End of Shift - 15th of December, 1978

[Euphadora Parkinson]

She'd been watching him leave the office late for more than a fortnight and he never had anything exciting to show for a late night come the next morning when he passed by her reception desk and she asked after his evening prior. Ethan got this way sometimes, and Dora was normally not one to interfere (or so she claimed, possibly even believed) but he'd been dumped recently and was clearly taking it out on his work instead of celebrating his newfound freedom properly. She had her own reasons, too, for needing to shake things up, even if she couldn't really talk about it with anyone. Dora checked the time and decided to spend the remainder of her shift tidying up the contents of her handbag before gathering her things to leave. Instead of heading for the floo entrance on the near side of the atrium, Dora headed to the far end of the room to the lifts.

Level Five was one of the less exciting floors but she visited it often enough that she knew her way around to the International Magical Office of Law and was unsurprised to see Ethan working the night away. "Really? You know it's Friday night, don't you?" She looked at him with a mixture of mild disappointment and extreme sass. 

Tagged: Ethan Vanderhyde
Outfit: Day to Night

[Ethan Vanderhyde]

The sharp click of heels echoed through the empty office, and Ethan looked up from his parchment-filled desk to see Euphadora coming his way. It wasn't that her company was unwelcome - no, she was a friend of sorts - but that most company was unwelcome these days. Things had gone so well with Meredith that he had even fancied himself to be in love, truly, for the first time. It didn't matter to him that the initial set-up had been his father's doing, because for once, his father had paired him with the right woman. Meredith was everything he could have wanted in a wife, and he had let himself relax. Trust that this time things would be different, that he was what she wanted and that was enough. But it wasn't - when she'd found a letter from her father in his desk, Ethan didn't know who the greater fool was. Clever Mulciber, for putting plans for them onto parchment. Or himself, for not destroying the evidence or coming up with a convincing lie quickly enough.

And so, yes - yes, he had found solace in his work, in keeping company with books and documents in the security and structure his office provided. With his temper short and his patience even shorter these days, it was better this way, to stay out of the way. To stay out of Meredith's way, you mean. There was rumor that she had been out with Rabastan, perhaps even seen with Rodolphus, and the last thing he needed was to become not only an enemy of the Mulcibers but of the Lestranges...

"Yes," Ethan replied peevishly, "and there's always more to learn here. We're getting a crash course in law while we work full time, you know, it's no easy feat. I'm reading up for a case, and Weasley - he's gotten this law passed with an enormous loophole. Wizard owns a muggle object? Fine. Wizard charms a muggle object? Fine - as long as he never intends to use the object in its charmed state. But what happens when the object is used? We have to prove that defendant intended to use the object, that it wasn't an accident - and no damage was done this time, nothing a little memory-work on the muggles next door couldn't fix - but how are we supposed to prove intent when Veritaserum isn't without fault and no one has found written evidence?" The Slyherin graduate could hardly believe what he was saying, the absurdity of the documents in hand, and perhaps he had spent too many hours going back-and-forth through the law, but what use was any law if it was biased? Weasley was as biased as they came. And he knew the Dark Lord would enact new laws across the board when he was in power, but their system would be different under his guardianship. For now, laws like this passing when put to a vote?

And they call us corrupt.

    You just need somewhere to direct your anger - 

"For someone who prides himself on protecting muggles, all this law does is make it easier for wizards to get away with meddling, and puts the non-magical community in jeopardy. But there's no one to send to do a raid on his property for charmed muggle artifacts except his assistant, who's foolish enough to buy into him so wouldn't be any use to us." Realizing he had gone on far too long, the young man abruptly simmered and set the parchments down carefully, stewing in his desk as he eyed Euphadora. "Where are you off to? Meeting someone out?"

