December 10th, 1888 — High Street

Everett hated shopping, and he usually limited his time doing so by as much as he could. Unfortunately some thing could not be avoided, and Christmas shopping was one of those things. While he had refused Ives' many, many invitations to come spend the Christmas with him and his family, he still needed to buy presents for them. No-one could say Everett wasn't a doting uncle, and he'd saved up a bit just so he could get his niece a nice present. Of course he'd also gotten something for his brother and his wife, and something for his mother.

Figuring out what an 11 year old girl would want for Christmas had been a bit more challenging, but he'd settled on a new dress that he hoped she would like and a book of useful hexes. Erika had a vicious streak to match her uncle, and maybe he should feel bad about encouraging it but he saw it as revenge on his little brother. He was absolutely sure Ives was not done pestering him about visiting for Christmas.

At least he was done for the day, and the weather hadn't been too terrible. It was bitingly cold, but at least the skies were clear, and the sun was making the snow and ice shimmer in a way that could almost convince him to dislike winter less. He'd been walking down the High Street, several bags in his hands when he felt his foot slip on the treacherous ice underneath. For a moment he was airborne before crashing down heavily, bags and their contents spilling out, as he let out a surprised yelp. The yelp soon became a pained grown as the back of his head met the cobbled stones with a painful crack. For a moment he laid there, head spinning as he could nothing but blink up at the sky in bewilderment.

  

Christmas had a new meaning since Josephine's passing, and try as he might to weasel out of family obligations to mope about his empty study, Thaddeus was never so lucky. It was even harder, perhaps, because his siblings insisted on inviting him to their holiday functions, and nothing sounded more boring than being trapped in a multi-course dinner with his stodgy elder brothers and their hellion children.

A sharp object to the eye would be more pleasant, Thaddeus groused silently, already dreading the fact that they would try to matchmake them to some fresh-faced debutante. If not now, then soon -- his mother was a horrible old biddy, and Thaddeus knew it was only a matter of time...

Perhaps it isn't too late to wall myself in for the holiday season... Claim sickness, perhaps? It was in the midst of his plotting that a yelp broke through Thaddeus's reverie. When he saw the collapsed gentlemen, he rushed right over, dropping his own paper-wrapped parcels beside the fallen figure. "Merlin's beard, are you quite alright?" Thaddeus frowned down at Everett, blue eyes flicking inscrutably over his shabbier clothing and lingering for a second on the thin scar that bisected his upper lip.

Shaking his head, he extended a gloved hand down to Everett, offering a hand up. "You'll be lucky if you didn't crack anything," Thaddeus pointed out, expression pinched with concern. "I ought to take you to Hogsmeade Hospital, just in case."

  

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Perhaps he should have felt grateful that someone came to his assistance, but all Everett felt was embarrassment that someone had seen his undignified fall. At least the stranger seemed concerned rather than amused, as if that helped his wounded pride any. Still, he accepted the hand held out, grasping it with his own and slowly climbing to his feet, ignoring the pounding pain in his head.

"I'm quite fine, thank you." He was quick to reply, forcing his lips into a thin smile. The last thing he wanted was to visit the hospital. He'd never voluntarily set a foot inside the Hogsmeade Hospital and he had no plans to do so now. "I appreciate your concern, bu-".

Whatever he'd been about to say was interrupted as he let out a low pained hiss as he tried to put weight on his right leg. Pressing his lips tightly together he took a deep breath through his nose and tried to ignore the pain as he straightened up so he could at least be afforded the dignity of standing on his own two feet. As soon as he did so the leg buckled underneath him, unable to bear his weight.

  

It still felt odd to touch someone else after so long of being alone. The firm pressure of flesh and sinew had a grounding effect, and absence of this stranger's hand in his almost made Thaddeus regret letting go. The sudden, sharp reminder of the pleasure of human contact was all too present, and try as he might to push the sudden ache of loneliness aside, he couldn't quite manage. He could pretend that he hated people all he wanted, but there were some baser needs that he couldn't just wish away.

He observed Everett like he would a newly acquired collection piece, looking for meaning in the other's minute expressions like he could piece together a puzzle. It was clear that the other gentleman was not entirely fine, no matter what he said, and Thaddeus frowned at him in disapproval.

He had just opened his mouth to say that lying was not always the best course of action when the other man's leg buckled, and Thaddeus was too distracted to point out that he had been right. He moved instinctively, grabbing Everett by the forearm to try to forestall a second fall and bracing himself to bear the sudden weight.

"What were you saying about my concern being appreciated?" Thaddeus remarked sharply, rolling his eyes outright in unrestrained annoyance. "Permit me to continue being concerned, at least until I know you can walk properly."

  

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