holiday shopping [l.avery]

[BIANCA MATTHEWS]

It was early when she had snatched one of Alex's leather jackets, wishing she could be around the house to see if he noticed it was even missing. It was cold out, she wanted something warm, it was the first thing she purposely grabbed and he wouldn't miss it anyway. Bianca passed store after store. Then after another store. Shopping was more often than not stupid and a waste of her time. More often than not, it depended on who she was shopping for. For Kara and Alex, she would. They were both her best friends. Kara had just literally refurnished and unpacked Bianca's room, designed and bought her new things (all while pregnant) and Alex was.. well, Alex was Alex. No long explination or technical reason was needed for the second one. So she would brave the muggle world alone for them. Even if they hated the holiday as much as she did not want want to converse with muggles. They would get gifts and they would love them.. or they'd better. Scorpius? He wasn't on her good list let alone her 'get a present for a pointless holiday' list. Just like years ago, she had three people to worry about gift wise: her brother, Kara and Alex. If only things were so easy again.

She pulled the door open to a Starbucks, lurching out of the way when a rushing muggle on a cell phone pushed the door from the opposite side. If she got any kind of beverage on this coat, even if magic would get the stain out, she would never hear the end of it. No matter the excuse. 'The muggle did it' would be about as useful as 'the dog ate my homework.' It was better to avoid anyone else with a beverage. Bianca narrowed her eyes and by the time she opened her mouth to yell an insult, the person was halfway down the sidewalk. "Bloody.. idiot.. muggles," she grumbled, yanking the door further and entering the building. Not only did she have to deal with unsufferable idiots on the streets, but also in the building. And to top it off, she had to wait in a long line. Something Bianca was not accustomed to. She should have just conjured the damn drink. By the time she got to the counter she had the muggle money in her hand and was frustrated by standing there. "Just give me one of those.. cinnamon dolce.. things," she said, waving her free hand around in a circle. "Latte. Non frozen. To go," she added quickly, pushing the money across the counter.

"Insufferable idiots," she muttered as she walked through the door, leaving the establishment as quickly as she could with both hands wrapped around her cup, both to keep her hands warm and to lessen the probability of spilling. "Worse than Hufflepuffs, they are."

[LUCIAN CHARLES AVERY]

Normally Lucian wouldn't be seen out in muggle London, especially during the holiday rush, but he had gotten quite the business oppertunity though one of his friends. Luc couldn't resist but to check it out himself, having owned half the muggle world through his father and uncle's companies. Of course Luc also takes care of his two little sisters with the money he gets.

All thoughts aside, his deal had gone well and he had bought an entire shopping court, in the heart of Muggle London. Why he couldn't get one thought out of his mind, even while sleeping, just irked him, he wanted to bash his own brain in trying not to think about her. They all hated her, her whole family. It seemed like everyone he met, that he had wanted to have a relationship with ended up hating him in the end.

He walked into a Starbucks and saw her friend, it was either best to keep out of site, or just keep his cool and just pay no attention to her. He remembered Kara having told him about Bianca's temper back then, but what it blossomed into... he frankly didn't want to find out. So he made his way behind the counter giving orders to one of the workers. "A Light Carmel Blend-up's, no whip" he said then going back to check to see if everything was up to date.

When he came back out, his drink was ready and he took it and left the overly crowded starbucks. "well that is going to be some good business... " 'wise investment Avery' he could hear his uncle telling him. He laughed as he had come up behind her, hearing her comment. "quite, but they bring in more business than our lot does" Lucian Avery actually having a legitimate converstation with someone. It truly was a shocker.

[BIANCA MATTHEWS]

Now that she had gotten there, she didn't know where to start. Muggles had so many shops for the exact same thing! She had to have seen at least five dress shops just on the way to the coffee shop. Who needs that many dresses? Honestly, most of them the muggle would only wear once! Merlin, they were pointless.. muggles and dresses.

Just as she started to move and shove her way through this mess of people, she stopped. Bianca knew that voice. It was from someone undeserving of being in her presence and a sorry excuse for a human being. Her eyes narrowed at the passing muggles. She didn't even want to look at Lucian Avery right now. She had to be very careful with her words with him and after seeing what he had done to Kara, Bianca was not entirely sure if that was possible. As much as she did not like to admit it, Lucian did have easier access to certain things than she did. If someone pissed her off, sure, she could deal with it. Usually. She didn't have hitmen at her disposal.. so, maybe he didn't exactly have those, but Bianca wouldn't be surprised.

