"Mm, no not quite like we used to, no." Johann replied little less coherently, having snuck a mouthful in. "I more meant, just us, as friends." He clarified after finishing his mouthful. "I mean these days you'd not be my responsibility, but my partner, erhm, companion? Oh...!" He was searching for the right word that didn't make Adelia sound like a romantic partner or that they were off in the TARDIS together.

"You know what I mean." He elected instead, prodding at the food again and trying to ignore the voices in his head telling him he was an idiot. "Besides, there's nothing to stop us ending up at the pub, because I don't have to get you back to Hogwarts by curfew." He chuckled.

"I have elected not to think too hard about the difficulties and unlikely outcomes of time travel and possibility surrounding Doctor Who, kept me up for three days straight soon after Colin started me watching it. 'You've got to suspend belief' he convinced me eventually. It's not all meant to make sense." Johann frowned, lifting another mouthful. "Goes against my nature!"

He chewed with that same frown on his face for a moment and then waved a hand to brush all thought of the paradoxes and hard-to-believe aspects of the television programme to one side.

"How are your family, anyhow? What's everyone up to these days?" It had been a while since he'd asked, Adelia would mention the odd bit when they had taken their time together the previous year, but it had been a while now.

He leaned over a little and lowered his voice.

"Spill the dirt."


End