Upon Meeting You

4

TW: Small mentions of abuse/drinking/slight mature content

"Straight bourbon. Neat. Please. It doesn't matter which one." I sighed, settling onto the stool beside Goren. I just need something to calm my nerves so at this point anything will suffice. "Oh and can I get a root beer float for this guy over here... if possible." I called out.

"It's not part of the menu but I can make it work." He winks at me.

"Thanks... " I sigh relieved for Goren then look down to his name tag "Adam." I finish my sentence. "Lenora." I state extending my hand.

"Nice to meet you, Lenora." He returns my handshake. After a moment he grins, turning away walking to the back of the restaurant. I feel my face flush with embarrassment. He returns shortly with a small tub of vanilla ice cream and begins scooping it into a beer mug. As he starts pouring the root beer in with the ice cream I feel someone walk up behind me.

"I've always known you to be an insolent brat, but I never took you for a literal child." A familiar British voice scoffs.

"Wow. You really think you're the shit don't you?" I sigh exasperated. He responds with an eye roll and leans on the bar with his forearms to my side.

"You know, Wilhelm, if you weren't such a grouchy old man, I might have even considered you tolerable." he side eyes me. "But no. You're too far up your own ass." he scoffs in response to this.

"And you're the most wonderful person to be around, yes?"

"Well I never said that." I respond. "All I'm saying is live a little."

"And how do you recommend I do that?"

"Here. Sit. Over there. Your cologne is way too strong for my liking." I speak bluntly pointing to the seat beside Goren.

"Prat." he mumbles under his breath causing me to smile in content knowing I was able to get under his skin. "And you Goren... I never took you for an alcoholic." he speaks sitting on the left of Goren as the bartender from earlier places the root beer float in front of me.

"Can I get another one of these?" I ask as Irving sits to my right. I glance over and smirk at him. "Actually make that two more."

I slide the one in front of me down to Wilhelm as Goren looks at me in confusion.

"I'm going to use this as a way to tease him in a bit." I whisper down to Goren. He nods understanding.

Wilhelm gives me a questioning look not touching the drink.

"What? Have you never had one before?" I ask. He solely raises a brow. "Here." I state, handing him a straw. "Now drink."

He leans down placing his lips on the tip of the straw taking a hesitant sip of the float. When it reaches his mouth, his eyes show signs of relief.

"Good?" I grin. He responds with a grunt. "Old grouch." I mumble under my breath.

"Okay. Stop with this 'old' nonsense!" he argues.

"I'll stop once you stop being a grouchy pessimist."

"I'm not a grouchy pessimist!"

"Well you could have fooled me.." I mumble. He rolls his eyes and takes another drink as Adam places two more root beer floats in front of me.

"One for Irving..." I place one in front of Irving giving him a small peck on the cheek causing him to blush. "Hi Irving. Didn't get to greet you because that pesky grandfather over there was arguing with me." I smile at him then turn my head. "And one for Gorey." I place a kiss on his cheek as well and ruffle his hair as my glass of bourbon is placed in front of me.