Hogwarts School - Summer

"I...He didn't...he wasn't.."

She cackled unable to help herself from making cracks at her brother's plight. "You mean he wasn't hotter than the son we revolve around at the time?" She translated between giggles only to stop abruptly at his next words.

"Shut it Del, I know I mucked that one up pretty solid. But I'd like to point out I'm not the only one that was drawn in by Francis's...something."

"That...is a low blow Chrissy. Beauchene can be charming when he wants to be and better women than I have fallen for his lines...and apparently some men too." She said with a smirk.

---

Delphine leaned against the outside of one of the main camp buildings as she conversed with none other than her brother Christoph Grey. She was still a little jealous that the boy had seriously been made a counselor and not her. She'd submitted a flawless application to her head of house, but had been rejected...though in hindsight even if Chris forgave her later maybe outing her little brother didn't play in her favor.

She was briefly distracted by a new comer stepping out of the building as if freshly arrived. "Merlin...who's the cutie?" She pondered aloud before feeling Chris stiffen next to her. "What? What did I say?" She asked confused.

---

OOC: For those unaware I control both Chris and Delphine. Powerplay is my discretion.

Delphine listen to them go back and forth for a few moments before Bracken seemed to take her up on her suggestion and slithered down into the water. She was suitably amused when he popped up and screamed about how terrified of the water he was. Surely that must be a joke considering he was already in it? Indy however seemed to hesitate.

He dangled above the water. Sly smile in place. She decided not to be offended by the question. Most people assumed she was full of shite when she spoke. Sometimes they were right. But here. Now? He was wrong.

“You’re afraid that we might know the difference between self-made and self-anointed.”

Her eyes narrowed only slightly as a smirk that seemed deadly and coated in venom appeared. "Why would I be afraid of that? It would imply that I was self-anointed to begin with." She commented coolly. She kept herself calm. Prevented herself from rising to the anger threatening to bubble. She'd worked hard from nothing.

"I was born poor. I earned everything I have if you must know. My father is dead and my mother was a waitress. So when I say self made. I mean self made." She said before reclining backwards. "Now if you're satisfied I'd really rather talk about anything else. I don't exactly like remembering that my father didn't want me....or that I'm barely a Pureblood."

"Prove it my dear." She commented with a small smirk. "We'll see if you can prove the Darling of France a fraud." She teased lightly. But Christoph would be easily handled. She wouldn't toss him in jail. No. She needed her brother after all and...he was still family. Despite her personal feelings he was blood and she honored her word when she gave it. There were secrets she could weaponize and ones she couldn't.

"I wouldn't do it...dream about it maybe...but never do it. He's blood loath as am to admit it...and I need him out here in order to get what I want. But it's fun to tease you Frankie dear." She cooed. They might be on civil terms but this interaction drove something home for her. She'd never get back with him. Ever.

"Now...was there something else?"

She wasn't amused at all. He was so typical. No vision. No follow through. "Fine dear. Be this way and play your little power moves...my influence and renown has tripled in the past year since you left. Do your worst." She said flippantly. "It just means instead of helping you get what you want...I'll ensure it doesn't happen with my very last breath." She chuckled.

"Chrissy is so very impressionable after all. Broken. I was able to get him to dump you from another country. Imagine what I can do from the same school. I will get what I came for...the only question is...will you be smart and get what you want as well? Or will you continue this little folly of yours and get nothing?" She asked.

It really was a shame. Francis had been smarter when they were together. Ruthless. Willing to do anything to get what he wanted. It was why they worked. Where was his backbone? "Chris made you soft I see.." 

"Ah merci. If there's anything I crave, it's to be the unrefined afterthought."

“Least interesting thing about me, but then you can’t buy taste.”

Delphing was able to see they might have taken what she said a little too seriously. Okay...she might have been slightly rude. It hadn't been her intent. Not really when she had just now finally found people who were proving to be interesting. "My apologies Bracken, Indy. I didn't mean offense or anything too serious even. It seems my lack of experience with actual desirable company leaves a little to be desired." She commented.

"And I swear I never meant to imply your wealth as being that interesting. I was just...trying to make conversation with two rather handsome and interesting young men that for a change...have no idea who I am. It's refreshing. Back home...I never get that." She admitted.

"You know, I'm famous too."

Her attention was turned to Bracken as she looked him up and down from her spot. Yes...she could understand why. The boy was rather attractive and seemed to have that vibe to him that made you want to get close with him. He seemed the kind of boy that could turn a less refined young lady to goo by his mere presence. He knew what to say to be charming.

