Freedom & Firewhiskey - Thursday, 22nd of December 1977

[Ender Parkinson]

He was running late, and he hoped that Dora wouldn’t be cross with him. If she was, he figured she wouldn’t care anymore once she saw her housewarming gift. He had been painting her portrait since winter break started - he didn’t want to work on it at school with Evan around - and he’d put the final touches on it this evening. He knew the party would be mostly his sister's friends, but he did know some of them well. He had to assume Violet would be there, and some of those from his house that were his age. The Malfoys could even make an appearance, although he doubted they would stay long. Plenty of people he knew, and hopefully that meant he could avoid conversations with strangers. Dora got all the social genes, he was happy to be in the background watching over her. The way, as his mother reminded him constantly, Theon should have.

He was thankful he was now able to apparate on his own, and it was only seconds that passed as the Parkinson house vanished and the alley in Cardiff appeared. He had yet to see Dora’s place, but as he stepped onto the crowded street he saw exactly why she had chosen it. The nightlife was bustling, and he grinned to himself as he made his way across the street to her building. He could see Charlie and Lydia on the terrace, but he doubted they would hear him if he tried to get their attention. He took the stairs as gracefully as he could while carrying the large painting, and followed the music and noise to the flat. He slipped inside, taking a moment to get acquainted with the layout. It was small, but it was hers, and Ender was jealous she’d escaped their family home. There were people he didn’t know, and he avoided making eye contact with them as he moved toward the group gathered around what he assumed was the kitchen.

He could tell he’d already missed out on some drinking, the smell of tequila in the air, and Violet was the first of the group to see him, abandoning her spot in the circle to come and give him a hug. She was like another sister to him, and he grinned at her when they separated. She was due to have her own housewarming at some point, and he already had a painting in mind for her place. “Ello all,” he said as he raised his free hand, not keen on breaking through the circle to give Dora a proper greeting. Instead, he turned the painting toward her so she could see it. “Sorry I’m late, I was finishing this up for you.”

[Violet Fudge]

Bronwyn was giving her reassurance that Regulus would be in attendance tonight, Vi flashed the younger girl a smile. She’d seen them together as friends when they were together in school, but this would be her first time seeing them as a couple. It was a smart match, and she did hope their families agreed and paired them together. But tonight wasn’t for talks of work or family business, it was about Dora. As they joined her in the kitchen, she laughed at her friend's quip. “As if Vance could actually teach me anything useful,” she said with a smirk as she filled Dora’s mug. “Lucius will just have to deal, we can’t all rely on our Daddy’s money. My place is not much bigger.” She passed a shot to Wyn, and clink her glass to the others at the younger girl's toast. “Dora’s right, muggle boys will fall over themselves trying to buy you a drink.”

Regulus had arrived, and Violet poured him a drink before he wrapped around Bronwyn. Ignoring the pair, she exchanged a look with Dora before they continued their talk about the local nightlife. It wasn’t long before the Malfoys did arrive. She returned Narcissa’s air kiss, smirking at Dora as she made a promise to Lucius. “You look wonderful, doll,” she told Narcissa as Lucius got them both a drink. Taking a long sip of her own drink to hide her amusement at Narcissa asking her cousin for an introduction, they were joined by Rabastan. Violet thought Dora could do much better than a Lestrange, but they never had made their fling into something more official.

She had just poured herself another drink amongst the chatter in the kitchen, Wyn and Regulus having gone to the terrace to talk, when she spotted movement and looked up to see Dora’s younger brother. “Ender! You made it!” she exclaimed as she went to give him a hug. He wasn’t a social person, but she knew he would do anything to make Dora happy. He turned the painting in his hand around, and Violet’s grin grew. He was a talented artist, and the painting of Dora was magnificent. “Oh, we are so hanging this up someplace.”