[Euphadora Parkinson]

Merlin, he was in a mood. Dora stared blankly at him as he rambled on about some law she knew nothing about and probably would never need to know anything about. Muggle objects? Why would anyone with any sense at all bother with such things? Muggles were the equivalent of cavemen to modern man; there might have been some physical similarities but when it came down to it, wizards were simply better and would outlive their idiot counterparts without question. One needed a muggle artifact as much as they needed a slightly sharp rock, regardless of any spell one might put on it. Dora rolled her eyes as she walked further into the room, glancing briefly over the papers laid out on Ethan's desk before sitting on the edge. She sighed dramatically, leaning into his workspaces and ensuring he'd not be able to get any work done with her body there. "The muggles can sod off. Just write up a new law on Monday that obliterates them all, and come out with me tonight." She gave him a sexy pout which was clearly more for show than any true emotion. "You wouldn't let me go out to a pub all by myself, would you?" Dora figured she could get a few drinks in him, perhaps entice him into hitting a dance club with her, and if he tried to talk about work she could always shove her tongue in his mouth to get him to shut up. Anything would be better than him having a wobbly in the office over some paperwork (or worse, over a witch).

Tagged: Ethan Vanderhyde
Outfit: Day to Night

[Ethan Vanderhyde]

He was being ridiculous, and he knew it, and he couldn't stop himself.

He hadn't been able to, not since everything with Meredith imploded. He had to keep his mind working, busy, curious - because what would happen when he stopped? He saw her - in her glory, in her fury, tangled in his sheets... Ethan was driving himself mad. He didn't want to risk getting drunk and showing up at her door, apologetic and desperate as he'd never before been. She wouldn't want him like that. He didn't want to be like that. Doesn't matter. She doesn't want you at all. Ethan had thought that they could continue as planned, and one day - one day their initial set-up would be something to laugh at together! How foolish of their families to conduct such a scheme only to have their pawns truly find something together! But that was not to be, and he had to get himself together, to direct his energy somewhere.

Ethan knew he shouldn't care so much about this position. Every single law would change soon, so why bother learning them now? As long as the work he did was passable and he kept his sleeves down, he could keep his desk here and his eyes and ears in the Ministry. Choosing to invest more heavily here instead of ask for more from his superiors in the ranks had seemed like the safer move, and kept him out of the way of those taking Meredith's side. But he wasn't doing himself any good, not really. Not when all he could do was snap at someone who had cared to seek him out.

He bit his tongue and quieted as Dora made herself comfortable on his desk, going so far as to block his reach to any of his things by angling herself towards him. Rather forced to, he met her eye as she spoke, and despite his best efforts felt a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Never known that to hold you back - arriving alone doesn't mean leaving alone," he challenged, brows raising in begrudging play as she teased him with that look given so freely. It wasn't unwelcome, for his thoughts to be pulled towards her, and maybe this was what he needed. A beautiful distraction... Considering, he let out a heavy exhale and pushed himself back from his desk. "But I will admit...you have a point. I could use a few drinks, with company. What did you have in mind?"

[Euphadora Parkinson]

He did know her so well, but the point of her harassing him was not to find another bloke's bed to sleep in, but to get him out of the office and, more importantly, out of his head. She opened her mouth in a show of faux shock at Ethan's words but a smile fought through. "How dare you, sir. I would never..." Had some random bloke from the office insinuated the same thing, Dora would have slapped them straight across the face but Ethan was charming, and challenging her, and so very correct that it was all in good fun. If there was any slapping happening tonight, it'd be the other way around and they would have substantially less clothing on at the time.

Her charms having worked, Ethan pushed himself away from his desk and Dora straightened herself up. "If you want to play it safe we could go to the Leaky for drinks, ooooor...." She smirked as she slipped off his desk and began backing away toward the door, her brows raised in pleading excitement, "there's a new nightclub that's only just opened. The Hellfire Club. Drinks. Music. Dancing. It could be a bit of a laugh."

Tagged: Ethan Vanderhyde
Outfit: Day to Night

[Ethan Vanderhyde]

Ethan couldn't help but laugh at the look on her face and halfhearted denial that followed. Reputations were what they were for a reason, but he hadn't meant to insult and was glad that Dora had seemed to take his words in stride and hadn't doomed him to his own company. He rose and put on his long jacket as she spoke, mind half with her and half in debate within himself. He could pack up his case. Bring the documents back to his empty flat for further perusal over the weekend. It would be easy, they were all right there, wouldn't take even a moment, and would give him something productive to do... She's right. You need to do something other than work and mope. He could always come back tomorrow. 

