 Toothless - Napoleon of Crime - Gryffinclaw - Owl Emissary - Pirate Auror - DoctorDonna
I'll bet you've never wanted out of a room so badly in your life, hm?
Nigel almost wanted to mention that there were contenders for that moment but he doubted it would be a good conversation starter. Best not to try and compare Alyssa Hall to a certain Balfour. He gave a simple inclination of his head and followed the man inside the room. The potions master accepted the stronger drink even though he wasn't too much of a drinker and sat down in the offered seat.
It was only then that he allowed himself the first sign of relaxing.
He stared into the amber liquid, unsure of what to do or say and letting Charles be the one who broke the silence. The man after all was the one who had pulled him aside obviously with a purpose or two in mind and the rescue from his wife's grasp didn't seem like the whole truth. So the ball was in his court sort to speak so the former Ravenclaw was awaiting the next move which came in the form of several inquiries.
Nigel wasn't aware if they were rhetorical questions or not but he did indeed know the answers to them. Or most of them. "It smells like jasmine and peach blossoms," the younger man started to say thinking back. "And her favorite season is fall...like mine," he remarked, adding the last quietly almost as if an afterthought. The other answers were yes, no and he couldn't really describe if Charles pressed for them.
It seemed the man was pressing on then anyway, explaining just why he was asking the questions of him. Describing Elinor and her differences from the rest of her family which he kinda already knew to some extent. She had warned him of how her parents viewed certain things like blood status. However it seemed to him as if Alyssa was the one with the stronger connection to those issues. He shook his head at the next question, figuring Elinor really wouldn't have been happy with that. But didn't voice it aloud, instead taking a sip.
Nigel did however winch as the vase was broken but more because it reminded him of the sound of vials breaking which was never a nice thing to hear when one is around them all the time and they're important. When the comparison was laid down between him and Elinor's original husband, he could tell where her father was going even as he broke off and chose to keep the words to himself for favor of apologizing for the earlier scene in the living room.
He unconsciously nodded in understanding as Charles spoke of Elinor's influence on people Knowing all about it having been a personal project of hers for many of those seven years they had both mentioned before. The elder man could have noticed the gesture but Nigel was unaware of the moment he himself was doing as he floated momentarily in memory.
Charles seemed to ask him for permission to continue thought the older man blazed on regardless of any answer he gave. And on Elinor's feelings...like someone who knew her well...like a father...could do. Some he had a clue of while others needed that other person to pound home and it was all almost surreal to him having never really had any of that strong emotions directed his way. Not even his mother had...well in the later years when his stepfather was around.
"You're not as bad as you think..." Nigel finally said once he gathered his voice and his words. "You weren't holding her back or cutting her off from you." Again he starred down at the contents of the glass as if nervous about what he was going to say. He was never one to discuss his family and it had taken a lot out of Elinor to dig it up out of him. "You're far better than my step-father...the only real father I knew. You notice Elinor's difference and seem to be at least somewhat okay with it. He couldn't...he doesnt see past our own differences and has wanted nothing more from me once I was out of school...once my mother was gone."
__________________  |