Two Households, Both Alike in Dignity...

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

There were very few times Nicholas Lannsman ever wore only black. There were fewer times he carried no weapon. Upon hearing word of Orynn's misfortune, he figured now would be as good a time as any to try and bury the hatchet.

He knew all too well what it was like to lose a father.

And so, as gently as possible, Nicholas knocked on Orynn's door. He tried to make his stance as unimposing and passive as possible, though difficult it may have been for a man his height and build.

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn took a deep breath, and then exhaled. He kept having to repeat those steps, to keep himself level headed and within the present moment. He stared down at the head of his cane, which he twirled in his hand. He wore a thick black sweater which had a long pointed collar at the neck, and points at the wrists as well. The sweater did not button, but instead was cut in a small v. Under the sweater was a black tee of much thinner material.

Imprinted, apparently by magic, on the rim of the collar and sleeves were white symbols. Runes perhaps, but there were many in what looked like four different rows. The writing was also very tiny, and therefore almost impossible to tell what it was, or said, unless one held the garment to their nose. Orynn also had on some regular black pants, held up by a leather belt which had upon it the same writing as was on his sweater.

All of this done in preparation for a funeral that was being held in the next couple of hours. Orynn sat down, elbows upon his knees as he continued to stared intently at the head of his cane. His sister had left to make preparations for the burial of their father, she had left him to his own thoughts. How little she still knew him.

Orynn would have normally recognized the knock at his door, but his mind of elsewhere. His eyes seemed unblinking as he raised his cane, his wand hidden within, towards the door to. The knob turned on it's own to admit entrance of whomever was on the other side. Still he twirled the cane, three times to the left, then once to the right.

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

The door opened on it's own volition. Taking a deep breath, Nicholas slowly and carefully, if not even timidly, into Orynn's office. He looked to find the Deputy and tilted his head somewhat to try and get eye contact. His voice was quiet and sympathetic as he spoke.

"Um, Orynn, I know you're busy at the moment...I was...I wanted to offer my condolences." Nicholas' gaze faltered slightly before he added "I know it mustn't be easy for you."

[Orynn Novim]

The spinning stopped, and Orynn's eyes closed. He took another deep breath before reopening them turning to look sideways at the man who had entered. His eyes seemed paler than usual, and the usual menace and presence that was forcefully present behind those eyes was no longer there. The eyes were not penetrating, or piercing as they were every other day, instead they looked void, as if there was no mind behind them.

"Condolences..." Orynn whispered. He stood up and kept looking at Nicholas, as he walked with his cane to the fire place within the room opposite the door. The cane was in Orynn's hand, and it thudded against the wood floor every second step.

Eventually, Orynn's gaze faltered, and instead fell into the fireplace. With one hand, Orynn raised the cane off the ground, and hit it hard against the ground. The fire sparked, and soon crackled to life, emanating some little warmth.


"Easy..." The man whispered again, more to himself than to anyone else. Orynn had barely even acknowledged that Nicholas had entered his office, or that he had even spoke to him.

Orynn raised the cane, and placed it on the stone panel above the fireplace. There was a large mirror placed above it, in which Orynn could be seen from where Nicholas was standing. Orynn held his hands together behind his back, as he stared into the flames of the fire.

"The funeral... today." Orynn said in the same tone as before. It was as if he were reminding himself of something he already knew, only too well.

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

Nicholas watched Orynn go about his business, if not more unusually than possible. For a moment, Nicholas felt a pang of sorrow for the man and didn't much mind to push it back. Orynn was another person, a colleague. A little hard to get along with but still, a knight's duty propelled him.

Now he realized it was more than just duty, but genuine sympathy.

"I didn't know it was later today. If you want, I can leave you be and simply talk to you later...after you've had some time. I can understand if...I would understand completely if you'd rather be alone." he said gently, trying not to provoke Orynn, but simply to convey his comprehension of the situation. He started to move somwehat towards the door.

[Orynn Novim]

The words washed over the deputy like air over a canyon. They were heard, but were barely listened to. One thing did provoke him to start speaking, but it was difficult. He tried again to summon his voice, but his body resisted almost, as if it could not bare to speak the words Orynn intended to say.

But it needed to be done, they needed to be said. If only so that he could hear himself say it, and then abide by it.

