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This thread is devoted to the personal plot of Elinor Danvers, my Ministry character, as well as Macavity's lovely Diagon Alley character, Nigel Garrettson. This thread currently includes Elinor's home and will soon include Nigel's. In the future, more characters and/or places may be included.
RP #1: The Dinner Date - Elinor's home
July/August 2078
Following an incident involving amortenia, Elinor has demanded offered Nigel a visit to her apartment for dinner. This is the first time one of them has been to the others' home, hence being an important checkpoint in their relationship.
SPOILER!!: Elinor's Apartment Description
Just a few blocks down from Diagon Alley, on the third floor of a lovely apartment building, is the home of Elinor Danvers. The door opens up into the living room, furnished with dark wood bookcases to the left. Immediately on the right wall is a collection of picture frames. Some of them include newspaper articles. The most noticeable case included a wand sitting inside.
SPOILER!!: The Corresponding Newspaper Clipping
Notorious Serial Killer Meets End
Solander Grundy, infamous murderer, died this past weekend in Diagon Alley. It was not a battle of magic, nor were Ministry Officials swarming the alley. Instead, Mister Grundy was apprehended by perhaps the most determined woman to catch him. Nine years ago, The Prophet reported the death of James Danvers, only one person in the path of Mister Grundy. He left behind his wife, Elinor Danvers, who had been investigating Solander at the time. Miss Danvers, now a worker with the Ministry, single-handedly apprehended Mister Grundy, ending the fifteen year hunt for him.
However, concerns have been raised about the method used to catch the dangerous fugitive. It appears that Miss Danvers had been aware of Solander's wherabouts for several weeks. However, members of the Ministry say that she made no reports. She acted alone. It also appears that she made no attempts to catch Mister Grundy. Elinor, currently a member under the division for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, sat down across from her husband's killer for a casual lunch. She had no authorization from Magical Law Enforcement, leading some to question the incident.
It appears, however, that the Ministry was not the only ones interested in ending Mister Grundy's reign of terror. For it wasn't the green-eyes woman who brought about his death. Instead, a bottle of wine appears to have been the culprit, even though no trace of poison was found in the remains of the bottle. It is unknown how this bottle came to be in his posession. Solander's body showed mixed symptoms of poison, making it impossible to pinpoint an exact solution.
After confirmation of his identity, Mister Grundy's wand was stripped of it's core and awarded to Miss Danvers. When asked about the encounter, the ministry worker made no comment.
The other frames contained smaller clippings in which Elinor was mentioned. There was one picture of a younger Elinor with her parents, and one below it of her and two other young women, her sisters.
Past the bookshelves to the right of the door was a large window looking down towards the front of the building, covered loosely with beige curtains that matched the paint on the walls. In the center of the room was a black leather sofa facing an enchanted fireplace. A dark coffee table sat between them.
Obviously, being an apartment, there was no opportunity for an actual fireplace, so it was enchanted so that once a fire was lit, the smoke disappeared. On the mantle was a glass box, inside which was a wand on a small stand. To the right of the box was the only visible picture of Elinor and her deceased husband, a small picture in a silver frame.
Across the living room from the front door was the hallway. To the right was a bedroom that Elinor used strictly for storage. Nothing sat in there except a few boxes and an old chest of drawers. The door was always closed. The small bathroom was next to that. At the end of the hallway was the kitchen, tiled. Against the right wall was the kitchen table, where three chairs sat around it. The apartments were once a muggle building, and Elinor had kept the refrigerator in the corner, still in use.
To the right of the kitchen doorway was Elinor's bedroom. There were two chests of drawers and a desk with a mirror along the far wall. Her closet was kept open. The apartment was very quiet, very lonely, but beautiful. Not unlike it's inhabitant.
RP #2: Meeting the Family - Elinor's Parent's Home
After Elinor's sister, Clarice, spills the beans to her parents about Elinor being in a relationship with Nigel, Elinor's mother has insisted upon a meeting.
SPOILER!!: Nigel's Apartment
A simple apartment for a simple potions master.
The door on a second-floor corridor of the apartment building opens up onto an open floor plan that encompasses a living room, dining area and kitchen. Two tome-laden bookcases and a central fireplace divide the living room, including a well-loved couch and leather chair, from the rest.
Thankfully due to his ownership of the shop, his kitchen no longer smells perenially of noxious potions since Nigel has taken to keeping most of his work at Slug and Jiggers. However it is still well-used by the man, well whenever he's alone or not eating out. The dining table in turn remains clean most of the time except for the past sploches from his earlier work.