"Tell you what," he said definitively, a wicked grin lighting his wan features as he followed her, his hands empty and his pace languid. There were few if any others who he would go along with to a club with dancing. Other than ballroom, that is, he could hold his own well enough there alongside anyone else forced to attend etiquette school as a child. With the name of the club and Dora's energetic thrill about it, Ethan hardly imagined that was the kind of dancing he'd be engaging in. Which meant he'd have to thoroughly get out of his head. Which meant... "I'm not playing it safe tonight, and I nominate you to hold me to that. We're going to this - Hellfire Club." He needed this, as loathe as he would be to admit it. Even in his Hogwarts years he had put off nights that held promise, in favor of his studies or, when things were ungodly messy among their House, his sanity. But no, he wouldn't miss another Friday - at least, not this one.

Euphadora was something else, wasn't she? Luring him away from himself, from everything that was wrong, with this invitation?

You are such a sucker for a beautiful girl.

    She's excited to go with me, just look at her!

[Euphadora Parkinson]

His effort was minimal and his pace slow as he started his reply, and Dora straightened up, her wiggling hips coming to a halt as she suspected he was going to dash her plans for the evening and attempt to continue his newly found reputation for being a bump on a log. She wouldn't be deterred but she was on the verge of disappointment, loathsome thoughts of her meandering self worth beginning to wriggle into her brain where they had so recently made themselves at home, but she was saved from herself by Ethan's acceptance of her invitation. Dora squealed in delight, bouncing on the balls of her feet as an enthusiastic smile filled her face. "Brilliant!" she exclaimed, wrapping herself around his arm. "I'll hold you to plenty, tonight," she said with a laugh.

The pair headed to the lifts, then the atrium where they could choose their mode of transportation. Dora, not being a fan of traveling by the Floo Network (the soot was a nightmare on her pores) suggested they apparate. A dizzying blur surrounded them before the peacock blue walls and dark wood floors were replaced with a cobblestone alley, tall brick buildings on either side, and the low rumbling sound of vehicles passing behind them. Ahead of the couple, at the end of a long stretch of dark alley, was red door. An ogre-ish looking brute sat on a impossibly slender stool, held up by magic more than engineering, judging by the size of him. Dora's heels clicked on the stone ground as she tugged Ethan forward with her, stopping just in front of the club's bouncer. Dora smiled at the man who looked from her over to Ethan, raised his brow slightly, then nodded toward the door which seemed to open of its own volition. The music from the club was immediately evident, filling the otherwise nondescript alley with thudding base and pulsating colored lights. Dora stepped inside and was instantly enveloped in the atmosphere, the door shutting neatly behind them.

Dora shrugged her jacket off, passing it to the elf who stood on a chair in a nook surrounded by cloaks and capes. The elf handed her a ticket which vanished as soon as Dora closed her fist, and would return upon her departure - if she wasn't too pissed to remember to collect her things before leaving, that is. "First round's on me," she said, gently pressing herself up against Ethan and speaking into his ear so as to be heard over the music. It was a little different than the disco music Dora preferred but there was a nice beat to it that she would be able to dance to when the time came. But first they needed drinks, probably a fair number of drinks, given Ethan's recent state. Having a look around the place, it seemed larger than it had appeared from the outside. A flight of stairs leading to at least one other level was located just beside the cloak check, followed by a collection of tables and booths that lined one side of the room and surrounded a large dance floor, the patrons of which appeared to be floating. On the side opposite of them was the bar, along with several more tables and queue in front of the attractive pair of vampires who were working as bartenders.

