Intrusions and Introductions

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Generous, Eros mentally repeated. He could only imagine the effort that it had cost Katia to say those words, and for now, he wouldn't pretend not to know otherwise. "Does Miss Milan believe you enjoy your cage so much?" he asked. "And does she enjoy hers as well?" If Katia was so intent on proving herself a lady of court all of a sudden, he could only imagine that her friend was a stickler for the rules.

[Katia Medina]

It was a fervent wish that Reina was a stickler for the rules, then perhaps Katia would not need to be so rigid in her adherence to them around her, for proprieties sake, one woman should act the part of a lady at all times. Katia cleared her throat, "Miss Milan believes with all of her heart that while I chafe against my cage, I never commit an indiscretion. Her family on the other hand does not believe in caging their birds."

It went without saying what that meant, in having the freedom Katia wished for, Reina's family lost standing in the court, whether they realized it or not. Freedom for the pretty doves was to be allowed only in supervised company, much as their society female counterparts. "Her family has many connections that my father deems valuable," as well as Reina offering herself friendship and a glimpse of the other life. "However, I tread carefully."

One wrong move in the presence of someone who could not only offhandedly report an unsavory behavior that could cut one off at the knees, but who also did not note their affect because it did not affect them was dangerous. It was also dangerous not to behave perfectly in the company of someone who was not expected to live to the same standards as you were, should they fall, without an impeccable record so would you.

[Reina Milán]

Reina gave herself another look in the long mirror in her office. The stream of complements coming from her mirror made her lips curve up into a delicate smile You look gorgeous Miss Milán. or things like That dress will have all men cowering at your feet. Reina’s smoothed the deep green velvet dress, her eyes roaming over how well the dress accentuated her curves and dipped low enough to show a ‘modest’ amount of cleavage. Reina had no idea who she was meeting, the only information she had received was that the person was a male and she could always have a little fun when meeting one of Katia’s friends. Reina added her simple diamond earrings and necklace, the thin jewelry accentuating her collar bone.

Reina set out, picking up her cloak on the way out. She ignored the glimpse she received from a few members of the staff and even some of the older students. Reina mentally rolled her eyes, were they so surprised that there was a new professor? Then again, she was so used to awkward glimpses from people, especially those from high society. Reina’s family did not conform to every particular rule, but her father had his reasons and to Reina it suited her just fine. Still, she wasn’t one to care anyways about people’s opinions of her so she didn’t even feel the need to ask her father about why she was given such freedom.

Reina had walked out far from Hogwarts; it was sad that you could apparate within the grounds, but as soon as she was beyond the borders of the school she immediately apparated her way to Diagon Alley and looked around. Making her way slowly to the candy shop she looked herself once more in the reflection on the window of some other store before making her way to the candy shop. Wondering if she should knock or just walk inside, she thought the former would be a better idea and so raised her fist and knocked gently on the windowed door; she couldn’t see inside, but assumed that Katia was already there to warn her friend. Reina waited patiently for the door to be opened, she could always walk in, but it was best to give them the privilege of getting ready- not that she cared.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros was interrupted before he could respond to Katia, and his gaze moved past her at the sound of a knock on the shop door. Who would knock on the door of a shop which was open for business? A beautiful woman, Eros answered himself. A woman he recognized from the school. Dear Lord, Katia meant to meet here? And it seemed she'd given him very little notice. He'd meant his purchase of the shop to remain relatively unknown, but it seemed that all and sundry were determined to catch him in the metaphorical act. He gestured lightly for the woman to enter.

[Katia Medina]

Katia closed her eyes and inwardly groaned, Reina was early. She should have expected it or even guessed it, but as she looked towards her friend, she wanted to inwardly raged. Where Katia had chosen to dress down to an appropriate level, Reina had dressed herself to the hilt. The jealous beast she felt silently wished that she could be wearing her favorite clothes as well. However, her favorite clothes were anything but society acceptable.

"Excuse the intrusion," Katia began, "I had hoped to clear the way with you first, but as usual Miss Milan appears to be early." She watched the door waiting for the firing to begin, around Reina, Katia took her place slightly off-center, where her honor remained in tact. Still it seemed that with Reina in center position everyone danced around her. She was beautiful, Katia had to admit to herself, but a small spiteful part of herself included in her mind said that of the two she was more polished. She smiled to herself with a small vanity, and she had better lips, although she would never speak a word of that to Reina.

