Of Family and Suicide

During the wait for Patty to return from her exploration of the manor, Antonio's demeanor seemed to change. He no longer seemed complacent with the conversation that had occurred, his expression thoughtful and somewhat distant. Somewhat sad, even. Jean wished he could get into the nephilim's mind.

While they waited, they had spread around the manor. Antonio himself had no interest in exploring, opting to remain on the ground floor and waiting in the dining room. There was an area there, much like the Cellar's dining room, where one could relax in a small living space with two large bergères and a coffee table. Tristan had joined him there, and Jean was somewhat pleased to see at least one of his family members trying to get to know him.

Jean on the other hand, spent his time waiting with Hugh, trying to calm and console his brother-in-law. Hugh hadn't recovered from the conversation, seething down to the fibres of his being.

"I don't like him," he said, sitting beside Jean at the dining table. He was glaring in the nephilim's direction, lips twisted in a livid scowl. "Something about him just...gets under my skin, pushes all my buttons."

Jean made a soft, gravelly chuckle. "It doesn't take much to do that, Hugh."

His brother-in-law slowly nodded, then huffed, "How can I just..."

"I understand. I do." Jean glanced at Antonio. The nephilim sat forward with his legs parted and fingers entwined as he spoke with Tristan. "His methods of doing things aren't safe, aren't wise..."

"He's a heretic."

He rubbed his forehead with a sigh, opting to keep that opinion to himself.

"What do you think of him, Jean?"

"I don't care for him," he admitted, well aware the nephilim could hear them. "And if he's an alcoholic, I care for him even less."

Hugh scoffed. "Don't get me started on that. I feel like testing him, see what he's like when intoxicated..."

Jean gave him a look, but his brother-in-law wasn't paying attention to him, too busy glaring at the older man.

"I'm serious."

"So am I. Don't do it."

Jean knew his words fell on deaf ears. With a sigh, he began to continue the conversation when he sensed Patty nearing the room. Instead of talking, he gave Hugh a pat on the shoulder before focusing on the doorway in time to see the girl enter without a servant.

He watched as both Patty's biological and adoptive fathers reacted in different ways upon seeing her. Hugh went quiet and his expression evened out. Antonio gave her a large but sad smile, and she ran towards him and into his arms.

"Hello, Tea," he said, giving her a gentle hug. "Just in time for lunch."

She giggled and nodded. "Yes! I enjoyed the tour, Papà! The manor grounds are sooooo big! And so old, too!"

He gave her a look that even Jean could read. It was playful, asking her if she was calling her father old. She emitted a soft titter again and kissed his cheek.

Jean only overheard this with his inhuman hearing. Without moving his head, he glanced at Hugh beside him. His brother-in-law was still silent, but there was something in his brown eyes that made Jean sympathetic.

Despite everything, Hugh was still mourning the family he could have had, was still lonely...

Shortly after Patty arrived, the rest of the family began to enter the dining room. Pleasant conversation steadily droned in the large space, and Jean sat upright while Hugh moved to sit at his typical spot at the dining table across from him.

Tristan stood from his bergère and joined his wife Mirabelle and daughter Matilda at the table, but Antonio remained still in his seat with Patty in his lap. Between idle conversation with everyone else, Jean kept them in his peripherals.

When Gwendolyn entered the dining room, conversation hushed as people moved into their seats at the table. Only then did Antonio and Patty approach.

As was the norm when there were guests, Tristan, Ulrich, and Jean had made space for the father and daughter to sit closer to the matriarch at the head of the table. This meant, fortunately, that Jean was sitting closer to Antonio than he would otherwise.

Tristan guided them to their seats, which were unfortunately directly to Gwendolyn's left and right. Neither seemed to realize this was a possible issue, and Jean only hoped the lunch would go over easily.

"Ah, Patty," Gwendolyn said to the girl as she sat on her grandmother's left. "Have you met your cousins and aunts?"

The girl looked at the other children, then back at her grandmother. "No, not yet."

"Later, then."

"Okay."

Seconds after everyone was settled, several servants entered from a door at the far end of the room. With methodical haste, they carried and brought out the day's lunch and placed them between the utensils in front of each person at the table. As this was a formal event of sorts, Jean expected a three-course meal.

