Boys seem to be the main topic of conversation, but they are not discussing fellow 13-year-olds. The object of their animation is a tall, dark, hansome man by the name of Darius.
It is 8am on a cold Monday morning, but already a sizeable troop of fans has gathered for the arrival of 22-year-old pop sensation Darius Danesh. And when he rolls up in a people carrier with darkened windows, they can't believe they are so close to their idol.
And darius proves hes no pampered precoius popstar. Far from spoilt, self-important behaviour expected of the rich and famous, he does not jostle past them without a word. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Clad in a dark denim jacket with leather sleeves, a navy top and dark jeans, he takes time to pose for photographs with all the girls and sign autographs. he's in edinburgh for a flying visit but that doesnt stop him being their Prince Charming for a few moments.
For Darius is a smoothie. \he has his whole game polished to a T and he is lapping up the attention brought to him form the television shows Popstars and Pop Idol and a No.1 hit single. He knows he is rather dashing, particularly with his clean-cut image, now thar he has dispensed with the infamous ponytail and goatee with his cringeworthy television debut on Popstars.
Despite being offered a tempting record contract by Simon Cowell, the Nasty Nick of Pop Idol, Darius turned it down, electing to pursue his dream as a singer songwriter. "Theres more to me than just Tom Jones covers," he says. "Original stuff is more pasionate and believable than covers. I didnt want to go down that road"
"If i'd been in Hear'Say, the song Pure and Simple would have been called Dirty and Complicated," replies Darius with a naughty smile. "I think the band would have spilt in about five minutes. It's not even in the same ballpark as the stuff i'm doing now."
And Darius can't resist a little flirty flattery: "I think your far prettier than Kim," he confides to Vicky.If you'd been in the band, I think you'd have kept it together. Give us a cuddle; don't be shy." Vicky and her friend are delirious with happiness if they depart, equipped with autographs and goody bags. "If you write your name on a piece of paper and their face lights up, it's great," says the doctors son from Bearsden."I love making people smile.
Well you would expect no less from the charismatic singer who studied English at Edinburgh University and has a speacial place in his heart for the country and for Scotland. It is no acident that he has chosen edinburgh to launch his promotional tour to plug his imminet album and single. "I'm so glad we came home first," he says with genuine enthusiasm. Despite having to abandon his degree to persue his dream, Darius maintains strong links with Edinburgh and still owns a flat in Canonmills, where his 18-year-old brother Aria is now living. So now is he enjoying life now afer achieving his dream of reaching the top of the chart? "It's great; i love it. It doesnt feel like a job. When your doing it for love - and getting paid for it - it's great."
He knows alot about facades. "I was very insecure during Popstars," he admits "I was hiding behind my goatee and my ponytail. But now i feel i'm back to what i've always been happy doing - writing my own music and being myself."
Indeed Darius has come along way since commiting TV sucicide with his excrucuating rendition of the Britney Spears hit, Baby One More Time, which has gone down in television history.
"I'm glad that a song i wrote knocked her off the chart," he says when reminded of the "one more time"
moment. But it is amazing what a razor, a couple of years and a good agent can do.
And while Darius is still undoubtedly Darius's favourite topic of cinversation and he continues to ooze cheese and charm, he has wisely dropped the jaw-droppingly megalmaniac tone of self-adoration for which he became nationally ridiculed.
His father is Persian, and since he is a bright, articulate fellow, i ask him for his opinion on the potential war on Iraq. He is a little more taken aback. This obviously wasn't in the script. "I'm a pop star," he replies, after a pause. "I don't have an opinion on that." He's yet to meet Bono.
"i'm looking foward to some female company now i've bedded my album," he says, with a suggestive smile. "My perfect woman would be the girl next door. Celebrity is meaningless."
The album, since he has managed to cunningly sneak that into an answer on an entirely different topic, is called Dive In and is due out on december 2nd - just in time for the christmas charts, of course. His second single Rushes meanwhile is out on November 25th.
"It'd the public support that has allowed me to follow my dream and i hope the support continues to come because i look foward to entertaining the public in the future.