Alvin rather thought he would be useless at a discussion about the season, so was somewhat relieved when Miss Thompsett seemed more apt to talk about broom designs. Judging by her dismissal of the subject, Alvin also got the impression she didn't really want to talk about her debut either.

"It's not much. An contact in the business has reached out," and Alvin was still sort of pushing Miss Fawcett off gently because he didn't know exactly what to do. Most broommakers worked solo, didn't often partner up, so he wasn't sure how a collaboration would truly look. It felt different than apprenticing, somehow, though he supposed it really wasn't. When he'd still been learning it was making someone else's designs, which he supposed was what would ultimately happen if he and Miss Fawcett could make something work. "I've been working on some sketches in my spare time," which he had more of than he liked, but even now that Wally was doing better, Alvin found himself trying to spend as much time making sure everyone else in his family was doing alright.

It was a strange sort of guilt that kept him from accepting the invitation from Miss Fawcett, seeing how both Sloane and Wally had their futures ripped out from underneath them. He too, had lost his, but due to his own stupidity; it felt wildly different. Or at least he'd lost the full realization of what he thought his future would look like. To be involved again in any capacity felt unfair somehow. "I haven't decided what to do about it yet." He admitted, thinking the truth was probably the easiest route to tread.