Past the dining table you'll find a hallway leading to a bathroom and Nigel's bedroom. The latter a quiet retreat from the world filled with light colors and the hand-painted foliage upon the walls.
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"I didn't think of inviting your sisters, to be honest." She wasn't being honest. But Alyssa wanted this first meeting to herself, to do her own judgement of the situation.
Alyssa leaned forward and began pouring the tea into the cups, listening to her daughter's swift excuse. She pressed her lips together in an odd, almost condescending smile that was her trademark. "Incidentally, how long, may I ask, have you two... known each other?" She took a drink of her tea, keeping eyes on her daughter in the meantime, barely twitching an eyebrow at her jumping to answer for her companion. She set the cup back on the saucer.
"Well, Mr. Garrettson," she continued, her eyes landing on the lanky man. "Do you enjoy being a potioneer?" An innocent question, right? She was capable of reasonable questions. For now.
The man almost gave his wife an accusing look when she declared she hadn't thought of inviting Shelley and Clarice. She had thought of it, but it was him who insisted it was only the four of them. But he said nothing. He reached forward and plucked the lid off of a small silver dish, inside freshly cut, yellow lemon wedges. They had been sure to prepare for anything. He, himself, took his cup and saucer and sat back in his chair, flitting his eyes slowly between the two of them.
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Elinor subconsciously mimicked her mother's pursed smile in disbelief that she hadn't thought of inviting her sisters. But she didn't ponder on the issue. Whatever. When her father revealed the lemon wedges, Elinor picked up a cup and saucer, as well as one of the slices, and sat back up, handing them over to Nigel. She needed something to do with her hands, okay?
When she started to reach for her own tea, her mother posed a question she was shocked she had jumped to. How long had they been together? Elinor started to answer. Well. Nigel had been shop owner for... five years? No. She looked, incredulous, at the man beside her. "Seven years...?" Had it really been that long? "no...", she breathed, mostly to herself.
"S-seven years," she finally answered, straightening with her own cup of tea. The tea she was too nervous to drink. As she clasped the saucer in one hand, the other one was sitting at her side, fidgeting unconsciously.
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Nigel accepted the offered teacup once it was poured with a soft word of "Thank you." Another question for him and the lemon wedges revealed for his use should he trult desire it. The shopkeeper nodding in acknowledgment to Elinor's father. "Yes, indeed I do. The subject has always been a passion of mine." And an escape when things were rough and uncomfortable with his family but that didn't need to be shared.
After fixing his teas, he paused from taking a sip looked over the tea cup to Elinor as the woman searched for confirmation on the amount of time that had passed since they had met.
Had it really been that long?
"Aye...seven years," Nigel finally agreed. All the years he had owned the shop on Diagon Alley as well as his time under the leadership of Valentina in the beginning. Speaking of which, no doubt the woman in question would be quite flabbergasted at the way things currently were.
Great wandering thoughts there, Garrettson, he silently berated himself, taking a slow sip from his cup to keep from talking.
The woman's eyebrows raised quite high indeed at the number the two had concluded. She said nothing, merely sipped her tea with a 'hm'. Finally, she lowered the cup. At least she didn't have to worry about them being... hasty. Hm. "Well." Pause. That was it.
"Well, that's a very fine profession," beat, "I can always respect a man who can do such work without magic." Beat. Sip. Look.
"Elinor, I expect the similarity between jobs has been a connection for you two. Of course, you ought to be in a much finer job." Beat. Sip. Look.
Sweet Merlin. Charles remained stonefaced, but knew that 'hm'. He knew it all too well. Unfortunately, he could do nothing but sit there, drink his tea, and watch his daughter struggle to deal with the antics of her mother. He felt sorry for Mr. Garrettson, but supposed this was a nice test of patience and... tolerance.
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Elinor still had not taken a drink of her tea. She was staring, almost intently, at her mother. That 'hm' was not good. That was a sign she was quietly, silently, judging, and would be making some half-hidden snide remarks. She had to look back at Nigel when he spoke. That 'aye' always got her. She managed a faint smile back at him, before turning her attention back on her mother. At her side, her and was still fidgeting. She moved it back, between them, and found Nigel's hand. It wasn't completely intentional, but she wound her hand into is and clasped it. It felt nice. It helped.
But you know who wasn't helping? Mom.
Hopefully Nigel didn't catch the subtle insult. Hopefully. But Elinor did and clenched her teeth briefly. "You would be surprised," was all she could retort with. Or so she thought. Elinor then licked her lips and dropped the major bomb she hoped she would have been able to politely ease into. Somehow, she saw this escalating towards a fight. Maybe Nigel didn't notice. Hopefully. Please, Merlin.
