Letter to Adam

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

After his search and unhelpful conversation with Leon, Aziraphale decided it was time to talk to someone who might have some answers. Of course, getting these answers might be more difficult, but he still had to try. Aziraphale contemplated the best way to go about this. There was no sense in trying to trick Adam, and bribing him with sweets and tea wouldn't help, either. Aziraphale tended to be civil by default, but he also knew that whether or not Adam personally liked him probably wouldn't change much. Still, it'd be easier for Aziraphale to feel comfortable.

Finally, he penned a letter.



Dear Adam,

I have some matters I would like to discuss with you. I'm aware and certainly understand that you have limits on what you're willing to say, and that you have good reason for setting these limits. However, I still believe it would ease some of my worry if I were able to speak to you. I feel that I would be more comfortable speaking to you in person, and was hoping you'd be willing to join me someplace for tea or a meal. I would certainly appreciate it.

Your friend,

Aziraphale

Comments

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale,

Sure thing. I don't have anythin' goin' on just now. Wanna meet at the Rancho del Zocalo in a few minutes? It's across from where the boats load up in Frontierland.

See you soon,
Adam

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

Adam,

I'd be happy to.

Thank you,

Aziraphale

Technically, he probably didn't need to tell an omnipotent boy he was on his way, but he figured it couldn't hurt. He posted the letter and then was on his way to Rancho del Zocalo, arriving only a few minutes later.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Adam was there when Aziraphale arrived. His house was closer, after all. He was standing in the large line area looking between the BBQ side of the menu and the Mexican side of the menu, though the desserts might have also caught his eye once or twice.

"Hi, Aziraphale. Heck of a lot of meat in this place, isn't there?" he observed. Think maybe I'll have a salad... You want somethin'?"

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale glanced at the menu, wrinkling his nose slightly at the choices. "I think I'll have an iced tea," he replied, smiling. "I'm not terribly hungry."

And the conversation with Leon had just come back to him. Yes, he may be avoiding meat for a while, no matter how ludicrous the idea is.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

The young man turned and pointed at the beverage counter against the far wall. "All the drinks are over there. I'll be back in a second."

He ducked behind the counter and quickly made himself a taco salad with rice, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and guacamole in a tortilla bowl. Grabbing some utensils and napkins, he put it all on a tray, got himself a glass of water, and went to join Aziraphale and his tea at one of the outside tables.

"You know, this guacamole stuff is real good. I guess it's avocados and summat? I never had it 'fore I came here. Pepper might even like it." He dug in with relish, though with surprisingly good manners, glancing up curiously at the angel.

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale made himself an ice tea, and only a little guiltily changed it to higher quality iced tea. Well, how could you blame him, this tasted like it came from some sort of powder. Then he sat and waited for Adam.

Aziraphale had tried guacamole before, but centuries ago the one time he'd had to visit the New World before it had been properly civilized. He smiled. "Hmm, yes," he said absently. Once Adam glanced at him, though, he turned more serious.

"Ah. Well, I suppose you're aware that Alice Liddell has been living with me for the past few months. I was asked to look after her by a friend, and for that reason I take that charge very seriously. She's gone missing, and therefore I feel obligated to find out as much about the people who have gone missing as I can. Surely you understand."

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Nodding, Adam swallowed and said, "I understand. An' I know why you came to me. I'll tell you what I can, which isn't as much as you'll wanna know, but if you c'n deal with that, then go ahead an' ask."

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

"That's certainly fair and nothing less than expected," Aziraphale replied with a smile. "Can you tell me where the people who disappear go?"

He couldn't imagine Adam would, but it was worth a shot.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

"I can," he said honestly. "But I won't. They're safe, if that helps."

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

"It does," admitted Aziraphale. "It rules out Leon's...interesting theories, at the least. I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't dead, but I didn't think they were. Do they return to their universe? Or travel to a different one?"

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

"I'm tellin' you straight, they're not dead. They're not hurt or hungry or anythin'. They're happy and well taken care of an' there's always a possibility that you might see 'em again some day. I can't really say more'n that."

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

"All right," said Aziraphale. "They're all right...and they're not back in their universes. And they can't be here because Sirius and Rukia said, so they're somewhere else, unless they were hidden somehow..."

He paused and took a drink from his iced tea. "I'm sorry. Thank you. Do you know why these specific people were taken? Is there any logic to it, or any way to prevent more disappearances?"

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Adam looked vaguely bemused. "I didn't say anythin' 'bout where they are," he replied, ignoring the rest for the moment.

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

"You said they weren't hurt or hungry and they were happy and well cared for. With the amount of humans who have gone missing? And what real universes, the type that don't regenerate food and whatever else this place does are like? There's no way you could say that unless you were specifically taking care of each one, which doesn't sound like you. Or unless whoever is in charge here is doing so, but somehow I doubt that, too. So they're in a place like this, that actually serves to care for them and protect them somehow, or they're in this place, but hidden from the rest of us." He paused, remembering something. "They're not all at that wizarding school, are they?"

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

"You're makin' a lotta assumptions," Adam retorted. "They were all cared for by their friends an' family before they came here, so I don't see why they wouldn't be if they went back. Act'lly, seems like them goin' back where they came from makes the most sense, wouldn't you say? More than them goin' somewhere else entirely or hidin' out here."

He gestured with his fork, "An' I don't mean any offense, but you don't really have any idea what I'd do or wouldn't. If I were takin' care of 'em, it wouldn't be the first time I've done somethin' sim'lar. Gave you your shop back, didn't I? And Crowley his car."

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

He raised an eyebrow. "I know I'm making assumptions. But I don't think they're unreasonable. Every one of them was cared for and is cared for back at home? Not to mention that the only family and friends Alice had at home was me, and I'm here, and never saw her again after she disappeared. But you're right. I've no idea what you would or wouldn't do, so I apologize for assuming that."

Even if he still thought it was true.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

"We might be fightin' over semantics here," said Adam, betraying his education. "Your definition of 'cared for' might well be dif'rent than mine. An' you don't know that you didn't see her again after she disappeared 'cause it might not have happened to you yet. Time's weird like that. You c'n ask Wilbur about it if you'd like."

He shrugged, not really caring what Aziraphale thought of him. He knew what he was doing and there were layers here that the angel couldn't know or even understand.

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps," replied the angel, not wanting to argue the point. He'd heard what he'd wanted to hear, and was satisfied. "Thank you for talking to me," he added.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Adam nodded. "Anytime," he said sincerely and dug into his salad again.