[Charles Selwyn]

If Violet had been asking about Evan, Charlie wouldn’t be the one to know. So he looked to Lydia, his love giving him a side eye at his question. It was just a question, and surely wasn’t that terrible of a suggestion. Violet was a catch, they all knew that, but one night of fun between Violet and Evan wasn’t going to tarnish anything. He knew well that Lydia had hoped her older brother might woo Violet and the two of them would be family, but Nicholas wasn’t the type to really woo anyone. Perhaps if he suggested it to Lydia’s brother, something might happen between the elder Avery and Violet, but Charlie was pretty sure that Nicholas wasn’t that much of a fan of him. His gaze moved to the window inside, and he saw it was getting busier by the minute. Regulus had arrived and was all over Bronwyn, which seemed typical, and the Malfoy's had decided to grace them all with their presence. He was about to make a remark when Lydia was laughing and bringing the conversation back to Evan’s dating life. “Zabini? I mean if you’re going to date one of the younger girls, Vanderhyde is the better option. And we both know Ethan won’t do anything about you putting your hands all over his sister,” he said with a laugh.

Bronwyn and Regulus had come through the other window onto the terrace, and he took the joint back from Evan to take a drag as he smirked at them. They seemed like a smart match, but anyone who knew them both also knew that their affection for each other, while genuine, was not approved of by their parents. Cantankerous Nott surely would love to pair his daughter off to a Black, but Regulus? He was a good guy, but his family's reputation had been tarnished by the actions of his elder brother. “Lucius seems like he’s got a stick up his arse,” he said to no one in particular as he watched them inside, wondering if the blond idiot was always like that or if it was just so beneath him to be at this sort of affair. “Can you imagine if you’d been paired with a pompous twat like that?” he asked Lydia, giving her a grin. Yeah, he has his own faults, but at least he didn’t spend more than an hour styling his hair every day.

[Bronwyn Nott]

With amusing reassurances, Wyn clinked her glass to Dora’s and Violet’s. She didn’t really want or need any muggles to buy her drinks, but at the same time she wasn’t going to pass up an invitation for a night out with the two of them. There was always something more to learn from Dora and Vi. Bronwyn was glad as Regulus arrived, the addition of him to any room always something that she looked forward to. He was throwing out unneeded apologies - they had all met his family, so they knew - and she smiled as he wrapped his arms around her, leaning back against him. It was hard to keep the smile from her face as Regulus whispered into her ear, and she wanted to know immediately whatever this big news one. The terrace would be their best bet, even with Charles and Evan sulking out there, and she was about to lead them when Narcissa and Lucius joined them.

Wyn had never been close with Narcissa like her two friends were, and they’d never really formally been introduced. But there was venom behind her request to have Regulus introduce Bronwyn to them, and she hoped the panic wasn’t evident on her face. Her own father had never really cared who she dated, and had yet to decide on a proper match for her. The same for Regulus, and so they’d had a talk and taken matters into their own hands. A Black was a perfectly acceptable match in her father’s eyes, and while she might not be well known, her family was. They had money and influence, which she hoped would appeal to Walburga and Orion when the time came. “It’s nice to meet you both properly,” she said with a smile as she was introduced to the Malfoys, her years of proper pureblood training running through her head. “Dora’s right, you look wonderful. The dress is absolutely amazing.”

Taking Reg’s hand, she pulled him away from the group with a smile, “Let’s go to the terrace, yeah?” Evan was occupying one window, and so Wyn opened the other one leading to the terrace to climb out. She ignored the eyes on the two of them, giving Lydia a smile as she moved with Reg to the other side of the small area. Whatever he had to tell her, she hoped was not a huge secret that couldn’t be shared with the few of them scattered out here. Even then, Charlie and Evan were smoking, and so she doubted they’d pay much attention, and whatever it was Wyn was bound to talk to Lydia about it later anyway. “What’s your big news?”

[Euphadora Parkinson]

Lucius graciously dismissed her promise not to require his presence in her flat again with a compliment and Dora smiled. She understood that she only barely met the criteria that many of her friend’s families found to be the bare minimum for who was appropriate to socialize with, and additionally the Malfoys were known for having a lavish lifestyle that the Parkinson’s could only hope to one day enjoy. Dora accepted his grace, knowing it was for Narcissa’s benefit not hers, and held no ill will against the handsome man for it. She was grateful Cissa had found such a doting husband who not only cared for her financially but also loved her. Dora would have thought that sort of thing was rare but seemed to instantly be proven wrong as Wyn and Regulus scampered off to snog on the terrace alongside Charlie and Lydia who also seemed cozier now than they had been just a few moments earlier.