"Nigel is actually very accomplished, even by average standards. You would never think he was muggle-born." Boom. Done.
Elinor sipped at her tea, trying not to glare at her mother over the top of her tea cup.
Sip. Beat. Look.
She ran her thumb over the back of Nigel's hand. He felt nice there. She centered herself a little before speaking again.
"I enjoy what I do. As does Nigel. After going to a forensics college, it would stand to reason I would keep a job in that same area. I like not having to rely on magic to do what I do. There's nothing wrong with physical labor." That last statement might have been a tad harsh, but at least it didn't come out that way. She glanced over to her father, who had just been sitting and watching.
"Nigel was a Ravenclaw, too," she said to him. Dad was the only other Ravenclaw in the family. "We realized we were in Hogwarts together, only a year apart." She didn't really know what to say to her father. Apparently, neither did he.
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Nigel had been certain that the length of their relationship...friendship before dating...was going to cause quite a reaction and Elinor's mother didn't disappoint. Not as familiar with her as the other two, he wasn't fully aware of just what her response meant but he could imagine that it wasn't great. His thoughts dwelling on it, the potioner hadn't see Elinor move her hand beside her, wasn't expecting the touch. But he would be loath to admit that it didn't do anything to ease his feelings.
He gave her hand a hesitant but willing squeeze to show he appreciated the gesture, resting his hand in her grasp between them as they sat. His gaze flashed to Elinor but returned to to their hosts soon enough. Alyssa's mother's further remark and its meaning did get noticed by Nigel, the mention of doing his work without magic almost made him suspect the woman already knew the truth about his family...about his birth parents.
And there it was...
The dreaded word that made him different from the other three persons in the room out the open and from his girlfriend's lips. He had to fight to keep from wincing at the mention even if it did come in amongst complimentary words. Apparently Elinor had other ideas on the progression of the conversation and Nigel realized he just might have to let her lead him somewhat blindly. He just hoped it didn't all blow up in their faces.
Another touch...as Elinor's thumb graced the back of his hand.
The lab director spoke once more, this time in defense of both their chosen occupations and preferences on how to handle things. Nigel never once regretted his working with his hands and potions still dealt with magic in some ways. But he wasn't blind and deaf and stupid enough to not know that there were people who thought that was beneath a witch or wizard.
Though perhaps the fact of being a Ravenclaw would have SOME effect as intelligence had to count for something...right?
Alyssa could do nothing but raise one eyebrow, almost in amusement, at Elinor. Her words were clearly agitating her daughter, who appeared, at least to her, to be having a difficult time containing herself. The older woman fought back a smile. Even when her daughter revealed that the man next to her was a muggle-born. She did not react physically at all, unless you would count her lack of response as a response. Her teacup hovered for a few moments, and she blinked, listening to Elinor's sting about physical labor. She was almost proud. She let her daughter speak to Charles, fuming silently for a few seconds.
Was this a joke? Was this some rebellious jab? Her daughter was honsetly in love with a muggle-born? She was disappointed as ever. Elinor never knew how to act properly.
Then, graceful as a queen, the woman set her teacup down on the table and cleared her throat gently. "Mister Garrettson... Does it bother you that my daughter has kept the name of her first husband, nearly twenty years after his death?"
If Elinor wouldn't give her the response she wanted, then the best way to get what she wanted was through the man discreetly holding her hand.
The man set his empty tea cup down on the table, almost amused by Elinor and Alyssa's subtle, almost trademark fighting. It was despicable, his wife insulting the career he knew his daughter had worked hard to attain. That was something Alyssa never respected. Working hard. Especially, he thought to himself, at the revelation that the young man was not of wizard blood.
Charles smiled over at the couple, somehow not surprised that they were both Ravenclaws. However, he still didn't know what to say. That was, until Alyssa brought up the one thing that she had hounded Elinor about since the day her first husband had died. The man took in a breath and stood from his chair.
"Nigel, would you care to join me in the study?"
He did not glance to his wife or is daughter, merely took a few steps towards the doorway and waited to see if the man would accept his offer out of the room. He knew that his wife and his daughter were going to butt heads, and it would not be pretty. Not in the slightest.
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Elinor narrowed her eyes slightly, waiting. Just waiting for her mother to finally react to the knowledge that her daughter was very much in love with a man who came from a non-magical family. When it took a long time for one to come, she got a little frightened, setting her tea down to prevent the possibility of dropping or throwing it. Finally, she set her own tea down and turned her attention to Nigel
And crossed the line.
