Closed Retrospect

[Ai Nightray]

It was a relief that it was finally spring. Winter hadn't been easy in the last two years, though Ai had remained utterly quiet on the matter. She'd never had the best health when it came to being pregnant, which is why most of her pregnancies had been kept quietly until the information getting out was inevitable. But now, she could feel that there was a definite change in her body since the last. Which was not surprising considering the incidents that happened then. It was just best not to think about that. But nowadays, it felt like potions made her feel worse when she felt ill. It was perhaps for the best that most of the children didn't stay in the manor full-time and that Nik preferred to spend time with Liam so she wouldn't be worrying any of them. It was both easier and harder to hide from her husband but Ai knew him better than he knew her even after almost twenty years of marriage. Today, at least, was one of those days that she was feeling normal, though if she wasn't careful she'd need a rest soon enough. But there would be none of that today because she was due to meet Laurent in a matter of minutes. At least this time, she wasn't cornered and was more prepared since she had called this meeting. She didn't know why Laurent was meeting with her son, but she hardly trusted the man with Mikael's welfare right now since his kids and Mikael were still on equal standing. Until their deal was in effect, Ai wanted to make sure he stayed far away from her children.​

 

[Laurent Nightray]

Laurent, of course, took his time arriving at Ai’s beck and call, never one to rush when he didn’t feel it was necessary. Despite Ai being one of the Head’s of the family, Laurent hardly considered her necessary. The air was crisp today, but tolerable, not his favourite season, but certainly better than Winter. He liked Autumn the most, he always felt it was the most interesting of times. He adjusted the cuffs on his favourite tailored suit as he stepped into Ai’s office. It certainly was not common for her to summon him like this. Usually he would suffer the indecency of being expected to ask for a meeting, and then waiting several months for a reply, which was hilarious when one considered their closeness geographically. Just another point on the list of reasons why she and Liam (mostly her) were not fit to be the Nightray Heads. He’s been saying it for years.

“Well, you look well, Ai,” he said smoothly, though by the fact he’d not seen her around as much recently (look, he wasn’t a stalker alright) he wasn’t sure how true his statement was - not that he cared, seeing as he would have rather preferred Ai be a bug under his shoe if given have a chance. She was so difficult to read sometimes, and not for the first time he wondered if she was a legilimens. She was even harder to read when she was guarded - like now. “I must say, I was rather surprised to receive your summons. It’s not often you call on me willingly.”​

 

[Ai Nightray]

Ai was not at all bothered that Laurent was late. She'd expected it because he was a petty little man. Most of the Nightrays were really. And it wasn't like this was her first time dealing with them. She'd been working for the Nightrays for years before she even married Liam. Had known Liam in school. As much as she loved her husband, he could also be a petty man. She was pretty sure he wrote the definition for it in the dictionary. And so, she was completely unbothered and working on some paperwork when Laurent finally deemed it appropriate to grace her with his presence. She lifted her head after a moment passed with his greeting. "And you as well, Laurent," she said as she waved her hand at the paperwork to send them off to whoever needed to receive them. "It's not often that I feel the need to," she said as she leaned forward on her desk, elbows resting on the surface before resting her chin on her hand. "You do splendid work and I respect my relationship with you and your siblings enough to not grace you with my presence more than necessary," she said with a small smile that was almost regretful. An emotion she didn't really feel when it came to their long history. Said demeanor didn't last long though, as her gaze hardened just a fraction, the small smile sliding off her face with practiced ease. "But you'll have to excuse me for being curious as to why you've been meeting with my son."​

 

[Laurent Nightray]

Laurent chuckled lightly at Ai, because honestly he really did find her quite hilarious, both as a person and as the head of the Nightray family. Ah but should he perhaps pretend that Liam is the head? Since that was the general family lie? Laurent couldn’t remember meeting someone so useless, except for maybe Sebastian. He took up residence in one of the more comfortable chair’s in Ai’s office and crossed one leg over the other, making himself comfortable in her presence, as if the room and the chair itself had been prepared specifically for his comfort. “My dear Ai,” he said, his voice laced with silken charisma that they both knew was unnecessary, but Laurent had been raised to always be polite, especially to those who thought they were superior. “Your vigilance as a mother is - how shall I put it? - admirable. Touching, even.”

