Outfit

Her birthday had been miserable. Liadan had spent the day with her family in France, at a large party hosted for her by relatives- a party filled with middle aged pureblood men that her family thought she should marry. Liadan had spent the evening dancing with them, pretending to be interested in the things they had to say. Boring, meaningless drivel really. All trying to impress her with money and business- things she could care less about, as she had it all herself. They weren't even attractive. How desperate did her family think she was? Or how hopeless, really...

It had been an awful way to celebrate, and Liadan had opted to spend the following evening at Signature. Liadan had rented one of the grande suites- African Savannah. That way she could drink, and head to bed when she was done. And it would be nice, to not be at home, and to be pampered. Pampered in a new place by someone other than her house elves.

After checking into her room, and dropping her overnight bag, Liadan immediately went down to the bar. She had a few glasses of wine already, and was definitely feeling the affects of the alcohol. Liadan was speaking loudly to the bartender about the werewolf attacks. It had gotten out that there was some tainted wolfsbane- which meant that it likely traced back to her farm and her ingredients. The bartender just kept nodding, obviously accustomed to belligerent, intoxicated women. She had yet to move on to complaining about her birthday- she wasn't quite drunk enough to share that embarrassing story- but it wouldn't take many more glasses of wine for her to be at that point.

Liadan's attentions were split from the bar tender to a familiar face, though. She perked, spotting Vedir at the other end of the bar. "Mr. Prideaux!" she called out, smiling, motioning at him to come and join her. "Let me buy you a drink!" she called out, pressing some coins into the bartender's hand as he refilled her glass of wine.

A simple, relaxing night; that was what he had wanted and what he had gotten, for the most part. Vedir sat at the bar, a glass of wine in his hand. The week or so since the 15th had left his body sore, but his injuries had mostly cleared by now; it had been a reminder of his age, though. It somehow made his mother's constant drumbeat of marriage seem less annoying.

Trevelyan was going to be either a blessing or a liability and he was intensely looking forward to finding out which. Having Atalana out of the way had taken a small load off his mind, but now Tapendra might become one...that he worried about. But the boy wouldn't be difficult to get rid of, if need be.

He jumped when Liadan called to him, not expecting to see - or hear her - sounding quite like that. Intrigued, he headed over, leaning on the bar next to her.

"My, Miss O Morain," he said, amused. "Having a good time, are we? Come to drown your sorrows?"

"Please, stop with the Miss Ó Móráin!" she protested, motioning again for the bartender to pour Vedir a new drink. "It makes me feel so old." She felt old enough after that party. "I am not old," Liadán further informed him. "I've only just turned twenty-three yesterday." She waggled her wine glass in his direction. "Although if my family were to be believed, I'm twice that age." If her family were to be believed, not only was Liadán twice her age, but at least three times larger than she actually was and remarkably unattractive. Liadán was none of those things, however. Liadán was young, thin, good looking, with a lot to offer. More to offer than what those fat old men deserved.

"But I will tell you a secret, Mr. Prideaux," she said seriously- almost too seriously. "I promise not to tell anyone that we abandoned pleasantries, if you can promise me the same thing."

Liadán shook her head when the man went to refill her wine glass. For now, she was fine. More later, she decided. More later. "I spend every day of every week wearing... frills and lace, playing nice, being the woman that our society dictates that I be. If only society could see me now, yes?" she asked. "Sitting at the bar, half way through a bottle of wine, twenty-three and already sentenced to spinsterhood if my family were to believed. Tell me, are you familiar with the Moreau family? A French family, wealthy from Wizard law... The widower, that portly man? My aunt thought that he was a good match for me. Between you and I, Mr. Prideaux, I believe his leg weighed more than I do." Liadan snorted loudly, covering her mouth with her hand as she giggled.

"Haha, very well, Miss O - Liadan," he said, smiling as the bartender topped his glass off. "Liadan, the ones who call you old are clearly blind," he added cheerfully. "I've seen students would seem less youthful than yourself."

He laughed. "Consider it a deal, then! Vedir and Liadan it is." Leaning on the bar, he sipped the wine happily; O Morain was considerably more entertaining when tipsy. He made it his business to find out what she was like smashed.

Vedir put his wine down at her story, laughing; he was honestly shocked. "Him? Yes, we've met. Between you and me, he's a bloody fool. Cowardly, proud, and far too fond of the wrong sort of young ladies. He's an excellent business connection." He smirked. "But I wouldn't marry him to my horse, let alone waste a lady such as yourself on the slob."

