He lounged in the August sunshine, what little managed to make its way through the crooked Diagon buildings overhead, his dragonskin boots up on the opposite chair and his table facing the street. Some people read in their downtime; others cooked, or slept, or went out for a drink. Darian sat in cafes and people-watched. It was no good at night - night was when he went on the prowl along with every other of London's most eligible, night was when he wined, dined, danced, and bedded. At night in this chair he'd be half-lost to shadows, and although of course Darian looked striking in any lighting or weather he prefered to stretch now in the sun like a cat. He let daylight turn his red hair blazing translucent and bring out the blue in the dark navy of his eyes; he liked the odd chance of blinding passerbys when he was wearing metallics. Today there were no shiny fabrics, only sparks - the dull alloy of his buttons, the mass of chains around one wrist, light gleaming along gold rimmed glasses and striking off some studs in his jeans. His fingers were heavy with metal, the punk version of his usual gems, and a multi-faced amber pendant nestled against his shirt and threw off dizzying rainbow darts. He glittered like a glass factory whenever he shifted, calculated to catch eyes but not to dazzle.
 
Part of this restraint was that he was going casual today. This meant he looked more akin to a decadent wrockstar than an ordinary joe in his designer-tight jeans and sleeveless shirt, curls drooping heavy, hooded eyes sharp - but, well, he wasn't wearing a suit.
 
He ran eyes over a semi-familiar dark head in the crowd, the sharp jut of the chin and the delicacy of the form harkening Dolly to mind before Darian's conscious could quite remember why. Liviana Weidman, of course - well, he'd wanted company, she'd do. He hadn't seen her in a while and he remembered her just sassy smart enough to make him laugh.
 
"Liviana!" He called, pitching his voice just far enough to carry. A few heads turned besides his intended; Darian settled back in his seat and crooked a finger, smiling real sweet and friendly-like, no predatory intent for Dolly's dearest godchild. When she got close enough that he didn't have to shout he kept smiling and motioned to a seat (boots now back on the ground as God intended). "Sit down, won't you? I'll buy you a cuppa."
 

It had been a fairly busy summer for little Livi; first had been the family party that was large and rather stuffy but to which she had worn an absolutely gorgeous dress so it almost made up for it. Then life got interesting with the week long trip to Italy with Dolly - just the two of them! It had been an adventure in food, wine, clothes, and boys - admittedly not as fun as if she'd been with a counterpart her own age but Dolly seemed to understand that quality time apart was just as important as the time they spent together. It was a repeat experience later that month when they went to Paris, though on that trip Daz had been along for part of the way. It was a summer full of adventure and decadence that had really, for the most part, pushed Lucas Norwood from her brain. Who had time to think about blue eyed blonde boys when there were just so many olive toned accented ones running around? Not Liviana Wiedman, that was for damn sure; there were too many other options out there - Luc could just go back to the pile he came from.

Home seemed so terribly boring after everything though, also her mother was still on about the importance of the coming year and how Liv needed to get serious. She wasn't sure how she could be more serious without beng sprog'd up - but maybe that's what her mother wanted. Salazar's knickers, the horror! So, under the guise of being bloody well old enough to be entrusted with shopping for school supplies alone she'd hit the Alley. Of course thus far she'd spent more time looking at the Pygmy Puffs and wondering if she couldn't sneak one back to school than actually looking for school supplies. She also, maybe, might have, wandered down around QQS on the off chance that someone might be there (not that she really wanted to see Luc, at all). She was finally looking over her list of boring things to purchase when she heard a vaguely familiar voice beckoning her. It was not a voice she knew directly offhand but when she glanced up to inspect, the subtle glitter of his movements was more than enough to identify. Darian Morgan, what salacious good luck!