"I... I... I'm not going." Orynn's mouth and throat were parch try, he swallowed hard as he found it a bit difficult to breathe now.

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

Shock ripped through Nicholas like a bullet. He stood stock still for a few moments, unable to comprehend why Orynn would have said those words. He was just hearing things. There's no way...

Looking to Orynn, he realized he'd heard correctly.

"What?"

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn was still as ice, cold and expressionless, even the fire he'd made seemed to dim down rapidly. Again the question that was asked to him could've been from anyone, from anywhere on the planet. The sense of disbelief behind it was not heeded, it was missed and instead Orynn received the question for what it was at face value. He thought he wasn't understood.

The Deputy raised his hands to brace himself on the stone ledge above the fire place, he leaned forward, and stared into the face of his reflect. Still his face did not look convincing, it did not glare, and it did not command respect and obedience like it did usually. The words that escaped his mouth were on the brink of desperation, as if they were meant to try and convince himself of his own decision.

"I... will not be attending... the funeral."

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

Nicholas frowned slightly. "Orynn, I know it isn't my place...but despite...I don't know what your family life was like, but even if there were hard times...What I'm trying to say is you won't get another opportunity to see him. Even if it's for closure, even if you're angry at him...at least you can say goodbye." he said, trying to persuade Orynn. He knew whatever he was saying wouldn't matter. Orynn listened only to himself and never let things affect him, or anyone.

Still, Nicholas knew the gravity of the mistake he was making. He'd almost done it himself. "I'm not here to tell you what to do...it's just...I've been in your shoes and I know what it's like."

[Orynn Novim]

Orynn turned, his head and then his body so that he was now looking into the eyes and face of the Head of Gryffindor House. Some moments passed, as Orynn still wore his blank and empty stare.

Then, some slight color returned to him, and his eyes and eyebrows twitched with life again. It was faint, but Orynn looked like he'd found something to cling onto again. Something to distract his mind and thoughts from his father, and the events of today. When Orynn spoke, it was calm and unhesitant.

"Yes Sir Knight, I thought you'd come." Orynn raised his hands, placed them on his resting cane to pull out his wand within. He turned back around a twirled it at the door, it shut closed behind the Knight and audibly locked. Orynn then placed his wand back down next to his cane before continuing to speak. "In my shoes you say." Orynn walked slowly to behind his desk. "I'd say you were utterly wrong on that point Sir, but what do I know...."

Orynn sat down on his chair, and opened up one of the drawers. He removed what looked to be a large glass of... Eggnog? With it Orynn removed two mugs, and he filled them both halfway. Moving one to the other side of his desk, within arms reach of anyone who would sit in the chair placed there. Orynn looked to the man who was still standing, and made a motion to the chair.

"Please, do sit and indulge me." Orynn was thankful for the distraction, and therefore did not speak threateningly or harshly as he normally did when speaking to Nicholas.

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

Okay, here we go.

Nicholas took some steps forward and slowly, hesitantly took to the chair. He didn't like where this was going; that same little sensation nagged in the back of his mind, itching his arms.

"I'm sorry, but I'm fasting today." he said, sounding almost apologetic as he slipped the cup forward somewhat. He knew he was on thin ice and didn't want to upset Orynn, or let the man sink some venomous remarks about his reasons being here. "Look, I didn't mean exactly in your shoes Orynn, but the situation I meant was about a deceased Father. Our relationships with those men were completely different, so please don't assume I'm comparing your life to mine. The even that is taking place though remains the same and still holds some significance. I don't want to force you to go. I just wanted to see if I could do anything to help you. If you want me to go, say so now and I won't interrupt whatever it is you're going through. I meant no disrespect. I meant quite the opposite."

By the softened features on his face, Orynn could plainly see that for once Nicholas was reaching out to Orynn with an opened hand and not a clenched fist. Why else would he be fasting, or wearing black and even coming in completely weaponless.

[Orynn Novim]

All this talk of death, or responsibility, and wanting to help gave Orynn the sensation of worms crawling through his skin. He drank the rum-based Eggnog in three gulps, and grimaced as he sighed and placed the mug back on the table. He resisted the urge to wave Nicholas's sentiments away in his usual rude manner. He needed the knight here, to distract him from his own thoughts, but Nicholas was forcing him to think about what he so desperately did not want to dwell on.