Tagged: Ethan Vanderhyde
Outfit: Day to Night

[Ethan Vanderhyde]

The pretty brunette was more earnest than most would give her credit for - was that disappointment in his lollygagging? - and Ethan was rewarded for his tease with the squeal she treated him with at his acquiescence. He chuckled as Dora took his arm, excitement bubbling at her words. "I expect nothing less," he grinned. A night out with someone like Dora was what he needed. He was already feeling a bit more like his usual self from being around her wealth of energy, and drinking - and dancing, Merlin save him, he much preferred it when there were steps to follow - would be better with her company. He didn't fear babbling out his guts to her, but did worry that, in an altered state, he'd make the regrettable decision of trying to find Meredith. "All I ask is that you don't let me disappear. Do we have a deal?"

It wasn't long before Ethan was following his companion's lead, and they re-appeared out in the cold of an alley. He looked around quickly, but before he could quite gather his bearings - they must be somewhere in muggle London, though, with the putrid fumes of exhaust clouding the air - Dora had pulled him with her to the doorman. The...imposing doorman. He was preparing to bribe the brute to access the club, but the witch's smile did the trick. "I should take you with me everywhere," he laughed under his breath as they entered. He couldn't be sure that she'd heard him, however - as soon as the door opened, the music engulfed them. Perhaps because it was his first time in a place like this, but Ethan would swear that the music itself was enchanted - he could feel its energy pulse through him, and he was distracted already as he relinquished his jacket to the cloak-check attendant. 

Dora brought him to the moment, rising up against him and his arms snaked around her waist on instinct. He bent slightly, her lips to his ear. They had long been friendly, although nothing transpired between them while he'd recently been committed - and having her so close made him wonder if it was their friendship or the benefits that they had shared from time to time that had brought her to his office tonight. See where the night goes... "All right, darling - but the rest are on me, I insist." Although, as his eyes slid to the bartenders, a fleeting look of distaste crossed his features. What were vampires doing here? They had every right to be, he supposed, and even those supported by old gold would want to be in the public for new entertainment - but he found the no-longer-humanness of them rather off-putting. "What have you been up to? Besides keeping tabs on all the new clubs," he asked as they filed into the queue, finding himself honestly eager to hear. Dora had a freedom he envied, and with that could have been up to anything since they had last caught up.

[Euphadora Parkinson]

If all she had to do tonight was ensure that Ethan not run off to plead for Meredith to take him back, Dora could handle that much. If Ethan's thoughts even darted briefly to Mere, then Dora had failed at her mission for the evening but she rarely failed to seduce a man. Tonight would be a cake walk.

The music was deafening, so Dora stayed close until she was sure Ethan had had his say. One round was really all the reception witch could afford, but she didn't say as much to her friend. He would have understood her situation without explicitly calling attention to her lack of finances, but ever the gentleman he offered to buy for the rest of the night. It was an offer that might cost him a pretty sickle by the time they closed out his tab, but Vanderhyde could afford it, and Dora would be grateful.

Queuing at the bar, Ethan asked after her social calendar. The last few months had been trying for Dora, but even after missing several days at work after succumbing to her misery, she tried her best to hide the pain from her friends and family, portraying the image of carefree party girl everyone expected her to be. "Partying is a full-time post, love. How else would I be able to bring you to such high-end establishments?" She wiggled against him to the music as she spoke, stepping forward when a space cleared in front of them at the bar but keeping Ethan close. If she could somehow manage to make club-going her career, Dora would have been set. She knew doormen, bartenders, musicians and MCs. Even the drug dealers that set up shop in the nightclubs she considered to be her friends. She had all the connections she would need but lacked the ability to put it into terms that paid the bills, and without family money like so many of her friends had, she was forced to relegate her social life to the weekends and the occasional mid-week fling with Rabastan. "Two vodka shots and a dirty martini," she said when the vampire approached for their order. She waited for Ethan to make his order before continuing their conversation. "I was thinking about getting a dog, but I'm not sure I can be trusted to keep an animal alive."

