Azuel Apologizes

[Azuel Vyaduka]

Anyone who witnessed Azuel marching down the road would have assumed him to be heading to a funeral. He reflected that there was no shortage of those as of late. He had attended no less than four personally. Two of them had been unknown to him, but he had felt obligated to be there. He couldn’t quite place his finger on why, but ever since his grandfather’s funeral, he had wanted to be there for the world.

No, he reflected, not the world. I want to be there for Marn.

Maalik had insisted that they worry about more important things than Khayyam’s arrangements. His sister claimed that their father had been acting strangely after the bombings, but besides delaying Khayyam’s funeral, Azuel didn’t see anything besides Maalik’s usual impassive self. Frankly, even ignoring the funeral seemed entirely in keeping with what he knew of his father. After a painful wait, the funeral had come and gone as inevitably as the tide.

His lips tightened at the thought. He rolled his arms to shuffle his coat and worm his hands further into his pocket, turning his mind to a safer topic. He was still volunteering at the hospital, despite the fact that the worst had long past. The thought of returning home to meet his father’s cold stare filled him with a dread beyond his capacity to describe. Latifa insisted he was brooding, and he couldn’t really refute the argument.

Azuel kicked a small rock on the side of the road, his features twisting into an ever greater frown. He had arrived. Azuel paced around the house three times before he finally approached the front door. He knocked three times, and each knock was accompanied by a prayer, beseeching Teonidus to send Ivone out on some manner of business. This couldn't possibly be worse than father.

[Ivone]

Ivone was, unfortunately for Azuel, home.

As a widow, she could see to her shop, but not work. She was relegated to staying home to receive guests. Thus, with her hair pulled back into a tight chignon, minimal makeup, and the required dark blue dress, Ivone received her visitor.

As with the Vyaduka's, Ivone chose to keep a minimal staff. Servants had wagging lips, after all. So, when the door opened, it was Ivone, herself who found a frowning Azuel on her doorstep.

"Mister Vyaduka, please come in. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

ivone hadn't forgiven Azuel for his outburst in public. He'd said some things that should not have been thrown around so loosely, things that were given her trouble now.

But, training was training, and politeness and respectability demanded she at least invite him in for tea.

Ivone stepped back from the door, and gestured into the house.

"Would you care for some tea?"

[Azuel Vyaduka]

As soon as Azuel saw her face, the feelings he had encountered last time bubbled up from the most malignant parts of his soul. He was expecting them, and tempered them with the rational parts of his mind that yet remained. He nodded and walked inside; however, when Ivone went to fetch tea, he interrupted her.

“Thank you, Ivone.” He replied, his eyes inscrutable and his voice hard, “But we both know I have no claim to your hospitality at this point.”

[Ivone]

Ivone paused and turned. Her hands fluttered to rest in front of her, clasped. Her shoulders were back, posture perfect. Her chin was lifted, ever so slightly. She wore a dark blue mourning dress, austere and devoid of frivolty. Her blonde hair was pulled up and back into a neat chignon at the back of her neck. Her mouth curved up at the edges, only slightly.

"If it will make you feel better to decline, I won't force you to drink it. But, I for one, desperately need a cup. Please, join me in the kitchen?" One delicately, fair-skinned hand lifted and gestured the way.

The Maltrast mansion was different from the Vyaduka one in a variety of ways. The interior was predominantly marble, with columns supporting the high ceiling and a crystal chandelier over the central atrium. Stairs led up on either side and doors led to a variety of salon rooms, each with their own fireplaces.

Small touches that could only be Ivone's were there: color, flowers, soft rugs.

Like the Vyaduka's, though, Ivone preferred to do things for herself. Thus, no servants were readily visible. She depended on them only to maintain the house because the task was too large for a single person.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

“Very well. It would be a shame to waste good tea.” Azuel replied. He followed her into the kitchen. Azuel’s watched her reaction closely, and was pleased to note the small smile as evidence of a successful opening. For now, he was content to wait until tea was served.

