[F] On the Hunt

[Arthur Kirkland]

While they were still in the train station, Arthur paused, pulling out his wallet. He brought a trip back for Alfred, and then presented it to him with almost a proud grin. "Here." It'd have to be used before the morning, and Arthur was counting on Alfred not wanting to waste the money. "I mean... if you want to go back." He said, a little awkwardly. He was just beginning to realise that he'd dragged Alfred away, not quite from his home, but he was stopping him from sleeping, and that made him feel guilty.

Leading the way, Arthur climbed down the steps onto the pavement with exaggerated care as he tried not to fall over. "Do you know this area?" He asked, looking at Alfred, and then starting on the familiar walk home. "My flat's just off from the park."

[Alfred Jones]

Alfred didnt quite catch what he was doing, otherwise he would have stopped him. But he pouted faintly and took the ticket. "Thanks, but.. I could have paid for that myself, you know..." he mumbled, but then he followed him as he started on his way, just wanting to make sure the older man got home safely.

"Mm...I remember the park in this area. It's a good one...Or at least from what I remember it s." he smiled, looking around idly to distract himself a bit. "Anyway...What job do you do?" He asked, cocking his head as he looked at Arthur, a curious look on his face while he attempted to distract himself from the surroundings.

[Arthur Kirkland]

"You didn't have to bring me home in the first place." Arthur pointed out. "Besides, it's not like I can't afford it." As he put his wallet away, he snuck a couple of bills out, putting them into the pocket of Alfred's jacket while he wasn't looking. It was easy enough to do it subtly, given how big the jacket was on him.

Smiling, Arthur nodded. "It is. That's why I brought the flat here." He wondered if Alfred had lived close by, and then frowned a little. There were only a few schools, and he wondered if they'd been in school together. He couldn't remember him, though. Arthur had mostly kept to himself in school anyway. "Hmm? Oh, I'm a writer." He replied. "Novels, mainly, but I have a column in the newspaper too."

[Alfred Jones]

"I was worried about you walking alone piss drunk, dude." Was the reply, but he pouted at the other saying that, luckily not noticing as he snuck the bills in. Faintly he hummed, he hadn't actually lived around the area, but he had been to this park a few times. Faintly he wet his lips before he arched a brow with a smile.

"Yeah? That sounds pretty fun. How many novels have you gotten published?" He glanced up when he saw the large building of apartments ahead, assuming that that was where Arthur lived, then frowned when he saw the sky looking darker than usual. Great. Rain....And as if to worsen his thoughts, thunder rumbled in the distance.

[Arthur Kirkland]

Pouting a little at that, Arthur gave a little huff. "I've been worse." He said, quietly. He felt a little bad saying that around Alfred, for some reason, and he expected that Alfred wouldn't really like it. Hunching up a little he hid in Alfred's jacket so he wouldn't have to see his reaction.

Putting his foot down wrong again, Arthur stumbled, but managed to catch himself without reaching out for Alfred this time. "I, uh..." He blinked. "Three." He replied, finally. "The first one's awful though. I don't know what my agent was thinking when he accepted it." He sighed, and then looked up when he heard the thunder. Reaching out for Alfred again, he pulled on him slightly. "If we're quick, we should get home before it hits." He'd need a bit of support for that, though, not that he'd ask for it.

[Alfred Jones]

That did make Alfred frown, and he cast a worried look towards the older man. He didn't know why, but that made him feel bad about it, and he didn't like hearing it at all. Moreso than for random people he met in his wanderings. Hearing about his novels was nice though, and he smiled faintly. "Maybe I'll take a look sometime. Did you use a penname? Whats the title?"

The pulling made him blink though, and he almost paused at the word 'home', before he nodded. "Alright. C'mon, lets hurry." He said, and then hooking an arm around the other, he started a quick jog, hurrying forwards. "Just tell me where to go." Was said close to his ear, and he glanced up when he heard the rain starting behind them.

[Arthur Kirkland]

Shaking his head, Arthur snorted. If he used a penname, he'd have to actually tellhis father that he was successful, and that'd mean talking to the man. "Don't look up the first one, though." Arthur begged, a little embarrassed. "I wish I could take that damn thing out of circulation."

Surprised by the arm wrapped around him, Arthur stilled for a moment, unsure how to react. He was used to contact, yes, but not this kind of gentle contact. He didn't have much of a chance to work it out, though, and as Alfred started forward, Arthur yelped, clinging onto him as it almost unbalanced the already unsteady man. "A little slower than that, please." He said, but after a moment or two he found his feet, though he kept one hand latched in Alfred's shirt like a needy child.

Arthur didn't need to look around to lead Alfred through the streets, this had been his home for long enough that it was familiar in the dark. Arthur almost knew every paving stone. "Ah, this way." He said, as they came to the first turning, pulling Alfred that way. As they headed up hill, the blocks started to get smaller and more individual, but they were still not the big mansions of the north. Arthur pulled Alfred along a street that bordered the park, and then off from it, where there were a couple of sets of flats, and to the one at the end of the road, when he started rummaging in his pockets for his keys. Fortunately he'd had things stolen from coat pockets in the cloak room before, so he kept everything on himself these days.