Smiling at her giggling, he finally eased himself onto the stool. "Who else did they try and offer you to? If they offered you to Bordeau, I'll have to get a bigger drink."

Liadan grinned, enjoying the compliment. "Good genes," she assured him. "We all look rather young. Even my mother on her death bed looked a decade younger than she was- and that is judging with a harsh eye." A lot of that did have to do with spells and potions, though. Liadan had no use for those yet- and intended to put off taking part in beauty magic for as long as she could. Hopefully that would be an incredibly long time.

"Vedir and Liadan," she repeated- still smiling. She leaned in close. "How positively scandalous we are!" She picked up her wine glass, clinking it against his before swallowing the last mouthful that was left.

Lia was glad that he seemed to be as amused as she was by the prospect of her family attempting to marry her off to Moreau. "I think the better question is who they did not try to offer me to. The party was absolutely dreadful. As though they think of me as a desperate old maid! Bordeau was there, yes," she agreed. "Which means that you will certainly need a larger drink. No doubt intoxication will help you picture me married off to that old sod."

She settled herself more surely on her stool, adjusting the dress more comfortably around her legs. "Shall I make you a list?" Liadan asked with a devilish grin. "Perhaps you could provide me with more of you delightful insights on their character?"

He couldn't help smiling. She was definitely very amusing while drunk; he almost wished Jonas would appear - she might hex him. "Incredibly so," he said with humor. "If only Witch Weekly could see me now..."

"Oh dear, not him too? You will have to make me a list, if only for the amusement." Raising his wine to his lips again, his smile turned to a smirk. "Resisted their attempts to engage you to someone too often, have you? My mother throws such annoying parties sometimes, when she's cross with me..."

So far, he'd avoided marriage. Mostly it was to enjoy his mother's annoyance at it; she was determined to marry him off and he was equally deturmined not to give in. He'd never found the right woman, anyhow. They were all too smart, too silly, boring, not pretty enough...he did need to bother at some point. He wasn't about to leave his fortune to Georgiana.

"Come now, you must have found at least one of their suitors at least somewhat acceptable."

Liadan smiled. So he knew what it was like, too. "If my mother were still alive, I'd be married and have at least one child by now- if not two, or three. She is the sort of woman who would stand in the room to ensure that I consummated my marriage- and no doubt be sure to tell me when I was doing it wrong in the process." Liadan covered her mouth then, turning red. "I am so sorry! That was incredibly inappropriate of me, Vedir. That is exactly why I try not to drink too much wine." And, as if on cue, the bartender filled her glass again.

"Acceptable?" she asked- trying to to quickly put the conversation back on point, and not let it meander its way toward sex. She didn't know anything about sex, anyway, and did not intend to pretend she knew otherwise. Besides, it was still slightly embarrassing to admit her lack of experience in that arena. Although she was glad for it- she knew that most others found it ridiculous. Especially at her age. A woman her age was generally experienced with more than just an innocent kiss.

Liadan sipped her glass, still smiling (and blushing). "The most acceptable option just graduated Beauxbatons last summer- still seventeen. The poor lad actually thought that he had a chance," Liadan laughed. "As if I would ever marry a boy so much younger than I am! Not when there are so many handsome men still to be had in London Society!" So many.

"It was an intervention," she confessed quietly. "They heard about who I took to the Valentine's benefit." There was no need to be candid. Surely Vedir was equally aware. Everyone had been buzzing about her half-blooded romance. "Any husband would surely be better than a half blooded one, as I am sure you are well aware."

"Tell me about your suitors, Vedir. What sort of women is it that your mother finds appropriate for you to entertain? Are they old, fat cows? Or has she enough sense to realize just because a man is... more experienced, does not make him less desirable?"

Good thing he didn't have wine in his mouth - he'd have sprayed it. Vedir's shoulders shook in silent laughter; that mental image was simply...oh dear. He'd met plenty of women who could use the help, admittedly...

"I talk Merlin our mothers never met, then. They'd have terrorized high society," he said, with feeling. Camille was by all accounts a woman with whom few people were willing to mess. Less she have them killed, or even worse: she might lecture them.

"That young, eh? That's what they get for trying in France; French men do not age well. Promiscuity is only an attractive trait in young men." He went back to drinking his wine, listening as she spoke.