Judging by how the first plate of food consisted of what could only be an appetizer, the cooks did not disappoint. Looking at it, it seemed like small pinwheel rolls stuffed with spinach and cheese. Not every roll was the same, as some also had slight sprinkles of what looked and smelled like sausage. His had some, to his delight. A large plate of the appetizer alternate, cucumber wraps with what Jean smelled was fish in it, was placed at the center of the table.

Once the plates were down and each servant moved to stand against the wall behind their patron, the Lowells placed their hands together and bowed their heads to make a prayer over their food.

Before closing his eyes, Jean was thankful to see that Patty had done the same, though Antonio only closed his eyes without bringing his hands together.

Curious...

After saying their quiet prayers, the sounds of utensils clinking filled the room as everyone began to eat.

For the first few minutes, all went smoothly. Antonio and Patty were quiet, and Jean was thankful Patty knew how to use her fork and knife the correct way. She used the over-sized utensils with ease, showing how dexterous she was. It wasn't anything particularly special; it simply meant whoever raised her did so with care and patience.

General conversation was coming to a lull when someone cleared their throat. "So, Patiel--"

"Patty, please," the girl interrupted, focusing on Catrin, Ulrich's wife, who had spoken. When she was given a confused look, she smiled. "I prefer the name Patty. I think it's cuter!"

Catrin chuckled lightly, giving an acquiescing nod. "Very well. How do you feel about the isle so far, Patty?"

The girl delicately patted her mouth with a napkin before responding, "I love it. It is one of the most beautiful places I have visited since I was very little."

"Oh?" said Mirabelle. "You've traveled to many places?"

Nodding rapidly, Patty said, "Yes! All parts of Clovure, Kanata, Mēxihco, of course, and even Víteliú, where my Papà is from." Her face fell wistfully. "But I was very young, so I hope to go again soon."

She cast an expectant look Antonio's way, and he caught it immediately. He smiled at her. "We will. We're due for another trip."

Her face brightened as she excitedly asked, "Will Mammina come this time, too?"

Hugh nearly choked, coughing in the shocked silence that followed her words.

It took her a second, but she realized what she said and made a light blush. Antonio simply smiled, however, and nodded. "Of course. If she's willing, maybe your auntie will come, too."

Jean raised a brow at this.

Clearing his throat, Hugh wiped his mouth before repeating, "Mammina?" He pointedly kept his eyes on the girl.

She nodded, lowering her hands into her lap. "I think of Papà's partner as my momma." She fidgeted a bit under the scrutinizing eyes. "They've been together for three years."

Lips tightening, Jean watched Hugh's mouth audibly shut after these words.

"Three years and still no marriage?" Catrin seemed genuinely shocked.

A strange look came over Antonio's face, prompting Tristan to interject, "That really isn't the sort of conversation for the table." He smiled at Patty, gathering a roll with his fork. "What is she like, your...mother?" he asked instead.

Perking up again, Patty responded, "Her name is Cocoliloc and she's a powerful magic-user who taught me many things. She can be very silly and she wears glasses and doesn't like to be seen without them."

Taking a roll into his mouth, Jean observed the girl's mannerisms, the childish way she wanted to say as much about the woman as possible. It would be obvious to anyone that she adored her father's partner.

"It would be lovely to meet her sometime," said Tristan, and his smile widened when Patty beamed in agreement.

"How proficient are you with your magic, Patty?" Matilda asked.

Jean glanced at the teen with a slightly narrowed eye. There was a challenge in her voice.

If Patty heard the inflection, she didn't indicate it. Humming, she took a moment to think about it. "Okay, I think. I think I'm better at alchemic arts than magic."

"You're equally balanced, actually," said Antonio, briefly glancing up at her from his plate. When Patty made a sound of disbelief and shyly lowered her head, he smiled but said nothing else.

"I suppose I'm decent," she finally, softly acknowledged.

"Well, you still have to learn the Lowell spells," said Matilda. "They're more difficult than the average magic spell," she said somewhat haughtily.

Patty held her head high. "I accept that challenge."

The corner of Jean's mouth twitched when Matilda went quiet and returned her attention to her food.

Lunch continued with small talk and conversation after that, uneventful and peaceful. The only ones who did not speak aside from Jean were Friedrich and Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn in particular seemed to ignore all of those at the table, eating quietly with her eyes flickering up every now and then to linger on members of her family. Much to Jean's suspicion...

