August 30, 1888 - The Destiny Hotel, London
Aphrodite Soiree

Eugene Scamander

Finally the first major ball since the fog had lifted. Lucy’s spirits had been higher with the resumption of the social season and the ability to once again see her friends. Life had been quite outside the confines of Hogsmeade and Irvingly where the rest of the magical community lived and Lucy was only too happy to have it lift and her plans for the season to begin moving again.

Walking into the ballroom her eyes immediately went to find her friends, Nora and Helga had both promised to be here. Indeed Lucy had made sure that Helga would be able to attend as well. Now she peered over the crowd looking for them but couldn’t find them. Surely there were here somewhere. She stood on tiptoe trying to see over the crowd, gathering the golds of her pink gown to her, the fabric almost shimmer against her with the usage of an enchantment (She felt certain enchantments on dresses would be all the rage with the lack of magic most of the community have felt this season.) Lucy thought she had spotted Nora’s brunette hair when a sharp tug of the train of her dress. “Excuse -” Lucy started turning around to assess the situation and to see the culprit, only to come face to face with Helga’s brother. “Oh! Mr. Scamander!” A bright smile slid over her lips at his appearance.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Eugene was starting to suspect this was a bad idea. How he'd let Helga talk him into this was beyond him, but with both of his younger sisters in attendance and his name being all over town lately, she'd made it seem like such a wonderful thing to attend. What she had neglected to tell him was that the whole thing was pretty much a matchmaking scandal waiting to happen.

The Fuck.

Now he was all dressed up at a dinner he was scarcely prepared to field, but at least Helga was at his table. He could glare at her easily that way without having to hurt his neck. She however, was in her element, among her friends and society. Fortunately there were a few people around he knew, a co-worker or two as well. At least he was safe. Eugene was a pretty social person, but he kind of felt a little young and out of place to be here. He wasn't financially stable enough to even think about getting married or anything. Not that he'd even met someone!

He was solely here to keep an eye on his sisters, that was what he kept telling himself. Well, really it was to keep an eye on Helga, Marlena was perfectly self-sufficient. Thank Merlin. Somehow he'd lost Helga again and on his search through the crowd, he, like a neanderthal, had managed to step on the train of some poor girl's dress in the process. At least the voice that greeted him was a familiar one. "Miss Flint, we keep managing to run into one another in the most unexpected of ways." Last time of course had been in his own house, but that was neither here nor there really. "Having a nice evening?" He asked as he carefully extricated his foot from her dress.

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Lucy chuckled. “It is beginning to appear as such.” Lucy admitted, glad for the friendly face. The pressure from her gown was relieved as he extricated himself from her skirts. “So far. Although I admit, I’ve had a tough time finding anyone in this crowd.” She waved at the room full of people before them with her fan. “I suppose I am out of practice as its been months since I attended such an event.” Clearly the fog had been the culprit of that. “And yourself? Are you enjoying the evening?”

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Eugene double checked to make sure he hadn't ruined Miss Flint's dress before turning his full attention back toward her. "I must be the lucky one then," He teased lightly. "This is quite the crowd." It really was. The throng of people snookered into the evening's theme was astonishing really. He wondered just how many other poor brothers had been dragged along to this, certainly he couldn't be the only one?

"It was not the best of seasons- according to Helga anyway." Eugene honestly didn't listen when she started in on things like events and dresses, but he thought he remembered that being mentioned at some point. "Ah, well enough. Helga was not overly... forthcoming with the details of the evening, otherwise I may have just stayed home." And slept. Sleep was good. "These are not my forte and I highly suspect no amount of practice will ever help." He was charming, he knew that, but this was far too many people for him to try and schmooze in one evening. Plus everybody kept coming at him about the expedition, which was fine, but a little tiresome after a while. Eugene was much more at home handling creatures than people most times.

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A tinkling laugh danced over Lucille's lips. "Perhaps." She agreed looking up at him with a smile. "But then again, I think I'm quite lucky you found me. I might have been lost in this crowd until supper with no one I know, and then where would I be?" She spread her hands out before her in a vague gesture as she tilted her head up at him.

No, it really hadn't been. What with half of the social scene stuck in one location and the other free to do as they pleased. She could only imagine Helga's complaints. Granted, she'd seen many of them in her letters this summer.