"Oh dear, found out about that, did they?" He smiled nicely, in a reassuring manner. "Better than muggleborn, to be sure. Provided they're from a good family, one can indeed argue it...however, I suspect that to not be the case with your friend," he finished, emptying his glass. The barkeep refilled it.

"My suitors? Empty headed and young, most of them. If you can imagine having a 17 year old mate, imagine my feelings when my mother suggests students at Hogwarts! Appalling."

"I sincerely doubt that," Liadan said. "My mother refused to enter society after my father was arrested. She was too ashamed, couldn't face the stares and the gossip." Lia knew how that felt. But gossip was something she was more than accustomed to. Since she was a child her family had been the victims of vicious rumors- some true, some not. Why should things change now that she was an adult?

She did give Vedir a strange look when he claimed promiscuity was only attractive in young men. In Liadan's opinion, promiscuity was not an attractive trait in any person- whether young or old, male or female. "I should hate to think that is an admirable trait for any person to have," Liadan told him. No sense in refraining from honestly when she had a bit of extra courage from a wine glass, now was there? "Perhaps that is a bit of self-confession?" she asked. "It would not surprise me. As attractive as you are now, I can only imagine how handsome you were twenty years ago."

"I was quite the beautiful toddler twenty years ago," she told him with a smirk. "Diapers and all." Liadan lifted her eyebrows mischievously, hiding her mouth behind her glass.

"Hogwarts? Really? Does your mother think so low of the eligible women of legal age?" she asked. "I'm wondering whether or not I ought to be offended. Tell me, Vedir, do you find me appalling?" Liadan asked, giving him a pout. "I happen to think that I'm quite the specimen- even if it is only for the sake of breeding perfect little children. I work on a farm," Liadan informed him, "I know all about picking out the best mare and the best stud for optimal offspring."

His kind smile returned. "Perhaps."

Twenty years ago? He'd been quite the handsome devil, if he dared think so. "Something of a confession, yes. It's hardly a secret I enjoy the company of talented and witty young women," he said with a smirk. "Yourself included."

She was young enough to be his daughter, if he'd ever had one. But that was a common trait with his female friends and companions; those closer to his age were often dull, married, arrogant or some combination of those. "I'm sure they were quite well made diapers, perhaps with lace?" he said teasingly.

"She only does that because I drive her to desperation." he said with a chuckle. "Marriage has been one of those duties to avoid, so far. And she is very...adamant on the subject. Loves to go on about the pattering of little feet.." He made a running motion with his fingers and laughed. "Ah, Liadan, I find you quite the opposite! If you do not find yourself a man to match your own abilities your marriage shall be quite a waste, bloodlines or no."

Another compliment. Liadan beamed at him. "Talented and witty?" she repeated, scooting her stool closer to his. "Flattery, Mr. Prideaux, most often gets a man everywhere. Tell me about how beautiful I am and I might have to buy you another drink."

She giggled when he mentioned diapers of lace. "Perhaps- though I don't imagine lace to be the appropriate diaper materials." Though lace trimmed diapers- that sounds more like it. Liadan probably did have those, she had everything else trimmed in lace. The best of everything- whatever was most fashionable and impressive at the time. That tended to change on a fairly regular basis.

"Avoid?" Liadan asked. "I wish every day my mother had been smart enough to arrange myself a marriage before she died. As you've said- I need a match who can rival my abilities... Between you and I, Vedir, my capabilities surpass any witch or wizard I have ever met." Bragging? Slightly. But Liadan genuinely believed it to be true. Her abilities were often under estimated. If people knew the things that she was capable of...

"I myself hope to hear quite the pattering one day," Liadan confessed. "At least three. I've it all worked out in my mind. Two sons, and a girl," Liadan said. "Two sons- so that if one is a failure, like my brother, he can be replaced. And a girl for me. I know my husband won't let me have anything to do with the boys. No man wants his sons to be too sensitive from spending too much time with their mothers."

Liadan finished her glass. "Quite a serious topic for a woman who wishes to not be taken seriously for a few hours," she said. "Marriage, children, future... These are things best saved for a soiree of fancy dress, not for a bar."

"Vedir, have you ever been to Africa?" she asked. "I have always wanted to go on a safari in Africa. You seem the sort of man to enjoy safaris. I myself have always dreamt of going to Africa," Liadan beamed at him. "Tell me an exciting story," she begged. "Something I could not have read about."