"Mother!" The lab director scolded, actually upset more about her opening this argument up again than she was about her attempt to get a response from Nigel. "It's not y--"
The woman fell silent as her father suddenly stood. Her eyebrows raised, almost in fear... Dad was asking to speak with Nigel alone? She subconsciously leaned a little closer to her boyfriend, squeezing his hand back. After a few seconds of looking at her father, though, she figured it might be better if he took Nigel alone than keeping him here. With her mother. Especially when Elinor would no doubt embarrass herself in the impending argument if he was present. She loosened her grip and looked between him and her father. What was he up to...?
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More silence and expressions being passed between the two women and Nigel found himself glancing between the two of them as he sipped on . His hackles of nerves were already raised waiting for the reactions to what had already been said. He wasn't expecting what came out of the older woman's mouth however, anymore then Elinor appeared to be judging by the exclaimation of her title in surprise.
In his place, Nigel was unsure of speaking or refusing to in favor of his companion. It wasn't as if he wasn't aware of the deceased spouse and the circumstances around it. And he surely wasn't bothered by Elinor's use of it. The name didn't make the person.
It wasn't until he had heard his own name that he registered Elinor's father was speaking to him once more...beckoning him into his study. While he could be worried about himself, Nigel was seeing enough of this family dynamic to be more concerned for Elinor when left with her mother. The shopkeeper glanced at her for a moment before making his decision, giving her hand one final squeeze and taking his chances as he stood up.
"For your information...no it doesn't bother me. Anymore then I believe Elinor is bothered by the fact that I choose to use my muggle father's name and not that of my step-father the wizard." And with that being said, Nigel moved to follow the older man out of the room.
Alyssa looked from Charles, to her daughter, to Mr. Garrettson. She sighed silently as her husband took Nigel from the room. Darn. Now all she had was her daughter. On the other and... All she had was her daughter. She sat back in her chair. "Well. You two make quite the pair," was all she commented, eager to allow Elinor to say whatever she might. It was entertaining. She was very curious, though, as to what Charles wanted with Nigel. She was a little annoyed, actually. Alyssa didn't like being left out of tings that were suppossed to be for her. I.E.: This meeting...
Charles led the young man from the sitting room and down the hallway, towards the study. Once out of earshot, he could not wait a moment more to say, "I'll bet you've never wanted out of a room so badly in your life, hm?" He offered a smile, hoping that Nigel might look a little less like he was going to be sick. Charles opened the door to the study and closed it behind them. It was a spacious room, with a fireplace opposite the door, a low fire inside, and a large desk on the left. The bookshelves were high, and a couple of paintings adorned the walls. On the desk was a bottle of cognac, which he promptly opened, poured a glass, and upon handing it to Nigel, gestured to an armchair on the other side of the fireplace. "Please. Have a seat, Mr. Garrettson." Before you keel over.
Carles poured imself a glass, but did not sit down. Instead, he took a couple of sips, listening for a moment to see if e would hear yelling from the other room. When none reached him, he stared into the fire for a few moments and drew in a breath. His thoughts weren't completely collected, but they probably never would be.
"Tell me something, Mr. Garrettson, do you know Elinor? I mean, could you tell me what her favorite perfume smells like? Her favorite season? When she's nervous, does she play with the hem of her clothes? When she looks at you, do you know what she's thinking? Could you tell me how her eyes sparkle when she turns towards the light?" He let that sink in for a second before pacing away.
"I ask, Mr. Garrettson, because Elinor is unlike anyone else in the family. Alyssa has always... had trouble being Elinor's mother, because she's so different. Elinor is the youngest of our three daughters, and so she was doted on excessively. We gave her everything a parent wants to give their child. She had all the books she could ever read, every toy or bauble that we thought she would love. We gave her the best that money could buy. Dressed her in the finest clothes. Anything her heart desired, I made sure it was hers... But, tell me, Mr. Garrettson... Do you think she was happy? Does Elinor strike you as the type of woman who could be made happy by things?" Charles looked at the slender man and waited a few moments. The question could be a rhetorical one, but he waited all the same.
"Elinor and her mother have never gotten along." He gestured to a painting hanging on the wall. A beautiful landscape with bright blues and pinks. "Alyssa looks at a painting and sees only what it is worth. She sees things in money." To illustrate his point, he lifted a vase from the desk, and then, as though he were tossing a toy to a cat, let it drop to the floor. It shattered into thirty or forty shards at his feet. Charles didn't blink an eye.
