For Stephen Maturin, the Ravenclaw common room had become something akin to the club to which he belonged in London, Black's. Certainly he could dine or drink or discuss science elsewhere, all manner of elsewheres, if he had a mind; but the common room was likely and easy to access, and so it became something of a haunt. A sheaf of notes for the next potions class in hand, Stephen had begun to advance toward the bar for his habitual coffee when he recognised the small blond personage sitting there holding a bottle. It was not a smallish (adult) woman, after all; it was Dominic de Winter, whom he recalled from the boy's Sorting, and had liked a good deal.
Midshipmen of Dominic's age could and would fight and die for their country, in the Royal Navy of Stephen's day. That did not mean Stephen thought any more highly of the custom of allowing them a full grog ration. Much less did he think it advisable for Dominic to partake of alcohol that was, unlike grog, neither diluted with water nor dosed with antiscorbutics.
"Mr de Winter," he said, not unkindly, "may I ask what you think you are about?"
"Is that what you have there? Yes, then that would be the activity to which I refer," said Stephen dryly. "I had not thought you the kind of boy who might find it desirable to pickle his internal organs before his time."
He really had no idea how highly Dominic thought of him, and might (possibly, maybe) have tempered his words had he known; but this was Stephen, and this was how he would have spoken to little Blakeney, or any of the other midshipmen had he found them debauching themselves with drink.
"In fact, I would wager good money that this is no habit of yours. What brings you to this pass, Mr de Winter?"
'I think I'm entitled to it. I just found out that 'Dave' is actually Brice, my brother, who was stabbed and killed in a knife fight when I was three. And he's an angel--to make matters worse, a former Fallen one, who messed with my memories so I had no idea.'
Dom grimaces and swallows another gulp. 'And I'm not sure what to do. I can handle my alcohol, sir; I'm not going to get drunk and go around smashing windows. I've been drinking wine at meals since I was about six. It is, after all, what civilised people do.'
"I am well acquainted with the habits of civilised people," mildly answered the man who was, after all, don Esteban Maturin y Domanova when he was at home. In his castle in Spain.
"You will observe, however, that what you are drinking is not precisely a table wine." As he spoke, he was retrieving his coffee, and poured a second cup for Dominic. Why not give children coffee? It was the nectar of the gods and infinitely healthful. Had Stephen any coca leaves on hand, it was not inconceivable he might have shared them as well. He pushed the second cup toward the boy before crossing to the other side of the bar with his own cup and, uninvited, taking a seat near the one occupied by the distressed Mr de Winter.
"From what you say, you have just endured a severe emotional shock. I can understand the appeal of strong drink in this circumstance. You are to consider that less toxic and more efficacious remedies exist. In future, when you learn of more brothers who have been stabbed in knife fights and have become agents of Heaven or Hell, you may come to me and ask for a Calming Draught."
'I'm willing to bet not with this type,' Dom mutters, but shakes his head at the coffee. 'I'm having water after this. No more magic--not today, not soon. And a lot of the time, the wine...'
He hesitates. How to explain that a lot of the wine was about as alcoholic as it could get, to loosen tongues?
'If I discover any more secrets of my family, I'll contemplate a Calming Draught,' he mutters. 'But til then...the lager.'
*warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*estebanmdNovember 25 2006, 20:52:03 UTC
Stephen shrugged. "It will not do you any good, and you would be far better served by a Calming Draught, or even by unadorned reflection and prayer." As a professor at Hogwarts, he would be well within the scope of his authority to command that Dominic hand over the lager, with point deduction or even detention to enforce compliance. It did not seem to him the best course of action in this case. The boy would drink little if Stephen kept him talking, and it might be that he would cease to feel the drink a necessity once he said what needed saying. Casually he cast a ward about the two of them so that they might not be overheard. If worse came to worst, and the boy drank entirely too much, at least it might be a comfort to know his drunken ravings had gone unheard by the general population.
"The secret you have already discovered sounds to me quite sufficient on its own," Stephen said, once the ward had been completed. "You came here in search of a friend, and found instead a brother, one who had suffered a violent death. Further, he had tampered with your memory -- " here Stephen frowned, unconsciously. Matters of memory hit close to home for him at present.
