Connections of the Wrong Sort (Cordelai)

Aurors In-Training Posts : 23

An echoing ding around her room signalled her cue, and she stood, giving herself a quick glanceover in the mirror. Ballgowns were... Nice, but clunky and didn't give her as much free space as she wanted. Still, it was a difference, and one that she had altogether missed. Pureblood functions were a fun way to mess with boys and they practically lined themselves up for her on days like this. Red and silver, matching her family crest colours, it had - obviously - been a new purchase instead of the one she had used the last time.

This one was full length and decent as decent could be; she had not gone for anything remotely iffy, for this event was one in which she had to behave. After all, it was a gathering of all the young adults of all the families, a giant ball meant for them to make connections and mingle. Never one to miss an opportunity to meet new people and build her network, Serafina had gone shopping at once.

Picking up the envelope the invitation to said ball had come in, she glanced at the clock on her wall. Ten seconds to go. Straightening her posture, she adjust her expression into a gentle smile and counted down the last couple seconds. As soon as she reached 'zero', there was a tugging sensation and the world spun. A few quick moments later, she found herself at the entrace to a large ballroom and stepped forward immediately, not wanting to be in the way of the next person. The portkeys were charmed to work at 30 second intervals, and as she flashed a smile at the butler standing there and started down the stairs, she heard the person behind her appearing.

Once on the floor, she immediately got to work, not bothering to evey pretend; everyone knew why they were there, and everyone was more or less there for the same reason. Connections. The most powerful tool in the Pureblood world. Stepping up to the nearest female not engrossed in conversation, she smiled, holding out a hand. "Serafina," she introduced. There was no need for last names; everyone here would have been taught the first names of those attending. Besides - it was more fun this way.

Dragon Trainers In-Training Posts : 10

Parties had always been Cordelai's favourite part of life. Finding the perfect outfit, putting on makeup, doing one's hair, heels... She loved it all, especially the reactions she got from others. Never having seen anything wrong with any outfit, she tended to wear whatever she was in the mood for, and that ranged from the conservative to the downright showy; neither presented any issues in her mind and neither parents ever contradicted her. After all, she was a young woman just learning to make it on her own in the adult world, they said, and the best way to learn was through experience.

And so, having picked out the nicest outfit she could find in her house colours, Cordelai had taken her portkey to the ball of all balls, only to find that she was missing quite a bit of cloth. At the very least, she had gone for a long dress, but she hadn't counted on people covering up so much. Where was the fun in that?

Still, at least it meant she would stand out; the lack of conforming made no difference to her as she made her way onto the dance floor and picked up a glass of punch. Standing to the side, she swept her gaze around the room, identifying each and every person she saw and mentally filing things away to be used later. The flirts, the ones to stay clear of, the ones that she could be friends with, the ones she could gossip with about the ones to stay clear of...

She was interrupted by a female voice, and she turned to regard the person who had stepped up to her. "Cordelai," she replied, instinctively, reaching out to take the hand. It was more of a two second holding of hands versus a shake, just as she remembered being taught by her tutors in her younger days. The name placed itself just as the physical contact ended: a Richardson. Immediately, she was on guard. That family was one of the more influential ones, and one of those old school families that believed in Blood Purity.

In any case, she kept a friendly smile on her face. "How do you do?" she inquired; it was what was expected.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 23

As the girl turned around, Serafina raised an internal eyebrow. The back showing had been borderline inappropriate to begin with, but the front was a mess in its entirety. It was a beautiful dress, and one that Serafina would've worn if she wanted to cause a scandal, but surely - surely - the witch before her had enough common sense to know what was right for Pureblood functions and what wasn't? Yet, the sight that greeted her proved that apparently the witch did not, in fact, know this.

Drawing attention to all the wrong places and showing off features that - while definitely present - shouldn't have been presented at such prestige balls, it very nearly made Serafina cringe. But she wasn't the oldest Pureblood for nothing, and she didn't let the smile falter.

The moment the name was presented, it clicked; Cordelai Rohensen. Biting back a look of scorn, Serafina waited for the handshake to be over. The Rohensens were no large mystery; they were not fit for Pureblood standards. The only thing they got right was that they allowed their daughters to choose the males they married. Everything else was false and went against everything she had been taught about their kind.

Simply put, they were the embarrassing family member you still smiled at and played nice with because they were rolling in money that was older than old. In all genuineness, there were only a few families that could openly scorn the Rohensens, ones that were older and richer and therefore more powerful. And, unfortunately for Serafina, her family was not one of those; they were more or less on par, which meant niceties were required, and politeness forced.

"Just as well as could be," she replied with a smile. "And yourself?"

Dragon Trainers In-Training Posts : 10

The smile is faked, she told herself, nodding along with the words. But the only reason she knew this was because that was what she herself was doing. Other than that, it was perfect, and if Cordelai hadn't been aware of it, she would have assumed it was real. It could have been, she rationalised a moment later, except that it was a Richardson she was dealing with, and that family was not one known for being real.

"I'm alright; I've just been sourcing out the crowd," she answered, blunt as always. There was no point in lying, especially not when she was sure that was what Serafina had also been doing. If the rumours were true, the eldest Richardson was also a flirt. "There are some boys who seem rather willing to dance over there, if you were interested," she added moments later. There was no need for her to pretend that she was happy about seeing a Richardson, nor was she going to force the witch to be decent.

Everyone knew the Richardsons did not take to the Rohensens, and vice versa; why bother pretending otherwise? Politics was not something Cordelai was interested in - not now, not ever - and pleasantries were for very special occasions when she had no other option.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 23

Serafina faltered at the answer, blinking once without a trace of emotion before catching herself and nodding. It was a beat too long, and she chided herself for the hesitation. Cordelai had been... tactless, forthcoming without bothering to hide her intentions, and Serafina couldn't help but feel taken aback. Anyone knew the most important part of a social gathering like this was to scout the crowd, but even a muggle would be able to figure out that you did it quietly and never revealed your intentions. Sure, everyone knew that was what the other was doing, but it was just the way it worked. The more convincing you were that you weren't sourcing the crowd - as the Rohensen girl had put it - the better you were, and the more people would want to have you as a connection.

Cordelai was throwing every rule and every lesson Serafina knew all females in attendance had learnt out the window. And she was smiling while doing it.

"I'm not," she replied cooly, immediately, as though it were perfectly normal conversation. Her tone, however, was laced with just the tiniest traces of ice. Not enough for many to pick up. She flashed another smile. "Why don't you dance with them?" she inquired.

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Connections of the Wrong Sort (Cordelai)

Connections of the Wrong Sort (Cordelai)

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