"To Elinor's mother, all that means to her is... A number. However much that vase was worth, that's all she cares about. To Elinor... she looks at a painting and sees beauty. It's not... money that makes her happy. And Alyssa never understood that. Alyssa looks at people and sees blood and wealth and physical demeanor. She looked at Elinor's previous husband and saw only his blood status. Alyssa looks at you and... well... I must apologize for my wife's aggressiveness," he added on his train of thought.
"But Elinor is not like Alyssa. Elinor looks at a person and sees their hopes... and dreams... She can look at a person and see them. I don't know who she got that trait from. In my past years, I was, admittedly, just as shallow. I didn't understand why Elinor was so unlike her sisters, who were placated with money. I didn't understand why she would rather wear old clothes than go out and buy new ones. I didn't understand why her best friends were of mixed heritage, and she didn't care. I never understood how to make my daughter happy," he admitted, raising his glass and taking a long drink from it. "But Elinor has a way of making you see things differently."
Charles cast a glance at Nigel. If he knew Elinor at all, surely he had experienced something similar? Because Elinor DID have a way of turning your life on end, making you see things you didn't see before. He looked away again.
"And so... When Clarice informed us that Elinor was in love with someone... I was jealous," he smiled thoughtfully. "Because... I could never make Elinor happy. I didn't know how. I was hoping, almost, that she had turned out like the rest of us. Shallow and heartless. James was a very nice young man. But we didn't care-- We only cared that he was pureblooded and well-off. After he died, I realized..."
Charles had slowly crossed over to Nigel and stared down at him.
"It takes a very special kind of person to win her heart. Not just anyone will do, Mr. Garrettson. And so... When I heard that she was in love, I knew... When I learned that she was going to bring you here-- Subject you to this, I knew. And when I saw you sitting together, I knew. I saw the way you look at each other, the way she leans into you. And I can see by the way you sit and listen that you are not just 'any person'. I don't know how much thought you have given the matter, Mr. Garrettson, but, if I may be so bold, I am going to point it out to you."
Another pause here, as Charles wanted to make sure the boy absorbed every word.
"My daughter.... loves you... more than anything in this world. She has decided that she wants to spend every waking, breathing moment with you, and only you. You make her happy. And she wants more than anything to make you happy. I don't know how much you've thought about it, Mr. Garrettson, but you think about it now, and you think about it hard. Do you love her? Do you really love her? Do you want to make her happy? Do you want more than anything to see her smile? To hear her laugh? Because that's what she wants for you. That's all she wants. That's all she cares about is you. Because that's the kind of person she is."
He took another drink and turned away, but added, almost urgently:
"That's the kind of person I want her to have... I don't deserve to have her for a daughter... I'm a shallow old man with nothing to show of his life but... Priceless paintings and... a drafty house."
He fell silent, aware that the things he wanted to say didn't come out quite right, but... It was the best he could muster at the moment.
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Elinor looked up at Nigel as he stood, and smiled up at him briefly when he spoke up. She was proud that he did that. Very proud. She watched him depart from the room behind her father, then turned and glared across, almost in disbelief, at her mother. The ministry worker let out a sigh.
"Why do you have to act this way? I didn't come here for you to treat me like a child. I came because I thought that, maybe, for the first time in years, we could behave like an actual family. I thought you might like to meet the man I want to become family. Why can't you respect the fact that I have my own thoughts and feelings about people? Why can't you just..."
Elinor sat back and folded her arms, frustrated that she couldn't articulate her words properly.
"But you are a child, Elinor-- You're my child. Your father and I raised you with certain standards. You were the most difficult, Elinor, and you're still difficult to this day. You're wasting your life in a laboratory, risking blowing yourself up every day, shut away indoors. You spent four years in a forensics college. I'm proud, of course, but... Elinor... It's just not practical. You're worth so much more."
It was hard to tell whether or not she was patronizing her child. Quite frankly, Alyssa didn't know either. She was out of practice. It had been so long.
"Your father and I tried to give you everything you were worth. But you, the stubborn girl you were, just couldn't be pleased. You don't see things well, dear. You're worth more than that... thin man you brought with you today."
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The woman's jaw dropped open in disbelief at what she was hearing. Her mother was not stupid. Did she hear herself?
"I'm difficult because I don't see the advantages of being pure-blooded over not? I'm difficult because I'm not like you? Is that what you're saying? I'm difficult because I work? You have never worked a day in your life! And, you know, that's great. I'm glad you don't have to, but it's no big achievement, mom."
She took in a breath and licked her lips briefly in thought. She was too old for this. They both were.
"It's up to me to decide what is best for me. I'm not 17. I decide what is worth my time, and my love. I decided that I ought to come see you today, because I do love you, and I just..."
She gritted her teeth. Her mother was not going to make her cry today.
