Whilst Ari didn't know precisely what he was asking for, himself, in answer - he knew full well nothing could be undone - he did feel a spark of relief that Darrow at least realised that too and was beginning to sound duly conciliatory about it. It was not, he supposed, the worst the conversation could possibly be going.
Or, well, it wasn't, for that brief moment, before Darrow stumbled over an admission that this wasn't him, or like him, or whatever (admittedly, he didn't outwardly seem like the type, hardly came across as a typical rake) and Ari realised, abruptly, that nothing the man said meant a thing. Whether he believed what he said or not, he was an adult - Julian's age, wasn't he? - a grown man, and Zelda had been an impressionable nineteen-year-old girl, so there was no worthy excuse he could drum up that would negate the fact that he was still the one responsible.
And how could he trust that any of this was the truth?
"Oh, so do you mean to tell me you haven't seen her again since?" Ari growled, full of accusation, because rumours did not spring up from nowhere. Perhaps they were right, if their meeting had been so public that word had spread to Hogsmeade, that it was work-related, but the public did not know what Ari knew (what Ari had been forced, quite against his own will, to find out). No, it was almost too much of a coincidence. He would have expected better from Zelda, but - well, he didn't know what to expect anymore. Maybe she had only ended things with him, and Mr. - Captain - Darrow would have one good thing to say to him presently.
Or, well, it wasn't, for that brief moment, before Darrow stumbled over an admission that this wasn't him, or like him, or whatever (admittedly, he didn't outwardly seem like the type, hardly came across as a typical rake) and Ari realised, abruptly, that nothing the man said meant a thing. Whether he believed what he said or not, he was an adult - Julian's age, wasn't he? - a grown man, and Zelda had been an impressionable nineteen-year-old girl, so there was no worthy excuse he could drum up that would negate the fact that he was still the one responsible.
And how could he trust that any of this was the truth?
"Oh, so do you mean to tell me you haven't seen her again since?" Ari growled, full of accusation, because rumours did not spring up from nowhere. Perhaps they were right, if their meeting had been so public that word had spread to Hogsmeade, that it was work-related, but the public did not know what Ari knew (what Ari had been forced, quite against his own will, to find out). No, it was almost too much of a coincidence. He would have expected better from Zelda, but - well, he didn't know what to expect anymore. Maybe she had only ended things with him, and Mr. - Captain - Darrow would have one good thing to say to him presently.