* * *

Lunch was indeed a three-course meal. While Antonio didn't comment on it, Patty showed some surprise each time a new plate was brought out for them. The courses were all small enough, and the children were brought even smaller servings, which left everyone with space for all three courses and their drinks.

After dessert was served, the children were ushered out into the backyard, and of the women, only Gwendolyn, Jean's cousin Vivian, and Friedrich's wife Elise remained behind. They gathered back into the drawing room where drinks of hot tea and whiskey lay waiting for them on the coffee table. Again, the tea was rosemary, but only the women had some. All the men save for Jean had glasses as they rested in their respective seats, and Jean spotted his brother in-law was staring pointedly at the nephilim who raised his daughter.

Initially, there was some small talk amongst the family once everyone was settled in, and as it was beginning to fade, Ulrich raised his glass towards Antonio. "Say, man. Would you like to tour the grounds as well?" he asked. He sat with Jean and Tristan on a large couch.

Antonio, who sat alone in a bergère, was pouring himself a second glass. He was the only one who had finished his first. "Ah...maybe some other time. I'm content with just getting to know everyone, having Patty get to know the environment."

Hugh narrowed his eyes, slowly taking a drink of his whiskey. "You're awfully trusting."

"Oh?" A sly smile formed on the nephilim's face. "Should I be concerned?"

"That's not the point."

"It is entirely." Antonio sipped on his drink this time, and he hadn't added ice. Without looking at the younger man, he said, "Critiquing everything I do isn't healthy, you know."

Hugh's upper lip slightly curled. "Have I critiqued everything you do?"

Antonio glanced at the ceiling, then seemed to admire it. "Ah...yeah." A pale blue eye glanced at a narrowed brown eye. "Don't think I haven't noticed your intense scrutiny. I'm a fine fellow to talk to, I think," he said with a crooked smile.

"And an infuriating one."

Chuckling, which only seemed to incense Hugh, Antonio did nothing more than take a mouthful of whiskey with a deliberate shrug.

"What do you plan to do next?" Friedrich asked, as if the spat never happened. "You will soon leave, yes?"

"Yeah," Antonio sighed, looking at him. "It's a long way back home..."

"Why don't you stay the night?" Vivian asked, brows furrowed.

He lowered his eyes. "I asked Patty about that...and she said she didn't want to. Not for this first visit, at least."

"Ah..." Friedrich sighed. "Shame."

"Do you have qualms with her staying?" Hugh asked.

Antonio shook his head. "No, absolutely not."

"Why don't you stay, then?"

Brow rising, Antonio scoffed, "Because if my daughter doesn't want something, I'm not going to force it on her." Before there was a rebuke, he added, "It's not like this is a life or death, dire situation."

Once more Hugh's eyes slanted dangerously. "You are the adult."

Leaning against the bergère's armrest, the nephilim's own eyes narrowed as he gave Hugh a slight glare. "Patty can make her own decisions, and I respect those decisions when there isn't a reason not to."

"She's a child."

"So, you would rather I force my will upon her?"

A look of confusion, one wrought with anger, overcame Hugh's face. "That is what adults do."

"Not in my household."

As Hugh's face began to turn red from anger, Elise's soft voice soothed, "She seems like she was raised well, Hugh." To Antonio, she said, "A darling child, she is."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Very well," said Gwendolyn, lowering her cup of tea. "When will you return?"

Antonio swallowed the rest of his whiskey before responding. "I'm not sure, in truth..."

"How about in December? We will have a family reunion on the 15th."

His face lit up. "Ah. That's perfect. I think Patty'd like that. We could probably stay for a few days then."

"Good. Please, feel free to bring your sister, nephew, and partner."

Antonio slightly smiled. "I will."

Jean closed his eyes, listening to them talk about the details and planning for the reunion. The rest of the family chipped in now and then. Hugh was graciously quiet, and when Jean peeked an eye open, he saw his brother-in-law reaching for the whiskey decanter.

Letting his eyes close again, he slightly sighed.

At the end of the day, his niece was found. He didn't know too much about her guardian, but he was nonetheless still looking forward to seeing him again. The day was wrapping up well, and Jean's presence was fortunately for caution's sake rather than for any real reason...

