Don't believe in no-win scenarios

Jim's not sure whether he's more pleased that Isidor's on the same page as he is or that she's playing along. Most days he has to stop and ask himself how he ended up such close friends with Isidor Durant of everyone in the Nexus. But despite the baggage each of them carries for the other's choice of paramours Jim grins much brighter than he would to most anyone else.

It's hard to fight alongside someone, stand side by side with them in their troubles, and accept a hand up from someone after they've wiped the floor with you and not either turn out to be very good friends or very close rivals.

"I remember meeting so many culturally diverse people at the Durant parties. It hadn't occurred to me that they wouldn't all be tied into your family in some way. And I suppose most of them were European in descent on both occasions." Those are fond memories. Jim's learned so very much from his limited time spent amid Isidor's family and not all of it he learned from the Durants.

"It'll be a welcome break from work and my own studies. I'm pretty sure the minute I get my nose into those gifts you left for us I'll be up to my elbows in magical theory observation with most of my spare time. It's taken a backseat for long enough."