Rebound (Lyra/Open)

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha studied her reflection in the mirror. Not a hair out of place as usual, though she ran her hands down her sides smoothing out imaginary wrinkles from a curve hugging Saint Laurent dress.

Things seemed to quiet down since the Hogsmeade attack, Samantha handled her fear like a pro - like a Montgomery. She wasn't sure if her mother was truly alive or not, but since it had been quiet she put her mind and her energy toward other things, mainly: her reputation. In the time since the attack and wrapping up the tournament Sam's popularity only grew. If she didn't befriend you with a sweet smile and innocent facade, she owned you with blackmail and dirty secrets you didn't even know you had. Much more the former than the latter, only a few were subject to Samantha's darker side, and really only those who were in her way. Most people adored her. She liked it that way.

But sometimes she needed to unwind.

Hence the trip to Spellbound. She was supposed to meet Lyra there and had arrived early. Some lesson about staking out your territory to get a preemptive strike, as her mother had taught her. Not that she would have to use such tactics against Lyra, the girl was probably the closest friend Samantha had outside of family, she knew Samantha's dark side and seemed to like her despite it...maybe more because of it.

With a final glance at the mirror she exited the bathroom, stepped into the club, and made a beeline for the bar. One impeccable eyebrow raised and the bartender moved to fix her drink, one for Lyra as well.

[Lyra Newbury]

Samantha might have been having a good run of things lately, but Lyra was most certainly not. Life after Hogwarts was not at all what she had expected it to be. Her parents, furious at her for such horrible marks on her NEWTS and, more importantly to them, no prospective husband anywhere to be found, had all but disowned her. They had agreed to pay for a modest but furnished flat, since she did not have any romantic means of finding somewhere to live. But the rest, they warned, was up to her. That meant that she had to find some means of income if she ever planned on eating again. Luckily she had some pocket money saved. At the time she had no idea why she was saving it, but thankfully she had or else this girl's night with Sam would have never had happened. It was important to Lyra to save face, so she would be spending her last bit of money pretending her life wasn't spiraling out of control.

She had gotten ready in her flat, and picked out just the right dress for the occasion. Thank Merlin she had had such a shopping problem back when she had access to her parents' money, she had no problem filling her closets with clothes that were now mostly thrown on the bed or piled on the floor. Her flat did not come with a house elf, and her parents refused to lend theirs to her, so the place was not necessarily in tip top shape. Either way, she was dressed and made up as she walked past her dining room table which was barely visible beneath the pile of newspapers. Help wanted ads were circled in red ink, some smudged with tear stains. Lyra sighed as she passed the unsightly reminder that her life was supposed to be more than what it was, and walked out her front door. After locking up, she turned on the spot and disapparated.

Lyra appeared with a 'pop' in front of nightclub. She fussed with her hair as she walked past the bouncer who insisted on checking her ID. She was still young enough to find this annoying, not flattering. Once inside she instantly spotted Sam in a gorgeous dress that was clearly from the newest line. A pang of jealousy hit Lyra, who could no longer afford new things, but she easily pushed the feeling aside as happiness overtook her. "Sam!" she cried out, excited to see her friend. They had not spent as much time together since Lyra left Hogwarts. These moments were rare and to be cherished. "Oh good, you've already ordered the drinks," she said with a grin.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha would never admit it, but she missed Lyra since the girl graduated. Having someone to scheme with who could keep up with her was a luxury, most of the girls she conspired with now had to be drawn a map. The delight in meeting her friend was genuine and she allowed the emotion to show.

"Lyra, Thank Godric."

She embraced her friend, clasping her hands and kissing either side of the girl's cheeks, then pulling back and admiring the dress Lyra was wearing.

"Oh, I'm so glad you wore Halston, I knew his design would be stunning on you."

Montgomery publishing was responsible for Enchante - the wizarding equivalent of Elle or Vogue - Samantha therefore, had access to all the latest fashion lines before they became the latest fashion lines. The dress she had worn tonight had yet to be released and wouldn't even be featured in the magazine for weeks yet. She hadn't paid for it, she never paid for clothes. Designers fell all over themselves to please her and sent samples to all the Montgomerys.

