Wanted Setbacks [open]

[Reina Milán]

Her hair was messily pulled back; her attire was conservative yet chic. She managed to make the boring black skirt and white blouse look better with the rubies around her neck and wrist. A quick bite wouldn’t hurt and then she could rush off to her families estate and deal with matters that her ill father couldn’t handle at that moment. If Reina was given the opportunity to not having to deal with her families business; she would do so in a heartbeat, but it was her family’s main source of income and her father’s deteriorating health was not helping, to make matters worse her mother was horrible when it came to business. And so, it was all left for the only daughter to deal with all of this nonsense. She hated when things were forced onto her like this. Still, she knew very well the other reason why her father wanted her to deal with it and not one of his executives: the people she would be working with had a son. There was always a reason, and her fathers attempt did not go unnoticed, she even over heard her mother gushing about it.

Reina sat down, picking up pumpkin juice and taking a sip. Taking some toast, she ate at an even pace, even if she was in a hurry it would be disgusting to wolf food down improper table manners were never approved even in such situation. Reaching out for some butter, she turned to the professor to her left. “Could you please pass me the butter?” she asked politely, it would get the job done faster.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Of course," Eros said smoothly, reaching for the dish. It was a rare occasion that he ate at the staff table rather than in his rooms, but he had felt rather sociable today, and so he had risen early to dress and sent Orenda off to visit the other house-elves. She had squeaked her thanks before disappearing with a soft pop.

It was interesting enough watching the students scurry about, but the possibility of actual conversation was something he would not bypass. "And how are you this morning, Professor Milán?" he asked. Yes, it was basic smalltalk, but in truth he hardly knew the woman. Aside from that somewhat disastrous luncheon with Katia, they'd had little contact.

[Reina Milán]

She hadn’t focused on the man sitting before, but glanced at the back of his head to the soft blond curls. There was a feeling of familiarity, but she blew it off he was a professor so of course she would recognize him just a bit. As he gave her the butter, she thanked him and continued to her toast, but his mention of her name made her look up and she was met by eyes she would never forget even after such a long period of time.

The slight look of dread was replaced by friendliness; it would make up for the awkward first meeting. She was partially sure his impression of her wasn’t the most pleasant, but she was sure that she shouldn’t make such assumptions. “I am doing well, and yourself Professor d’Avonderre.” She was positive that was his name, she wouldn’t forget it and she was positive after the last meeting where she screwed up she wouldn’t want to forget his seeing as how he did not forget her own. Reina focused on his eyes, eye contact was important, it showed she was listening to him and paying attention and it didn’t hurt that his eyes were a splendid shade of violet-blue. “It has been quite some time, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” And she threw that in to be polite, but also because she did on a certain level mean it.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Indeed," Eros replied. He associated with all types of people at the school, and it would have been ridiculous to hold a grudge against a woman who was perhaps a bit too free when he counted an overly-colorful halfblood amongst his close acquaintances. And he could admit to himself that the day he'd met Miss Milán he'd been in a rather less than sterling mood to begin with.

"I am doing quite well, thank you. Spending quality time with friends, as they say. There is certainly no shortage of things to keep one on one's metaphorical toes here. Have you found yourself busy as well?" Part of him did wonder, of course. He'd heard nothing of Katia since the spring and wondered if her dear friend had scared her back to Spain.

[Reina Milán]

Reina continued with the preparation of her breakfast, she was in a hurry, but she wouldn't rush anything it only made a person seem sloppier and she was anything but sloppy. Her full attention was given to Eros as he spoke once more a hint of a smile on her lips. “I would say that ‘Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings’,” she paused and mused that thought. Did she really feel that way about the tasks she had to fulfill? Maybe, it could be considered her family’s main source of income, but without the business her family would still be able to bask in luxuries. They had land, wealth, jewels and all the things that marked a person as a high standing pureblood. “But I was fortunate to find time better spend on literature. I never thought English literature could be so fascinating.” she had read English books before, but mostly so that she could learn English. Never had she read just to read a good book.

Small talk was a good start, Reina’s eye went to the seat that would be Katia’s, but her friend was no where to be found. Reina had heard nothing from her friend in quite sometime and her parents didn’t mention anything to her. She couldn’t hold back a slightly puzzled look and she wondered if Eros would know where her friend was, but she wouldn’t ask. Reina wouldn’t seem like much of a friend if she did. “But of course, if the challenge to be kept on my ‘metaphorical toes’ was to be present, it would serve as a good distraction a wanted setback perhaps.” Because she had moved here, she had taken care to hire a tutor for her English. She didn’t want to slip into Spanish randomly when chatting and she did not want to be at a loss of words either, it posed as a mood and tone killer.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

"Ah, yes. Wanted setbacks," Eros echoed. "I've had several of those myself." He thought back over the past year and some months that he'd been in Scotland, and the brief time he'd been in London. For the difficulties he'd had, he certainly had stories to tell. He'd only ever intended a summer as a shopkeeper to see why his friends found it so fascinating and fulfilling. Though he'd never found that answer, his experiment had evolved into another, and so yes, his position at the school was a setback of sorts, but a wanted one.

