"I'm sorry." Penny answered immediately. She wasn't normally like this — she wasn't normally this dour and frustrated — she had just grown too frustrated with life recently to be able to put on her bubbly persona tonight. "I - I've been struggling with a lot recently." Years. She'd been struggling for years now, it felt like. Ever since Nemo had changed.

It wasn't his burden to carry though and she felt guilty for having allowed it to spill into their professional relationship.

Sighing, she then nodded and returned her teacup to the saucer. "I'll be in a better mood next time, I promise."

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"No need at all to be sorry, I get it." Of all people to understand struggling, Alvin thought he had that one covered. All of his struggles were public knowledge though, so he supposed people were a little more understanding. Whatever it was Penny was working through wasn't any of his business, but he could be sympathetic either way.

Moving to clean up the tea, Alvin did his best with his limited grip to wash the cup and saucer he'd used and set them aside to dry. "Hopefully I'll have more to work with next time." Ease the frustrations all around. "Do you mind if I take the broom with me?" Maybe he'd make Harrison test it out in the back garden. Harry was the least interested in such things, but he had grown up around quidditch and brooms like the rest of them. His mother would also be able to offer some insight, considering that was her job as well. This way too, maybe Penny wouldn't be able to fiddle with it and make herself even more frustrated by it.

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Penny stood and waved his cleaning efforts away. She would do it when he left, the mess was minimal anyway. Besides, Alvin hadn't even finished his cup of tea. Merlin, what an inhospitable hostess she'd been. "I'm sorry." Penny repeated, unable to stop the apology from tumbling out.

"Could I keep it for tonight? I'll owl it to you in the morning, if that's okay?" Penny had every intention of working on it until she collapsed from exhaustion. She could go over the list of charms herself and see what, if any, tweaks could be made to the broom itself. "I'll have it there first thing."

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"Don't apologize," Alvin repeated, this time a little bit more sternly. She had nothing to apologize for. It wasn't feasible for people to be in a good mood all of the time; it was unfair and unrealistic. He had a moody teenage sister once upon a time, he knew what it was like. He also knew what it was like to obsess over things and he knew that was what Penny was going to do.

"No, I think I'll take it with me." He decided, trying to keep a soft, but no-nonsense tone to it. "You need a break from it, I'm going to have my mother take a look at it, she works in the broom regulatory office. She's good with the charms." Alvin passed her what he hoped was an encouraging smile. Penny really did need a break from it. "Read a book, take a hot bath, anything other than brooms." He suggested, hoping she would cut herself some slack.

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"You can have it in the morning." Penny insisted, eyes narrowing at him. Their friendship was still too new — their professional relationship too uncertain — for her to feel comfortable with him dictating the flow of things. The broom was his design, yes, but Penny was the one who had spent hours working on it. Penny was the one who had supplied the materials and workspace. Alvin had no right to coddle her like that.

"Your mother can examine it tomorrow." She insisted again, this time a touch softer though no less determined.

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Alvin huffed out a sigh and nearly rolled his eyes at her. They were in the kitchen because she needed a break and now she was insisting she keep it. He was just trying to do what he could, since he couldn't do any of the manual labor. That was frustrating in and of itself, but now he was trying to navigate this partnership and failing apparently.

"Fine, whenever you're done with it." He scratched the back of his head again and shrugged. It was unlikely he was going to win this argument, he'd had plenty with Sloane in the past, to know when to try and back out gracefully, even if he had good intentions.

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"Fine." Penny huffed. She was relieved to not argue the point further and ruin the blossoming partnership they'd established thus far. "I'll have it to you in the morning. Good night."

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