Tagged: Ethan Vanderhyde
Outfit: Day to Night

[Ethan Vanderhyde]

Ethan could get used to this. He should. This was just the sort of thing he should do to move on - try new things, get "out there," not bury himself in work and gloom. If Euphadora was available, perhaps this could become something they did. He certainly wouldn't run into anyone else he knew at a place like this, which was how he liked it these days, and she was better company than most. As long as no one she was seeing was the jealous type - which would only be an issue if they got up to anything someone else should be jealous of, of course - then what was the harm? She kept him close as they waited and moved up the queue, leaving no space and no doubt that they were here together, and the newly single bloke had no complaints. Ethan had to look to her wondrously as she spoke, this life of hers - endless parties and clubs and music and change - nothing short of a novelty to him. "Thanks are in high order then, for taking me with you to your real place of work," he laughed, hoping he did nothing to embarrass her here. This was her territory, after all, and while he didn't know anyone - Euphadora, certainly, knew many of their new fellows. He usually went for wine, but when it came time to order, followed her with an order with shots of White Rat Whisky - all the faster to get out of his head.

Ethan shifted aside with her, leaning around her to the bar, and had to grin in disbelief as she went on. Those dark eyes of hers were playful, sparkling, drawing him in. He wasn't sure if his opinion was the best to be sought out for this topic, not having been responsible for living things himself unless one counted his little sister, although he had never been solely responsible for Tali, and she was fully capable of taking care of herself these days besides. Their home was never interrupted by the likes of pets, and his flat remained the same. It had never appealed to him personally, and for the life of him, he couldn't recall a cat or anything following Euphadora around at Hogwarts - granted, his focus would have been on her and not an animal companion, but still. If she wanted a pet, she should get a pet - but if she was asking him... "Not doubting you, love," he said in amusement, leaning in to be heard, "but for the sake of argument, what about starting with something impossible to kill? Fish are hardy, aren't they, and some are rather beautiful. Not - erm - cuddly, of course, but they'd be alright if you were away. Start somewhere, see if you like having something else around the flat?"

[Euphadora Parkinson]

Body bopping to the rhythm of the music as Ethan played along by claiming the nightclub to be her true place of business, Dora smiled and trailed her hand down his arm. "Don't get me sacked," she teased back.

Vampires, while being intriguingly deplorable by the very nature of their being, were known for their celerity, among other traits, and thus made for excellent waitstaff. Drinks arrived just as the handsome brunette weighed in on Dora's chances of accidentally killing a puppy, and suggested she aim for something heartier. A fish. Ethan, a friend of many years was suggesting she try her hand a raising a fish? Had he so little faith in her ability to care for a living creature? She was never so thankful for the speed at which the vampiric barkeep had delivered their beverages.

"Your unwavering confidence in me is much appreciated," she said with a breathy laugh, schooling her features to remain soft as she took one of the shot glasses and downed it's contents swiftly. She raised the next one toward him and said "cheers" and downed it as well, hoping to muffle any further conversation that would reinforce the idea that she was not ready to care for something so small as could comfortably live alongside her in her wee flat.

A dog, she had considered, might fill the emptiness she'd felt these last few months, though it would of course been no adequate replacement for the child she'd aborted. She hadn't even wanted to be a mum, nor was Rabastan in any position to play father to a bastard child. It was the correct choice to be made, Dora never doubted that, but she had not expected the emotions that were to accompany such a decision. Ever the pretender, Dora put on a brave face and carried on about her life, and when she could not act her way through the day she feigned illness and hid away in her flat with none the wiser. The charade grew easier as time carried on, and she was not even really offended by Ethan's hesitance in proclaiming her fit for dog ownership, and so the only possible course of action to stifle the strange feeling she couldn't identify was to drown it in vodka. An eloquent answer to a baffling query. "Let me know when you're drunk enough to join me on the dance floor," she said cheekily, looking down briefly as she pulled a small purse from her pocket and counted out enough coins to cover their drinks. Dancing rarely involved talking, and neither Dora's nor Ethan's recent turmoils needed to be treated with a chinwag.


