Drink ‘til You Drop || EZRIEL

”Adams!” Astrid was probably a bit too excited to see the man. Granted, she had never officially met him and Zeke had always complained about how his class was gruelingly difficult, but Astrid had a soft spot in her heart for people that had the ability to challenge her son. He was an intelligent boy and she loved the thought that his brain got a good exercise during his classes. However, looking more closely at the man that sat next to her, she could tell that he was extremely intoxicated. Not that she blamed him - she could only imagine what parent’s weekend was like for the faculty of the castle. It was like having a thousand chiefs and only a few indians. His mention of his current state of affairs had Astrid laughing slightly. She wasn’t one to judge others for the drinking, she loved a good bottle of sparkling wine on occasion herself, ”I honestly don’t know how you teach sober, Ez.” She said, scooting in her chair to the bar so that she wouldn’t have to speak as loudly, ”With a hundred teenagers at my throat every day, I would have to teach drunk.” She held up her glass of water, took a small sip and then set it back down on the table, letting him know that she was absolutely joking with him.

”It’s a pleasure.” She said, slightly surprised by the fact that he already knew who she was. Sure, her husband had always prided himself on their family name and keeping themselves in the highest of social standings, but Astrid had never quite gotten used to the idea of people recognizing her. Especially not now; in lieu of the normal uptight attire that Valerian asked her to wear, she had on a pair of large flared bell-bottom jeans, a shirt that dipped a bit too low, and a necklace that reached her sternum. She was quite the sight this evening - more Astrid than Mrs. Maxwell, ”Vince joined staff?” She asked, leaning in even more intrigued by the gossip that the man was offering her, ”Merlin, I just saw him a few weeks ago at the Ministry. He knew my great-grandfather, Arthur. So many good stories there, I assure you.” Astrid reached up and tucked a tendril of her brown hair behind her ear as she pulled the cigarette out of her mouth, finding it rather difficult to talk when it was tucked into the corner of her lips as it had been previously.

”Shhh-” Astrid leaned in a bit so they wouldn’t be overheard, ”If Valerian knew that I was here we would all have hell to pay.” She raised both of her eyebrows before smiling slightly at the man that sat in front of her. He honestly seemed like an alright guy, perhaps just someone that needed someone to talk to. Or listen to him, ”The boys are always at each other’s throats. Zeke and Val fight like cats and dogs when they’re in the same room for too long. Takes a toll on a poor mother’s heart.” She put the cigarette back into her mouth and took a long drag on it, letting the tobacco infused smoke fill her lungs for a minute before exhaling into the air before her. 

”What brings you here? Besides the obvious.” There had to be more to the story than just cheap scotch, wasn’t there? Astrid prided herself on her ability to read people and understand them to some extend. Not to mention, she was no stranger to her husband and son’s way of coping with difficult situations.

Astrid smiled slightly as the Professor referred to her son’s growing older as ‘crowning the brink of manhood.’ She could only imagine what kind of man he would turn out to be. Every mother had high hopes for their sons, and Astrid was no exception. She wanted Zeke to be gentle and kind, reserved but strong, she wanted him to be someone that people looked at and respected, not for his ruthlessness, but for his compassion and good-works. Ast wanted him to be the best that he could be. She smiled slightly at the thought, knowing that one day her son would prove to be all of those things. He had never let her down once in his entire life and she knew that he never would, ”Being a mother is every woman’s dream.” Astrid said absentmindedly, ”And apparently every man’s drunken desire as well.” She raised both of her eyebrows at Ezriel and then went back to sipping on her water, trying her best not to giggle and risk the possibility of snorting water out of her nose like a child.

His mother was dead. Astrid immediately felt her face drop in surprise; she hadn’t been expecting that one in the slightest. Most people didn’t just admit their ailments right off the bat, however, judging on the amount of alcohol that he had already consumed tonight, Ast could only assume that he wasn’t exactly...himself. She bit down on her lip, trying to figure out the words that she wanted to say to the man. In her eyes, there wasn’t a proper thing to say in this situation. Professor Adams seemed to have lost something with his mother’s passing - whenever that was - and hadn’t been able to work around it quite yet, ”I think that you should be thankful that you’ve got your sister to lean on, Ez. May I call you Ez?” She asked, trying to not overstep her boundaries too early in the conversation. She could only imagine how Zeke would feel after he lost Valerian and her. He would be alone since he had no other siblings. She could only hope that he would find a suitable match to keep him company when the day finally came for them to pass on. 

Watching the man carefully, she noted the scrunched up face that he provided the table after he had downed his drink. Yes, he was holding his alcohol, but for how long? Maternal instincts were already beginning to kick in as she gave the bartender a tiny smile and shook her head after nodding toward Ez. Hopefully he would keep himself busy enough so that Ez wouldn’t be able to ask him for another drink, ”I have always thought that was a silly notion: Sobriety.” She raised both of her eyebrows at the man, taking his glass from in front of him and pushing her glass of water toward him instead, ”All good things in moderation.” She mentioned, trying her best not to sound as if she was degrading the poor man. He had gone through so much and she was only trying to help.

”You know-” Astrid had been dwelling on a certain thought since she had been thinking about Zeke and now felt ready to voice her opinion on the matter, ”Have you thought about...dating perhaps? Is there a woman in your life?” Again, with the not trying to pry business, Astrid hoped she wasn’t overstepping her boundaries. She just wanted him to feel as if someone cared. For merlin’s sake, this drinking was a red flag in the back of her mind. He needed someone to talk to and - lonely as she was - Astrid found herself to be the primary and ready companion that he might need.