Kiss The Lips Of A Potion.

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

Things were...quite nice with Mickey out of the picture. No more weird sexual advances every hour of the day. No more having to smile and nod while he was talking down to her. No more dealing with him calling her his little "doll". No more Mickey. 

And Roxie...was quite the boss. She had an entirely different way of running things and damn if Mona didn't love it. There had been a bit of chatter among the men...but those who had stayed were falling in line. And those who had left? Mona was pretty sure that Tommy had buried them by now. But despite how much happier everyone was with that pig gone...appearances were appearances. And a funeral had to be held. 

And Mona had of course gone at the request of Thomas Darling. She didn't particularly want to...but no one really said no to Tommy. 

It was a quiet funeral. No one really cried. And if they did, Mona just didn't hear it or see it. But now that it was over, Mona was just itching to get out of the dress she had worn. But first things first...she needed to stop by Castle Darling and sort a few things for her new boss. Despite Roxie using Mona for more important shit, Mona still wanted to help out with a few things when she could. So that's exactly what she was doing...it wouldn't take long. Roxie was more organized than Mickey and had less of a desire to have Mona bend over to pick things up every five seconds. 

Once she had finished, Mona slipped out of the office, closing the door behind her. Her heels clicked through the silent halls as she made her way to the door but before she got there...

She came face to face with another one of Mickey's children.

"Gus...hi," she offered. She glanced around a moment before refocusing her gaze to the man. He had only been a year behind her and despite her father working for his...they had never really spent much time talking. "Sorry again, for your loss," she offered despite not caring at all that Mickey was dead and buried. 

[Gus Darling]

Mickey out of the picture was spelling good things for pretty much everyone in his life - especially Gus. Before his death, Mickey had counted out Tommy as a flight risk, Dane as being... well, Dane, and Roxie and Maggie just for being women. Gus still didn't know what his father did, but the people that were in and out of Castle Darling were all pretty terrifying...the type of people you'd see at a muscle bar with "I <3 Mom" tattoos and drinking tequila straight out of the bottle. Gus didn't know if they actually did any of these things - it was more of just an...assumption. They were the type...and Gus, even now after the funeral of his father, was still oblivious. He thought they played poker and smoked cigars.

But Mickey's death meant that Gus didn't have to take over. Tommy, as the oldest, did, and he was the one who appointed Roxie in charge. In charge of what, Gus didn't know or care. Gus not needing to be the face of the Darling cigar empire meant that he was able to pursue quidditch, and...he wasn't engaged to Emma Blackthorn anymore. Things were looking up Gus at this moment, and even Romy had decided to stay around and get a job at the Ministry rather than travel. He felt bad that she was giving up her plans, but he would be lying if he said he didn't felt selfishly happy that she was staying around.

Gus stopped at the manor before heading back to his flat (no way in hell he was staying at the manor) to pick a few things up. He expected to get in and back out rather quickly, but a pair of sharp heels ticked his ears and he looked up to see one of...well, Gus wasn't exactly what to call her in consideration of Mickey. "Mona," he said, softly. He ran a hand through his dark hair, blue eyes sharp as they eyed her carefully. He didn't know the woman half as well as some of Mickey's others, but there...definitely was something about her. "Loss?" he questioned her. "I hardly think of it as a loss," he grinned. If anyone had seen him, they might think that it was him that killed his father, and not his sister sitting in her father's office chair at that very moment. "I don't think anyone else did, either - we were literally the only ones at his funeral."

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

Mona was well aware that Mickey's death didn't just benefit her. All of the Darling kids had been released from their shackles. The impending doom of arranged marriages had loomed over them all...and for Gus, it had probably been the worst. An adult, doomed to wait for a child to reach the appropriate age to wed. It had to have been torture to find out. And for whatever reason...Mona had a soft spot for the youngest son of her dead boss. He was cute...he needed...protecting.

His eyes watched her like a hawk and while Mona knew he didn't know the full extent of what she was capable of, she knew he knew she was terrifying enough to need such a disciplined gaze.

Loss?

Mona smirked as she watched him. Gods, he was adorable. Like a little puppy who kind of had an idea of how the world worked...but definitely didn't know all of it. Her eyes twinkled a bit as he pointed out that no one else had really been at the funeral. No one cared that Mickey was dead. Not his employees...not his kids...Mona didn't even think his wife really cared. Camille knew Tommy would ensure she was taken care of.

