Well, he hadn’t protested the thought of keeping it from Charity with some desire to fill their niece in on all the details, which was good. As was the fact that he had been observing the instructions and staying in his flat - how long did Alfred ever go without setting foot on his ship otherwise? (Evander scarcely dared imagine what might have happened to him if he’d not turned back to the English port and instead continued on his voyage with a cursed artifact aboard, though.)
He listened intently to the progress they were making on the curse, wishing he was more of an expert in curses, and could offer any kind of reliable advice. It was not the sort of thing that the Improper Use of Magic ever dealt with personally though, not practically; although if Evander got his hands on the perpetrators, justice would certainly be swift. In any case, for half a beat he had thought of making the suggestion of just sinking the damn ship, but there didn’t seem much sense in airing it, not when they would evidently consider that if and when it was an option, and if anyone said as much to Alfred he would prefer it not to be him. Something they said about not poking the bear, wasn’t it?
Besides, it sounded like those working on the case had a plan of action now. “Well, that’s a start, I’m sure.” Evander wasn’t sure how promising it sounded, not filtered through his brother’s tone which lacked an ounce of conviction - but it was a plan of action. And he trusted whoever the Ministry had appointed to be best served to carry it out. Only...
How to, ah, best phrase it? Dare he? Evander had been drumming his fingers lightly on the table until his consciousness caught the fidgeting and promptly stamped it out. Still, if Alfred had mentioned her first, it was as suitable a time as any, and the least contrived he would ever have to be about it. “Can I ask about... your, er, assocation with Miss Fisk?” He sounded out, shooting Alfred a meaningful look but feeling awkward about it all the same. Whatever was going on between them... he had largely preferred not to ruminate on it, but plainly there was something. Evander just didn’t know whether it would make her best or worst placed to be the one with Alfred’s fate resting in her hands - and, to be perfectly honest, he was fraught with worry either way.
He listened intently to the progress they were making on the curse, wishing he was more of an expert in curses, and could offer any kind of reliable advice. It was not the sort of thing that the Improper Use of Magic ever dealt with personally though, not practically; although if Evander got his hands on the perpetrators, justice would certainly be swift. In any case, for half a beat he had thought of making the suggestion of just sinking the damn ship, but there didn’t seem much sense in airing it, not when they would evidently consider that if and when it was an option, and if anyone said as much to Alfred he would prefer it not to be him. Something they said about not poking the bear, wasn’t it?
Besides, it sounded like those working on the case had a plan of action now. “Well, that’s a start, I’m sure.” Evander wasn’t sure how promising it sounded, not filtered through his brother’s tone which lacked an ounce of conviction - but it was a plan of action. And he trusted whoever the Ministry had appointed to be best served to carry it out. Only...
How to, ah, best phrase it? Dare he? Evander had been drumming his fingers lightly on the table until his consciousness caught the fidgeting and promptly stamped it out. Still, if Alfred had mentioned her first, it was as suitable a time as any, and the least contrived he would ever have to be about it. “Can I ask about... your, er, assocation with Miss Fisk?” He sounded out, shooting Alfred a meaningful look but feeling awkward about it all the same. Whatever was going on between them... he had largely preferred not to ruminate on it, but plainly there was something. Evander just didn’t know whether it would make her best or worst placed to be the one with Alfred’s fate resting in her hands - and, to be perfectly honest, he was fraught with worry either way.