Even as someone who firmly believed her brother and Dolly St. James belonged together for life; Liv was not one to begrudge her Godmother and mentor a little fun while Dom sorted out his wretched self. It was no secret that Dolls and Darian had an "extremely close working relationship". Dolly probably had lots of those but Morgan was by far the most interesting to the fashion forward sixteen year old. He was sort of gorgeous and she found it exceedingly hard to believe that someone as vibrant as Darian could really be so closely related to Master Hogwarts Librarian Landis Morgan who, (while full of admirable traits of his own) was decidedly not glittering. Well, that wasn't completely true - when you made him angry his eyes had a distinct spark to them. Darian Morgan, however, was the sort of person you were meant to get tongue tied and awkward around. Liv got the distinct impression he rather liked turning the fairer sex into twittery bundles of fangirl giggles. Of course, taking a play directly out of Dolly's book, Liv liked being the exception to every rule.

Rather than rushing and gushing over his latest spread in Witch Weekly or how much she absolutely adored her last shopping trip to see him she simply gave her most beguiling smile as she glided over the cobblestones toward him. For a moment, in the very back reaches of her mind she wished she weren't wearing the particular dress it had actually taken her nearly an hour to settle on before leaving the Cottage. It seemed so...banal, childish even, next to the fashion god. Still, being intimidated by a well dressed charming man was so cliched and, frankly, beneath her high standard of personal expectation. Which was the exact reason that before slipping into the chair across from him she did the most Dolly-thing she could think of and placed an air kiss on either of his cheeks, voice a delighted (though not too delighted) coo, "Darian! It's been ages"! Her smile was playfully glittering as she pulled back, hand resting on his shoulder for a fraction of a second more, before she perched across from him, tucking her skirt and ankles primly, happy but (hopefully) not over eager to be seen with the most fascinating man in existence. 

Her cheek brushed his as she kissed the air, her hand lingered on his shoulder before she pulled away. Darian shot her a sideways look as she retreated, gaze assessing, mind surprised. He knew this gesture, that coy, deliberate touch - of course he did - but rarely experienced it from women under 25. Liviana must've picked it up from Dolly or one of the older Hogwarts girls... how adorable. It was even cuter with her perched across from him, face set in shining lines, dressed pert and prim in her chic summer dress. Girls and boys of this age made him want to think in hearts and pinch their little cheeks; the transition between child to adult delighted him with its handling, and Liviana Weidman handled adolescence very well. The dip in her voice when she spoke to him, her careful makeup, made her almost look a woman, and Darian would turn in his shears if her measurements hadn't changed since the last time he'd taken them. Someone was playing grown-up.

He tested her with a smile, one of his best, slow and glittering and intent. It was completely harmless, his interest lacking the eventual bite - not that he'd fool with one of Dolly's anyways, fabulous she-wolf that she was - but he wanted to see what else Liviana had picked up. Her womanly pretend was very sweet; Darian remembered being that age, and he was awfully grateful to all the older women who'd let him practice his wiles on them then. He didn't mind humoring her. Besides, he had a duty to the flirtation education of the youth of Great Britain. 
 
"It has been a while," he agreed, tilting his head so that his hair slid slow and distracting away from his lovely face. "You've been well? I think I spot a little - " he leaned forward, forehead puckering then smoothing again as he laughed - "Italian tan."

To say Liviana was well groomed was an understatement. She knew how to have fun of course, she knew how to throw back with the best of her class - but there was a certain sort of training that she had been privy to for a good many years without anyone realizing it at all. Growing up with Dazmond and Dolly there was a gritty sort of glamour that Liv had witnessed. She learned early how to shape and bend the perceptions of others, she knew in each segment of her life she was expected to be a certain person. Emotions muddied the waters and she had learned from her sister that the best strategy in life was to be loyal to few, while her Godmother taught her to enchant many. Liv mimicked both women in equal measure depending on what a given situation called for.

Today she was channeling Dolly, wholeheartedly. Her gaze was coy as the waiter came around, voice sweet as she ordered her tea, the entire scene punctuated with a soft curve of her lip as she brushed her hair over one shoulder. If Darian Morgan expected a spectacular show of all Little Wiedman's social graces he was sure to get it. Her laugh was almost glittering as he inspected her sunkissed skin, a succinct nod following, "Mingled with a little Parisian afterglow, best late birthday present I've ever gotten". Her tone was almost gleeful as she folded her hands on the tabletop, "I have no idea how Dolly can spend so much time surrounded by pastries and never gain any weight. Just looking at an eclair makes me feel I've gone up a size".