"Trust me on this, Professor Milán; once you've been here for a time, the insanity infects you. There will be diversions enough nearly to rival Society." Nearly. It was a carefully-spoken word. There were times when ennui set in, but he had certainly never covered for any Azkaban-worthy crimes at home, nor had he set his solicitor to procure questionable papers. Ah, the things we do for friends, he thought.

[Reina Milán]

Reina flashed him a bright smile and took a small sip of her pumpkin juice. Reina did not want to go, if she found any reason to not go she would, but there was nothing that could keep her from completely not going. The only thing she could do was take her sweet time getting there and she sure as hell was going to enjoy her breakfast.

Reina has almost missed the nearly part, but it induced the lighthearted smile she was known for. "Insanity would be more than welcome! If anything, it could become a useful companion." Reina felt like insanity was the only part of human society when one was completely free. "Well if you find something that is more demanding than society, please do tell. I'm sure Katia would want to know." as for herself, Reina wasn't one to rebel. She would get curious sometimes and stray off the path, but never for too long. She did what she had to do and would oblige by all her fathers wishes, which included dealing with business. Reina was not the most intelligent person in the world, but she could hold her own when it came to the games played in business and politics.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros chose not to follow Reina's comment about Katia. The woman was of the most vexing sort and he didn't at all wish to get inside her mind enough to guess what she would find demanding. Likely anything male. She was an incorrigible feminist and quite unbearably outspoken.

"One should always be careful what one wishes, Professor Milán," Eros said, the words spoken sagely, though his eyes gleamed. "Those wishes might be answered in the most unexpected ways." His ennui, for example, and his desired freedom from the matchmaking mamas of Society and their vapid daughters. He was now busy, yes, and there were no matchmaking mamas, nor vapid daughters. He was in a purely educational environment, and from his vantage point, there were few eligible females. And none of them were fawning over him. It was a relief.

[Reina Milán]

His avoidance of mentioning Katia probably meant he had no idea about her current whereabouts and so Reina would not pursue such a subject. Reina liked keeping conversations as simple and as casual as possible, it would be especially useful with the screw-ups of last time.

His somewhat warning made her eyes shine childishly. "Probably, but thrill usually comes from the unexpected. Life would be terribly bland if there was no thrill or excitement in your life." which at the moment was limited in her own life, thus in her mind her life was fairly bland at the moment. She could rebel, but a person of society could only do so temporarily, and usually rebelling only made things come at a faster rate. Only it tends to be more painful than if she were to oblige.

Reina knew her dad wanted her to deal with this business because simply, she wanted the man to see her so she could be a potential suitor. Reina could avoid it easily, for starters, their son was a complete idiot and if she was to marry him... her family's wealth would be wasted. Reina was sure her father would be easily convinced; he trusted Reina's judgment.

Reina looked at her toast and took the first bite, she made sure to chew carefully and swallow. Taking a sip of her pumpkin juice, she made sure not to rush, if she was late... well she didn't really care it wasn't even that big of a deal.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros gave a brief nod of assent to Reina's statement about the thrill of the unexpected. "Oh, I agree emphatically," he said. His lips quirked ever slightly into an urbane smile. "There is a reason why I stepped out of Society's loving grasp for a time." He wouldn't dare imply insult on the institution, especially not to anyone who might pass word on, but the truth was there if she wished to see it. The glittering balls and dinner parties did become tiresome after so many years.

[Reina Milán]

Reina understood what he meant, to an extent, and she could empathize with the idea that society could be boring. Still, she was given a freedom that she would never take for granted. Reina knew very well that one slip up and her freedom would be taken away. Yes, sometimes she would step over the line, barely, but it caused no trouble and her father would over-look it... except for one occasion when she completely ruined any chance with the 'perfect suitor'. Still Reina regretted nothing.

With mild curiosity, she angled her body slightly towards Eros, he had always had her full attention, but it was more polite to not only show it through conversational response, but through body language. Her movement was barely noticeable, but he would spot the shift in position. "There is always a reason, but I wonder how long will it last before society comes calling again. It's impossible to avoid." even with her parents in Spain, she still couldn't avoid business meetings. "Forgive me, but if it's not too bold to ask, what of society do you feel less comfortable with." to her at this moment it was marriage. Reina didn't want to have little heirs, a husband's who's kiss goodbye to work was completely cold, and lovemaking that would lack warmth she had heard so much about. It would all be meaningless, cold and forced.

