Perhaps they were more similar than he'd thought—four siblings, all who were younger, the only difference being their genders. He took a mental note of the two younger sisters, although pending Tatiana's response to his proposal it might have been out of habit more than anything. He would need to be married eventually, and if not to an alluring woman than to a respectable one.
"My condolences. I didn't know it was so recently," he said, more out of politeness than out of a genuine caring. So many people died every day—family members, family friends, patients. He'd accepted death as an inevitability, and it was much sadder to muster true empathy hearing about the death of a father than it was hearing about the death of a brother or a son. "I have four siblings also." He grinned behind his glass as he took another ship. "All four are brothers, though. One still at Hogwarts and the other right out of it. My brother Yarrow—" It did not dawn upon him until that moment, but it Greengrass looked like he could have been around Yarow's age, maybe a tad older. "—works at the Ministry, and Agrimony is... well, whatever Agrimony does." He did not mention Betony; talking about him or his death was not something Valerian enjoyed doing with those closest to him, let alone a near stranger. Neither did he mention Tatiana; it was best to stop referring to her as a member of their household and more in spousal capacity now that his proposal was up in the air.
"My condolences. I didn't know it was so recently," he said, more out of politeness than out of a genuine caring. So many people died every day—family members, family friends, patients. He'd accepted death as an inevitability, and it was much sadder to muster true empathy hearing about the death of a father than it was hearing about the death of a brother or a son. "I have four siblings also." He grinned behind his glass as he took another ship. "All four are brothers, though. One still at Hogwarts and the other right out of it. My brother Yarrow—" It did not dawn upon him until that moment, but it Greengrass looked like he could have been around Yarow's age, maybe a tad older. "—works at the Ministry, and Agrimony is... well, whatever Agrimony does." He did not mention Betony; talking about him or his death was not something Valerian enjoyed doing with those closest to him, let alone a near stranger. Neither did he mention Tatiana; it was best to stop referring to her as a member of their household and more in spousal capacity now that his proposal was up in the air.
