A Common Love

[farren]

Farren- a 21 year old fashion designer, model, and pureblood socialite. Fiance of Jayce Wickham. Death Eater and tabloid cover girl.

Conor- The boy Ren doesn't know is causing a few wee problems in her relationship, a dashing young lad of excellent breeding and social status.

Setting- A semi-formal little party of upperclass London wizarding society. About 50 attendees. Held in central London in a 18th century georgian townhome.

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Farren sighed and sat her little glass plate down on the tray of a passing waitor. The food was adequate but not worth the calories. In general the party was lacking. However she had to give Parkinson some credit she hardly ever hosted events. Poor girl she was so out of the loop.

The dimly lit room was full of the most afluential young wizards and witches in England. Farren however was not feeling very social tonight. She had just gotten back from Europe where she was helping the Dark Lord with the continuing war. It had been tiring and she had hardly seen Jayce since she returned even though she had been gone two weeks. Business was busy and most of her designs were on back order in her Paris and Milan locations of her boutique.

However Pany Parkinson had always adored Ren and she didn't want to let her down so she had begrudgingly shown up. The tall lanky woman wore a simple slinky plum satin gown. It was a tea length strapless dress with a gold sash tied around the waist. She had on simple gold jewelry, chandilier earrings, and a simple gold chain with a pendant on the end of a gold dragon that had been a gift from a Dark Wizard in China. Among such company she was not afraid to let her slender, toned arms go bare and show off her Dark Mark. She was proud to be a servant of the Dark Lord.

As she circled the outside rim of the party avoiding direct contact with anyone she spotted a chaise lounge in the corner. The slender brunette made a beeline for the chair, grabbing a glass of champagne on her way. Gracefully she slid down onto the chair tucking her sexy smooth legs beside her on the lounger. Running her fingers through her long wavy hair she sighed and took a sip of her drink.

She was fairly bored and miserable, she saw these people all the time for the most part. Pansy was across the room motioning for her to join her little cluster of best friends but she shook her head lightly and pressed her hand to her forehead as if she had a headache. Oh how she wished Jayce was here to entertain her. Sighing she spaced out staring at the fire flickering across the room hoping someone mildly entertaining would come seek her company or at least a hiding spot.

[Kathryn]

Conor couldn't quite recall why he'd been invited to this so called party. More likely because he was an ex-Slytherin of sorts and had fantastic business connections, but really, it was rather boring. He couldn't see a familiar face amongst the crowd, not that he was really paying attention, the most interesting thing he'd noted thus far was the alcohol in his glass.

Another thing he couldn't help noticing was that if they weren't in Slytherin, they were still at least all Death Eaters, he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. He wasn't a supporter, but he wasn't a non supporter either. He rather agreed with most of the Death Eaters point of view, he simply disliked being in the control of someone else, and that someone not even being entirely human? Ugh, please.

Eventually Conor made his way to a secluded corner, being stopped here or there to chat, and most of the time he entertained them, catching the eye of male and females equally. He had a light grey sweater on that had the neck scooped in a v, and sunglasses that were a permanent fixture to hide the almost unnatural light blue tinge of his eyes, that tended to unnerve people at times, it had it's uses, but not when he was just trying to talk to someone and maybe get an invite or two for something that didn't involve talking. Unfortunately for him, his last little escapade with Jayce had forced him to buy a new pair.

Ruddy little...He shook his head lightly and figured it was best not to think of it at all or he'd get some sort of head ache. Finally arriving at his little destination he found that someone had already beat him to it.

An eyebrow arched almost lazily, as if his question was only a formality and he didn't really need her answer to make his decision. "Do you mind if I join you?"

[farren]

Farren looked up at the blonde man in front of her. Her first impression was a judgement, as always she judged him by his clothing. Just why he was wearing sunglasses, inside, at night was a mystery to her. It was a bit too muggle for her but she didn't comment. He was attractive something about him reminded her of William. It was his nose and some sort of air he had about him.

She moved her feet to the floor hooking her right foot around the back of the left ankle and nodded to the empty spot on the lounge beside her. Across the room she saw Pansy shoot her a 'uh oh, you go girl' look but she rolled her eyes and glanced at the giant diamond ring on her left hand.

Jayce was her only concern now. Things with William had died out, he was no more than a good friend who provided physical outlet when Jayce was in a 'mood' and unavaliable. She had a feeling that Jayce had never fully quit Natalia and therefore it was likely he was shagging her more than she was shagging William.

Ren turned to the young man and offered a very weak small smile. "Hello," tilting her glass slightly she took a small sip of the champagne and sat her glass down on the floor next to her feet. "Farren Abercrombie," she said silkily eyeing him trying to size him up. "Who is it that I have the pleasure of suffering through this party with?" She offered a small smirk as she shot him a piercing look with her dark brown fawn eyes, her long black lashes batting slowly, almost flirtasiouly at the somewhat mysterious man beside her.