"Why can't you just be happy that I don't need money and I don't need... I don't need this," she gestured around her. "I appreciate that you want these things for me," she made clear. "But I don't want them. I want to be with Nigel. He makes me happy. Why can't that placate you?"
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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."
All the woman could really think of to say was "You're better. That's all there is to it. You don't appreciate how much better you really are. You're beautiful and smart, you have more money than you've learned what to do with, and.. You choose to live in a small apartment and invest your time with... Well, with a muggleborn."
The mother shrugged her shoulders and folded her arms. She could do this all day. She heard what her daughter was saying. But she was wrong.
The word 'awe' might have been used to describe Charles' brief expression when Nigel proved that he knew Elinor. Not so much wit what he said, but how he said it. The older man listened well, eager to know what the lanky man before him thought.
And then he actually tried to comfort him. Charles smiled faintly. "You're kind," he remarked. "But, if I may point out, Mr. Garrettson , you don't even know me. Nor I you, for that matter. The relationship between you and my daughter is none of my business. I realize I am... somewhat out of line, at the moment."
He listened as Nigel spoke of his own father figure. "I'm sorry to hear that. I don't... I don't believe in animosity between family members. I understand it's very common... But, at the end of the day, Elinor always knows that her mother loves her. She knows that people like Alyssa, and, from what it seems, your step-father, however set in their ways they are, could always use a swift kick in the pants."
Charles paused mid-drink and smiled. "Has she met your family?"
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KokoBandit
All the woman could really think of to say was "You're better. That's all there is to it. You don't appreciate how much better you really are. You're beautiful and smart, you have more money than you've learned what to do with, and.. You choose to live in a small apartment and invest your time with... Well, with a muggleborn."
The mother shrugged her shoulders and folded her arms. She could do this all day. She heard what her daughter was saying. But she was wrong.
"Exactly, mother. I choose. I'm not settling for anything. I'm not... I'm not in love with Nigel for.. for.. any... I... I just love him. I'm with him because he is what I choose. What about this is so hard for you to understand? And, while I'm thinking about it-- Why does my last name matter? I just... I just never got around to filling out the paperwork."
Elinor leaned in and almost pointed to emphasize what she was about to say. "The next time I change my last name, it will be to 'Garrettson'," she vowed quietly.
"What I do with my name, and what I do with the man I love, and why I love the man I love is no business of yours. I am not you. I will never be you. I don't care about blood, mom. That doesn't make you who you are. I'd love Nigel if he was a muggle. That's what love is. Love is when you don't care. Which makes me wonder about why you care so much about the choices I make in my life."
She glanced towards the hallway, worrying about what her dad was doing to Nigel. She was listening for the 'thump' of a dropping body.
Toothless - Napoleon of Crime - Gryffinclaw - Owl Emissary - Pirate Auror - DoctorDonna
Once more it was Nigel waiting for a reaction as one was prone to do when faced with what seemed to be a mix of interrogation and confession. He had laid out stuff no one else really knew as well as openly admitted to someone other than Elinor on how well he knew her and cared to know her. "There are worse things you could have done." Like forbid them to see each other...try to fix Elinor up with someone else.
Pfft...like that would happen...or rather Elinor wouldn't allow.
He almost commented that Alyssa's supposed love for her daughter was a one up on him and his step-father but he thought better of it. No need to seek out pity when it wasn't needed...had not been needed for a while now. The potioner having long since gotten used to the situation with his would-be family and not having that type of support. Or any type of support for that matter.
And then...THE question.
Nigel shook his head at first giving the needed response but staying quiet at first to gather his words. "No...and hopefully never will. To some extent, I don't have one."
No Alyssa this time. >_< A little stuck in general.
Charles smiled thoughtfully at Nigel's seemingly trying to make him feel better, but couldn't think of much to say in response. He merely nodded his head once or twice, and let him continue.
"Hopefully?" the man repeated. "Well, now I'm curious. Are you afraid of what your family might do to Elinor? Or of what Elinor might do to them?" He set his glass down on the desk, smiling and completely interested in his answer.
Toothless - Napoleon of Crime - Gryffinclaw - Owl Emissary - Pirate Auror - DoctorDonna
Quote:
Originally Posted by KokoBandit
Charles smiled thoughtfully at Nigel's seemingly trying to make him feel better, but couldn't think of much to say in response. He merely nodded his head once or twice, and let him continue.
"Hopefully?" the man repeated. "Well, now I'm curious. Are you afraid of what your family might do to Elinor? Or of what Elinor might do to them?" He set his glass down on the desk, smiling and completely interested in his answer.
