Theseus hadn't been focused on his work given the recent events of his wife's familial drama and his own reservations about the proposed trip to India. India, of all places. What was Valeria thinking? It was exotic, sure, and definitely out of the way, but what did it offer them other than an excuse to get away from everything? It's not as if they would have had a decent time together, for Merlin knew the bond they shared was consistently held together by a thin string. One wrong move on either end and it was more than likely to fall apart.

This day in particular saw the obliviator pacing the main hall in quiet contempt of everything surrounding him. He wasn't the best at expressing himself and tended to brush whatever he had been feeling to the depths of his mind where they would fester and linger, until moments like these when everything suddenly came to the forefront. He had no one to talk to, no one who would listen without a judgmental ear, nor the ability to find the words to even convey his thoughts in a proper manner. There was nothing Theseus figured could be done, so he continued his constant pace.

Upon sighting an old housemate, he reduced his motions to a slight canter until finally regaining his composure enough to engage socially. "Ah, Mr. Podmore, what brings you to these parts?" Theseus managed to say. He decided small talk would at least distract him for the moment, though wasn't at all what he wanted to waste his time doing.

In truth, Theseus hadn't been able to piece together the emotions he had been feeling about Valeria and her connection to her aunt, let alone the latter's untimely passing. It was all too real a situation. He wasn't so familiar with death, especially one that influenced someone much closer to him than Olivia had ever been. But was this reason not to care? Certainly not, considering the obliviator's rather inclusive nature, though there was still a question in his mind that was quickly brought to the surface upon mention of the... incident that sparked this whole endeavor.

"A poor habit I've developed over the years I suppose," he stated nonchalantly. "It truly is a shame what happened, don't you think?" While it may not have been the time or place to inquire such a thing, Theseus believed  he wouldn't have had the chance otherwise. He needed to hear from someone else that this event was indeed terrible. That it resulted in loss and devastation that affected so many people. Mr. Podmore wasn't someone he considered to be especially persuasive, but perhaps his response was needed to make the distraught man feel less alone.