Tagged: Ethan Vanderhyde
Outfit: Day to Night

[Ethan Vanderhyde]

There was a flash of something in those dark eyes, and his companion fixed her face as quickly as he often fixed his when bothered. A neutral mask to keep everything fine, and to evade further queries and discussion. They had only just arrived, had Ethan already put a damper on their night by suggesting she start small? She'd said she didn't know if she could be trusted - had she been looking for him to refute that, and he'd only affirmed it? Had he been so long out of touch with his friends that he no longer knew how to keep them? Perhaps it's not just you who needed a night out with someone.

"Dora - " Their drinks arrived and one of hers disappeared in a moment, quickly followed by the next. He followed suit, the cheap whisky leaving a scorching fire down his throat and a heat that stretched beyond, and gave a sharp exhale when all was done. It wouldn't be long before he felt the needed courage in him, but even while lacking it, Ethan reached out to prop up her chin, meeting her eye as he quickly spoke. "I was only thinking of your available time. That's it. If it's what you want, you'll go for it. It'll be grand, and I'll be eating my words." He smiled and dropped his hand, tugging at the suddenly uncomfortably hot collar of his shirt before undoing the top buttons. Tempting as it was to continue, to roll up his sleeves to provide more relief, he didn't know how...friendly this club was. And he hadn't exactly clued Dora into one of the main events of his summer. And this wasn't the time or place to get into that new chapter of life.

Ethan had to laugh as she spoke up, hoping his trepidation to join the dancers wasn't as obvious to the other patrons. Thankfully, they all seemed much farther gone than he was yet, and had better things to do than give him notice. "Whether I am or not, you've been more than patient with me. Let's go." He took her hand and navigated around the drinks queue, the thrumming of the music and the fire of the drink felt throughout his body - waking him up. He took in the dance floor as they drew nearer, and looking to her in bemusement, leaned in to ask,  "Are they - floating? Will we?"

[Euphadora Parkinson]

There was no sense in resisting Ethan's attempt to raise her face to look into his and she gave him the same false smile that she gave anyone who asked after her absence and wished her well upon hearing the false tale that she'd only missed work due to be unwell. Dora didn't want to hear his attempt at salvaging the conversation, and she wasn't the least bit upset that he followed her lead in shooting back the two shots he'd ordered almost the moment they'd arrived. There was no sense dwelling on things in the past nor things that were outside of her control. So much of her life was left in others' hands but the direction of their evening tonight was still very much within her power. She reached for her martini, intending to savor this drink in a way one would not have expected of the previous shots, as Ethan unbuttoned his collar. She watched him happily as she sipped her drink, her thoughts drifting to the last time they'd been out together outside of Ministry of Magic. Reminiscence was short lived as Ethan seemed ready to rise to her challenge.

Dancing was something that never bothered the raven-haired witch. Dora was well versed in moving her body, not understanding why others might find it awkward or not necessarily enjoy the act as she might. Being on a dance floor was freeing, and one enchanted to make the dancers float could only be that much more enjoyable, could it not? She again allowed her body to be ushered wherever Ethan desired, and nearly giggled aloud as Ethan looked apprehensively toward the dance floor. "Not scared of heights, are you, love?" she whispered in his ear with a twinkling laugh before taking a sip of her drink and stepping forward into the crowd as she did so. Her foot never seemed to touch the ground but she was just as steady as if she were not levitating several centimetres off the floor. She turned and smiled at her date, reaching forward and pulling him along after her.

The music was louder here, if that was even possible, and the beat seemed to fill her with a sort of euphoria that spread warmly through her extremities. Or was that the alcohol? Who cared. Allowing herself to enjoy this long-forgotten feeling, Dora draped one arm over Ethan's shoulder, her other kept tucked nearby so as to not spill her drink. She sighed happily to herself, hips swaying to the rhythm of the music and teasing her friend as she brushed up against him.