Nigel should have known his choice of words were going to bring up more questions but it was too late now. Charles was asking about what might be thought to happen should Elinor and his step-family should ever meet. Something the potions master would do much to keep from happening. "A little bit of both, to be honest," he answered after some thought on the issue.
"I wouldn't doubt Elinor would hold her own." She had after all fought for his attention and was currently standing up to her own mother for them. "I would simply prefer she not be put through the trouble. They're not worth it."
BAH. She's telling me to make Alyssa mean. I DON'T WANT TO! D:
"But you won't do it, Elinor. He's not our kind. He's cute and all, but if you give it some time, you'll see that no self-respecting woman would be caught dead married to him. Now James had what you needed; He was handsome, wealthy enough for the both of you, he had a marvelous job-- Why do you think I paid for that wedding? I wanted you to have that. But this... this person you brought to my house today makes me disappointed in you, Elinor. I'm sure you must be lonely. It's been quite a long time, I know. But you can't be taken in by these... these mudbloods."
He decided not to press the matter, and went off on a related train of thought. "It's silly to think that I had the same concerns about you and Elinor here today. I was afraid it would either be Elinor and Alyssa, or you and Alyssa, or you and I, even. It wasn't you and Alyssa, and I applaud your tolerance. It certainly isn't you and I... So... Knowing Elinor's pluck, which she inherited from her mother, I'm deeply concerned about what, exactly is going on in that sitting room. Who will need to be rescued from whom," he mused, smiling despite his genuine concern.
"As I said before, I don't know you, Mr. Garrettson. But I trust my daughter, and although I don't know her as well as I know I ought, I like to think I at least..." he couldn't word the end of his sentence, so he tried again after a brief pause.
"I trust you. I envy you for whatever you have done to make her so happy. But it's time I cut to the chase, because I know how I'm sounding..."
The old man lifted the glass again, sipped from it, and paced over to the fireplace. "I'm dying, Mr. Garrettson." He took another drink. "Slowly but surely. I don't want my youngest daughter to... It's not..."
Frustrated once again, he turned back towards the thin man. "If you ever have children, Mr. Garrettson, you'll understand me better. It's not something I can explain. But I am thankful for you, perhaps, in a way, more than Elinor can ever be. Of my three children I have, the only one I hold great concern for is Elinor. She's always had that need for-for someone there. Not to take care of her, obviously, but she needs someone to take care of. She needs people, and, unfortunately, she invested in me more than she did her mother or sisters. I feel awful that I couldn't understand that at the time. So... I don't know how to explain myself, or-or justify the things I've said to you. I don't even think I can... But... You... I..."
He resigned himself once again, unable to keep himself from sounding like he had no idea what he was talking about. The older man turned silent and downed the last of what was in his glass.
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"You mean because he doesn't slither through the grass?"
Elinor gritted her teeth, attempting to remain as collected as she could. But it was difficult, as the woman continued to push buttons she had no business even being near. She just kept going, and where she was going was too far.
"Well, you know what mother? He's dead, so I'm sorry that you don't get what you want. If it means so much to you, I'll gladly pay every cent of that wedding back. If you're going to be so shallow, you can have it all back-- Everything! But you have no say in my life anymore! You can't control and manipulate me as you do everyone else, and if you think for a moment I'm letting you, you're wrong! You've ALWAYS been wrong! I don't care if you're disappointed in me. Your opinions mean nothing to me...
"And if you say another word against Nigel, so help me, I'll make you sorry you ever ASKED ME TO COME HERE!"
The ministry worker found herself standing and shouting and almost crying. She took in a breath and was just glad Nigel wasn't there. Was she? She had to be.
Toothless - Napoleon of Crime - Gryffinclaw - Owl Emissary - Pirate Auror - DoctorDonna
Charles' news of his reservations didn't come as a real surprise to Nigel. Most fathers likely had the same reservations whenever their daughters brought over their significant others to meet them. Or so he could only imagine being the case. And the potions master had to admit even to himself if not aloud that he had had the same fears of there being an uproar today...had been part of his original hesitance to follow the man away from the group. His gaze moved unconsciously towards the door at the mention of the goings-on in the sitting room.
Maybe they should check.
His attention was brought back to Charles as the older man continued speaking. He trusted him...which was a load off his mind in many respects. At least one of Elinor's parents had a positive outlook on his presence in their daughter's life which made it somewhat easier. Even if the more opinionated parent was the one currently causing who-knows-what trouble in the other room like Charles had said. "In truth, I have done nothing. It is Elinor who sought to make ME happy. I only hope I can prove to be truly worth her previous effort." He might have said more but the older man was speaking once more and his words cut right through the moment.