"Well...you know...formalities," she teased with a wink, hands clasping behind her frame. She watched him a moment, noting his posture...his demeanor...his behavior. The guy was definitely more relaxed than the last few times she had seen him around. Good for him.

"So...quidditch. Fun?" she asked, as she moved to walk with him through the sprawling halls that would eventually lead them to the door. Mona wasn't much of a small talk enthusiast. But it would be awkward to just walk in the same direction in silence. Besides...part of her did genuinely care about Gus and his interests. What could she say? She had a soft spot.

[Gus Darling]

Gus wasn't entirely sure what he thought about Mona. She was...just a year older than he and Roxanne, and had slipped into the folds of his father's business with ease, as his little assistant. Gus knew that he saw her as more than that, but he'd...well, who know. Maybe he would get it on with an employee. But Gus tried to avoid the entire thing, so he didn't really...he didn't really know Mona. She was really beautiful and she looked like she could kick some serious ass, but those were exact reasons why his father would have hired her. It seemed he had a soft spot for pretty girls who looked like they could do some damage. His sisters included.

"Well...you know...formalities."

Gus had started to walk toward the door, and he nodded toward it to see if Mona would follow. Now that Roxie had taken over the business, it seemed that Mona had a bigger role than just a personal assistant, and you know what? Good for her. Girl power and all that. Gus was very proud of his very wonderful girlfriend when she got a spot on the Wizengamot. "Right, formalities."

"So...quidditch. Fun?"

Gus didn't know what all this small talk was about. She'd never really taken an interest in him like this before...surely she didn't feel sorry for him because he'd just lost his dad. No one cared that Mickey Darling was dead. "It's the only thing that kept me going for the longest time...I'm glad Roxanne stepped in because we all know I wouldn't have done as good of a job selling cigars," Gus clearly knew nothing about the business. "Roxie gave you a bigger role, yeah?"

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

Falling into step next to the younger Darling, Mona kept her eyes trained on the space in front of them. She knew full well that Gus was a taken man...even with the arrangements dead. And while she couldn't explain the strange soft spot she had for him, she knew better than to indulge the temptation to look. She was a cold bitch...but she was still a class act.

She listened to him chatter about quidditch and while, yes, she had never taken a formal interest in him like this...it wasn't because she wasn't interested. Mickey just...wouldn't let her near his sons. But there was something to Gus Darling. He was so different than the Darling son that she was allowed to know. Tommy was icy, domineering, and often cruel. In comparison, the boys were like the stark differences in an ice storm and a soft summer's day. Gus was interesting to her.

"Yes...cigars," she echoed. It was cute that he didn't know the true nature of the business. But he knew enough to know that Roxie was giving her a larger role these days.

"I may not be her right hand...I think Tommy and William are fighting for that...but I believe I can confidently say that I am her left hand."

Mona finally turned her eyes to Gus, offering him a small smile.

[Gus Darling]

A part of Gus wondered if he did actually know the nature of the Darling business, but he just blacked it out. When he was younger he had a few guinea pigs, and was told that they ran away. Even as a seventeen year old man he still chose to believe that they ran away, even though he'd been told that Tommy had killed them. He wasn't sure if that was a joke at the time to make him afraid of Tommy - he didn't need jokes to be afraid of his older brother. Gus had gotten bruised more often than not thanks to Tommy's fists, and never said a word about it. So deep down, Gus probably did know what the Darlings were up to, and it just made him want to take over that much less. So being here at Castle Darling was just enough to cause an uncomfortable pit to form in his belly.

Perhaps Roxie was using Mona to get information from him.

So instead of letting her press for any information, he asked about her new position in the business. She mentioned Tommy and William. Honestly, she couldn't see William being as strong of a right hand as Tommy, but surely he would prove himself. Gus had always thought it was rather sweet how keen on his sister William Clay had been. But being Roxie's left hand was a good move in itself...much better than the position she held when Mickey was in charge, anyway. "Well I hope she treats you better than my father did," Gus said, simply, glancing over at her with a small smile. "We all know he can be rather...unfair."

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

If Mona had known that Gus had the idea of her possibly pressing him for information…she wouldn’t have blamed him. She knew the game all too well. But truthfully, Roxie and Mona didn’t discuss the Darling siblings much. Just the occasional off handed comment here and there. Tommy calling Gus weak or annoying…Mona with a shrug and a flippant comment about how his puppy like behavior was cute.

That was it.

But she was fine with telling him what she could about how it was working for Roxie. It was better from the very moment it came out that Mickey had died.