The household she grew up in was nothing like what she expected for herself. Reina could see that her parents loved each other very much. The glances at each other when they dined, the long kisses that seemed to have never changed since she was a child and yet each kiss between her parents was different. Even the way her mother would fluff her dad's pillows was done with care. Reina knew the story behind her parents meeting. Two teenagers, introduced to each other by family. They spoke, they laughed, they fell in love and they married. Reina doubted it happened very much, her own mother said that love was rare. So rare, that Reina knew it would never be a part of her life and she was in no hurry to confirm it legally.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros chose his words carefully, despite the signs that Reina was unlikely to disapprove of an criticisms he might speak. "I am at home in Society," he began. "There is nothing of it which discomfits me. I simply experience a typical sort of ennui from time to time. When one has danced attendance on so many fresh-faced débutantes and spoken to so many of their parents for one reason or another, one finds oneself longing for the company of friends, and perhaps a challenge or two."

Yes, he was terribly bored of having one young girl after another pushed into his arms by matchmaking mamas or being cornered by fathers hoping to bargain away their offspring. Such conversations were dull at best, and more often than not, quite painful. With the better part of his friends gone or, in Michael and Emilian's cases, married off, Society seemed to think that his time was up and that he ought to follow suit.

He was of no mind to settle down, however. Rather he had taken an extended holiday and one experiment after another. He almost missed the ballrooms, but not enough to accept the rest of it with open arms. He was enjoying his own bit of freedom.

[Reina Milán]

Reina could understand what he meant. Looking around the great hall, her eyes fell upon the students eating. Many not of society and so they didn't have to deal with the hardship it brought. But, she considered herself amongst the fortunate, society wasn't all that bad; especially since she was allowed to take her time in progressing through what was necessary in life.

There was a knowing look on her face, of faint amusement and annoyance. Women would walk over to her parents, son in hand and literally shove the bore bloke towards Reina. They would talk, and she would notice that the man felt uncomfortable or would be looking at another women. Reina used to always make excuses, and usually families would end up happy in the end, except for her own. ‘Reina see this could be your marriage’ or ‘Reina that little child could have been yours.’ It never worked and Reina always respectfully apologize to her parents.

…Longing for the company of friends, and perhaps a challenge or two… her mind echoed. “Friends are hard to find these days, and even those closest to you slip through the cracks. A challenge however I have yet to find one.” there was a glint in her eye, Reina could tell just by their last meeting –which she barely remembered- that Eros was an intelligent person. The way he spoke, how forward he was… The idea made her grin to herself and she made sure to turn back to her food. “Are challenges that rare now? Only one or two?” she asked, making eye contact once more.

[Eros d'Avonderre]

Eros's lips quirked ever slightly as he looked at Reina. "If one's friends are a challenge, then one is doubly fortunate," he said. His own were certainly that. Michael most especially, at least at current. Every time Eros began to expect that the younger man had shocked him as deeply as possible, something new came up. This latest escapade was beyond the pale.

"There is no shortage of challenges to be had, Professor Milán," he said. "I have no complaints, to be certain. Whether they are or are not the challenges I expected may be a different story. However, I consider myself quite fortunate in that respect. Life is a challenge at times, is it not?" His eyes gleamed more violet than blue as he looked at the woman beside him.

[Reina Milán]

Reina tried to think about her own friends. 'Her dress is so bland.'... 'What a sorry excuse for hair.' or better yet 'She got married?!?! She's not even decent looking' "Well I suppose the greatest challenge I received was pretending to agree that pale pink dress robes did not match with bright red shoes." not only was she being sarcastic, but her tone displayed how obviously annoyed she was. Reina didn't care much about other girls. If the woman wanted to wear a garbage bag to a ball it was her choice. While gossip did hold a value entertainment-wise, there was always a limit and such trivial things were not worth her time.

Reina had, at this point, had taken the idea of the business deal and pushed it to the back of her mind. She could afford to be late, and if she came up with a good excuse about how their potential 'business partner' would not be good for such an important role. "I think, that despite the lack of a challenge I have come across, there is always that rare gem you run across," she paused to take a small sip of her juice. "But I wonder. Are challenges really worth it in the end? By the end of the day, the entertainment factor would wear off and you will be once again left with nothing." she could be playing the devil advocate by stating that, even a momentary challenge was worth it, but she was musing the idea.