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*whitesheep_dwNovember 25 2006, 20:57:22 UTC
'--and my Mother never told me he existed,' Dom finishes glumly. He looks up. 'What's the matter?'
I didn't want anymore magic, he thinks crossly, but doesn't say anything. 'Alcohol can't solve my problems, but I won't have to think about them properly til tomorrow, then I can talk to his girlfriend--who he stalked, as if that wasn't enough--get some answers from her, see if I should stay.'
'There are always more secrets with the de Winters. Always.'
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*estebanmdNovember 25 2006, 23:12:15 UTC
Stephen listened to the fragmented explanation, sympathetic to the misery weighting the boy's words. He sifted among the data Dominic presented: the de Winters were a secretive family; Dominic's brother was unscrupulous; Dominic's brother and the mistress of said brother were both present at Hogwarts.
"Why have you sought drink now, and plan to seek your brother's lady friend on the morrow? Surely she has the answers you seek already."
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*whitesheep_dwNovember 25 2006, 23:19:20 UTC
'Because I wouldn't know what to say. I'd probably gape like a fish,' Dom says, illustrating this with means of a head movement, 'and end up crying all over her for saving Time. It's better I go and see her when I've sorted out what to say. I mean, a part of that is going to be about when she saved Time--part about Brice--I'm going to have to ask her, because I doubt she ever fell from grace for a sibling. She would probably have an idea of the guilt that sibling feels.'
Dom taps the bar with a finger.
'He didn't say so, but I can tell. In his role as a Hell agent, he killed innocent people. For me. I can't possibly deal with that all in one go.'
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*estebanmdNovember 25 2006, 23:38:02 UTC
Hell agent? In evaluating Dominic's words thus far, Stephen had placed rather less emphasis on the entire 'fallen angel' aspect of the situation than was perhaps wisest. The boy's evident distress seemed to Stephen likeliest caused by the trauma of finding he had a brother whom he had not known about, and a dead one at that.
Stephen knew more about the ethical grey areas of being an 'agent' than he could or would ever tell Dominic, though he had never been an agent for powers celestial or demonic, granted. Still, he had never entrusted knowledge of that part of his life to a family member or to a lover, or anyone not involved with the business to some extent themselves. Jack Aubrey had to know about it because Jack's ships often carried Stephen on important missions, otherwise Aubrey too would have been kept in the dark. Suddenly he had more sympathy for Dominic's unscrupulous brother than he would have expected.
"Mr de Winter, I know little of Heaven or Hell, save what my faith teaches, and there is nothing in it of such powers as angels who may fall and go back again. I will say, though, that in my years I have found 'innocence' a concept less absolute than I would have believed at your age. What your brother has done, he has had his reasons for doing, no doubt. Whether you can tolerate it or agree with those reasons remains to be seen, and it is in this that your brother's friend may be able to assist you." The 'saving Time' notion Stephen left untouched for the present.
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*whitesheep_dwNovember 25 2006, 23:44:54 UTC
'I'm not sure how I ought to feel,' Dom says slowly, putting the bottle down. 'On one hand, people are dead. On the other, he did it for me, and hated it. You have to understand--the de Winters don't care about anything but themselves. No, that's not true--they care about the name and themselves as an individual. Everyone else can go hang.
'My father was a scientist,' he suddenly bursts out. 'He had the theory for time-travel. The de Winters married him off to my mother to keep him keen. When Dad got edgy about what they were doing, they got rid of him. Told me he'd died. I had to find out the truth by myself. Nobody cares about you unless you can benefit the name de Winter. But Brice did.'
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*estebanmdNovember 26 2006, 00:25:10 UTC
It did not escape Stephen that Dominic had set the bottle down. Not wanting to call any attention to it lest the boy take up the bottle again out of stubbornness, he did not signal his approval, or even his awareness. He merely drank his own coffee and listened.
