Alfred didn’t sound convinced about Mr. Fisk, and by the sounds of it, he was probably right not to be. Just as Mr. Fisk was perfectly at liberty to have his reservations - Evander was Alfred’s own brother and heavens, he shared them - so it was, he was sorry to say, a little tempting to laugh. Or, indeed, to say those four triumphant words like the badge of honour they were: I told you so. If Alfred had only listened to him years ago, hmm?
“Yes, well,” Evander said noncommittally, telling himself that he ought to be the encouraging one rather than the bad guy for once, at least while Alfred had potential death looming over him to contend with already. “I can’t say I envy you if you do try to convince him otherwise -” He began with a sympathetic wince, privately sure that unless Alfred drastically altered the course of his life, his chances were not going to be much improved, but... his brother had already realised this, so no need to rub it in. “But you’re a Gryffindor, so I’m sure you’ll think of something.” (Shame Alfred was a Gryffindor, else he might recognise a lost cause when he saw one. Certainly anyone else would have had the self-preservation instincts to walk away.)
He couldn’t say he was sure his brother would believe his sincerity - he was not much of an actor - but Evander thought he had done an admirable job of keeping a straight face at this last: “Perhaps he’ll change his mind if he has the time to get to know you.”
“Yes, well,” Evander said noncommittally, telling himself that he ought to be the encouraging one rather than the bad guy for once, at least while Alfred had potential death looming over him to contend with already. “I can’t say I envy you if you do try to convince him otherwise -” He began with a sympathetic wince, privately sure that unless Alfred drastically altered the course of his life, his chances were not going to be much improved, but... his brother had already realised this, so no need to rub it in. “But you’re a Gryffindor, so I’m sure you’ll think of something.” (Shame Alfred was a Gryffindor, else he might recognise a lost cause when he saw one. Certainly anyone else would have had the self-preservation instincts to walk away.)
He couldn’t say he was sure his brother would believe his sincerity - he was not much of an actor - but Evander thought he had done an admirable job of keeping a straight face at this last: “Perhaps he’ll change his mind if he has the time to get to know you.”
