Alfred didn't want to take the dittany — and he didn't need it, he thought bitterly. He'd lived in the wilderness for years with just a surly wand that wouldn't listen to commands, shared between three people. He could survive a little scrape without any of Fisk's fancy healing ingredients. A cut like this would close on its own if he covered it with a cloth bandage for a day or two, although the mark would linger longer than that. If it was really serious, he could close it himself — he'd learned a wandless spell from the tribal mage that would knit wounds back together like torn clothing. Casting it, however, was something of a production — with gestures and chanting — and sewing skin back together hurt a fair bit, so he was hardly going to do it here, just to save his pride. With the dittany in his good hand and the cut held out in front of him, Alfred pulled the stopper out with his teeth and let a drop of the silver liquid fall.
The threat rankled. For one thing, it was vaguely enough that it failed to be properly intimidating. After Fisk had just restored the room and offered him dittany, too, the whole concept of threatening Alfred just didn't seem to fit— it seemed like he was trying too hard, suddenly. And why? Alfred had already agreed not to see her again. Perhaps Ari Fisk didn't believe that he would keep his word, but if he'd made the promise in bad faith, some menacing words on his way out of the door wouldn't have been enough to spook Alfred into changing his intentions.
Replacing the cap on the dittany and setting it down on the nearby shelf, Alfred said in a clipped tone, "I came here to see one of my men, and I intend to do that. I'll find someone else to show me Mr. Parker's room. I wouldn't want to take any more of your time."
He couldn't undo anything that had already taken place in the room, but after the way things had ended Alfred was a little disappointed that he'd spent this conversation apologizing and trying to explain himself. He was going to leave with as much dignity as he could. He wasn't making vague threats, and despite the reputation sailors had, he hadn't been the one to resort to violence. I may have made a mistake with your sister, he thought as he headed for the door, but I'm still a good Captain — and I would've done the right thing for her, whatever you think.

MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER
The threat rankled. For one thing, it was vaguely enough that it failed to be properly intimidating. After Fisk had just restored the room and offered him dittany, too, the whole concept of threatening Alfred just didn't seem to fit— it seemed like he was trying too hard, suddenly. And why? Alfred had already agreed not to see her again. Perhaps Ari Fisk didn't believe that he would keep his word, but if he'd made the promise in bad faith, some menacing words on his way out of the door wouldn't have been enough to spook Alfred into changing his intentions.
Replacing the cap on the dittany and setting it down on the nearby shelf, Alfred said in a clipped tone, "I came here to see one of my men, and I intend to do that. I'll find someone else to show me Mr. Parker's room. I wouldn't want to take any more of your time."
He couldn't undo anything that had already taken place in the room, but after the way things had ended Alfred was a little disappointed that he'd spent this conversation apologizing and trying to explain himself. He was going to leave with as much dignity as he could. He wasn't making vague threats, and despite the reputation sailors had, he hadn't been the one to resort to violence. I may have made a mistake with your sister, he thought as he headed for the door, but I'm still a good Captain — and I would've done the right thing for her, whatever you think.

MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER