love's mistakes and missteps. She had come to see him as he was now, not who he might have been. He was a sad person who lived a life that displeased him, it was a great pity to see so much potential squandered on misanthropy. Of course she couldn't let herself care too much or she'd be back trying to fix him again, and that was no way to live life. She had to get herself sorted and back on track, time was too precious a thing to spend on someone who you would never agree with on anything.

For just a moment she missed him, then she closed her eyes and pushed the feeling away, offering her guest a faint smile, "Tell Tarron not to worry his pretty little head. Liadan is a staunch traditionalist and while I'm adding touches of flair to the evening she is making sure we have all the staples as charity Gala requires". For two witches who had only recently begun to get along in the least, their event coordinating abilities complimented one another well. She even found herself enjoying the other woman's company - which was not something Dolly St. James had ever thought she would be able to say about any  Ó Móráin, least of all Liadan.

"A little rest never hurt anyone, though Merlin knows I hated being in that damnable bed after the accident. I've always been absolutely dreadful at staying still. It didn't help they wouldn't let me drink either," her lips twitched a little with a joking smile from just over the edge of her cup. "It wouldn't do to have one of my favorite Ministry contacts out of comission who knows when I'll get an itch to start a salacious scandal. I need to be in everyone's good graces should book sales not match projections and I have to get desperate. Darian's offered to be my first husband should I need one to boost sales - and if I were going to waste a perfectly good marriage it might as well be with him".

"I am certain Tarron will be grateful for such attentiveness." The Yule Ball had contained a few odd, more modern touches, and Aisling was hoping to make it through the events of the holidays with a minimum of fuss. She still had to work. And wished to spare what energy she could for time with her daughters.

Though with Liadán organizing, matters might be too traditional for even Tarron's tastes. It would prove rather odd for Dolly to be the respectable one there as well. Particularly with the comments regarding Darian. "Your first husband? The dress would be lovely, at the least. Though I would be rather dismayed were your works to suddenly sell so poorly." Despite the fact that such did seem like something Darian might suggest, she managed a smile that was largely reassuring, though perhaps a touch amused.

"And I will have to ensure I'm rested, then. If you're contemplating such publicity stunts I expect that the next few weeks will be anything but boring." There was a small, soft laugh. Dramatics could be troublesome, and certainly so with her nephew involved, but that did not mean that they were always her problem.

Dolly just smiled and shook her head, "Nothing to worry about for awhile, I promise. I will let you get through the Holidays with the girls and Tarron before I even contemplate unleashing the unholy terror that would be a St. James-Morgan wedding," she didn't really think it would come down to all that anyway. It was more of a private joke between the two of them. Now that Dolly really was turning the page and letting go of the idea that she and Dominik would ever be headed toward wedded bliss... marriage just seemed so pointless. She wouldn't ever be able to love anyone the way she had loved him (and for her sanity that was probably a good thing), but without some life long love affair what was the point? She couldn't picture herself as a mother, not really, it felt too much like...settling for what she had thought she was supposed to do.

"The Gala will be lovely, I'm sure. Liadan needs it to be. She's learning how to play nice with others, it's rather endearing really. Sometimes I can just see something wicked to say rolling around in her head and she stops herself. Sometimes she doesn't, but all in all it's been nice working with her. She didn't even really fight me on my desire to add dates to the silent auction. I figure between all the famous and infamous people we know it might raise a nice tidy sum for Mungo's. I've managed to land some interesting names already, plus a few of the hospital's healers. Liadan has mentioned wanting to put together a dueling tournament as well. It should be a lively evening". While it was a good month away Dolly knew she would just work through Christmas to save herself from thinking of being alone. It really was a terrible time to not like your family and to feel as though you'd lost your other.

"Thank you. It's most appreciated." Aisling looked more amused than anything at the idea, though it wasn't one she would mention to Tarron unless it actually occurred. Darian hardly needed a lecture on the various very serious responsibilities of being a family heir, and given that he'd probably show up for such wearing something incredibly garish, Aisling didn't wish for the fussing from Tarron afterwards either.

Somehow she didn't expect to completely escape such in relation to the Gala, either. "That is good to hear. I'm certain such an event is difficult enough to organize without conflict between those doing such. And I promise I won't test her patience there. You'll both have enough dignitaries to attend to." Somehow, she did not expect Liadán to have much interest in speaking with her. "And a date auction? That should prove interesting. Do let me know if I may be of any assistance."

It might be something else she would hear a fuss over, but it was for such a good cause. "I am sure you understand why I cannot participate, however. I do so look forward to watching it."

Liadan's traditionalist leanings were well known throughout the Wizarding Elite, there was no need in trying to deny them or make excuses for the woman. People had a right to believe what they liked, but it would serve the young witch, while rehabilitating her image, to keep private thoughts private. Dolly, on the other hand, was the sort of person who spent evenings with gamblers and tarts, criminals and drunks; only to turn around and have high tea with lofty Ministry officials. She existed in two worlds, or she had. More and more she felt she existed in one world, her world, that was inherently separate from others but did allow for visitation. It got like this whenever she began seriously working on a book. While she had not reached the frantic writing and rewriting stages yet she was still confronted with the fact she had no where to take the story.

Dolly gave Aisling a sly smile, "Oh surely your husband could give you up for one night. You'd fetch a gorgeous galleon or two"! Setting her cup down she adjusted her posture in her chair, she had had to defend this idea of a date auction several times already. She knew she didn't really have to be defensive with Aisling but if she could explain it to the elder witch then perhaps the good Madame Knight could further explain it to those hesitant to think it was a brilliant idea - which, realistically, it actually was. Most of Dolly's ideas had some element of brilliance to them, even if she did say so herself. "There really won't be much to see I'm afraid. In my line of work I learned a long time ago that the promise of a lavishly good time necessitates a heavy cloak of discretion. The dates themselves will be written up mostly by the Bachelors and Bachelorettes themselves, with a few added flourishes added by yours truly," she paused to sip her tea.

"We're circulating a few names I've managed to get as well as some false ones, with no indication of what the night they're offering might be. At the Gala the dates will bit listed along with every other lot, some of the more...colorful personalities will stand out, but there are several I think will be quite hard to figure out. The bids will be placed separately from the rest of the silent auction, by the time the last bidder sends up a number we wont announce any of the pairings - lest one of couples make it known themselves. All I care about is the sharing a big fat donation number with every single person who has suggested this is beneath them, and terribly gawdy of me. I've been trying to explain to the biddies that plan these things since I was sixteen, all gold spends exactly the same - and it's true no matter where you go. The idea of clinging to a long outdated Wizarding Hierarchy makes my head hurt".

"Oh, but I could hardly stand to be separated from him for an evening." Aisling blushed slightly at the idea of her bringing in galleons, something she quickly hid behind another sip of tea. "You're being terribly clever with it, though. It seems that it will be quite tempting." She lowered the cup down just enough to show her smile. If she had been younger, and single, it would have seemed like quite the romp, with just enough risk to keep it interesting.

"all gold spends exactly the same-"

"Indeed it does. And all too quickly, it seems. But I expect that you'll bring in a great deal, with all the work you've put in." Merlin, but she'd needed this. Something besides work and being endlessly diplomatic.  "You'll be having my support in that respect as well, of course."