A Breakthrough?
He had just gotten off the phone when the doorbell rang. Eduard did not know why he thought it was going to be Toris. Probably because ever since the other had left yesterday with the repaired glass jar filled with all of those paper stars he had been waiting to hear about the conclusion to that. Eduard could just guess it thought. It did not stop him from expecting his brother to show up.
The person standing there when he opened the door, however, was not who he wanted to see.
"Good morning, Eduard," Natalia said gloomily as she moved past him and inside. Eduard stood there for a few more moments before closing the door. He did not want her here, but what could he do about it? With a bit of a sigh (and pushing his glasses up his nose) he followed her into his sitting room where she elegantly settled the folds of her dress around where she had sat down.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked pleasantly. Please say no. Please realize you don't want to be here. Please. Go away.
"Yes," Natalia responded, not meeting his eye. "Can I ask you something?"
Whether he said yes or not, Eduard doubted it mattered. Plus, his reputation would be tilted if he was rude to someone, even if it was Natalia. He sat down across from her. "Of course, what is it?" He could stay civil for a little while, unlike most people in this town. Even when faced with a nightmare.
For a while she stayed quiet, continuing to rearrange the way her dress had fallen around her. "I'm starting to believe I will never understand what Katyusha has with Ivan."
The way she was going about it, Eduard believed she would never understand what anyone had with anyone. "Ah..." He was not certain what Natalia wanted him to say about that, but it appeared that she was not finished speaking yet.
"I've been trying for a long time now. I've tried everything. Maybe it's time for me to move on."
Those were the words he had never thought he would hear. Then again, Eduard had never thought he would be the one that Natalia would confide in. Certainly she came up here a lot, surely she used him in plenty of her schemes, but... Actually, he supposed it made sense. But why?
"What do you mean, move on?" Eduard blinked a few times before he plucked off his glasses and wiped off the lenses.
"I don't know... I've been trying to be accepted by brother for so long. Maybe I should try to be accepted by other people instead. There are some nice people here."
Eduard could not believe what he was hearing. He also could not believe that he was the one hearing it. What exactly did Natalia think of him? Or had she just been sort of using him so long they actually had another relationship of sorts? Eduard was not certain. Actually, he did not want to think about it.
"Heidi. She was nice."
Yes, Eduard would not think about it.
"Toris. He's nice too."
Eduard's calm demeanor was shattered. "Oh, no! Not really!" Swallowing, he tugged at his collar as Natalia slowly turned her head toward him.
"You don't think your brother is nice?"
"Ah! No, I mean– I don't think that is the best way to describe him!" Eduard laughed nervously, trying to think of a way to get off the subject quickly. "I was just thinking... you've never tried to be accepted by Katyusha, have you?"
This was really not his business. Natalia was asking him though. And he had to defend Toris. If Natalia was interested in Toris as well... no, that would not be good. It was difficult to stay calm in this situation, but Eduard would do his best.
Natalia cocked her head slightly. "I... suppose I haven't."
Eduard twined his fingers together, leaning forward and leaning the front of his chin on the prop. "I don't think you should give up on your family just yet."
There was silence. Then Natalia nodded.
"Thank you, Eduard."
Eduard stared blankly as Natalia left his house, feeling as if something was missing from that conversation. Like insanity. Yet, despite his beliefs, it had happened.
Eduard started to wonder if it was too early in the day for a drink.
Notes:
Yeah, the party that happened in Comedy of Errors? The one thrown by Eduard because Natalia made him do it? That was really just common occurrence. Natalia was the reason for a lot of the big events happening in town and Eduard usually ended up funding it. Natalia never really threatened him either, Eduard sort of just freaked because it was her and did as she asked.
