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Intervention
The sun had lost the bite of its heat by this time of year. Still, it shined brightly in the sky, illuminating the beautiful array of colors that come in autumn. The trees lazily shed their red and orange and yellow leaves in the light breeze by the river. The colorful debris landed with ripples in the slow-moving, constant water that was lapping dangerously close. The red bobber was hit by a spinning brown leaf on its way out to sea.
Toby looked into the clear mirror at his reflection from his spot on the bank. His tangled tuffs of silver hair swayed in the sudden wind and his eyes were a deep green looking back at him – though he had remembered them to be brighter before. He sighed, reeling in his line and casting out again.
The crunch of gravel alerted the fisherman to the new arrival, but the thick smell of roses wafting over told him exactly who it was. Slightly disappointed but never one to object company, Toby Hallward nodded his head in greeting.
Lord Julius Wotton looked distastefully at the grass for a moment, tapping his cane into it to check how wet it was. Dissatisfied but not one to complain for any given time, he sat down on the river bank to join his friend. He was smirking, juggling his cane between his knees. "Catch anything interesting, my dear fellow?"
Toby shook his head. "I haven't been getting any bites. It's not exactly surprising."
"Well, why not?" Julius held his cane still. "I can see for myself the shadows beneath the water. Have you painted so much you've forgotten how to fish?"
"No," he answered lightly, reeling in his line again. He expertly casted it out over both of their heads. The bobber splashed, shifted around, and settled a good distance from them. "They seem to be avoiding me, too."
"Avoiding you?" Julius juggled the cane in his hands again. Left, right, left right. "I hope you don't mean me, Mr. Hallward. I always enjoy our visits."
"Of course not, it's Gill!" Toby finally admitted. Grumbling, he went on: "He's been skirting around me like I'm some sort of strange uncle. I haven't seen him in weeks!"
"Why not invite him for tea? You make lovely tea, Mr. Hallward," Julius chuckled, thinking the situation was funny somehow.
Toby didn't notice his friend's humorous tone. He rolled his eyes beneath their heavy lids and focused on staring at his inactive bobber. "Of course I've invited him over – dozens of times! Every time he would make some excuse so as not to be bothered, or he just wouldn't show. So I stopped."
"Tsk, tsk," Lord Julius tutted, striking his cane into the rocky bank below them. "It appears Gill Gray has gone wild!"
"Oh, don't joke about such things," Toby Hallward scolded, gripping his fishing rod tighter. "Really, Julius, the boy's changed since you've come along."
"I've come along? I've been here all my life," Julius defended himself. He took a moment to rethink his answer. "Well, then again, except for those few years when I decided travelling would be the ticket. Dreadful, messy business! But it gave me a reason to stay…"
Toby shook his head, hastily reeling in his line. "No, no, you don't understand! Your influence, Julius. That's what I mean. Since you've met him, Gill's been acting out."
"Oh, don't be such a bother, Mr. Hallward. You worry too much – the boy's just living life for himself for once. Nothing wrong with that," Julius said.
"Of course you wouldn't think there's anything wrong with that – it's all you ever do!" Toby sighed. "And that's what I'm worried about."
Lord Wotton turned and looked at his friend for the first time since sitting down. The fisherman was saying some very intriguing things.
The wind picked up, sending chills through them both. The water rushed by from the push before settling back into its quiet state. Toby Hallward was content with the silence for long enough before he finally said: "I'm afraid for him, Julius."
"Afraid?"
"For the day when he discovers this hedonism only hurts himself and others. When the quick moments of pleasure melt away and he's left with… nothing," Toby said. He cast out his fishing pole again.
Julius watched the hook and bobber fly on the near invisible line before it hit the water. His smirk quickly returned as he grabbed his top hat, bowing it over his forever curious eyes. "Though I respect your opinion, Mr. Hallward, for you are my dearest friend, I will have to disagree. Mr. Gray must learn these things on his own – if he does. But what more is life than simple moments of pleasure? It is in fact, nothing, Mr. Hallward."
These dark words rang in Toby's ears long after Lord Julius took his leave. He continued to worry for both of his friends and was almost too late when the bobber jerked under the water, pulling the line tight for the first time that day.