a very little bit of Maurice/Alec

[toujours_nigel]

"Maurice," Scudder said, "you sure we should?"

"Yes," he said, and "we can't not," and, finally, turning to face him, "come now, Alec, surely you're not nervous?"

"What if I am," Alec asked, face brightening from the gathering glower, "what if I'd much rather not meet your toff friend, then?"

"You get along famously with him."

"'e was just a boy, then."

"Much the same, still. It's luck we met last week."

"Maurice."

"We're here," Maurice said, with the same heavy declaration he'd given to the assertion that he was leaving his well-padded niche in society, and rang the bell.