He really was gorgeous, it was almost sinful. From the thick lashes to his complexion, not even mentioning those lush curls it was no wonder he was mobbed by women and men alike. The idea that he wanted to spend even a fraction of time she wasn't paying him for with her, made the sixteen year old preen just a bit. Take that Kitty Li. Of course for all she knew he very much liked Li. "Speaking of busy summers, I keep hearing amazing things about your line," if there was one thing Dominik had taught her it was that men loved when you brought focus back to their lives and oh-so-important carerrs. Dom needed a lot of ego stroking, but she wasn't sure that was totally uncommon. Darian probably had lots of things stroked all the time, but still. "I can't wait to get a closer look. Witch Weekly doesn't do you justice".

"I have no idea how Dolly can spend so much time surrounded by pastries and never gain any weight. Just looking at an eclair makes me feel I've gone up a size."

He laughed. "I don't think you need to worry about that," he said, letting his gaze sweep over her approvingly, letting her see him do so. "Paris is spectacular, isn't it? I can't believe you came back. Hogwarts will seem so dull after this. I didn't get out of the country until I was 17; good thing, or I'd never have graduated."

"Speaking of busy summers, I keep hearing amazing things about your line. I can't wait to get a closer look. Witch Weekly doesn't do you justice."

"Thank you," he said, faint smile obscured by his cup as he lifted it to his lips and drank. He watched her over the rim, amused, patient, perhaps even expectant. Darian thrived on compliments, he ate them right up. He got them daily and nightly and ever so rightly, ravenous for attention of any sort. And yet there was a certain level of adoration he accepted as his due, and attentions received must be weighed for relative importance. A compliment from Dolly was different than a compliment from one of his omnipresent, interchangeable fashion fans. The right catch of breath in Misa's throat, the stutter as Tapendra looked away, meant more than the lingering glance of the girl at the pub. Liviana was Dolly's godchild and thus deserved a place in the hierarchy, but he did not know her very well and he didn't much care; her sweet words fed his ego but didn't touch the soul. He felt very little need to preen for her, to purr, to beg on his back so pretty and fine when she'd give it for free. It wasn't the same kind of conquest. Which really only meant everything was right in his world. Thoughtless admiration from teenage girls: check.

"Yes, I think this season will be very successful," he continued, setting the cup down. "I'd be happy to give you an early taste, perhaps take something back so that Hogwarts knows what it's got to look forward to. I'm sure you could handle the pressure; I'm sure you would make my work shine. Come by the shop any time and I'll show you. But tell me, did you catch the June editorial with your own Professor Trishna?" He leaned closer, eyes sparkling with good humor and a little conspiratorial glint. "I want to hear what the students thought of that!"

Liv smiled and gave a wistful sort of sigh, "Honestly? I'm not sure why I came back either. It's all so... lush. Of course with Dolly how could it be any other way," one could overdose on glamour with the fast talking author. There had been parties and brunches, drinks with amazingly gorgeous men, lazy mornings spent reading in beds so decadent it seemed sinful. "It's a completely different world, but school is important, besides with the Tournament coming up it's like a little bit of France has followed me home," not that Liv was particularly preoccupied with the TWT. It was a fun notion, fresh blood flooding the halls of Hogwarts, no more staring at the same vacant faces day after day... but there were the less savory aspects of having to go back to school. She wasn't particularly looking forward to being cooped up with Lucas for another year. She rather hoped he'd changed all the electives they shared. She also didn't want to deal with Kitty. It had been almost a month since their strip poker encounter and it still left a sour taste in Liv's mouth.