Samantha would have been appalled to learn of Lyra's new circumstances. While her mother had put her through a special hell not worth living, Samantha had never had to do something so plebeian as search through the want ads or get a "job". She would at times discuss business with her father or dip her hand into Enchante's dealings, though she imagined her father was grooming her for the business one day and she justified the latter as her duty as a Montgomery. They couldn't deliver sub-par work, they had a reputation to uphold.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra embraced her friend and returned a genuine smile. "You have a wonderful eye for fashion," she replied. "And yes, I do look smashing. But look at you!" She was well aware that Sam's fashion was the envy of high society, but the fact that she was still in school made it all the more enviable. 

"How has Hogwarts been without me?" she inquired nonchalantly. Lyra picked up the glass sitting on the bar in front of her and sipped on it, awaiting the details of Sam's life.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Positively boring." Samantha replied with a telling glint in her eyes. There hadn't been much in the way of scandal, everyone preoccupied with recovering after what had happened. Even Samantha had her cooling off period, but she had to admit a small part of her missed the drama. No, she just missed being the director.

"What about you? I understand you gave Julian a sendoff, poor boy." Sam had brought Julian in after Rystain had compromised Lyra's reputation. Julian was a doll and a half who pictured himself as a knight in shining armor type. He was always there for Sam when she needed him, and she knew that he'd be good for Lyra too. In the end though Julian wasn't the long haul type. He'd come in, save the day, be the crutch that you needed to walk again, then disappear leaving you fond and strong. It wasn't beneath Sam to hope that Julian would settle down, and she was rather fond of Lyra.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra took another drink at the mention of Julian. In hindsight, she had been able to see that what she thought were feelings for Julian had in fact just been misplaced emotions from the Rystain/Lani situation. And the ensuing dismissal of Julian from her life had been a sore spot for Lyra. 

"I didn't really need him anymore, and I'm sure he was more than happy to be rid of me." The latter was likely true. The former was certainly not. Lyra had an emotional end to her school year, and although it had affected her marks and her prospects for finding a suitable partner, she certainly couldn't fault Julian by any means. He had done the job that was requested of him, and stopped when she demanded it. She only wished she had been more tactful in ending their faux fling. He really was a lovely man. "How is he? Have you spoken with him lately?"

Lyra finished her drink and set the glass on the bar. Sam had good tastes, but she would need to make her money last so she ordered something a little more reasonably priced.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"You don't give yourself enough credit." Samantha replied as any good friend would. Julian hadn't been "relieved" to be out of Lyra's presence, but his purpose in her life was over and she had called things off.

"He's fine. Nicolas is with him working on Merlin knows what." she said the latter with a gentle rolling of her eyes and a certain amount of indulgence in her tone.

When Lyra ordered Sam wrinkled her nose, but didn't think anything of it at first.

"Enough of him though, I imagine letting him go was a sign of a budding romance with someone else?" she inquired with glee.

[Lyra Newbury]

Sam had spoken of Nicolas numerous times, but Lyra had only met him briefly on the day of the Hogsmeade attack. "Are they still in England? I wouldn't mind seeing Julian again. And I suppose I should thank Nicolas for helping you out after..." Lyra took a drink of her more affordable beverage and tried not to wince as the alcohol burned her throat. The good drinks never burned like this.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Oh God don't you dare!" Samantha gasped lightly, "Don't even bring it up."she shuddered visibly.

She adored Nicolas, truly she did, but nobody did overprotective like the men in Samantha's life. Since the attack she had to fight for every inch of freedom she had, and it was really only just recently that things had returned to something resembling normal.

"But yes, the boys are still in England." where they couldn't hover over her, she silently added.

Sam took a sip of her own drink which went down smooth as silk.

[Lyra Newbury]

"I'm sorry," Lyra said softly. She placed her hand gently on Sam's and gave a week smile. She hadn't meant to bring up such a horrible incident, it more just slipped out. She was rather curious about Julian's whereabouts, but decided to leave that conversation for another time.

"I think I'm swearing off men for a while," she said in an attempt to change the subject naturally.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Oh please." Samantha scoffed, "We both know I'm hardly fragile."

Lyra's true concern soothed any urge she had to roll her eyes, "If you bring that night up in front of him he'll never leave me alone again. He means well, but suffocating."

Finally Samantha studied her long time friend. "Long time" considering it was one of the longest relationships she ever had with someone outside of family, particularly impressive considering Lyra was female.

It only took her a moment, "Something is wrong. What happened?"