[Reina Milán]

Reina stepped in and immediately beamed in the direction of her friends Katia before her gaze turning to the blond man that stood just beyond her friend. Reina looked Katia over once and mentally scowled, Katia was such a beautiful women why on earth was she dressed so simply? To Reina it wasn't just about the raw beauty but about the presentation and Katia had disappointed her. Katia was a natural beauty, but she lacked the more polished finish that Reina had.

Reina went to stand beside her friend Katia. There was no way in hell would she allow herself to take the back seat and wait to be called forward. Although, she did have to wait to be introduced, formality was key and even though she wasn't always 100% formal there were some rules she wouldn't even think of breaking. "Tu nunca me dijo que él es hermoso." she muttered under her breath only for her friends to hear, sometimes wizards of high status had a vast knowledge of languages. Reina angled her head back towards the man, she was very much looking forward to getting to know him.

Translation: You never told me he is good looking.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros was already wondering if he ought to regret having agreed to this devil's bargain. Would the opportunity he'd been given with that painting be worth the effort of keeping a constant facade of politesse? True, it was second nature to him, but Katia alone had reduced him to fury, albeit controlled fury. Her friend appeared to be several times worse. Knocking on an open door, overdressing for a casual meeting, and to top it all, speaking in front of him in tones obviously not meant for him to hear. Even children were taught that whispering to one another was rude. Perhaps Katia's description of Miss Milán was more polite than he would have suspected her capable of.

"Miss Milán, it is a pleasure to meet you," Eros said, taking the introduction out of Katia's hands for now. He'd seen the woman at Hogwarts, after all. "I'm sorry, I was unable to hear whatever you told Miss Medina. Could you speak more loudly?" It was as close as he would allow himself to get to a reprimand for now, but there was no need to restrain himself. Despite Katia's assurance that her friend was less socially cultured than she, the woman should observe common courtesies in his presence. He would hate to give up that painting because he was forced to call off their unexpected get-together.

[Katia Medina]

The small pleasures of having her friend near for small talk, did not make up for the humiliation she was feeling at the moment standing in front of Eros. If he had chosen not to say anything she would have begun the customary introductions, without responding Reina. Tenuous ties at best was what she would mentally call this, perhaps she could repair her relationship with Eros if she was diligent enough, but she sorely doubted at this moment that Eros was in the mood.

She cleared her throat, nerves causing her usually confident skin to blush at what Reina had said. While she did find Eros enormously attractive, she would not even in confidence confide that. Her ties with Eros did not give her the luxury to talk of him in such a way. After all if she believed women should not be treated as pieces of meat in the society market, then neither should men.

[Reina Milán]

It came as a surprise to Reina that he knew who she was, but Reina was too busy moving into the school to pay attention and had no idea who he was. In fact she almost scowled at being the only one not knowing everyone in the room by name. “The pleasure is all mine señor…?” for a moment her eyes flickered to Katia before returning to the man in front of her. His question only made her lips turn up into a sweet smile, almost too sweet, not that she cared. “I was telling my dear friend Katia how she should have warned me we would be in a candy shop and not some place fancier. I couldn't have possibly been able to recognize the address.” It was a mistake that could have happened, especially since she was new to this part of England. Reina wasn’t sure if he would take it as an insult and she frankly didn’t see the reason why he should. Then again Reina’s mind didn’t seem to function the way people her age did.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros inwardly seethed at the blatant insult. Not only had she belittled his shop, a point which stung no matter how he felt about the place, but she had made a direct blow to his pride. He would never choose to hold any sort of meeting in a candy shop. His polite smile didn't return this time, though he gave away nothing of his distaste for the woman Katia was saddling him with. Rather, his face remained in its habitual facade of fashionable boredom.

"Mister d'Avonderre," he corrected the woman gently. They were not in Spain, and as inadequate as she found the location he had not invited her into, she was in his territory in a matter of speaking, and manners dictated that one speak the natural language of one's host whenever possible.