She paid close, if not rapt, attention to what Darian had to say. She was happy to listen to him because being on the good side of a man with that many connections could only mean good things for her. Of course, arguably, she had just as many connections stemming from Dolly, it was nice to have an outside source. Her brown eyes flickered away from him for just a moment, to smile graciously at their waiter before she turned her attention back to the designer. "I couldn't believe my eyes! He was utterly transformed, proper clothes do that to a man I suppose though. He looked very sharp when Dolly dressed him for Valentine's day last year but I believe those were Libertine as well, so it really shouldn't have surprised me - but it did! It's more than magical, the detailing you do. It's an art form, really," she was not gleeful and gushing when she paid the compliments, no squealing or clapping. Exuberance, in this instance would ring false of the genuine admiration she had for his work.

Leaning forward, voice low and almost conspiratorial, "Honestly I had never quite gotten her attraction to him; which everyone knows about but no one talks about," she paused giving him a impish sort of grin tugging on her lips. The implication of "everyone" being her brother Dominik, with trickle down coming from Daz, "but I almost understand it now. I mean it's a bit hard for me to separate him from Professor Trishna in those supposedly ironic muggle t-shirts and the fashion plate you turned him into but the editorial just framed these beautiful attributes I'd never bothered to notice before". Pausing to sip her tea her expression shifted thoughtfully, tip of her finger idly tracing the pattern on the saucer, "it must sound very shallow, the not noticing I mean, because you obviously have an eye for detail, but there is a certain way people present themselves, and we think of them in that singularity as their entirety," she lifted her gaze to his face and gave a fleeting laugh, "I must sound like utter rubbish with all of this".

"Lots of new boys and girls in the halls of Hogwarts," Darian said thoughtfully. "Should be fun. I hope you'll do your part to aid interschool cooperation, Liviana..."

He'd loved the Tournament back when he was an ickle forth year; even far out of school now, he was pleased it had been brought back. It reflected well on Hogwarts, and he was enjoying the international business. Of course there tended to be terrible accidents... He'd been horribly jealous of Harry Potter right up until he'd emerged from the maze with a dead Diggory. Hopefully such incidents could be avoided this year. There weren't any burgeoning Dark Lords that he was aware of.

 "I couldn't believe my eyes! He was utterly transformed, proper clothes do that to a man I suppose though. He looked very sharp when Dolly dressed him for Valentine's day last year but I believe those were Libertine as well, so it really shouldn't have surprised me - but it did!"

He laughed. "Well, he's a very good-looking man," he admonished her lightly. "Albeit so far up it's hard to tell. I agree, he's so wasted in those silly t-shirts." He leaned forward, lowering his voice to a delighted croon. Gossip time. His favorite. "Oh, I'll talk about it," he said, and gave her a wink.

"But I'm glad the editorial changed the way you see him. That's my purpose, you know - Libertine's mission statement, so to speak. There are an awful lot of men who don't know how to dress well, or act like doing so's a crime. Look at the poor Americans! Their men are practically an epidemic." He mugged in faux horror, then smiled. "No, it's not rubbish at all. Everything is about presentation, people especially. Why, if no one cared about appearances, I'd be out of a job."

"Well," her expression was coy, "I can't tell you that my parents aren't pleased as punch about the pureblood pool opening up a bit. They're terribly old fashioned in some ways," she shook her head, before resting her chin against her palm, "this last month hasn't been so bad of course because Erin agreed I could use him as my cover when Mum starts sniffing about my personal life. With Razzy gone I don't have to worry about someone trying to behead me in my sleep over it all," she rolled her eyes a little, face scrunching up, "Dolly has always told me a little subterfuge is good for the soul. It keeps them some what sated and me from having to go on awful blind dates". Her smile was bemused as she took a dainty sip from her cup, considering her companion carefully.

"I suppose he is, but it's very hard to notice isn't it? I mean, compared to Professors like Tawse it's obvious - but that is because the poor man dresses like one of those muggle party clowns," she shuddered a little bit, "In retrospect, I think my conundrum is that he's so very unlike most of the men Dolly is involved with. She likes brutes and brooders," she paused giving him a coy look, lips twitching with a small smile, "present company excluded of course". Darian was not Dolly's typical fair either, lithe and attractive, hardly seemed the type to manhandle. Liv had been privy to a bit too much information bout her sister and godmother's preferences over the years. There was nothing quite like the education one got from eavesdropping, and Liv suspected Darian Moran knew a fair bit about that too.