He paused, and leaned forward a little so she had to look at him when he spoke. “I understand your concern. Truly, I do. Mikael is at a… delicate age, isn’t he? Curious. Receptive. It only felt right to offer him a little guidance, a conversation or two - nothing more than gentle conversation. After all, isn’t it the duty of the older generation to pass on what wisdom we can?” Not to mention the promise he’d made to help Mikael until his children had been assessed and that hadn’t happened yet. What was wrong with giving Mikael a few key pointers on how to fight for what he loved? Or pointing out that it could be easily used against him?

He leaned back a bit then, and grinned. “Rest assured, I have no intentions that should alarm you. If anything, I was merely attempting to ensure the family legacy is carried forward with a bit of… refinement.” And after all, if Mikael deemed not to tell his mother - cherished as she was - about what they talked about, that wasn’t really his problem now was it? “Unless, of course, you believe I’ve done him some harm? That was never my aim.” He tilted his head ever so slightly. “But I am curious, Ai. What is it you’re truly afraid of?”​

 

[Ai Nightray]

If Ai had to pick a Nightray she hated dealing with the most, it would be Laurent. Which was unsurprising, because it used to be his mother. Wait. No. It used to be Alexia's father because Sebastian was a violent man. Francesca was just a b!tch really. Unfortunately for Ai now, Laurent seemed to have been an eclectic mix between his uncle and his mother. "Why thank you dear. You've always been so kind," she said with a small smile before calling for tea to be served for her and her guest. Dodrey appeared only moments later with the drinks and Ai took her cup - jasmine. Dodrey really was the best. She didn't know what tea he'd decided to serve Laurent but it was hit or miss anyway if the man would take the silently offered beverage in front of him.

Ai wouldn't have been able to stop the snort even if she'd wished. She tried of course to be the picture of calmness and grace. But describing Mikael as curious and receptive was a little too much to take seriously. "I do so wish I've raised such a child, but alas, my children seem to like taking after their father more than myself," she said with an exasperated sigh. Of course, the closest was probably Eurydice, but even she was like her father a lot. It still amused her to this day that Jai and Tizi who were Liam's sons in everything but blood had taken after him more than they did her. As she would always tell Kelsey and Bryce, perhaps she'd be lucky with the next one. She let Laurent ramble on about guiding and imparting wisdom on Mikael, which Ai was definitely calling a load of bull. Still, when asked if she believed he would cause her son harm, she smiled serenely. "Of course not." She definitely thought he could have done something. "I trust you implicitly," to do a load more harm than good. "In fact, I'm quite grateful you've taken on such interest and initiative in the future of the family," she said before taking another sip of her tea before setting it aside.

With the tea having settled her, especially with the tiredness seeping into her bones and making her a little drowsy, at least the drink had made her more alert and awake. "I would just like to request you leave the education of my school-aged children to my husband for now, especially since I'm sure you have your hands full with your twins. I heard there was another letter from the school?" she asked curiously, folding her hands on the desk, tilting her head just a little. The next generation of Nightrays - her children's generation - were an eccentric bunch just as much if not worse than her husband's. Between Theodore's constant need for a date, Mikael being a throwback of his father, and Evelyn being in detention most days than not since becoming an heir. Well. Everyone had their hands full. "Besides, my children still have much to learn from Liam after all, and I wouldn't want to confuse the children by switching mentors now," she said gently, though there was a hint of warning in her tone for him. "I'm sure you will have your chance to mentor Mikael if he defeats your children once the challenges are issued. That was the deal, wasn't it?" Until Mikael was ahead of the twins, Ai didn't trust Laurent to not do him harm. If she were honest, even with the deal in effect, she still wouldn't, but at least safeguards have been put in place.

With the matter of him asking about her fears however, she merely gave him an amused smile, "I'm not in the business of airing out my skeletons. I'm afraid you'll have to dig them out yourself."​