11:38pm

Atticus strolled through the battleground, noting the various areas of now dried blood and exploded stone to himself as he reached an untouched stump to sit on. He stretched out his legs and sighed. He came a little early as was his habit when he met people at strange times of night. He wore all black, his trench coat included (although it definitely showed the battle damage) so that when he sneaked across open areas on the grounds he would blend in with the shadows more. He was already doing his best to avoid heat from the school over destroying the grounds and badly harming Elian (and himself).

He pulled out his flask and sighed. Taking a drink, he turned his head to look up at the moon. Why had everything gone so wrong? Atticus felt lost after recieving Winona's letter but had accepted his fate nonetheless. Dwelling in what we cannot accomplish is wasted time and energy - that much Atticus knew. That being said, Atticus still didn't know how to handle his broken heart. He was not one to put himself out there so the conclusion of his possible romance with Winona left a sour, if not toxic taste in his mouth. Nonetheless he cared about her deeply as his friend and someone who was important inn his life. While now he could not face her, he knew he had to address some things to Elian to clear the air. He had to know that Elian was truly going to take care of her, among other things. But there was also housekeeping to do.

Elian had slipped out after seeing Winona to her dorm. He didn't carry his bow or quiver, he wasn't going to fight this time. He had won, but he didn't come to gloat either. He had stayed in his outfit and slipped out of the school heading quickly for the trees. Slipping through them like water in a stream he found his way to the dueling ground of yesterday still scarred from their endeavor to one up each other.

Standing in the shadows of the trees he waited a moment and then stepped out of the shadows. He stuck his hands in his pockets and listened quietly to the lake splashing upon the shore, the breeze through the leaves, most of all to Atticus and his movements. Turning to him he watched him quietly.

"You asked. I came, talk," he said softly as he watched him.

Atticus lifted his head when he heard light footsteps, then a voice. It was Elian. Atticus was half surprised he agreed to meet him here but he supposed it was worth trying. He stood up, twiling his wand in his right hand out of anxiousness before returning it to his sleeve to show he meant no arm. Atticus took a few steps toward Elian, raised his hands and walked into an open part in the trees where the moonlight penetrated. The light shined off his green eyes as he narrowed them at Elian, sizing him enough. He didn't look too worse for wear, considering the firefight they had just a day earlier. Atticus himself was at leasting standing upright, though his stubbornness in getting treatment may mean his wounds would leave light scarring. That wouldn't matter. Atticus needed a reminder of his failures. Both in trusting and knowing someone, and in his duelling as well. Elian was a talented duellist but Atticus should've gotten the better of him. The damn boy probably thought he won. Oh the spells he was going to cast before...

Winona. The name made him anxious, his muscle tighten. He hadn't seen her since the duel. He hadn't seen damn near anyone, having his associates bring him food or homework that day as he called out 'sick'. In reality he was held up in one of the many abandoned classrooms, needing time to be alone and think. Atticus was strong and could handle and get over what had happened, but his sense of pride was damaged and that was something Atticus was not used to.

"I need to know you're going to take care of her." He said, his voice just loud enough that Elian could hear it. "I also need to know you won't get yourself killed out there in the real world. The fact is I was limiting myself to what wouldn't get me... expelled..." He said, trailing off. "No matter. The duel is irrelevent now. Winona is what matters." He said matter of factly before taking another step into the moonlight, watching Elian in the shadows. He swallowed, his throat was tight. This was not a pleasant conversation and he took it as a sign of weakness from himself. It was a conversation that needed to happen though.

He was hurt, not just physically but emotionally as well, Elian could see that. The duel had shaken him up, had shown him that he needed to rethink some things before he was confident again. He stayed in the shadows letting Atticus step into the light. This would not be a pleasant conversation. It's not that it would end in a fight, just that they had both gone after the same girl. There had to be a winner and loser. Unfortunately for Atticus he was the latter. Elian understood, that position, he'd lost girls for less in the past.

The questions that came were about what he was expecting. Atticus has been friends with Winona far longer than Elian had even known of her. It went without saying that he would want what's best for her. Stepping into the light Elian looked him in the eye for a while before nodding silently.

"I will, I want to keep her happy and safe," he said as he relaxed his stance. "I don't plan on dying so easily and while I'm gone she's going to need someone other than the Harris clan who will tease her to death that she's dating big brother, while beating the every loving crap out of anyone else who does, to watch over her. I can expect that of you? Even if from a distance?"

He took a step closer to him and lowered his voice in a calm way. "It's not weakness. Being able to come out here and talk like this. You don't have to say, your body language gives it away that your uncomfortable with this. To be able to face an 'adversary' like this isn't weak."

