#thread: dolores

[youllalwaysbemyporcelain]

@vcndetta

Isabela looks up from her flower stand at the other person, gasping when she realizes who it is. "Dolores! Oh I am so happy to see you." She holds out her arms for a hug. "Come here!"

[kirkstanbulstrode]

Where: The Century

Who: @improper-dolores​

Stan tried not to get deeply involved in the personal issues of his business’ patrons. Usually it only ended up messy, a debacle that was too tangled for him to get caught up in when he hardly knew the people involved. It allowed him to breathe a little easier knowing that, at the end of the day, he wasn’t responsible for what people gambled away, because he didn’t make people come here. He encouraged some spending, yes, but that was only for first-time patrons usually. Those who were repeat customers came with money to spend and the hope for some big wins, hopes that Stan was proud to crush more often than not with his top-notch staff and a few extra tricks up his sleeves. He’d never lose more than he gained, and getting involved in his patron’s personal business could tilt that boat sideways.

Orford Umbridge was another case entirely.

He remembered his daughter from school, however vaguely. Dolores certainly hadn’t been the most well-liked person he’d come across during his days at Hogwarts, but when he saw her again at his casino, yelling at her father, he knew that Orford’s gambling problem was stressful if nothing else. He spent the money his daughter gave him at one of the many tables the Century offered, and after the third time of Dolores coming to yell at Orford Stan made sure to keep an eye on him. It was lucky he did, since he’d almost gambled away the Umbridge home one visit, and Stan had quickly put an end to that bet before it could really begin. There was a weird sort of understanding between himself and Dolores, all because of Orford, and Stan wasn’t going to call attention to it lest that understanding break from underneath them.

Tonight, though, Orford wasn’t as bad as other nights. He’d spent some money, of course, but had dragged himself to the bar after winning a small amount to celebrate with drinks. Stan was admittedly distracted since his disaster date with Gilderoy, but he still kept an eye out for Dolores and stayed close to her father. When she arrived he offered her an easy smile and raised a hand in greeting.

“Surprisingly, he hasn’t spent everything you gave him,” he said in lieu of a greeting. “Though I can’t say that’ll be accurate for long if he keeps buying drinks from Mags.”