[Ivone]

The kitchen was large, as to be expected for a house the size of the Malatrast mansion. A large butcher block table dominated the center of the room. There were chairs around the table. Ivone put the kettle on the stove and started the gas fire. The scent of the sulfur match wafted gently across the space as she shook it out.

Next, she pulled down two cups, going on her toes to reach them. These were placed on the table. A sugar bowl and creamer already sat on the table. Al that remained was to let the tea steep. Spooning the loose leaf tea into the specialty diffuser, Ivone placed it in a lovely china tea pot decorated with blue flowers. When the water had boiled, it was poured into the pot, which was carefully transferred to the table as well.

Not to be remiss, Ivone also pulled out some fruit and other assorted snacks, uncertain whether Azuel would want to eat anything. Once she was satisfied with the table and its contents, she took the chair opposite Azuel and smiled as she lifted the pot and poured tea into Azuel's cup.

"Now, please tell me what is on your mind?"

Obviously Azuel was thinking something. Ivone could only wonder what was on his mind.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

“Thank you. Now, it should first be acknowledged that my behavior at the hospital was unacceptable.” He had envisioned this conversation in his head innumerable times, attempting to predict all the myriad ways it might go. Azuel put the cup to his lips and sipped the tea. With a tone uncommonly measured and deep, he turned an earnest eye to Ivone and continued, “I hope to mend bridges and apologize. My outburst was fueled by grief and largely portrayed an inaccurate reflection of your character, and I have every intention of ensuring that I never allow myself the liberty of such excess again.”

Privately, he maintained his doubts about the inaccuracy of his portrayal. He knew with equal certainty that his opinion on the matter was completely irrelevant to the position he found himself in. With his grandfather gone, Maalik was now head of the Vyaduka family. Mallik’s unscrupulous practices would not be the legacy his family left to their children. With his grandfather gone, a great weight had been placed upon Azuel’s shoulders.

A month ago Azuel might have shaken that weight off, but his gut told him that this was his last chance to reinvent himself. His siblings had grown distant, his grandfather was dead. There was no one left to remain consistent for. This was the first step upon a new path and Azuel didn’t much care where it went. What mattered right now was that he kept walking. Azuel reveled in the novelty of the experience behind an impenetrable mask of earnest remorse. He had never failed to care before, despite what he might have told himself. His sloth had been fueled by nagging fears that he was insufficient to the tasks assigned to him. Without accountability to his grandfather, a hitherto undiscovered determination had welled within him. Azuel fully intended to capitalize on his sudden revelation.

[Ivone]

Ivone did her best to keep her expression schooled. So, she took a sip of her tea, to allow herself time to respond.

"I appreciate the apology." Ivone wondered briefly if this was about truly feeling apologetic to harming her reputation or for his loss of control in public.

She looked down, demure as always, before lifting her gaze to Azuel's.

"Is there some way I can help you? I know losing your grandfather was hard."

The family had been fractured. Maalik was ... Maalik. And, a judge's position lay open.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

“I appreciate the gesture.” Azuel responded, leaning in slightly. He mulled over his next words, using the tea to pause the conversation.

“Yes. I suppose this is the first time somebody close to me has actually… passed away, strange though that might sound. I was too young when my mother-” He stopped himself mid-sentence, setting his tea back on the plate.

“I’m sorry. You’ve surely realized what this has done to the Vyadukas. I do appreciate all that you’ve done for us, especially my sister.” He silently mourned their recent arguments. She refused to speak to him, most days. “Well, at any rate I appreciate that you chose to stay with us rather than do what might have been expedient. One day I will find a way to repay you.”

The moments passed, the tea slowly draining. When Azuel took the last sip, there was a prolonged silence as weighted thoughts danced in the back of his mind. Slowly, his head rose and his eyes connected with hers across the small table; a silent invitation to an unknown conversation.

“If it’s not too personal a subject, can I ask what changed your mind about my grandfather?”