milliways_bar | (no subject)

*Adam is sneaky. Adam knows what Archie looks like. And from the looks of it, Archie always looks like he could use a drink. And so he approaches, cider in hand.*

I think you dropped this.

"How clever I am to have managed to drop it and not spill a drop. In truth, I don't remember ordering it."

Archie smiles easily up at the other man.

"I thank you for retrieving it, sir."

It's the least I can do for a friend of Alanna's. You are Archie, right?

*It never hurts to double check.*

"I have that dubious honor."

He rises, offering his hand and gesturing at the seat opposite himself.

"I fear you have me at a disadvantage, sir, though if you are a friend of Alanna's, I am glad to meet you."

*Adam takes the hand as well as the seat, and smiles as he does.*

Adam Young. It's nice to finally meet you.

Archie's smile widens and it is not forced at all, no it isn't.

"Ah, so you are Alanna's Adam. I have heard much about you. It is a pleasure."

Alanna's Adam?

*He can't help but grin.*

I suppose I am. I'm not sure I want to hear what's been said about me, though.

"She speaks nothing but the highest of you. Really, she gets misty, it is rather endearing."

He chuckles a bit.

"I think I might have reacted about the same way the first time someone refered me to as 'Svava's Archie'."

Well, it's one thing to know it, it's another thing to hear it come out of somebody else's mouth.

"Aye, you have got a point there."

He grins.

"I can think of far worse things to be refered as."

*Adam grins and ducks his head.*

I'm quite happy being Alanna's Adam, actually.

I hope I didn't interrupt anything, coming over like this.

"Oh, not at all. I was just, er, hiding."

He glances around shiftily, as if looking out for someone, which is exactly what he is doing.

*An eyebrow raised in interest.*

Hiding from anything- or one -in particular?

"I had an encounter with a woman who called herself 'Lust' last night."

He looks rather embarassed at that.

"She seemed to be offering to teach either Svava or I or both a... er... thing or two."

*Adam snickers a little bit. He can't help it. It's nice when his sex life isn't the one under scrutiny.*

I'm sure it's nothing you couldn't learn from a video or book.

*See? He's helpful.*

"Lady Ako gave me a book a few weeks ago."

He blushes rather spectacularly.

"It was... enlightening."

Oh? Which book? The Kama Sutra?

"The Kitsune Sutra."

Archie may be facepalming.

"The chapters from eleven on require rather more limbs than either she or I possess."

*Adam can't help laughing.*

I can get you a copy that only requires two arms and two legs.s*

Archie sputters and coughs and blushes even more than he was before.

"I... er... I'm not entirely sure that's necessary. Ah, thank you though."

*Adam shrugs, and smiles.*

S'just as well, I guess. I mean, there are interesting things in there, but it's more fun to come up with them on your own.

Our poor sailor was rather unfortunately taking a drink just then. When the coughing and choking and eye-wiping has past, he's still sputtering, but for an entirely different reason.

"I... er... well, yes. Rather."

*Adam can't help but laugh. He'd say he's sorry, but he's not sure sure Archie would believe him.*

I guess this is probably not what Alanna would consider making a good impression on you.

Archie laughs a little nervously.

"Well, er, considering who you are, I think that you are doing vastly better than I would have expected."

This? Makes him blush even more.

Oh.

Oh. I didn't know you were-

or that I was-

*He shakes his head, trying to clear it.*

I'm not really what most people expect.

*Most of the time, anyway.*

"Alanna did mention it."

He studies his glass, choosing his words very carefully.

"I think that here of all places, people can be what you least expect of them. I trust Alanna's judgement in most things. I don't really have the right to question it anyhow, so all I can do is stand behind her and offer her my support and my blade to anyone who does her wrong. Not that you would. I told her that I would try not to think about those things when I met you."

And this is Alanna he's takling about, think about what he'd do to protect his fiancee.

*Adam understands the need to protect. He understands it very well.*

I ... appreciate that, I think. Though hopefully at some point you won't worry so much about that aspect.

*Not that Adam ever stops worrying about it. But it's nice when other people do.*

"I was raised Catholic, Adam. It is a little difficult for me, but if I can be here and dead and engaged to a Valkyrie, I can try. For her and for you yourself."

And for himself as well, but he wouldn't realize that right now.

*Adam nods his head and smiles slightly.*

That's all I can ask. It's been nice to meet you.

"I...I'm sorry, I hope I haven't offended you, I just thought that honesty would be the better approach. You should know that I know, I suppose."

Not in the least.

*Adam smiles.*

It's better to know where people stand. Let me know if you need another cider.

*He winks, and he's gone.*