Tagged: Ethan Vanderhyde
Outfit: Day to Night

[Ethan Vanderhyde]

While he hoped he'd reassured her after foolishly shooting down her idea, Ethan couldn't quite be sure. Euphadora was as much a master of masking her emotions as anyone they'd shared a House with, and better than many. She smiled - to keep him from pressing, to let the moment pass, to put it out of his mind? - and he returned it simply, knowing better than to pry. She'd recruited him for a fun night out, after all, and perhaps for the benefits of them both. The least he could do was get on board, drop the subject, and shoot back the whisky. If she'd wanted to talk, they'd be somewhere they could talk without fighting the music to be heard. And it would be good for him to not obsess over Meredith with someone, really, to shake things up - he'd too long been trapped in his daily patterns, running on automatic with his mind dissecting the disaster of his personal life whenever it was unoccupied with work. It was high time to start moving on, and he flashed Dora a grin as he caught her watching him with his buttons. The last time they'd both been unattached and in the same place...last winter holiday break? Far too long ago.

The need to break from his inertia was, thankfully, stronger than its own resistance, and Ethan fed off of the rise in energy of his companion as they neared the dancers. However admittedly jarring it was to see them levitating. With Dora's tease at his apprehension, the heat of her laugh in his ear - he couldn't very well stay tethered to the ground, could he? Never would hear the end of it. He met her as she reached for him, testing the magic with one foot before following with the second. And maybe it was the enchantment, or drinks hitting him, or music so loud he felt its pulse, or the model of Dora's inhibition, the way she relaxed into the flow, the way she moved against him and the way the changing lights illuminated her brilliantly...but Ethan began feeling lighter, more like himself - not that he was ever fully relieved from his anxieties - than he had in weeks.

Change and new situations weren't exactly his favorite things, but this push was what he needed to get out of his funk. And knowing how to read a room, to subtly observe the way others were and adapt to mirror them - basic survival skills for any child of "society." While he didn't recognize this music and doubted he'd be able to do a passable replication on his piano - he knew music, and he knew how to move to a beat. This was just a new space, a new rhythm, a time to be in his body. He kept close to her as they danced, hand at her hip, more aware than he wanted to be of his nonsensical mistrust of the enchantment keeping them above the ground - but far more pleasantly aware of the eyes of others on Dora, and smug to be the one she'd asked to come with her. "You were right," he leaned in, grinning. "This is growing on me." A laugh at himself, hardly a natural here, and he continued, "What do you think, blending in yet?"

[Euphadora Parkinson]

At first, Dora could feel his apprehension in the tightness of his muscles as she pulled him close to her. Easily sent down a depressive spiral at the mere suggestion of being rejected, Dora knew all too well that Ethan's hesitance was directed at the dancing, not to mention the enchantment on the dancefloor, not her. Her arm draped over his shoulder and his hand on her hip, it was not too long before Dora could physically feel him relaxing into the evening. He leaned in so that she could hear him and she tilted her ear in his direction. She grinned at his remarks. "I'm always right. It's foolish to question me." She watched him for a brief moment, almost proud of him, though that would have been silly to say as much aloud. "You're a natural, darling. I suppose this means you'll be joining me regularly, yes?" Dark eyebrows raised expectedly in his direction as she sipped on her martini, daring him to tell her no. 

It was good for him to get out of this rut he'd created for himself since he and Meredith called it quits. She absolutely hated seeing him sulk around the corridors of the Ministry of Magic, pretending not to sulk. Dora knew him too well for his skilled act to fool her as it seemingly did everyone else. His late nights in the office weren't the only tell, but they were the most obvious from Dora's vantage point at the reception desk. She hadn't traveled lately to the various levels of the Ministry for casual chinwags with friends and flirty chat ups with the MLE officers as she normally did, choosing to stay at her desk unless her duties required otherwise. Dora did not want to accidentally happen upon Rabastan in public, unsure whether she would be able to keep her composure these last few months. It was, apparently, not only Ethan whose work habits had shifted as of late but unlike her sexy friend, no one took enough notice of Dora to consider something was off. A depressing fact that might have spoiled her evening had it not been for the liquor that was warming her from the inside and the gorgeous man dancing like a fool in front of her. 

The song changed, the colors and directions of the lights adjusting accordingly, and Dora grinned. "I love this song!" She took another, larger sip from her glass, nearly ready to find a ledge nearby to leave the empty glass on for someone else to worry about.