"Oh, that sounds like Helga." Lucy gave him a knowing and sympathetic look. Helga had done that to her and Nora before a time or two. Really when it came down to it it was always for their own benefit, Lucy knew that. "You can practice on me." She offered helpfully, adding coyly, "After all, I'm glad you did come. I might be lost forever, if you hadn't."

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Miss Flint had a spectacular gift at making him feel like less of a fool, that was for sure. Eugene was glad to see her here, at least she was a friendly face who wouldn't bombard him with question after question about the summer. "I do what I can," He chuckled, though their run-in had been pure accident, as usual.

"Ah, see, it's not much practice if I'm not horrifically uncomfortable around you to begin with." He jested lightheartedly. It wasn't that Eugene was actually uncomfortable, he was a pretty social guy, but sometimes he wondered just what the point was. Did his mother really think he was going to meet a potential wife at one of these things? Did that actually happen? Eugene tended to skirt toward his peers more than the ladies, so he highly doubted it.

"You could give me some pointers though, I feel like you're an expert at this." He continued, tone still a light tease, erring toward flirtatious.

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After her years of friendship with Helga it was nice to know that her brother felt comfortable with Lucille. Sometimes she forgot what Helga said about him being a bit shy. Then again Lucy had seen him uncomfortable several times as well, sometimes she wasn’t entirely sure which way it was with Mr. Scamander. “You’re not?” Lucy opened her eyes up wide as she teased him. “Then see, you’ve already had success.” She added.

Again Lucy couldn’t help but laugh. “I suppose I’ve had my fair share of experience in scenarios like this.” After all she had been trained for this from a very young age. She was supposed to be an accomplished young lady with her status in life being what it was.

Lucy pretended to consider his suggestion, gently tapping her fan in her hand as if she didn’t know she was. She looked back up at him with a teasing smile, “Well then, I shall suggest, that you steer clear of the trains of gowns. They are wonderful tripping hazards.” She gave him another charming smile to tell him that she didn’t blame him in the least for this particular misstep.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Eugene could only shrug. He wasn't horribly awkward in Miss Flint's presence, but he wasn't as charismatic as he could be, or had been in the past. Maybe it was the fact that she was Helga's friend that made it easier or not, but he supposed it worked in his favor for the most part. At least she seemed not to hold anything against him in the long run.

"Watch out for gowns, got it." He chuckled, nodding seriously, as if he didn't know that little tidbit already. He had been lucky it wasn't some screechy debutante who would have lectured him about it. Ironically he did know enough not to step on anybody at the beginning of the night. "Any other crucial information I should know?" He cast her an amused grin and quirk of his eyebrow.

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Lucy nodded in mock seriousness. “Very important.” She agreed. Afterall dresses were expensive and ruining one at all would be quite horrible, let alone this early in the evening. “Always laugh at a lady’s joke.” Lucy added seriously. Spotting a waiter passing with a tray of champagne she nodded, “And offer her a refreshment.”

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

If Eugene had learned anything about being surrounded by sisters, it was to do what he was told, even indirectly. He was pretty good at taking hints too. He also didn't miss the passing champagne and quickly snagged two from the tray without even disturbing the others settled atop it. With a small flourish, he offered it to Lucy. "Watch out for gowns, laugh at jokes, refreshments. I think I can handle that, as long as I don't make an egregious mistakes outside that, think I'll survive?" He raised his flute in a small toast before taking a sip.

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I'm human garbage and I apologize profusely!

  

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“Why thank you.” Lucy accepted the glass with a small laugh and a dazzling smile. “I think you’ll survive - maybe you shall even be the most sought after bachelor of the season!” She teased returning his toast and taking a sip of the bubbly liquid.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Eugene grimaced slightly, though mostly in jest at the most eligible bachelor comment. "You've been conspiring with my mother, haven't you?" He chuckled, about to continue with the joke, but none other than his dear old mum came into view and she had that look on her face that was mildly terrifying. It also meant she needed him for something and at social events that typically  meant meeting one her friend's eligible daughters. Not something was interested in at this very moment.

"Speak of the devil..." He motioned toward his mum with his head, downing the rest of his champagne in one swift, well-practiced motion. "She's got that look about her and I best hide, thanks for the tips Miss Flint, save me a dance later." With one last wink, Eugene melted into the surrounding crowd.

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