With that worry running through her mind she wouldn't be able to win any kind of fight with him. What the hell. Why did her life have to be so difficult right now? Bianca turned to face him, raising an eyebrow, not repeating his laugh. Just because she could not be as mean as on a normal day did not mean she had to smile, fawn over, and play the submissive one like most of the others in her house when he entered the room. No, thank you. But she wasn't going to start anything either. She would, how did those muggles put it. Knock her attitude down a notch, or something. All of which was incredibly frustrating. "But our lot has more sense." For a moment she considered saying 'my lot' but dismissed it. "How are you recovering, Lucian? Kara's getting along quite nicely."

[LUCIAN CHARLES AVERY]

At the mention of her name he cringed slightly. She had gotten away with less damage than she had inflicted on him. Why he thought he could take her, honestly he had no idea. If it were up to him, she'd be straight back in that hospital for weeks, rather than at home. Of course no matter how much he tried to hurt her, he couldn't completely. Why he still cared was beyond him, but he couldn't help it. Even if she was Lily's best friend, No one could truly ever get over their first love. His hand came up into a fist and he punched the wall. Pain felt so good, he felt it broken from the stone wall. He took out his wand and repaired it.

Looking up at Bianca he finally spoke. "last i heard, she'd been in and out of the hospital quite a bit.... having some problems" he grinned just a little, knowing that she was still suffering as much as he was. He knew her so well, all her secrets... "she is one very conflicted adult. oh best not to mention anything else here, but i know her just about as well as you my dear." And it was true that the magical folk had a lot more sense, That he agreed with. What was there to say now? He really wasn't in the fighting mood, but his temper would grow quite sour if they continued to talk about Kara.

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[BIANCA MATTHEWS]

Any unplesant reaction Bianca could provoke out of a person pleased her, though it did depend on the individual. It meant that she had just won, she couldn't help a smirk. Bianca Matthews had just thrown Lucian Avery for an emotional loop, and it probably wouldn't get much better than that. And at times emotional pain could be far better than physical pain, it lasted much, much longer. Cuts and bruises healed, anything that harmed the emotions would fester and stay there. This would be one of the first things she told Kara when she got home. Surely Kara would be both amused and satisfied. Calling another place 'home' was something she still hadn't gotten used to and Bianca nearly got distracted in the thought of it until Luc finally replied.

Her eyes narrowed the slightest bit before she shrugged. "Pregnant women are frequently in and out of the hospital." Bianca wasn't exactly sure just how much Lucian knew of Kara's conditions. It was better just to use common knowledge, she didn't want to give anything away. "In this instance, you're absolutely right. That we shouldn't discuss anything further here." Not wanting her drink any longer - a shame, really, because after she had tasted it and discovered it wasn't poisoned, it tasted lovely - she shoved it into the nearest trash bin.

"Call me 'dear' again, darling, and you'll regret it." she smiled and looped her arm through his, walking and giving a small yank. Bianca purposely knew few things about muggles and was not interested in learning. But if she did know one thing, they noticed if someone grabbed another person and attempted to pull them off on their own into an alley. It set off some freak alarm. Annoying, really. Wizards could take care of them selves. "Come, Lucian, we'll find somewhere else to talk, then."

[KARA ANITA JOHNSON]

Lucian looked up at Bianca and knew that he had taken a hit. Ooh, this one was good, about as good as Kara. He was impressed and now knew that he needed to watch his back because she may be worse than Kara herself and Lucian didn’t need any more of that in his life, he got enough from Kara as it was... well when he ran into her. Lucian knew all about Kara’s problems, as he kept tabs on her for the Blacks. She looped her arm around his and yanked him out of the store. He did not like being pulled or yanked or told what to do. He was Lucian Avery and she wasn’t anyone, not to him, not to anyone but his ex-girlfriend. “I wasn’t referring to that, Matthews. I am probably one of the only people who know Kara for who she really is and not who she is pretending to be with my former best mate.” Lucian knew everything about Kara Johnson and she unfortunately knew everything about him, except for the fact that he was the one who had started all of her hospitalization, and her missing memory, which he had found out the false implants hadn’t taken a hold on her mind. Honestly, Luc had forgotten she was both legilimens and occlumens. He wasn’t sure how long he would be able to stand being near this woman, or how much of what he said would get back to ‘her’. Lucian had better things to do than ‘chat’ with this woman. The only way he would enjoy himself, was if she took off all her clothes and he fucked her senseless, but he had a feeling that this one wouldn’t be worth his time.