"Perception is the thing though, isn't it? It doesn't matter who you actually are, just who you can make people believe you are," she idly traced the lip of her tea cup, eyes focused on the amber contents, tone bemused, "It's the most helpful thing Dolly ever taught me, really, that no one cares so much about what's real. If you dress the right way, speak in the right tone, align yourself with the appropriate people, life just opens up for you differently. It's why Erin is such an asset now. I adore him of course, I couldn't pretend if I didn't like him at least a little; but it just makes everything so much easier. And he's the ideal choice because they, my parents I mean, know better than to push. Last time they pushed, my sister ended up married to a half blood criminal".

Liv was a crafty little thing, in her own way. She wouldn't tell him she hated the game a bit, because she rather gathered he was the sort that played for amusement. "It isn't just the Americans, sadly, my own brother could do with a trip to your shop. It's mortifying the way he runs about after practices," she sighed a little, shaking her head as though it were a hopeless case. "I do love him though, even if he is a beast," again her tone was laced with the appropriate amount of amusement before she followed with another dainty sip. She hoped she was making a fair impression, it wouldn't do to have one of Dolly's favorites think she was boring, "You know, I'd bet you half the gold in Gringotts, Professor Trishna's enrollment shoots up this term and not because we'll be flooded with foreigners".

Darian sighed, flapping a hand dismissively. Traditionalists. "Ridiculous. International blood is very attractive. We're a global society now." Then he grinned, half-tempted to cackle in delight. Erin had agreed? What a canny young woman Liviana was proving to be. He was sure it had helped that she was so very pretty.

"That's resourceful of you. I can't imagine your parents would be content with a Harper, though. Sad as it is I doubt your days of blind dates are over." He leaned in at the mention of Razzy, eyes alight with interest. "Please do tell me more about Razzy. Erin spent a week with me this summer, you know, but both the brothers are the same - it's impossible to get anything out of them once they've gone all sullen." Erin was much easier to trick with conversational gambits, but it was still one thing to hear about it from him and another to hear about Razzy from an outside source. Darian hadn't been content with the thoughtless snaps and muttered tidbits he'd milked out of Erin - this was a completely unexpected opportunity, and he intended to take advantage of it. Liviana seemed a sassy girl - Dolly's godchild, Slytherin queen, of course she was. There was no need to dress this up for her, to disguise it as familial concern. He imagined she well knew the irritation of dealing with the stubbornness of the average teenage boy. "All he did was sulk and take potshots at the passerby from the window. So tragic. Utterly obnoxious. I need ammunition to make up for all the times he scared off my guests with his scowl."

"I think my conundrum is that he's so very unlike most of the men Dolly is involved with. She likes brutes and brooders....present company excluded of course."

Darian smirked. He was so often the exception. But this was Liviana's godmother they were gossiping about - this was not the time for brutal truth. He had nothing but love and admiration for Dolly, but he'd best watch how he phrased things. There was also the teensy tiny possibility Dolly might object to the turn this conversation was taking, if she knew it was taking place. Phrases like "taking advantage" and "bad example" and "trust" were likely to prominently feature in any situation where he ended up on the sour side of Dolly's temper... again. For some reason she had this terrible aversion to being talked about.

So he spoke to Liviana of half-truths and common knowledge, nothing too inflammatory. Of course by the time he decided not to mention Dom's influence on Dolly's young and willing mind, why he'd been her frequent exception (hint: it was almost entirely the sex), and the reasons that hers and Tappy's relationship hadn't worked, he wasn't left with much to talk about. He settled for, "Well, Tapendra Trishna is a good man, and - " Dolly will try anything once "That can be attractive."

Darian folded his hands under his chin and smiled at her, eyes squeezing shut. "You're ahead of the game, then. Dolly must be so proud." One could practically hear the hearts rolling off his tongue.

"Well, he's a Quidditch player, dear. They think mud is an acceptable uniform."

"You know, I'd bet you half the gold in Gringotts, Professor Trishna's enrollment shoots up this term and not because we'll be flooded with foreigners".