Atticus nodded solemnly in approval of Elian's response. It was the best he could hope for from a crappy situation such as this. He struggled with humility and that is what this meeting called for. It was not a time for threats and fights. Atticus had lost Winona despite his best efforts. He scolded himself for ever thinking it was a possibility. There were too many hangups and conditions with being involved with him, most notably his smoking, drinking and illicit smuggling. Sure, he could clean up but for what? The previous day had taught Atticus to not put his heart in places it need not be. Leaving himself vulnerable was the antithesis of his duelling style, so why should he treat any other part of his life differently?

"I don't plan on dying so easily and while I'm gone she's going to need someone other than the Harris clan who will tease her to death that she's dating big brother, while beating the every loving crap out of anyone else who does, to watch over her. I can expect that of you? Even if from a distance?"

Atticus looked down, a shadow cast across his face. He paused for a moment, considering the words he would say. "Always." He said quietly, looking up to make eye contact with Elian. "--ever since we met." He added seriously before taking a last swig of whiskey. He then put the bottle away and put his hands on his hips, his head leaning towards the side. "But I can't go back to the way it used to be." He said, his face unwavering from its neutral expression. "That's not going to work. If I could make it work, I would." He said, his voice showing his honesty.

Elian watched him closely. He didn't approve of the boy's habits but he wasn't going to stop him. Not now at least, let him have his misery and all the damage it would cause him in the future. It wasn't his place to say so he kept his mouth shut and let him thinking over the request. When he answered he nodded and took a step closer but still keeping the space between them.

"I wouldn't expect you to try and make it work the same way it was before. I've been where you are many times, mostly because of my own ineptitude with women but still. I don't expect you to fix everything. I do expect you to talk to her. She deserves that and you know it. Do it on your own time but don't make her wait too long," he said as he shifted his weight.

"To be honest with you, I told her to choose you. I know this doesn't help and forgive me if I offend any worse than you have been but I didn't expect this either. I'm happy for myself but I can sympathize with you. You and I, we don't have to be friends. But for Winnie I will be civil with you."

Elian closed most of the distance between the two of them and held out his hand. It was a truce to be civil, at least in front of Winona. He didn't expect Atticus to shake his hand but he was hoping that he would, for Winnie's sake.

"I wouldn't expect you to try and make it work the same way it was before. I've been where you are many times, mostly because of my own ineptitude with women but still. I don't expect you to fix everything. I do expect you to talk to her. She deserves that and you know it. Do it on your own time but don't make her wait too long,"

Atticus stood there, unmoving. He clamped his jaw shut as to not interject. Tonight ultimately wasn't about him at all. He needed to make amends to the degree he could for Winnie's sake. Although his heard throbbed he knew that Winnie was likely in deeper pain after seeing the duel and knowing that she hurt him. After Elian finished, he relaxed his jaw and took a breath. "She deserves that, yes." He said curtly. "I've never been there because I've never been so stupid as to put myself out there." He added, the smallest hint of anger in his voice. "I don't blame her but she -- and you for that matter--" Atticus paused to raise his shirt, showing his wounds. He had deliberately waited to begin the healing process so that he would have the scars. They weren't too deep but they were there. "--will always be reminders of my failures." He added as he lowered his shirt. It was a little dramatic, he admitted to himself, but it was needed to convey the severity of his point. "I will always be there to protect her. I will always be there when the need presents itself." He said, his tone less cold.

"But I can't be the best friend she wants from me. It's not going to happen."

"To be honest with you, I told her to choose you. I know this doesn't help and forgive me if I offend any worse than you have been but I didn't expect this either. I'm happy for myself but I can sympathize with you. You and I, we don't have to be friends. But for Winnie I will be civil with you."

"Good to know." Atticus scoffed, a small growl in his voice. It was a little too harsh a response than necessary but he was already struggling to be decent in this conversation in the first place. He looked down at Elian's extended hand for a moment then up at him and sighed. He extended his arm out and shook his hand -- two shakes, very proper -- and let go. He took a few steps back and sat down on the stump again, his head hanging low. "Now, go." He said, not impolitely but simply matter of factly as he pulled his flask out again and took a long drink.

"I'll be here for awhile."

Elian nodded and listened to him talk. He dropped his hand back to his side and pulled his hood back up before stepping into the shadows. He was going to leave him be, but if he didn't talk to Winnie in the next week he was going to come back and make sure that it happened. He didn't say a word as he turned but before he disappeared to head back to the dorms he paused.

"Thank you," he said as he headed off the way he had come.