Gus settled as he felt the hand against his back and the house elf had directions on what to do; he loved the elf and had since he was a child, but now was not the time for asking him anything. At least the creature didn’t look at him for direction after having his question answered, and waltzed off without a second glance back to them. He hated working out all these details – he didn’t care. He didn’t care where the red flowers went or if the mantles had flowers on it. He didn’t care what shade of black the crape for the décor was. The staff could do anything they wanted design wise and Gus would approve it.
Turning his attention toward Basil then, Gus wanted nothing more than to sink into him, forever grateful that he’d taken the time to be here by his side, always lingering just within reach whenever the redhead needed him for comfort. He felt a sense of longing for his touch when it was gone altogether, even if it made sense to him to not let his hands linger lest someone walked in, although he did manage a small nod. “Okay.” Because he was ready to go home and continue on with his life like nothing had happened. Maybe if he ignored it he wouldn’t have to think about it.
He couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of tea; Gus wasn’t a huge tea drinker but whenever Basil offered he didn’t seem to be able to turn down. “I’m sure we can ask Miranda to bring us a kettle.” He mused, because while she was losing her job as the Lissington maid, she at least was willing to help with the funeral preparations. Then he turned toward the doorway she’d just walked through, albeit lingering when he felt the hand against his arm. The contact was nice; it was grounding. His eyes softened as he glanced back to smile fondly at Basil. Then the sound of roaring fire behind him nearly made him jump. Gus sucked in a breath because that could only mean one thing –
And as he turned around he instantly saw his little sister, Fig ducking out of the fireplace, dressed in black with the look of sorrow etched across her face, although as her gaze toward him, a look of stupor replaced it. “Sorry we’re late. We got a little hung up...” She murmured as she stepped forward, keeping her eyes trained on Basil standing beside him. “I didn’t expect you to be here.” She wasn't angry, just... shocked.
It took a moment for the word we to register, but it occurred to Gus that Fig was married, and had been for quite a few years now. He just hadn’t met the man yet. “You’re here now.” He muttered in response, but her eyes only narrowed at the brunette. She frowned as she stood in front of Basil before she turned a questioning gaze toward her brother; Gus stepped forward, out of the reach of Basil to pull her into a hug. He buried his face into her hair and she wrapped her around his waist, although her head shot up, eyes wide at the sound of the someone else flooing in behind her. She stepped back from Gus and whirled around to tell Edmund what – ?
The jig was up, it seemed.
Turning his attention toward Basil then, Gus wanted nothing more than to sink into him, forever grateful that he’d taken the time to be here by his side, always lingering just within reach whenever the redhead needed him for comfort. He felt a sense of longing for his touch when it was gone altogether, even if it made sense to him to not let his hands linger lest someone walked in, although he did manage a small nod. “Okay.” Because he was ready to go home and continue on with his life like nothing had happened. Maybe if he ignored it he wouldn’t have to think about it.
He couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of tea; Gus wasn’t a huge tea drinker but whenever Basil offered he didn’t seem to be able to turn down. “I’m sure we can ask Miranda to bring us a kettle.” He mused, because while she was losing her job as the Lissington maid, she at least was willing to help with the funeral preparations. Then he turned toward the doorway she’d just walked through, albeit lingering when he felt the hand against his arm. The contact was nice; it was grounding. His eyes softened as he glanced back to smile fondly at Basil. Then the sound of roaring fire behind him nearly made him jump. Gus sucked in a breath because that could only mean one thing –
And as he turned around he instantly saw his little sister, Fig ducking out of the fireplace, dressed in black with the look of sorrow etched across her face, although as her gaze toward him, a look of stupor replaced it. “Sorry we’re late. We got a little hung up...” She murmured as she stepped forward, keeping her eyes trained on Basil standing beside him. “I didn’t expect you to be here.” She wasn't angry, just... shocked.
It took a moment for the word we to register, but it occurred to Gus that Fig was married, and had been for quite a few years now. He just hadn’t met the man yet. “You’re here now.” He muttered in response, but her eyes only narrowed at the brunette. She frowned as she stood in front of Basil before she turned a questioning gaze toward her brother; Gus stepped forward, out of the reach of Basil to pull her into a hug. He buried his face into her hair and she wrapped her around his waist, although her head shot up, eyes wide at the sound of the someone else flooing in behind her. She stepped back from Gus and whirled around to tell Edmund what – ?
The jig was up, it seemed.
![[Image: UkiVTG8.png]](https://i.imgur.com/UkiVTG8.png)