He let out a heavy sigh, then rose to pour each of them a glass of brandy. He levitated the glasses to their respective coasters—his impediment did not allow him to carry both comfortably at once—before returning to his seat. Aldous ignored his glass, though, instead asking the question he had been actively not asking since he and Reuben had left Irvingly.

"Why the change of heart?" He did his best to look the part of 'you can tell me anything' big brother, but could not quite keep a faint edge of skepticism from his voice.