Dolly looked amused, there was a flicker or something on Niobe’s face - was it disgust? Discomfort? It didn’t matter to Dolly, nor did it matter that it was there and quickly gone. It was there in the first place and that was all that mattered. Cracking people was simply a matter of them slipping up enough to use what you knew against them. Taking a long drag from her cigarette holder she shook her hair from her eyes, expression coy, “Art imitates life, yes? The thing people fail to see about Odette and in turn about me is that while she may be confused, she may be searching for something bigger than herself, her sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with that she is trying to find. People denounce the books as trash, smut, garbage on a page - but there is a statement there”.

Armond brought another round of drinks without being summoned and Dolly gave him a gracious glance before he slunk off again. “I am tired of women viewing sex as something demeaning or that women who enjoy it are some how damaged. I am tired of meeting dreary looking housewives who repress every basic instinct in their body because it’s viewed as sinful. Enjoying your body, being proud of your body, and not being defined by what man wants you - because you want yourself first it’s liberation. Odette is finding that, and letting go of the ideals and iconic images of a wizard whisking in to save her day. In the end she is her own heroine - but people overlook that because she has a lot of fun a long the way”.

Snubbing out her cigarette she rested her chin in her hand, “It’s quite easy to judge someone who has flagrant disregard for the status quo, who makes no qualms about who she is or what she does - people call her a fame whore, it may even damage relationships behind the scenes,” a smirk tugged on the edges of her lips as she gazed at Niobe from behind thick lashes, leaning forward her voice lowered, “But, I suppose I have more respect for a woman like that…than some quidditch groupie who uses sex off script to get closer the fame she can’t achieve in her own right. Women like me don’t lie and let men make absolute fools of themselves for relationships that don’t exist just to get information out of them and maybe make a juicier headline”.

Finally.  Finally, Dolly seemed to realize this was an interview about her books, a time to say something for everyone to hear.  And as she spoke on about the strong themes of sexual liberation and independence and women loving themselves, Niobe found herself nodding and almost smiling.  This article was going to be hot.  She couldn't wait for the feedback, and with this new message out there about Odette, about Dolly herself, the books were going to fly off the shelves as if someone had cast Wingardium Leviosa.

Niobe watched as she outed her cigarette, which was usually a sign that the interview was over.  That Dolly'd take up her purse, slide out of the booth and leave Niobe wanting more.  But they had fresh drinks on the table, and Dolly stayed put.

As she continued on, the Verbatis quill scratched away, and her tone changed.  Niobe's own contented smile flickered and then, in a sudden wave of surprise, embarrassment and more than anything, fury, she scowled and snatched up the quill, nearly snapping its shaft.

"'Quidditch groupie'," she echoed.  It was all clear now.  The posturing, the vamping.  The insinuations.  How the hell did Dolly know about Dominik!?  Niobe didn't even know that Dolly knew her. 

"Dominik's none of your damn business!" she hissed back, although her volume was louder than Dolly's.  "What the hell concern of yours -?"

Niobe felt completely taken off guard.  Her eyes were wide and there was probably a flush on her cheek. She'd been trying to keep this thing a secret.  She was through being publically associate with Dominik - this fling was for fun.  He was the one taking it to wierd places.  Gods, and now Dolly St. James knew about it.

She bit her lip and shook her head angrly.  She was seething.  "I don't know how you found out, or what kind of shit you give about it, but I don't get anything from Dominik other than a night's diversion.  So back off."

Dolly watched with delighted amusement as Niobe lost her grasp on her temper, lips twitching with what could only be a malicious smile, “Oh silly Thrusby…didn’t anyone warn you? This is what the big bad Dolly St. James does,” her voice was silken as she rested her hand against her chin. The reporters sputtering was worth all the preening and eyelash fluttering, “You see Darling when you get up on that high horse of yours, and believe the mantra that you’re better than someone who is so far above your pay grade you’d break your neck trying to see it…I’m the person here to remind you that you’ve used sex as tool every bit as much as I have - you just don’t have the skill to make it really pay off”.

Her tone was malicious - if she were an animal her fangs would be showing, expression predatory, “Dominik is my business and always has been - from long before the first time you used him and ripped his heart out. He is a fool and he thinks someday you’ll wake up and be madly in love with him,” she scoffed her features disgusted, “He isn’t taking into account that even if you did his parents would disown him because try as you might you’re just not made up of the right stuff,” she looked down her nose at the other woman, lips curled in a sneer.

“I suppose the difference between us Thrusby is that your fame whoring antics don’t work - they didn’t work with Cin, and they won’t work with Dominik. You use men as freely as I do - but you pretend that you’re Noble Niobe, above playing games and using bedroom eyes. It’s a pity really - if you weren’t such a terrible judgmental liar we might have been friends”, Dolly stood and grabbed her purse, leaning over to what appeared to be give the other woman a kiss on her cheek, her voice low and husky, “Remember Darling, I’ve been playing this game most of my life. You can’t kid and kidder and think you’ll ever win,” and with that she left an imprint of her lips just below the other woman’s ear in red and headed for the door, Armond scurrying after her.