[Alfred Jones]

"Oh, you're just making me want to read it more. I'll definitely find it~." Alfred teased gently. However when Arthur requested to move slower, he pouted a bit but complied, not minding as the older man clung to his shirt like that. It really would have been easier to just get him to go piggy back, but he really had a feeling that Arthur wouldn't like that, at all...

Nodding at the direction, Alfred moved, and while he was on his way he kind of glanced around, enjoying the scenery while still somehow keeping them from running into anything. As they reached his home, he released Arthur slowly so that he wouldnt feel strange from the sudden lack of support, then smiled a bit as he was at least smart enoug to take his things from his coat, which he assumed he was too drunk to pick up.

And as he looked up...The rain came down, and since he was furthur back, he wa the one who got soaked. Blinking, he just pushed the strands of his bangs out of his face. Well...At least he had gotten him home. "Alright..Well, it was nice seein' you again, I'll be sure to try and look for your novels." He stated, already backing away. He figured the older man wouldnt want a homeless person in his house anyway.

[Arthur Kirkland]

Snorting, Arthur shook his head. "I can give you a copy if you want to read it that bad, but I assure you it isn't worth it." He told him. He was right about Arthur not letting him take him on his back - being comfortable with being touched was one thing, but Arthur wouldn't trust people to pick him up without carrying him. Besides, he would have thought that he was too heavy for that, despite his skinny frame.

Wincing as the rain started, Arthur let out a noise of triumph as he found his keys, but then paused, looking back at Alfred. "You're soaking. At least come in until it stops raining." Arthur said, reaching out to catch Alfred by the wrist. "Or I think I have an umbrella inside, you can have that." Keeping a hold on him so that he didn't disappear like last time, Arthur unlocked the door, then smiled at Alfred, gently trying to tug him inside.

[Alfred Jones]

That made Alfred grin in amusement, but he shrugged. "I'll be the judge of that." Of course he was surprised at Arthur catching hi by his wrist, and he gently tugged on it, before sighing. "...Well...Ok..." He mumbled. He'd stay until the rain stopped, that way he wouldn't have to take the others umbrella.

Of course he was slightly nervous at the thought of entering an actual home after all, but as soon as they were inside, he shivered lightly at the change of temperature, staying near the front so he didnt get his floor wet. He did take the moment to look around though, and he lightly smiled in amusement. "Quite the bachelors pad you have here."

[Arthur Kirkland]

Heading for the stairs, Arthur led Alfred up. He had the top flat, something he was grateful for, although since the block was split into four that wasn't saying much. Using his key again, he let them in at the door on the top of the stairs, letting out a pleased noise to be home. Reaching out, he switched the light on, revealing his home.

It wasn't a big flat, especially bearing in mind Arthur's career, but it was comfortable and clean. The main room was open plan, with a small kitchen, a breakfast bar that Arthur used as a table, and a sitting room with a sofa and a desk, but little space for much more. During the day the room was lit by a large window on the far end, which had a window seat in front of it. Off the main hall, two doors led off, and Arthur pointed to the first one. "That's the bathroom." He told him. "You can leave your bag here if you want."

Sitting down with a grunt, he started to struggle out of his boots, finding it hard going thanks to the drink in his system. He eventually managed to get them off, though, and kicked them to one side, hanging Alfred's coat up so it might get a bit of a chance to dry, and then led the way into the sitting room. "Do you have clean clothes? You should change before you get a cold." He said, looking at Alfred's wet clothes. "I don't have a dryer, but we can put them on the radiator for now?"

[Alfred Jones]

It wasn't big, but it was cozy, was the thought in Alfreds mind. Looking around, he nodded before he paused, watching the other struggle with his footwear amusedly. "Why do you wear em if you're just gonna have issues with getting them off?" He asked, setting his bag down and searching through it before he pulled out a change of clothing, and after a moment, quickly moved across the floor to the bathroom. It took him a total of 45 seconds before he was out once again. He had wrung out the water from the wet clothing in the sink so at least they wouldnt drip.

"Radiator sounds fine." Smiling lightly, he tugged his only slightly damp bag with him, setting it where it'd be out of the way and then slicked his hair back since it was wet anyways, ignoring as that strand that refused to go down stood up proudly.

[Arthur Kirkland]

Glaring up at him, Arthur continued to struggle with them. "Because they look good and they're comfortable!" He replied, snappily. They were his favourite boots, and the struggle to get in and out of them was well worth it in his mind.

Padding over only a little unsteadily, Arthur took his clothes from him and draped them over the radiator where they might dry. As he did so, he pushed the curtains aside so he could have a look outside, and flinched as lightning lit up the room. "It's getting closer." He said, with a sigh. "It might get a bit loud soon."

Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair. What he really wanted was another drink, and he eyed the cabinet, before looking back at Alfred. He hadn't seemed too happy about him drinking before for some reason, but... Well, his head was starting to hurt, and he was starting to feel a bit sick, and that meant he was starting to sober up, and he'd really rather not. "Do you want a drink? I don't have coffee, but there's tea or hot chocolate?" He offered.