Normally, Orynn would cackle gleefully at the way Nicholas was trying to be so carefully considerate. But that's not what the Deputy wanted right now, he wanted to butt heads with the knight, wanted to spurn him into anger. He grabbed Nicholas's mug and downed the drink.

"Ack!" Orynn exclaimed as he finished. "Please Nicholas, spare me. You console me because you wish to make this endeavor easier for me, as it must in all relevant ways be identical to your own experience with your father's death. It is not." Orynn was stern now, as he looked into the Professor's visage.

"Your father was a great man in the eyes of many witches and wizards. Most of which had the relevant criteria to make such a judgment. I behoove you, to trust me when I say that my father was no such man. I would never have done for my father what you are accused of doing in the name of yours, and neither would you." There was a extremely faint tone of admiration in Orynn's voice, the kind of thing that was only noticeable because of it's years in absence. Orynn didn't even seem to realize it was there himself.

Orynn didn't expect Nicholas to understand. One's pain was not translatable to another, especially between these two men. No matter how similar the circumstances were when the pains were born.

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

Nicholas sighed and looked to Orynn with unmistakable pity.

"If that is the case Orynn, I'll leave you be. I can say nothing short that I really do feel sorry for the loss of your father. Not because of the fact that he is dead, but that he wasn't important or good enough to have earned your love or respect. If you have the sense enough to try and make me dance to your tune, to try and upset me, you've failed. I can only feel sorry for you." Nicholas said, sounding actually disheartened by the situation. "If you'll excuse me, would you be so kind as to unlock the door? I'll leave you to your...however it is you're really feeling."

[Orynn Novim]

No! Orynn screamed inside his own head. The rope that he'd been holding onto had suddenly whipped out of his grasp, and now a barrier stood to block his escape. What was worse; it was a wall of pity, and pity was not something that could be fought.

Now the man that had provided him with distractions from his own mind was now asking to leave; another wall. Orynn was trying to run away, but it seemed as if no one would let him. He strained to keep his emotions from spilling over, as he rubbed his temple with his hand as he tried to think up a response to Nicholas's request.

Orynn hesitated for a moment and then he got up. Walked slowly towards the fire place, and placed his fingers onto his wand. He moved the wand, and unlocked the door, and left the wand where it currently lay. Now Orynn moved to block the exit, it was not menacing or a hostile stance, in fact Orynn looked quite feeble as he looked down at his feet and rubbed his hands together. He swallowed, and the action made his still dry throat ache.

"You may go, but I-I ask that you s-stay, please." Orynn cleared his throat again several time. "Please, I need... I-I would very much like the dist-traction." Orynn felt like his insides were twisting into a knot, causing him what felt like physical pain. He also felt as if he was mocking himself, some part of him was viewing this scene with distaste and would spit on Orynn if it could.

Orynn knew the knight had little to no reason to remain, and he would probably depart even after hearing Orynn's plea. If he'd even heard it, for even the Deputy wasn't sure of the words that had come out of his own mouth. Either that, or he just wasn't ready to admit it.

Orynn was running away from whatever it was he was truly feeling, it was always what Orynn had done best. More than books, more than study, maybe even more than sorcery. Now, however, he was falling down a pit, trying to grasp onto ropes thrown down to him but they would not remain in his hand. He feared very much what would happen to him if he fell down all the way, nothing terrified him more.

[Nicholas Gawain Lannsman]

Nicholas stood and was very much ready to walk out the door, past the pitiful figure blocking it, or attempting to anyway. It wasn't until he heard Orynn's plea that he stopped.

It's probably just some other trap of his. It's despicable that even now he'd try to do this.

He paused and looked to Orynn, unsure of what to do.

"And I'm not here to be one. I didn't come here with the intention of being your verbal punching bag or for you to play your childish games of trying to rile me or insult me. I only came here with the best intentions, to try and help you through it and give you advice. You didn't want to hear it before and instead pushed it aside. Why should I stay now? You've made it clear that you don't want anything I have to say." Nicholas said. He was calm, speaking matter-of-factly, without a hint of anger. Maybe some disbelief and the slightest irritation, but even that was hidden under a layer of pity.