Calavera's by day was not, totally different from Calavera's by night. The main difference was the presence of food rather than liquor. Rather that was the difference for most people, Dolly St. James was lounging in her booth, sipping on whiskey and reading over her list of activities for the coming evening. She might as well just move Molly in with her at the rate they were going. They had spend 74 of the last 80 hours together. There was little sleep in a week like this. With all the planning that had to be done, parties that needed to be gone to, and luncheons to be bored to tears through it was a wonder Dolly had a moment to spare for her recently acquired private project. Then again there was always time for Poppy - or at the very least tormenting Vedir. The flowers he'd had curried over were opulent if a bit uninspired. She expected something like diamonds from a man unafraid to throw his money around when it came to wooing women.

Still, he was letting her have his delicious assistant for lunch. She couldn't be too disappointed with him. Resting her chin in her hand, red heel dangling precariously from her dainty toes, Dolly waited. She was excited to talk to someone who had nothing to do with her career. She loved planning parties, but if last week was her grace period this was crunch time. From morning to night it was go go go, she hardly slept anymore - and Dolly was a woman who adored her sleep. It was unfortunate really, to keep her from her bed, most people might have lost a limb.

There were always plans that needed finalizing, guest lists to be triple checked. Dolly might have had two assistants but she wasn't good at delegating. She'd get burned out on the book launch before the 13th ever rolled around at this rate. Lunch with Poppy would give her a chance to use her feminine wiles on a willing subject and take a break from looking at dress swatches. Poppy was gorgeous too. Dolly had to give Vedir that, he had a type and he was loyal to it. Well, in terms of physical appearance anyway; black hair, creamy pale skin, usually red lips, all wrapped up with dangerous curves. Lighting a cigarette the leggy author inhaled deeply and let her eyes roam the semi-crowded restaurant. Afternoons were a little slow, no one had time to kill today, apparently.  Sighing as she exhaled a plume of smoke she checked her watch and shook her head. Tardy Poppy ought to be spanked. It was impolite to keep important people waiting...and who could possibly be more important than Dolly St. James? No one, that's who.

It had been a long day for Poppy, and it was only halfway through. Knockturn was not a place she liked being; the looks she got and the comments whispered behind her back always made her desperate to simply make a run for it - especially when Mister Prideaux's name was all that truly shielded her from the residents.

Diagon - and Calaveras - as a welcome change. She had had to make a momentary detour, stepping into one of the salons for a quick wash-up; the dankness of Knockturn alley always got under her skin. She felt much better with clean hair and, having done what she could to make herself presentable, she made her way to the restaurant.

The restaurant was less crowded than she was used to, and that was a good thing; she wasn't in the mood to be in a crowd, not right now. Tucking her heavy tweed coat tighter around her body, she made her way through the booths, looking for Dolly, glad the coat covered most of her outfit. It was fancier than what she normally would have worn for a lunchdate, but Vedir had insisted; appearently Miss St. James liked her companions as well-dressed as she was. Poppy was in no position to argue - as usual. Not that she would have considered arguing with him.

She spotted the author, finally, and skittered over to her - well, as well as she could skitter in heels.

"M-miss St. James?" she piped up, bowing slightly. "So sorry to have kept you waiting. I, ah, had to make an extra stop..." she smiled, nervously.

Dolly had lost herself in thought, mulling over the coming days. It wasn't until she heard Poppy's breathy voice that she even glanced up, her lips breaking into a full smile. Dolly was not one for formality, she loathed being called Miss. St. James - but the other woman seemed so nervous Dolly simply ignored the frailty of her voice. Leaning over the edge of the table as she stood up, the leggy author kissed either of Poppy's cheeks, sliding her fingers into the other woman's hands, "Poppy, Darling! It's so good of you to squeeze me in on such a busy day. Vedir must be running you ragged with all his secret business government dealings," Dolly sounded amused as she tapped the end of Poppy's nose before seating herself again.

What Vedir actually got up to was a bit of a mystery to her - but she liked to make up stories in her head of what the powerful playboy did with his free time. If Dolly had had any inclination who Howard Hughes was, she might have found the comparison apt. Of course she was not up on modern muggle culture let alone history from the golden era of Hollywood. She was only vaguely aware there was such a place - because even in the Wizarding World L.A. was the land of the beautiful people. Vedir had all the charm of a cobra and was twice as deadly. This little game of cat and mouse between them had been going on for years, they had simply changed pawns recently - Poppy was a pretty little pawn at that.

Gesturing for her to sit, Dolly waved over Jessica and the curvy blonde came running. Dolly had often wondered about the waitress, just what she got up to when she wasn't working. St. James' bet was on 'up to no good', she just seemed like the type. Though she had been coming here for months she was still adjusting to the staff - being far more familiar with the faces that worked of an evening than during the day. Honestly Dolly usually wasn't even out of bed or sober by now. Damn work and the ways it tampered with her usual schedule. 

Damn. Poppy's blush was spreading; she never blushed cutely, but rather had been cursed with a full-body flush. She could feel her toes turning red.

"It's no problem, I'm not expected until, uh..." Dolly's very...physical manner was one with which Poppy didn't cope well with. She was always flattered to be paid attention to, but..well, only he was that overt. She didn't know what to do other than smile a little hopelessly as she tried to remember when her next appointment was. After a few moments she gave up. "Well. I have time for - that is - it's not a bother." Eloquent as her employer she was not.

She sat down heavily, fussing with her hair for a moment. "N-not really - he's really quite considerate of me, when, when you think about it." Not according to half of her acquaintances, but they didn't know. "But with the party and everything, it's been busy..." She fussed herself back into shape, straightening her clothes. "But you didn't call me to hear about my schedule, I bet," she said, more cheerfully. "So, uh - what prompted this?"

Looking up at the waitress, she remember herself and scooped up the menu, feeling rather silly again.