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra laughed, nearly spitting out her drink. "Good Godric, Sam. Am I that much of a... I am not dependent on a man, you know." She smiled as she scanned the rest of the nightclub for no one in particular. In fact, she almost certainly was dependent on a man. A good husband would solve this whole mess she was in now. She heard her mother's nagging voice in her head.

"Let's dance," she said suddenly.

[Samantha Montgomery]

A speculative brow threatened to hike upward, but Samantha remembered her own pride and thus understood Lyra's change of topic. She'd allow it. For now.

She didn't think the problem had to do with a man, not after Rystain, not so soon anyway. True it had been a while and Lyra was a passionate woman, but it went beyond that even if Samantha couldn't figure it out yet.

"I do like this song." she said sliding gracefully off her seat.

[Lyra Newbury]

((OOC: Does this count as a real post? ROFLMAO))

[Samantha Montgomery]

((OOC: OMG! hahahaha)

[Lyra Newbury]

After several songs, Lyra was in need of a break. The volume on the dancefloor had been to loud for them to speak audibly, so Lyra gestured to Sam that she needed a drink and nodded in the direction of the bar. Lyra weaved her way through the pulsating crowd of dancers, and shoved off a few unwelcome hands from inebriated wizards. The music and movement had been enough for Lyra to forget her troubles and she smiled honestly as she found an empty space at the bar. She turned, waiting for Sam to join her.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Ordinarily Sam might have insisted upon bottle service and a private booth, but some nights she didn't mind blending in. She didn't have the problem with independence that her cousin Christine did, but that was mostly due to living with her mother for fourteen miserable years. Unlike Christine, she enjoyed the immediate service her name gave her, and she didn't mind being known most everywhere she went.

Tonight, in excitement over seeing her friend again, she had overlooked the usual provisions.

As she left the unknown man she had been dancing with to meet her friend at the bar once more she shrugged thinking to take care of that now, "Let's get a booth, it's starting to get crowded, " she sighed looking back at the dance floor, "and yet there are no real prospects here..."

A wicked glint came into her eye, "Should we invite some?"

[Lyra Newbury]

"A booth?" she asked hesitantly. She tried to mask her concern as she quickly ran the numbers in her head. Sam, with all her Montgomery fortune, would likely not think twice about footing the bill when it arrived, but if she did ask for Lyra to split it, could she afford to pay her share and keep up the ruse that she was not in financial ruins? Having very little experience with budgeting, she decided to chance it. "Yes, a booth would be perfect. Keep some of the riff-raff away," she added, subtly motioning to a particularly handsy and exceptionally pissed wizard who had fondled her rear as she pushed her way through the crowd only moments ago. 

Lyra agreed with Sam's observation. There were many people here, and a good portion were men. But hardly any were what either Sam or Lyra would consider worthy of their interest. Lyra really wasn't trying to think about men, anymore than humanly possible at 18 years, but she couldn't help but think the attention (from the right source) would be fun. And potentially cut her share of the booth bill in half. "Dear Merlin, yes. Honestly, it's like they only let the unattractive singles in tonight."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam didn't do anything as girlish as giggle, but the slow trademark smirk lit up her features wickedly. She had already retrieved a quill and some parchment to scribble quick invitations for their beloved peers to join them. Smiling with satisfaction she handed the notes as well as quite a bit of money to one of the bartenders who was familiar with Samantha and enjoyed the girl's heavy hand with money.

Samantha reached over the bar and grabbed a bottle, winked at "her" bartender then took Lyra's hand before sauntering with satisfaction over to a private booth.

"It was remiss of me not to have this set up beforehand. Perhaps I should make this permanent, but then we hardly use the table we have at Le Repas Cher as is. Still it's a thought." she said offhandedly. Samantha didn't worry about money, why would she? Again she would have been horrified to discover her friend's circumstances.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra allowed herself to be dragged off to a comfortable booth along the wall of the nightclub. From their position they could observe almost the entire room, but for one corner that was obstructed by a half-wall and a decorative light fixture on the far end of the bar. Lyra fell gently onto the plush red cushion of the booth's curved bench and leaned back into her seat, watching the crowd of people on the dance floor bounce and sway to the rhythm of the music. She looked over to Sam who had a bottle in her hand.

"What did we get?" she asked curiously. She had plans for the evening; to get very drunk and have as much fun as possible. She was already well on her way to both.