XIV

[takeyouapart]

[The handwriting isn't as tidy as usual and occasionally just descends into unreadable splodges.  Merlin does not really understand mixed drinks and as such got incredibly wasted without noticing.]

It's called Velan Valentine's Day, isn't it?  Tomorrow.  I should have read more about it before I got off the Barge.  But it sounds nice from what other

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[alzarian_youth]

"Hello," Adric greeted, sitting near the stranger, a couple bags of candy in hand. He'd been able to find plenty of candy stores, but no decent bookstores. The library, of course, but it seemed all anyone in this place cared to write about was love, and Adric didn't really care to read romance novels or dating advice books. Opening a bag of candy and taking one and popping it into his own mouth, Adric offered it to the stranger, a habit that came from the Doctor. "Want one?"

He was tempted to say 'jelly baby', but none of the shops had those. Instead, they mostly had chocolate and little hearts with cute phrases.

[takeyouapart]

"Thank you," Merlin said brightly and without really considering it, taking a little chocolate heart and biting into it. Strawberry. Hmm.

"Sorry - I've seen you on the Barge, but I don't - " He twisted a little and stuck a hand out. "I'm Merlin."

[alzarian_youth]

"I'm Adric," he answered, taking Merlin's hand. The name, of course, meant little to him. "I'm new to the Barge."

[takeyouapart]

"Adric," Merlin echoed. "Nice to meet you. How are you finding it?"

[alzarian_youth]

"I like it, really. I've been able to spend time with people I never thought I'd see again, so no matter what its downsides, it can't be all bad. And it has a really nice library...not at all like the libraries in this place." A disgusted look crossed his face. "Did you know the libraries here only have romance books?"

He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, considering the nature of this city. Still...

"I know they want to play up the love angle, but surely love has room for a decent math book."

[takeyouapart]

Merlin, whose mathematical education was extremely basic and rarely applied, just shrugged.

"I think they're doing more than playing up an angle. It's what this town is all about. It's what it's running on. Like - " He groped for the word, and said it as if it was unfamiliarly foreign. "Like electricity. There are other places for maths. Maybe they've got a town for that too, somewhere else."

[alzarian_youth]

"Oh. Well, if they do, I think I'd have rather visited there than here." After all, math was so much more interesting than love.