Alfred hadn't been expecting anyone to speak to him, and so even though it was a familiar face that approached it still took him a minute to realize what was happening. Entertaining one of Zelda's myriad of siblings was the last thing he'd wanted to do tonight, and the blow was only softened slightly by the fact that it was Julian and not one of the ones who were openly hostile to him. He tried to smile in greeting, but managed only a brief flicker at the corner of his mouth. Julian seemed to be settling in, making himself comfortable. Alfred debated lying and saying he'd just been on his way out — he could drink at home, he just didn't want to because so many of the things at home were reminders of time he'd spent with Jo — but just as he opened his mouth to offer his apologies, the bartender approached with the second round he'd ordered. Now there was a full pint in front of him, in addition to the third that was still in his current glass, so if he got up to leave it would be obvious he was running away.

Well, fuck.

"I was under the impression a pub was the perfect place to sit around looking like this," he said dryly. He took another drink and glanced at Julian's notebook, wondering what was in it. "Are you planning to solve all my problems for me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and trying to sound like he was joking (though, actually, he was rather dreading that this in fact the case — though what Julian supposed his problems were was anyone's guess). "You've certainly come well-equipped."