Oh, Darian would like that. He'd like that very much. He grinned at the thought, shooting it towards Livi so she could how much it pleased him. "Give him my regards once school starts again, won't you? Preferably in a public setting."

Liviana gave him a rueful sort of grin, almost cheeky in nature, "They're content for now. After seeing what Landis grew up to be and, well, what Dazmond ended up marrying in favor of that..." she trailed off and gave a nonchalant shrug, not quite smug but something close to it. She knew how to handle her parents, she'd been doing it since she was a toddler. The only real point of contention between them had been her lack of serious relationship, they wanted her married. Daz and Nate were not likely to have children, and if Dom ever found a wife (and that was a big if) who knew what kind of stock she would come from. Livi wasn't a boy, but if she married the right kind of man, raised the right kind of babies, the Wiedman legacy could carry on for generations... even if the name died. Of course she was only sixteen and in no hurry to get married or make babies or any of that rubbish. She was having too much fun as it were, and Erin enabled her to do that.

"Razzy was...is I suppose, since it isn't as though he's dead or anything," she paused trying to think of superlatives to describe Erin's former flame - bat shit crazy and stalker came to mind but she thought better of it. After all, who knew if the boy would one day return and muck up all her plan and her pretty face, "he was very possessive. I mean, I can understand why; just look at Erin. Girls are mad for him, I mean even Kitty Li - who is quite possibly the most vile creature on the planet, wanted him. But he chose Razzy...or Razzy chose him, I was never completely sure," there was a titter of laughter at the end of her voice as she considered how pained Erin had often looked. Erin was not one for physical affection, at least not when sober or it didn't involve his younger sister. "He was a bit clingy, emotionally and physically, but Erin liked him so we all just kind of accepted it. Personally I found it rather...wholly unhealthy," she shook her head a little and sighed.

"I mean, I suppose some people could be happy like that - but there is so much that I want just for me. It's like Dolly says, no matter who may follow you in, at the end of the night you're the one sleeping with you. Why a girl could just flounder if she invested so much in just one relationship. Of course she only knows that because my brother is an idiot," her voice was dismissive and then she caught herself, sweet lips forming an "Oops" as she quickly covered them, expression almost bashful. "Of course, you know I adore Dolly and my brother, but they haven't always been very good for one another. Or rather she's always been good for him but he... makes life complicated," her expression was sad for a moment, but she considered what Darian had to say about Professor Trishna and nodded, "I can see how that would be an attractive feature for someone like Dolly, but I can also see how nice and honorable does not a match in heaven make". And actually sounds horrifically boring, she added silently to herself.

With her mind drifting back to Erin, her grin returned, "The scowling is a Harper thing isn't it? Landi-" she stopped and corrected herself, "Mister Morgan is like that too. Though you will be happy to know, the night I won Erin in a card game, he seemed happier. Of course he was surrounded by pretty faces," and enough booze to pickle forty dragon livers, and also, his tongue found it's way into my mouth several times. She giggled outright at the requested greeting for Professor Trishna, "Is there any other kind? It'd hardly be fun at all to just pas him in the hall and say oh by the way, I had tea with Darian Morgan and he asked about you," her grin was outright cheeky then, and more than a little smug, "Besides, if I'm going to be accused of being a professional name dropper, I want to be sure every witch in Hogwarts know I got you all to myself for an entire cuppa, in public. Kitty will be sick with envy, maybe Slytherin will get lucky and it'll be terminal," her expression was sweet as she fluttered her long lashes at the designer.

Darian cradled his cup in his hands, dark blue eyes trained steadily on Liviana. He hummed thoughtfully, setting the cup down and then folding his arms across one another on the table. The idea of Erin as some witch-magnet frankly made him want to snicker into his shirtsleeves, or perhaps bemoan his babies all grown up. Mostly the first, though. Darian certainly was not so critical of his younger cousin as Landis was, but it was difficult for him to comprehend girls finding attractive the same boy from whom he'd often had to duck temper-hurled projectiles. He was such a scruffy little pup... Although come to think of it perhaps he had filled out a bit over the summer, gotten taller, those sort of things that girls (and boys) liked. Erin did have the Morgan genes, and the Morgans produced some very fit men. It was just so unfortunate that such genes also came with many terrible personality flaws and a penchant for dramatics.