The space in her wee kitchen left by the younger couple’s exit was filled quickly, and in her inebriated state Dora struggled to curb her enthusiasm as Rabastan joined them. Like the Malfoys and Regulus, Rabastan had other obligations tonight and so she had not placed any expectations on him of his attendance. This wouldn’t have been his first visit to her flat, and there would be more opportunities in the future to see it furnished with more than just a bed and some boxes. Low expectations all the same, Dora felt flushed as Rab’s eyes lingered on her for just an extra second before turning to greet the others and beckon her to him. “You came!” she cooed excitedly, closing the space between them by enveloping him in a hug.

“Either the Blacks are dreadful hosts, or you all just couldn’t wait any longer to see me.” Dora laughed, as the attendees of the Black Christmas party had all arrived within minutes of each other. “You need a drink,” she told Rabastan, as she felt someone brush behind her, leaving the kitchen. She turned and saw Violet greeting her brother, who was showing off his latest painting. Of her! Ender was a magnificent artist, and her compliments came easily. “Merlin’s beard, that’s gorg, End. I love it,” she called from the kitchen. There would be time to dote on her brother once everyone had a drink in hand. Dora reached to the highest shelf she could manage for the remainder of her glassware; a stemless cocktail glass she’d vengefully knicked from a club after the bartender had cut her off, and a highball glass she had yet to return to her parents. “Cissa and Lucius have found the good wine, you have Lydia to thank for bringing that,” she said as an aside to the posh couple before looking back to Rabastan, “or we’ve firewhiskey and tequila already opened. What d’you fancy?”

[Evan Rosier II]

His newly sparked interest in Violet Fudge was not dissuaded by the fact that she’d not spoken to Lydia about him. And now that the idea had been planted in his brain, there was little chance of him letting it go. Lydia suggested Zabini and Charlie countered with Vanderhyde. They were all viable options, to be sure, and since Potter didn’t seem to be coming around anytime soon, there was no harm in exploring all of his choices. Evan had earned the right to his arrogance, knowing he was a damn smart catch for any witch or wizard he desired; his family was reasonably well off, he was about to come into a rather luxurious post at his father’s company upon graduation, and his surname boasted an enviable position on the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Zabini, Fudge, Vanderhyde, Potter, they ought to have all been falling over themselves to get him to notice them. “Why choose just one?” he laughed, only partially joking because, hell, if they were up for it Evan was sure he would be too. “Come on, Chucky Boy. You know if this one would let you, you’d bring another bird into the bedroom in a heartbeat. Any suggestions, love?” he asked Lydia, expecting outrage at the mere suggestion of a threesome.

Bronwyn and her beau soon joined them on the tiny terrace and Evan blew a cloud of smoke in Regulus’ direction as he passed. “Getting a bit cramped in there, yeah? This whole place is likely to fall in on us if Whora plans to invite everyone she’s ever bloody met to this shitehole.” Evan eyed the door as more guests filtered in, Ender bringing in a gigantic painting of his sister to show off. “Brilliant, End. Who’s wank bank is that one for? Not yours, I hope.” Evan laughed crudely, handing the joint back out to Charlie.

[Regulus Black]

He'd barely taken a drink from the glass Violet sent his way, when his family started arriving. If they'd been just a minute behind, Wyn could have gotten them away from the group, and they could've gone unnoticed by them for a spell. But, alas, his luck with one Black sister didn't seem about to be repeated with another. Bella could keep a secret - Cissy? Looking him over like she'd smelled something foul? He and Wyn were already full of big plans for this holiday, and Reg wasn't about to have his cousin spoil them. For, as usual, Narcissa wasted no time making something about her that wasn't about her, and he plastered on a tone just as polished as hers in his reply. There was no way she didn't recognize Bronwyn Nott, his partner was no stranger among Cissy's friends and all of their shared events. No - she was trying to call him out, trip him up, and he was flying too high to come down because of her, or let her attempt at belittling Wyn go uncorrected. "Cousin," Regulus returned as he slid to Wyn's side, an amused grin fighting to cut through his concern, "has the bubbly gone to your head? As well-connected as you are, you must be familiar with the Nott family. Let me re-introduce, surely, Bronwyn Nott. Wyn, my cousin Narcissa, and her esteemed husband, Lucius Malfoy."