And at Gus’ words, Mona didn’t even realize her next words as they left her mouth.

Her chuckle filled the air around them as she shook her head.

”It is very nice to not wake up in the mornings and wonder if your boss is going to take advantage of you that day.”

Her eyes darted to the left as they walked…some paintings drawing her gaze as the weight of her words hung in the void. She had spent every day of the past year afraid of the inevitable day when Mickey got tired of waiting on her to consent.

Thankfully…he was no longer here. And she no longer had to live in fear.

Eyes moving back to Gus, she watched him for the briefest of moments. He was nothing like his father. And maybe that was why Mona had developed that “soft spot” for him.

[Gus Darling]

Honestly, Gus was surprised that there weren't more beautiful young women bustling about Castle Darling before his father's passing. It really had been just Mona...and a few other faces that didn't last very long before they weren't seen again. So honestly, the words that came out of Mona's lips now both caused a surprise and also a small breath out his nose, like a scoff. Gus looked over at her and watched her for a moment as she looked the other way, and he didn't turn his gaze until she looked at him again.

"I'm sorry." Gus offered, softly. "I'm glad you don't have to worry about that any more," he added, his gaze still focused on the ground in front of him. "We all just assumed..." he chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment before adding, "I'm sorry about that, too."

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

Working for Mickey was hard enough. But working as close as she did to him was harder. But Mona had an unbreakable resolve and a determination that one day her gender wouldn’t hold her back in this world.

But she had never actually told anyone about the way Mickey would drop things on purpose just so that Mona had to bend over to pick it up. Or the way that he would block her way out just enough so that she had to press against him to get out the door. Or the countless “gifts” he gave her that always came with the heavy insinuation that she would need to earn them from him.

When her eyes returned to August, he looked away from her. And his words pulled at her heart a bit. But as he continued talking…

We all just assumed…

Mona stared at Gus a moment…his words registering. And when they did, she froze…her feet planting a moment.

”I never fucked your father…I never wanted to…I…I did everything I could to ensure it didn’t happen. I was running out of options. I…”

Her words faded out. Gus knew what she meant. He knew his father.

She stared at him a moment…until she was sure he understood. There was only one Darling she had an interest in…and he would never find out. Not if Mona-Lisa had anything to say about it.

She cleared her throat and resumed walking.

”Do you think you’ll ever come back here?” she asked softly. Gus had moved out and wasted no time doing it. Gone were the days of her being able to see him any day she was here working during the summer.

[Gus Darling]

”I never fucked your father…I never wanted to…I…I did everything I could to ensure it didn’t happen. I was running out of options. I…”

Gus held up a hand to stop her, but lowered it. He felt like his father doing that, and it caused an unsettling lump to form in his throat before he cleared it, just as Mona had with her own. But Gus, as misguided as his thoughts about Mona and his father were, had no idea that she had interest elsewhere...he tried to keep out of the spotlight in his family as much as possible, and Camille tended to do the same with him. He had always been treated like one of the girls until his father decided that he was the one who was going to be taking over...and besides, he couldn't see the obvious signs that Romy was interested in him for almost two years before he realized it. So Mona? Yeah. He would likely never know the feelings under her surface unless she point blank told him.

"Do you think you'll ever come back here?"

Gus let out a sigh as he thought about it. "I don't have any specific plans to," he noted with a shrug. "I don't want anything to do with what goes on here," he offered, waving a hand to mean the household. "And...not trying to offend or anything...it's just not for me." he chewed on his bottom lip as he glanced over at her a moment.

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

As Gus held up his hand…Mona felt a strange pang in her heart. Mickey had done the same thing often to her…any time she had tried to speak really. But quickly, she reminded herself that Gus wasn’t his father. Gus was nothing like Mickey.

His raised hand wasn’t to silence her.

His raised hand was to calm her.

As they resumed walking and he answered her question, she just nodded. She didn’t take offense to his words. She knew what he meant. But she still wished maybe he could stomach it all enough to just be here. It was a selfish want…but it didn’t matter anyways.

”Well…you know where to find me if you ever need anything.”

She looked over to him for a moment, eyes softer than her usual steely stare. She assumed most of the Darlings knew where she lived. Her penthouse had been one of those gifts Mickey had given her. And as for her job? It was in these very halls.

As they neared the front door, Mona resisted the urge to sigh. If only they had taken a longer route through the halls.