"Your time-travel device, then, is a legacy from your true father, who was not a de Winter," he summarised, to be sure he had understood correctly. The name Brice registered, and he realised Dominic's brother must be the suspicious young man whom Stephen had overheard speaking to Melanie Beeby in the library. No outward sign showed this gave him any pause at all; he continued. "Your brother cared for you deeply, and did things for your sake that you find troubling, including the very violation of your memories so that you might not be troubled by those things or his death." At least, your brother claims to have done these things out of love for you.
"It must come as a shock, to be sure; but is there really much in it to occasion true confusion? You and your brother both sound to have rejected the de Winter heritage, as it is truly none of yours. What remains to trouble you? You cannot properly sift and weigh another man's ethical choices. You have every right to anger at the modification of your mind; I see no ground for confusion there, either. What you need is not clarification, but time."
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*whitesheep_dwNovember 26 2006, 00:29:52 UTC
'You think I'm acting like a kid.'
It's a statement.
'I am. When I'm upset normally, I--throw myself into work. But...there is no place to do it here. I had planned experiments...but I don't want to ask for DNA from D--Brice.'
'Angel DNA. Maybe that's why it worked so quickly.'
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*estebanmdNovember 26 2006, 00:39:33 UTC
Stephen thought. Well, why not? Not that the muns talked about this already, or anything
"In point of fact, Mr de Winter, I find myself in need of an assistant. My laboratory work cannot well be done alone" and my former assistant was also my mistress, who cannot very well continue to work there now that my wife has been resurrected from the dead? That would best go undiscussed with the de Winter boy.
"If you indeed find yourself in need of scientific occupation, perhaps we can help one another in this respect."
The unspoken implication was that Stephen did not think Dominic was 'acting like a kid' at all, and thought highly enough of him to offer him access to the laboratory -- supervised access, of course; there was no way in hell, whether it be Stephen's hell or Brice's, that anyone would be using that lab or accessing its supplies without Stephen's oversight and approval.
Re: *warded/screened for the delinquent and the doctor*whitesheep_dwNovember 26 2006, 00:42:41 UTC
'Are you kidding?' Dom breathes, eyes glittering. 'What type of work do you do? Up to what time period are you using notes from? I'd be happy just taking notes, to be honest...there's a distinct lack of classes here.'
Midshipmen of Dominic's age could and would fight and die for their country, in the Royal Navy of Stephen's day. That did not mean Stephen thought any more highly of the custom of allowing them a full grog ration. Much less did he think it advisable for Dominic to partake of alcohol that was, unlike grog, neither diluted with water nor dosed with antiscorbutics.
"Mr de Winter," he said, not unkindly, "may I ask what you think you are about?"
Reply
'Are you talking about the lager?' he asks, crudely, more crudely than he would normally dare.
Reply
He really had no idea how highly Dominic thought of him, and might (possibly, maybe) have tempered his words had he known; but this was Stephen, and this was how he would have spoken to little Blakeney, or any of the other midshipmen had he found them debauching themselves with drink.
"In fact, I would wager good money that this is no habit of yours. What brings you to this pass, Mr de Winter?"
Reply
Dom grimaces and swallows another gulp. 'And I'm not sure what to do. I can handle my alcohol, sir; I'm not going to get drunk and go around smashing windows. I've been drinking wine at meals since I was about six. It is, after all, what civilised people do.'
Note the sneer.
Reply
"You will observe, however, that what you are drinking is not precisely a table wine." As he spoke, he was retrieving his coffee, and poured a second cup for Dominic. Why not give children coffee? It was the nectar of the gods and infinitely healthful. Had Stephen any coca leaves on hand, it was not inconceivable he might have shared them as well. He pushed the second cup toward the boy before crossing to the other side of the bar with his own cup and, uninvited, taking a seat near the one occupied by the distressed Mr de Winter.
"From what you say, you have just endured a severe emotional shock. I can understand the appeal of strong drink in this circumstance. You are to consider that less toxic and more efficacious remedies exist. In future, when you learn of more brothers who have been stabbed in knife fights and have become agents of Heaven or Hell, you may come to me and ask for a Calming Draught."
Reply
He hesitates. How to explain that a lot of the wine was about as alcoholic as it could get, to loosen tongues?
'If I discover any more secrets of my family, I'll contemplate a Calming Draught,' he mutters. 'But til then...the lager.'