Perhaps it was wishful thinking that the fawning of the witches would pacify her, or perhaps the bubbly had gone to his head too - but Reg simply grinned to the pair as Wyn took his hand and twisted them away. Not that there was much of an "away" to get to, he realized as they passed through the room and ducked out a window to the terrace - but this would do, unless they locked themselves in the loo for privacy. He laughed through the smoke and nodded his hellos - Evan, Charlie, Lydia, at least it was a likeminded crew. Thankfully, there was further commotion inside, and it was distracting enough...

"I want to hear all about your tea with the girls, don't let me forget - but I spoke to Bellatrix at the party." Reg spoke to Wyn under his breath, rapid-fire, his back to the others and hands at her hips. They could plead they were engaged in no more than sweet nothings, if prodded, and he kept close. "She agreed - she agreed to put in a good word for me. With him." Even here, Regulus was hesitant to use one of his monikers - more for the attention it would draw, than anything else - and met her eye with significance as he mouthed You-Know-Who. "He doesn't often consider students, but there have been exceptions before, and it could be me next. I can help with your introduction, we get a leg up on the competition, start protecting our family now...we'll have it made, Wyn. He trusts her, I know she'll come through." He made himself stop, pause, as he watched for her reaction. This was all for them, and it would work, he would make sure it worked. While he hadn't heard many stories from his eldest cousin about the work she did for the Dark Lord, Reg believed he knew enough of how he and the others had been raised to know the value of earning a position earlier than those in his year. Earning trust would take time, and he'd have more of it. With the Dark Lord, with other elders and officials - if he could pull this off, he'd have them all in his pocket by graduation, and he and Wyn wouldn't have to worry.

He knew it was mental - this whole plan, trying to secure the rest of their lives while they were still in school, when they'd only been together a few months, when their families hadn't even made a public statement, when he was already looping her in when speaking of his family... But Reg felt the fire lit underneath his feet, and was determined to see this through. The promises he'd made to take care of her, to take care of them? This was what it would take - and it was beginning.

[Narcissa Malfoy]

"She would have told us tonight, the family would have been there," Narcissa reasoned back just as quietly, wondering what exactly her little cousin was up to. His seemed to be weathering the blow of losing his brother, but under the surface, was he feeling just as unmoored as she had when Andy left? She too had found someone to buoy her through that time, someone she was lucky to have still at her side today - but she did, because they had done things properly. If Regulus wanted something to come of whatever this was, he would have to start conducting himself with more respectability... She took the compliments from her friends and the glass of wine from her husband, spirits raising at the affection and camaraderie in the close space - Lucius was such a darling, wasn't he? assuring Dora and everyone that he was pleased to be here to celebrate? - until her cousin saw fit to overcompensate at being caught, and undermine her.

"Charmed," she said as she shook the younger witch's hand. "Thank you, darling - we'll have to get better acquainted, you would look stunning in anything from my closet." Bronwyn was a beautiful thing, wasn't she? And with their shared coloring, she would suit Narcissa's wardrobe, if that was what it took to get information. And she had manners, unlike the boy so obviously attached to her. He looked all too pleased with himself, a smug shadow of Sirius, and while the couple was quick to depart, it was for the best. Not that those in attendance would take his remarks elsewhere, but she was hardly the sloppy and forgetful drunk he wanted to make her out to be. No - she and Lucius could observe them tonight, wherever they went. It wasn't as if there was space to truly get away, one marked benefit of the little flat.

Rabastan made his entrance known, and she exchanged a tired look with Violet before raising her glass. With her sister and brother-in-law turning their noses up to the notion of having a child, and Rabastan's refusal to properly commit to a partner, was there to be no rightful Lestrange heir? He was determined to prolong his bachelorhood, and while it was difficult to think when their hostess brightened so exuberantly at his arrival, Dora deserved more. But would she ever cut him loose, if he wouldn't? Narcissa laughed obligingly at her remark, however, as there was more than a nugget of truth to it. "We seized our moment," she smiled, taking more of the drink and grateful for the distraction that the next guest brought. Ender was a sweet boy, and had grown into a talented portrait artist indeed. "It's exquisite work, Ender," Narcissa admired, sending a kind if curious smile his way. A family portrait done in this style would be just the thing to add to their parlor... "You had a stunning source, naturally, and truly - he captured her beautifully, didn't he, Lucius?"