I'm dying.
Certainly not what he expected to hear from his girlfriend's father during the course of the visit to her family. Talk of blood purity...yes. Family argument...probably. But not the bad news of the man's health and his mortality. And the fact he seemed to want to keep the news from Elinor's awareness putting Nigel himself in an awkward position. "If I may be so bold this time. Don't keep it from her forever. Finding out you're gone and have been ill from a third party or a letter isn't all its cracked up to be." he should know, the memory causing him to lower his gaze and fiddle with the glass between his two hands.
"Its how I found out about my mother's passing...a letter from the ministry while I was up at school. And I've often wished I knew beforehand. Would have made the last time I saw her quite different."
Alyssa was secretly proud of her daughter’s ability to turn a phrase. She had inherited that from her. However, she did not take kindly to being spoken to, or, rather, shouted at, by anyone, let alone her own daughter. Still, the elderly woman stayed soft-spoken, although she was running out of points to make.
”Oh, Elinor, I’ll never be sorry you came here. Mr. Garrettson, on the other hand…”
He turned his attention on Nigel and nodded once. ”I’m very sorry to hear that, Mr. Garrettson. And I shall keep that piece of advice in mind, I assure you…”
He could faintly hear his daughter’s voice, raised, of course, and somehow could not help from smiling. He couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was nice to know he didn’t raise a pushover. But when he couldn’t hear his wife’s tones, he figured she must have been keeping her own voice down in an attempt to only infuriate Elinor further (as Alyssa seemed to not know when to be silent). Charles drew a sigh and gestured to the door.
”Well… I can refill your glass, or you can go rescue my daughter, or maybe her mother, as the case may be,” he laughed quietly at his own joke. He, himself, wasn’t concerned either way. He knew none of them could be physically violent, and was perfectly content with letting them fight it out. But he figured his daughter would eventually run out of steam, and whatever they were fighting over, he knew himself to be on Elinor’s side.
”Either way, I apologize for my tendancy to ramble. You’ve been most welcome company, Nigel, and I welcome you again anytime.” That’s right. He welcomed him. His wife would have no say—the young man was welcome as long as the house was his. He only hoped that Alyssa’s attitude wouldn’t prove to be a major problem for anyone. That, of course, was hoping for a lot.
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She had been born to a woman who truly didn't know when to stop talking. Before she knew what she was doing, Elinor had picked up her teacup and flung it towards the opposite wall, where it broke apart and splattered the little bit of remnance of it's contents onto the wallpaper.
If the ministry worker wasn't worked into such a state, she would no doubt already be regretting her actions. However, no one can make you as angry as your mother can, and unfortunately, Elinor was proving that theory right.
"Then you can blame me! It was my foolish thought that anything good might come of today! Once again, I'm wrong, aren't I? I couldn't possibly have inherited that from you, could I? I don't even care. I'm more glad than anything to not be like you! My only regret is that I am pure-blooded-- I regret that you gave me that. It's just another disappointment to you, isn't it? You want more than anything that I would have ended up like you, more like Shelley and Clarice. Go foist those expectations off on them, and leave us well alone, then!"
It was perhaps a slip of the tongue that she had said 'us' instead of 'me', but somehow, the 'us' sounded better to her. It seemed to sound better, even if she was shouting.
Toothless - Napoleon of Crime - Gryffinclaw - Owl Emissary - Pirate Auror - DoctorDonna
That was all he could ask for. Well to take his advise to heart, not to be given sympathy for something the man couldn't change even with there was a time-turner around to go back in time. Nigel had long since dealt with it and pushed it aside to make himself into the man he was today for the better.
He too could hear the sounds being made from others outside the study. His ears perked up to listen while keeping his attention of his own companion not wanting to seem rude. However the younger man was allowed the disconnection when Charles offered him the option to stay with him or to go and rejoin the others, an option that might very well require him to get back amongst a woman who had already shown him dislike.
Nigel was debating which action to chose, having the feeling Elinor could handle herself, even with the raised voice coming from the other room. Yet when further thumps were heard which could be any number of things from thrown items to actual spells, the potions master figured it was about time he at least went to check on the woman. "I have enjoyed speaking with you as well," he replied, nodding at the invitation to return. They shall see if that every truly had chance of transpiring in time.
"I think...I think I shall be going back," he answered making his decision as he set his glass down and stood back up to his full height. With that being said and done, Nigel slipped from the study and headed back towards the living room. He had just reached outside the room when he heard Elinor and froze in place just at the doorway, his presence not even fully visible.
Love Beyond Measure 
x8 
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