"Haha, would you prefer poetics or simple honesty?" He replied teasingly, absently hooking his feet into the legs of the stool.

"No, I imagine not - perhaps velvet, then? Or satin, silks..." He smirked. He certainly couldn't begin to remember what they'd used for him. Likely simple cotton.

"Ah, honesty!" He told her happily as she mentioned her abilities. "Not always the best policy, of course; it is always wisest to act less talented that you actually are. There is nothing quite so vulnerable as an enemy caught by surprise."

Another chuckle. "And why should he not allow you access? My mother raised me from infancy, and I can safely say it did me quite a bit of good. It simply depends on the parent, I suppose." His mother was the one who'd taught him to duel and had also instilled his sense of self - the manipulative ego he'd formed was largely due to her.

"Africa? Only to Egypt, I'm afraid - not my most traveled continent, I'm sad to say. Should you eventually take that Safari, I would love to accompany you; I have not had the pleasure of a safari...or, of course, your prolonged company."

The bartender topped his glass off as he passed. "An exciting story? Oh dear, I have to admit I have fairly few - I suppose being chased by a basilisk might count?"

"If I did not know any better, Vedir, I would think you just enjoy picturing me in a fine fabriced diapers. How naughty! Though, I can assure you that I have graduated from diapers to finer underthings... In satin and in silk." She winked at him then, resting her glass on the bar- upside down. She'd had enough. And Liadan was entirely aware of that very important fact.

She rested her elbow on the bar next to the upturned glass, flipping her hair over her shoulder and resting her head in her hand, smiling at Vedir. "You are not the first man to offer to accompany me to Africa should I ever decide to go... Though the first offer was only for a day long trip to chase dragons. One could assume prolonged company means much more than an eight hour period of daylight?" she asked.

"Is it completely horrid of me to be inclined to accept such an offer just so that we could read the headlines and laugh? Though I doubt in the African wild they wear such things as satins and silks. I suppose that I would have to make due with pelts and furs."

Liadan trailed off, then licked her lips. "There are some tribes, Vedir, which happen to go without either. Imagine, no silks, satins, pelts, or furs. What a dreadful, barbaric way to live- don't you think?"

"You might think that, my dear. I couldn't possibly admit to it in this setting, now could I?" She was indeed fun to tease. He couldn't help toeing the line just a bit. "I'm certain you have - and if you had not, Miss Grumman would certainly have insisted you do!"

She seemed done drinking - how disappointing. Ah well. "Of course," he said, as he continued drinking. "Difficult to Safari in just a few hours! Still, you have me curious as to the identity of your other companion..."

Ah, the headlines. They would indeed be interesting. "Only a little horrid," he told her. "Would certainly be amusing to see the creative spin they put on that - and get chased by the Aurors! Guilty of looking at a dragon funny or some such drivel."

He grinned. "A rather liberating one, perhaps. Imagine never having to worry what to wear...though I suppose that is a pleasure to a woman, in this day and age."

She grew stiff when he mentioned Melanthe. Liadan was trying to flirt with him (although it might not be done properly, at least she was putting forth some effort) and he had to bring up her friend. Her far more attractive and alluring friend. "Melanthe insists I do a lot of things- her advice is not often heeded. If I had listened to Melanthe, I would have married the younger Morozov- and where would that leave me? Certainly not in this bar, and not sitting in this bar with such a handsome man. Wouldn't that be just awful?" she pouted.

"I can live with being only a little horrid," Liadan said. "I have been thought of as far worse than just a little horrid." She laughed when he mentioned looking at dragons funny. "Oh the aurors have quite the skill in creating stories. Would you like to know a grand secret, Vedir?" she asked, sitting up straight on her stool again. Liadan placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling herself up so that her mouth was next to his ear, using him to remain steady. "If I wanted to see a dragon, all I would have to do is look in the back yard."

She sat back down and adjusted her dress. Liadan then carefully pulled her fingers through her hair, twisting it up in a bun on top of her head before pulling a chopstick out of her clutch, securing it. "It is so hot in here!" she exclaimed, rubbing her neck. "I have had far too much wine."

"Now- about that exciting story, Vedir," she said, twisting on her stool and kicking off her heels, hooking her feet into the rungs on his seat. "Chased by a basilisk, I believe you said?" Liadan took his cup from his hand, sipping it, and handed it back. "That sounds very exciting, and I should like to hear about it very much."