And it was interesting, this choice that he'd made. Granted, if any male student could date another boy at Hogwarts and get away with a minimum of mocking it was Erin, given his "hit-it-until-it-goes-away" mentality. With a name like that - and parents like that - well, wasn't this nostalgic.

Possessive, clingy.... "Erin often needs the emotional equivalent of a club to the head to understand anything," Darian commented, not unkindly. He grinned. "If anything you should applaud this Razzy for figuring him out so quickly. He needs a firm hand - I'm sure you'll remember that, Liviana?"

He smiled again at Liviana's little "accident," no doubt as purposeful as all her other conversational gambits. What a clever little cutie! She'd be a real man-slayer, some day quite soon. Darian, who was fairly assured of his future status as a silver fox, looked forward to it. "It's not all bad." His voice was coaxing, musical, sly. "You get to learn from her mistakes."

Yes, the scowling was a Harper thing. Darian never scowled; he'd get wrinkles. Landis was probably safe from such a fate since his face seemed practically made of stone - those cheekbones were like an automatic facelift. But Erin would look really horrible one day, oh yes, rest assured. Darian's lashes swept his cheeks in a powerfully pretty guard for his direct, wicked words. "Oh, I can't blame him. If you'd won me I'd be happy too."

"Is there any other kind? It'd hardly be fun at all to just pas him in the hall and say oh by the way, I had tea with Darian Morgan and he asked about you. Besides, if I'm going to be accused of being a professional name dropper, I want to be sure every witch in Hogwarts know I got you all to myself for an entire cuppa, in public."

Darian flashed her sight of his cup, perfectly empty, and winked. "Maybe more than one." She fluttered her lashes at him, teasingly sarcastic; he looked amused, and fluttered his right back.

"I suppose that's true, if you're trying to get him to behave in a way other than he usually does," Livi mused, smile twitching on her lips as she gave a shrug, "but since I'm not really in love with him, and have no desire for him to suddenly take to the idea that he's really in love with me - coaxing with kisses might work just as well," sipping her tea she considered how to expand upon the idea, "I think the mistake that so many people make is imagining people other than they are, other than who they tell you they are. Erin is attractive, and broody, so there is that level of appeal. People also often mistake this for a front and behind it is some mushy heart of gold that will emerge if they just dig long enough," her tone was scoffing and dismissive, "I suffer no such delusions. He's a bit of a brute, bad temper, foul mouth - but he's an excellent kisser and responds in kind when you tell him what you want. It's about respect really, I think".

She gave a gleeful sort of laugh at his correct assumption that she was learning from Dolly's mistakes, "Quite, the most important I've learned is not to believe that first love is your only love... or that love should play such a vital role in life at all really. I know it must sound terribly cold, but I simply cannot stand women to turn into simpering messes over relationships. I also believe in her philosophy that you should be kind if aloof to most, respect those who better your standing, and keep your circle of friends an inner sanctum that few are allowed to enter," that made her think of Gracie, and subsequently Luc. Livi was making her own mistakes to be sure, but she hoped to not repeat the elder woman's habit of falling in the same trap again and again just when she'd managed to sort herself out. A part of Livi - the part that wanted to believe in destiny and forever wanted Dom and Dolly to work out. The pragmatic part of herself saw the ways in which that could never happen, not even when her ill fated brother tried his damnedest.

Her smile was bemused as she gave a one shouldered shrug, voice lilting a little, "Maybe we'll have to invite you to our next card game then"? If one were going to practice their flirting techniques on an older man it might as well be Darian Morgan. It was utterly and deliciously scandalous, she was also sure it would lead absolutely no where. Well, she wasn't totally sure as he offered up his empty cup and showed no sign of wanting to dash off, but she was mostly sure. Besides, there was something about his face that just tickled one's flirtatious urges. "Two whole cups of tea? I must be making some kind of impression," she hoped she was anyway. He really was rather enjoyable just to talk to (and look at). This was probably the most fun (sans firewhiskey) that she'd had in all the time she'd been back in England. He was right in a way, that everything seemed rather lackluster after Paris, everything but tea with an amazing designer anyway.