"I can understand why, I'll file the information away for later."

"Should we grant her some time then, Indy-blow? Heard she's trying to get wet. Let's not be arses and deny her any longer, ye?"

She'd gotten distracted by the boy. It was her mistake. She hadn't noticed or tracked Indy's movements until it was too late. His hands were on her hips and she was going in the Creek. She got dunked by the force of the splash only due to her surprise and almost immediately emerged with a small smile. "You know...I meant my feet." She chuckled before turning to Indy and Bracken. "You boys going to join me or...?"

"My exes and Ohs they haunt me, like ghosts they want me...to make more they won't let...go. Exes and Ohs."- Elle King (Exes and Ohs)

---

There were a lot of things Delphine Dario wished to be true. She wished that she was a legitimate heir to the Grey fortune. She wished she was an only child. She wished her father had loved her enough to choose her. The point was that she'd change a lot of things about her life if she could. But currently along with her issues with Chris? The biggest thing she would change was her ex. Yes...that ex. The one she shared now with her half brother.

Francis Beauchene was Pure...rich..handsome enough. Everything Delphine had looked for in a possible future husband. One that she'd eventually catch cheating she was sure and take for half of what he was worth. In a perfect world. If she didn't live in the era she did. No this was not that fairy tale where she got the riches and the arm candy and could dump one and keep the other. She knew that. Had been prepared for a loveless marriage because...let's be real. Who could truly love that boy?

She supposed her brother had proven to be the answer to that question. He'd seemed happy...and of course...she had to fix that. Chris wasn't allowed that. Not on her watch. So the right words whispered in his ears sent him running away from that slice of happiness as easy as can be. Not that it really was that much of a loss because...Francis would have lead to Chris ruining himself eventually, the boy was poison. But it hurt in the moment...thinking it all a lie. Never being sure.

But she was drifting from her initial line of thought. No if she could turn back time with a wish she'd never had given Beauchene the time of day. She would have continued on with her life. Maybe she wouldn't be here right now, who could say. But she wouldn't have to feel the shame of having dated someone so...boring and foul. Foul like the smell coming from the cauldron that her half brother was stirring not far from her.

"Ello Chrissy. Whatcha making there?" She asked brightly.

Delphine was taken out of her reverie by a rather beautiful young woman sitting next to her. She was beautiful and her skin was so glowy! She didn't compliment anyone lightly and never when she didn't mean it. She could be fake...but not about beauty. That was her job after all. Model. Fashion Icon. She allowed herself to look confused however at the words that came from the other girl's mouth.

"But...I'm Delphine Dario....I'm famous." She commented slowly not in a snobby way. In a slow way as if she truly couldn't believe what the girl had said to be true. "Although...I suppose it does explain why no one has asked for my autograph since I arrived...no one knows me do they?" She asked with wide eyes. This was...interesting. Part of her response was an act...the rest not so much. She was anonymous for the first time in a long time.

Her amazement turned to slight indignation. "Of course I'm not boring! I am the life of every party...boys come to see me and girls want to be me. Boring are the people that can't get in. I'm not...I can't be one of those." She insisted shaking her head. She looked at Solange a moment as she assessed her for authenticity. For a spark of anything like the people she'd usually hang out with. She needed friends after all didn't she. "You know what's wrong? You can help me yes?" 

Green eyes that sparkled in the sunshine looked on in vague interest. Horseplay...immaturity...but they didn't look at all like the little boys playing grown up she'd seen until now. No these boys looked like young men. Finally some entertainment around this otherwise barren landscape. She removed the sunglasses from her head and slid them into a pocket and let her hair down. Time to charm.

If the Dario knew anything it was men. Men were greedy and often after only a few basic things. Money. Influence. Girls. Not necessarily in that order, but it was the gist. That Delphine knew how to handle. Hell she'd been handling it for the last couple years. Men. Boys. They fancied her...the French Darling. You just needed to know how to tell the difference and how to approach them.

She used her hand to fan her face...her long blonde hair falling around her shoulders occasionally blowing in the slight breeze.

"I don't suppose you gentlemen mind a lady dipping her feet into that water? I've been walking around and well...it's warmer today than I thought it would be. Getting a little wet sounds like just what the doctor ordered." She said as she approached the edge.

No introduction. No extending her name, the more mysterious she seemed the more likely she was to keep their interest until their curiosity was satisfied.