"I am certain that Miss Medina would have warned you, had we intended to meet in such surrounds. As she stated some few moments ago, your early arrival has come as somewhat of a surprise. The door to the shop is habitually utilized by customers, with guests entering through the outer stairs. My sincerest apologies for the misunderstanding." His apologies appeared entirely genuine.

[Katia Medina]

Clearing her throat again Katia hoped to perhaps head the bull off at the pass, she could see the bored look in Eros's eye, had been on the other end of the docile tone he currently had in his voice. "We were discussing where we might go, after you had arrived." Such as lunch or something, but she had only had moments to talk to Eros, and it had not gone as well as she'd hoped, she had hoped that he would agree right away.

Perhaps that would be the best idea as it stood currently. She turned to Eros, a pleading apology in her eyes, "perhaps lunch would be a good idea." She did not want to interrupt and draw Eros's mood onto herself, she never managed to say the right thing to him. But she also did not want him to withdraw his help. She desperately needed to look as though she was functioning in society, not floundering here at Hogwarts. She did not need to have anyone looking that deep into her family histories.

Eros was not yet to the point that she had pushed him, and he'd still been civil with her. However, one had to watch that their words were unfailingly polite, and did not imply something that might disgrace his name. She had come to determine that to Eros society standing was everything. At least on the surface, and she was beginning to agree with him, it was at least easier that way. She hoped Reina would not become defensive as she had, and lash out in some misguided sense of not being respected.

[Reina Milán]

His correction did not go unnoticed to Reina, but to her it made little difference formality was formality no matter what language and her own lapsing into Spanish was inevitable. She pushed her fringes away from her hair, sweeping them to the side. “I hadn’t realized how early I was; perhaps I should be the one apologizing Mister d'Avonderre.”

[/color] she had corrected herself with a tip of her head in recognition of her mistake. If she was to be corrected then the best way to maintain dignity was to address the mistake with a correction.

Turning to Katia she nodded her head not minding the idea. “Perhaps we should let Mister d'Avonderre choose where. I’m sure he knows London much better than both of us do… of course if you don’t mind.”[/color] She added at the end her tone of course giving off the sense that he didn’t have to comply.[/blockquote]

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros gave an urbane smile at Miss Milán's suggestion. "Nonsense," he said. "By all means, ladies first. Miss Medina?" he asked, looking at Katia. "If you would be so kind." It was a brutal snub, but subtle enough that it would likely go unnoticed. Of course, even if it didn't, he would deny such beastly behavior. Everyone experienced an occasional slip of the tongue, did they not?

"Would you prefer the café this time? I know how you adore Mano's coffees." Rather, he knew that she enjoyed coffee over breakfast at the staff table, but Mano's coffees really were quite good, considering who prepared them. Mano was also a society Pureblood, and Miss Milán could have no objections to the place. As an added bonus, Mano could entertain himself watching the polite circus certain to follow, and Eros would be saved an unnecessary explanation later.

[Katia Medina]

Katia tried to remember the name Mano, and decided that it must have been Mr. Berwyn, the gentleman that had come to her dinner party so many months ago. A slight incline of the head gestured Katia's agreement with the suggestion. If there had been a slight, Katia chose not to notice it. It was difficult enough to make sure that she kept her footing with Eros, hoping to turn this visit into something more, if she could get Eros to forgive her.

The most surprising part of the suggestion was that Eros knew what she had to drink in the morning, every morning. Coffee helped to alleviate the indulgences of wine that the Spanish people loved. Her eyes turned to Eros, a bit of wonder at that in her eyes. "Mr. Berwyn's place sounds divine."

[Reina Milán]

The suggestion was one that Reina was pleased with. back home in Spain there was a cafe she would go to almost every morning because of their variety. Her love of coffee was so great that the thought of a house elf preparing it was not one she would even consider. Reina almost considered herself a connoisseur of coffee having tried ones that range from the thick and luxurious taste ranging from that of the African and Middle Eastern world to the thinner but more pungent taste of the far Eastern world. "What a lovely suggestion."

Reina masked the inner child with a simple look of approval and even curiosity as Katia seemed to know the person by name... not that it was odd, but some people didn't take the time to get to know the person who serves them coffee.