Darian nodded his approval. "So young and yet so cunning!" he cried. "You'll keep him with kisses, at that. Oh, but you have it all worked out, don't you?" He laughed and laughed at her description of his cousin - accurate through and through, what a brute, how delightful. Darian rather wished Dolly would learn from her. At least he wouldn't have to worry about an angst-ridden star-crossed Harper-Wiedman romance to span the decade ever-so-tiresomely...besides the one that'd already occurred, of course. Wiedmans apparently were akin to some of Darian's more addictive drugs. He couldn't understand the appeal, himself.

Well, maybe he could a little with this one. "I am impressed, you know," he purred, folding his hands under his chin. "It doesn't sound cold at all! If only you were five years older." He uncurled a finger at her. "You have already got the world figured out. You'll go far, I'm certain of it." If that wasn't enough to fill her with happy fangirly warmth, Darian didn't know what was. He was telling the truth, besides. He was impressed. Ah, but he had other things he needed to attend to - he shouldn't stay too much longer, not past his second cup. He didn't wish to go on torturing himself with Azkabait. Darian was many things, but a masochist was not one of them, and the more Liviana impressed him the more despairing he felt.

"Maybe we'll have to invite you to our next card game then?"

"Alas, sweet Liviana," he sighed. "That would be, as they say, highly suspect. I only gamble with legal adults." And, "Mm-hmm, a two-cup impression at least." He tapped fingers on the table. "Though I'll have to run soon, it will be with the most bittersweet regret."

Livi rested her chin in her hand, brown eyes sweeping over the twenty-something's face as her lips twitched with a smile, "Ah, I thought you were one to enjoy things that are rather suspect," she couldn't help but tease. Livi had a habit of hearing things she probably shouldn't, spending time with Dolly opened things like that up for her. Of course there were the mentions of him in correlation to the author's name but Morgan could cause a scene all on his own. More than once he had graced the pages of the gossip section and the youngest Wiedman found it endlessly fascinating. He was like an exotic bird come to rest on her shoulder in the late summer sunlight. She wanted to spend as much time soaking up the warm rays of his glittering personality as humanly possible.

"It really is a pity you know, that we're just now getting friendly and I'll be leaving for school soon. One tea date, though containing two cups, is only the tip of the iceberg to what I could lord over the other girls," she didn't sound sulky exactly - there was too much mirth in her tone and sparkle to her eye. Toying with the pendant at her neck she tilted her head to one side, "I don't suppose you might fit a letter or two into your very busy schedule? Neely would be absolutely pea green with envy if I can legitimately lay claim to a budding friendship with a dashing slightly older gentleman who also happens to design fabulous clothes". It was presumptuous of her, maybe, but she had a feeling  Darian Morgan appreciated a female who could play coy while telling you exactly what she wanted. He had to like women like that, it was the only way to explain his relationship with Dolly.

"So true," he grinned, spreading a hand in open-palmed wordless plea: please, Ms. Wiedman, let me escape the spell of your clever eyes and quicker mind... "Naughty girl. Dolly would kill me. Well, actually, she'd probably - " he gave a theatrical full-body shiver - "Anyways, you're off limits." Not that Darian hadn't been getting his jollies with older strangers at Livi's age. Looking at her now, he couldn't believe anyone had fallen for the lies of someone as young as his wild-eyed coy-mouthed self, all soft limbs and teenage rebellion -

...oh wait. Yes he could. Because he was a cynic and a cad, and human sexuality was sadly predictable. Sigh.

He hummed agreeably as she talked, settling back in his seat. He toyed idly with the handle of the cup, his gaze attentive but not intense, lightly knowing without being smug. His grin widened. "I might be able to handle that," he allowed. "As long as you keep me updated in return. Someone needs to keep an eye on my nearest and dearest."