Reply
"The secret you have already discovered sounds to me quite sufficient on its own," Stephen said, once the ward had been completed. "You came here in search of a friend, and found instead a brother, one who had suffered a violent death. Further, he had tampered with your memory -- " here Stephen frowned, unconsciously. Matters of memory hit close to home for him at present.
Reply
I didn't want anymore magic, he thinks crossly, but doesn't say anything. 'Alcohol can't solve my problems, but I won't have to think about them properly til tomorrow, then I can talk to his girlfriend--who he stalked, as if that wasn't enough--get some answers from her, see if I should stay.'
'There are always more secrets with the de Winters. Always.'
Reply
"Why have you sought drink now, and plan to seek your brother's lady friend on the morrow? Surely she has the answers you seek already."
Reply
Dom taps the bar with a finger.
'He didn't say so, but I can tell. In his role as a Hell agent, he killed innocent people. For me. I can't possibly deal with that all in one go.'
Reply
Stephen knew more about the ethical grey areas of being an 'agent' than he could or would ever tell Dominic, though he had never been an agent for powers celestial or demonic, granted. Still, he had never entrusted knowledge of that part of his life to a family member or to a lover, or anyone not involved with the business to some extent themselves. Jack Aubrey had to know about it because Jack's ships often carried Stephen on important missions, otherwise Aubrey too would have been kept in the dark. Suddenly he had more sympathy for Dominic's unscrupulous brother than he would have expected.
"Mr de Winter, I know little of Heaven or Hell, save what my faith teaches, and there is nothing in it of such powers as angels who may fall and go back again. I will say, though, that in my years I have found 'innocence' a concept less absolute than I would have believed at your age. What your brother has done, he has had his reasons for doing, no doubt. Whether you can tolerate it or agree with those reasons remains to be seen, and it is in this that your brother's friend may be able to assist you." The 'saving Time' notion Stephen left untouched for the present.
Reply
'My father was a scientist,' he suddenly bursts out. 'He had the theory for time-travel. The de Winters married him off to my mother to keep him keen. When Dad got edgy about what they were doing, they got rid of him. Told me he'd died. I had to find out the truth by myself. Nobody cares about you unless you can benefit the name de Winter. But Brice did.'
He smiles wanly. 'Hence, my confusion.'
Reply
"Your time-travel device, then, is a legacy from your true father, who was not a de Winter," he summarised, to be sure he had understood correctly. The name Brice registered, and he realised Dominic's brother must be the suspicious young man whom Stephen had overheard speaking to Melanie Beeby in the library. No outward sign showed this gave him any pause at all; he continued. "Your brother cared for you deeply, and did things for your sake that you find troubling, including the very violation of your memories so that you might not be troubled by those things or his death." At least, your brother claims to have done these things out of love for you.
"It must come as a shock, to be sure; but is there really much in it to occasion true confusion? You and your brother both sound to have rejected the de Winter heritage, as it is truly none of yours. What remains to trouble you? You cannot properly sift and weigh another man's ethical choices. You have every right to anger at the modification of your mind; I see no ground for confusion there, either. What you need is not clarification, but time."
Reply
It's a statement.
'I am. When I'm upset normally, I--throw myself into work. But...there is no place to do it here. I had planned experiments...but I don't want to ask for DNA from D--Brice.'
'Angel DNA. Maybe that's why it worked so quickly.'
Reply
"In point of fact, Mr de Winter, I find myself in need of an assistant. My laboratory work cannot well be done alone" and my former assistant was also my mistress, who cannot very well continue to work there now that my wife has been resurrected from the dead? That would best go undiscussed with the de Winter boy.
"If you indeed find yourself in need of scientific occupation, perhaps we can help one another in this respect."
The unspoken implication was that Stephen did not think Dominic was 'acting like a kid' at all, and thought highly enough of him to offer him access to the laboratory -- supervised access, of course; there was no way in hell, whether it be Stephen's hell or Brice's, that anyone would be using that lab or accessing its supplies without Stephen's oversight and approval.
Reply
He sounds rather disapproving there.
Reply
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