He glanced at the nephilim speaking amiably with Elise.

However, just because this time meant his presence wasn't for a threat's sake didn't mean it wouldn't be next time during the Lowell family reunion.

* * *

The atmosphere, having been tense and somewhat overbearing, finally calmed as Antonio and Patty readied to leave for Mēxihco. In the main hall, Jean stood with Ulrich as they watched their brother-in-law, Tristan, and Gwendolyn see the two off in the hall. Patty had remained bouncy throughout the entire trip, save for the times she would show her shy side, and now was no different. She and Hugh hadn't exchanged many conversations during the trip, but she nonetheless spoke to him with bright eyes sparking with wonderment and curiosity.

Jean wasn't using his advanced hearing to listen in on their conversation, too busy watching Antonio speak to Gwendolyn. The nephilim continued to carry himself in a lazy, carefree manner, hands in his pockets and head slightly tilted to the side as he looked down at the short woman. Every now and then, pale lips would spread in a lopsided smile, one that was just inches from being considered a smirk.

"So, Jean."

He glanced at his younger brother beside him. Ulrich's arms were crossed, the visible hand's fingers drumming on an arm.

"What do you think of Antonio, here?" Ulrich's voice was hushed and slightly heated.

Briefly closing his eyes, Jean hummed. "He's...a character."

"That's putting it lightly," his brother mumbled.

"I think...he's doing a great job with raising Patty..."

"But?"

"But I question his methods, reasonings, and...motives."

Sapphire blue eyes looked at him. "Motives?"

"He said he didn't seek us out despite knowing that Patty was a Lowell because he was lonely." Jean's eyes slightly narrowed. "I'd love to get into his head and see if that's the real reason..."

"That makes two of us." The blue eyes returned to watching the scene with him. "Would you gauge him a possible threat?"

"Undoubtedly."

"Hmph. Mind's made up, eh."

He shrugged. "I do have to scout sometimes, you know."

"Yeah," Ulrich sighed, scratching his stubbled chin. "I guess that makes you the expert here. Then that's not comforting at all. What makes you think that?"

Without skipping a beat, Jean responded, "It's a feeling."

"And...what are your instincts telling you?"

Jean folded his arms, mirroring his brother, and leaned against the wall. "His sleazy, carefree attitude, I think, is undoubtedly his norm and not an act. But I reckon there's a dangerous side to him, one that is...unusually so."

He sensed the shift of his brother's uncertainty. "I don't like the sound of that, Jean."

"Neither do I."

His brother glanced at him, his dirty-blond brows furrowed.

Finally, Antonio gave Jean and Ulrich a nod as Patty waved while taking his hand, and a servant opened the door for them. Jean nodded, as did Ulrich, at the two.

"Goodbye, Uncles!" Patty called at them, dressed in her pink and white coat.

Her addressing him brought a small smile to Jean's face, and he gave an idle, two-fingered wave.

In seconds, the door to the manor closed.

Gwendolyn immediately turned from the door and approached Jean and his brother, making Jean's smile slowly devolve into a thin line.

She looked between him and Ulrich before lingering on his brother. "Are those files all we could get on Antonio's background?"

Ulrich nodded. "We couldn't even dig anything up from Víteliú," he said with a scowl, "because there is nothing left of the Alighieris from Víteliú."

She made a soft huff and glanced away. Jean looked past her to see Hugh watching the dark landscape of the isle from the window, no doubt seeing Antonio and Patty off. It didn't take a mind reader to know the man was somber once more. Jean considered letting his brother-in-law have a few days off...

"I suppose we should let the family know Patty has been found," Gwendolyn said thoughtfully, bringing his attention back to her.

As she had for most of the day, she appeared neutral, composed. But he knew his mother well enough to know all sorts of unpleasant things were going on in that righteous mind of hers.

She looked at him. "Jean-Luc, do ask your companions in the Hunter Underground for any information on this side of the Víteliú Alighieri family."

"Very well, Mother," he said, giving a curt nod.

She gave one in return before turning from them and continuing down the hall. The clacking of her heels echoed in the space, and Ulrich exhaled audibly, patting Jean's shoulder, before joining Tristan and Hugh near the door.

That left Jean alone with his thoughts.