[Alfred Jones]

Letting him take his clothes, Alfred allowed his hands to drop and stuck his hands in his pockets as he watched him , also wincing lightly at the lightening. He never really liked storms, and it was worse down in the lowlands...

"Um. Hot chocolate would be nice, thank you..." He requested,sounding as if admitting he wanted something would get him thrown out on the street. He did however look out the window, curious about the view from here had. Smiling at it being rather decent, he then pulled back and lightly wandered around, kind of like a puppy would when brought home for the first time, albeit being much more careful than a puppy would be, and he didnt try to look in any rooms.

[Arthur Kirkland]

Nodding at that, Arthur wondered into the kitchen and put the kettle on. He got two mugs down and tipped unsteady spoonfuls of chocolate powder into both, before padding over to the cabinet and pulling out a mostly empty bottle of rum. "Want a shot?" He offered, as he headed back over to the kitchen.

As the kettle boiled, he poured the water into the mugs, and followed it up with a dash of milk from a surprisingly empty fridge. Into his own he poured a (large) shot of rum before Alfred could complain, and then looked at him to see what he wanted. "You might want some sugar too... I normally just let mine be." He didn't know how much of a sweet tooth Alfred had.

[Alfred Jones]

Blinking when the shot was offered, Alfred shook his head. "No thank you." Of course, he noticed the empty fridge, and hummed curiously at that before he just smiled. "It's fine as long as it's warm." He looked at the fridge again though, and cocked his head. "Has it been awhile since you've been to the grocery store..?" He asked, looking at him curiously.

Really, the older man was thinner than him, and with him being well off that usually meant either an eating problem or flat out laziness. However, he did notice a few takeout boxes...Maybe he just didnt feel up to cooking most of the time? ...Alfred could cook, he had had a job as a chef at a diner for awhile.

[Arthur Kirkland]

"It's warm." Arthur agreed with a laugh, topping Alfred's up with milk instead. "I... No, I haven't, I guess." Come to think of it, he couldn't remember if he'd eaten today or not, but that was probably just the alcohol talking. He did usually manage to get one meal down, unless he was writing. Besides, the hot chocolate counted, right? And he'd certainly drunk his calories in alcohol. "Are you hungry?" He asked, wondering why Alfred had asked. There wasn't usually much more than there was in his fridge at the moment.

Picking up the hot chocolates from the side, Arthur came over with exaggerated care, offering Alfred his. "You can sit down, you know." He told him, before putting his down by the window seat, obviously claiming it. He didn't sit down himself, though, padding into the bedroom and returning with a pile of books, which he put on the coffee table. "Those are my books. If you still want to read them, I mean."

[Alfred Jones]

Frowning lightly, Alfred hummed before he shook his head quickly. "N-no, I was just wondering why your fridge was so empty." Perking as the hot chocolate came, he took his own and happily took a light sip before he watched him, nodding. He ended up just seating himself on the floor, leaning up against the sofa before he smiled, reaching over and taking the first one.

"Course I wanna read em. You have to be good to get published, right?" He asked, reading the summary of the book first, squinting lightly. He was far-sighted, so reading was a bit of a pain for him, but he still loved to do it. It was wonderful to read. "What's your favorite kind of book genre, Arthur?" He asked then, looking over at him as he finished the summary, smiling at him like a kid at christmas just from being able to read something he hadn't before.

[Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur frowned a little at that and looked at his fridge. Was it empty? There was less in it than there had been in the one at home, but he didn't cook and he lived in the house by himself, so that was hardly surprising. "That's how it usually is." He explained, with a little shrug.

Noticing the squint, Arthur leant over a little. "Near or far sighted?" He asked, getting up and crossing over to his desk. It took a bit of rummaging, but from the back he pulled an old pair of glasses in a case, which he handed over wordlessly. They had been his grandfathers, but Alfred didn't need to know that.

"Fantasy." He replied, without even having to think about it. "I don't really like science fiction, though." He pointed to the books. "The second one, um, Seas, is a romantic drama type of thing, though. I had an idea for it, so I ran with it." He smiled at Alfred. "What do you like best?"

[Alfred Jones]

The question kind of made him jump, and he flushed lightly at being caught. "Far...I used to have glasses, but they broke when I was working and I just never replaced them." He sighed lightly. Of course that probably helped make his eyes worse, but shh. Of course, the fact that Arthur had glasses made him blink in surprise, but then he took them, cocking his head before looking up and putting them on, smiling brilliantly. "Woah, they're perfect!"

That alone surprised him, but then he eagerly opened the book, starting to read. "Hmmn...I really like all kinds of stuff, it depends on what kind of thing I'm in teh mood for. But I tend to like fiction stuff more." Nodding, he put his finger on the spot he was at before he looked up at Arthur. "But I really love history...Man, what I would give to be able to do deep sea diving where the old countries used to be." He sighed, looking a bit dreamy before he returned to the book.

Of course, it was easy to kind of tell that was one of the first things he's mentioned of something he's wanted to do for himself. "What kind of romance is it?" He asked though, glancing up as he turned the page and easily multitasking, able to hold a conversation and read at the same time.