[Kathryn]

A benifit of sunglasses, if you should ever decide to buy them, was to be able to check someone out without turning your head, and they'd never be able to tell exactly what spot of them held your eyes. Currently he couldn't help noticing the long legs that slipped off the lounge to make room for them and crossed at the ankles. Nice. But good looks didn't get to Conor. Or at least, they didn't right away. If she was too clingy, he'd not even attempt anything beyond light, flirtatious behaviour.

He sat down beside her gracefully, and didn't just plop down into the seat like most men he happened to know. If you were born with class and money he instantly expected everyone to act like it. She seemed to have good manners and the Dark Mark on her arm most likely put her in Slytherin, and if not, she was at least a pureblood. Depending on her reason for joining the circle of followers he could put up with her.

He nodded in response to her hello, lifting up his alcohol glass slightly in recognition. Sometimes his accent worked to his advantage, women loved the Italian language which he spoke fluently among other things, and some of them were turned off by a man or woman who wasn't from their precious little London. Boring. He wasn't sure which category to place her and until then, he was content to say as little as possible, besides, holding an air of mystery was always fun.

"Conor Westhues." He said simply and picked up her hand gently off her lap, making sure his hands only faintly brushed upon the part where it had been resting, he brought it to his lips, making sure that he was looking up at her over his sunglasses and brushed his lips lightly against her knuckles, slowly lowering her hand back.

"A Pleasure."

[farren]

Westhaus, pureblood, well to do, sly this man was tolerable and possibly important though she didn't know him so it was unlikely he was of any real use to her other than eye candy. However he too seemed to despise this party and indeed so did she. Most of the people in the room were frauds. Worthless wastes of pureblood who did no real work for the Cause.

Her dark eyes darted up to the light eyes peering at her from behind the sunglasses as he took her hand and kissed it lightly. "Like wise," she said batting her long black lashes. She held his gaze until he released her hand at which point she turned her gaze away quickly and looked at her drink sitting on the floor.

Furrowing her brow for a moment trying to decide if she should finish the drink and hunt out someting stronger. Nonchalantly she picked up her glass and downed the rest of the drink and looked into the empty glass. "So, I take it you are alone eh? My fiance Jayce Wickham is at home. He isn't much into these parties," she smiled a little and shrugged glancing down at the huge diamond on her hand without really noticing she was even doing it. "At least you have me to entertain you. It's your lucky night."

[Kathryn]

He fought the urge to smirk, and put a well plastered fake smile upon his face, knowing it looked real as she batted her lashes at him. She was either intentionally flirting, and she did look the type to indulge in that, or she was doing it unintentionally which would be an astounding and intriguing feet for anyone who killed for the Dark Lord to retain an ounce of innocence. He was also just that good looking, and he knew it. Any flirting intentional or unintentional was a direct compliment to him, and despite the fact that it most likely never progress beyond polite flirting, a compliment was a compliment, and he'd take what he could get.

Besides, she had yet to prove herself intolerable company. He arched an eyebrow at her next question, after she'd decidedly thrown back her drink as if she'd rather get totally sloshed then deal with the lonliness of being at the party by herself. Almost a pathetic emotional attribute that wanted to send him running in the other direction, however, the name stopped him. This time he let a slow, satisfied sort of smile come upon his face, not really a smile, more of the turning up of the corners of his mouth slightly.

"Yes." He responded simply to her first question. "Jayce Wickham you said? Really, now? No. I'm not suprised he's not here. He's not much into anything that's amusing." A pause.

"My apologies, I must sound terribly critical. I've been Jayce's best mate since school, in town recently for awhile. Good to know he hasn't changed." Fake. Fake. Fake. He could laugh with it. He'd never expected Jayce to change when he'd shown up at the door, and he wasn't disappionted. His critics of Jayce were said to sound as if he meant them to be sarcastic and in good humour. They weren't. He meant them, and if Jayce had been there he'd know he meant them. So this was the talked of Farren. Hm. He tilted his head. Her supposed emotional upheaval fit with Jayce well, she was beautiful, maybe far too pretty for Jayce, but what can you do?

Did he feel guilty? No. Why should he? It was entirely consensual sex and who really cared if Farren would be hurt when she found out that Conor had slept with her fiance only hours previous? Certainly not himself. But far be it for him to tell her what Jayce had done. He was more of a watcher then an antagonizer when it suited him, and currently it suited him to simply wait and see what happened.

He vaguely wondered if she'd send him a howler when she heard, or if Jayce had enough brains to keep his mouth shut. He doubted it.

"My lucky night indeed." A smile.

Luckier then she seemed to be aware of. He was getting amusement from an annoyance and hurt she had yet to feel. He couldn't wait.