[Gus Darling]

Gus had seen the type of people that were in and out of the house working for his father. Mona, while intimidating and definitely not someone he would want to mess with, was on the lesser scary end. He wasn't sure why such scary people had to work on importing cigars. Deep down he knew, but he wasn't letting himself know.

“Well…you know where to find me if you ever need anything.”

Gus didn't know exactly where Mona lived, he didn't need to know. But he nodded once, chewing on the inside of his cheek as they stood in the doorway a moment. Her gaze wasn't as hard as it usually was, and Gus was getting a pang of some sort of feeling in his gut. Was that…was that guilt? What on earth would he be feeling guilty for? ”Can I do anything for you, Mona? Do you…want to get coffee or something?” surely she'd be too busy snd this would all be for naught. ”I have a few hours before practice.”

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

Through school, Gus had been just a sweet little goof. Nothing like the people Mona had grown up knowing and continued her life with. Mona loved Roxie...she was almost like the sister that Mona had never had. And Tommy, pain in the ass that he was, was a bit like an older brother. And in school, Mona blamed her fondness of Gus on the same note. Silently and behind his back, she would be there to strike the fear of the gods into anyone who dared to be even a little mean to him. She hadn't been able to spend as much time developing an actual friendship with him...but she had been able to do what she could to ensure he was left alone from older students and anyone who would target his sweet and almost gullible nature. Surely, she hadn't stopped it all...but she had tried.

Not that she would ever tell him about all of that.

But here, outside of school, he didn't seem to need any type of protection. He was officially a free man. Mickey wasn't looming over him and he was going out into the world to live. He had found love. He had found a career he actually wanted to chase. And good for him. Mona was genuinely happy for him.

She was about ready to reach for the doorknob when Gus spoke again. And the look that flashed over her porcelain features was one of surprise. As beautiful as she was and as good of company as she could be...people weren't usually itching to spend time with her. Knowing what she knew now about what people had assumed, it made sense. Who would want to risk paling around with the woman they thought was Mickey Darling's mistress?

But now...in a sense, she was free too. Free to have and cultivate friendships and other connections.

So she smiled and nodded.

"A cup of coffee would be nice...I have to meet some old friends in Italy tonight but I actually have nothing else planned for the day."

She'd always wanted to find the time to get to know Gus on a deeper level...solidify her assumptions that her tenderness for him was just her seeing him as another pseudo sibling. Just like his siblings.

[Gus Darling]

Yeah, Gus had no idea about anything that Mona had done for him, thoughts she had about him. It was probably for the best. Gus had a very big heart and if he thought he was causing anyone pain (even if he hadn’t realized it and it wasn’t necessarily his fault) he would try everything and anything to fix it. So if he knew he had been causing Mona pain, he would…definitely try to help out to make it…not so bad? Even if he knew that there was nothing he could do to make it better, he would try.

“A cup of coffee would be nice…I have to meet some old friends in Italy tonight but I actually have nothing else planned for the day.”

Gus offered her one of his crooked smiles as he looked at her. ”Great,” he said, offering his arm to Mona. If she took it, he would pop them straight to the alley near the coffee shop inside Hart Wands. He didn’t know Louis that well, but his classmate had gotten a job running the coffee portion of the shop and Gus had gotten to know him over the summer. Surely, and Gus probably didn’t know this, Mona likely knew all about Annika’s shop due to the dark and hard-to-find items she usually kept in stock for the right witches and wizards. But Gus wouldn’t know a thing about that. ”Have you been here before? Louie here makes the best cup of coffee this side of London.”

[Mona-Lisa Carrozza]

Mona would never tell Gus what she had done on his behalf. She had a suspicion that Roxie knew...but she had never mentioned it. Roxie and Mona were in the same house and only a year apart after all. But Mona figured if she never brought it up than Rox would have no reason to think on it.

Great.

Gods, that smile. Mona felt her stomach turn slightly in a good way as she took his arm.

In a flash, they were at Hart Wands...or the coffee shop attached to it. Mona had been here quite a few times. But not for the coffee. So as Gus asked if she had...she thought fast on her feet to avoid outright lying to him. He didn't need to know she frequented the back shop. Save his innocence...

"Ah, No I've never tried this coffee before. If it's that good, I'm sure I'm in for a treat."

She looked up at him with a smile that scrunched her nose before turning her attention back to the counter and perusing the menu a bit.

"What's your favorite?" she asked curiously. "Whatever it is, I'll try it."