Azusa is more than ready for the carefully measured knock on the door when it finally comes. The apartment is a mess, or at least a mess compared to its usual pristine state, and she has been pointedly reading on the couch for the last hour rather than making any attempt to tidy the space. It's not like Stein'll mind, anyway.
The meister doesn't even offer a greeting when she opens the door, just holds up the glass bottle of amber liquid by way of saying hello.
It's enough for Azusa. "Oh thank god, please come in." She steps out of the way and Stein comes in, shoving the door shut behind him as Azusa heads back down the corridor. "You and especially your whiskey are most welcome."
"Bad day?" Stein asks calmly, as if her calling and demanding company and alcohol wasn't confirmation enough of that in itself.
"I had to teach one of Sid's classes."
"Ah." Stein extends the bottle without further comment and Azusa takes it before retreating around the corner to the kitchen so she can procure two glasses.
"You?" She offers with her back to the meister, who is currently staring out the window with his hands in his pockets. "Or are you just here to keep me company?"
She can hear the raised eyebrow in Stein's voice when he speaks without turning to actually see him. "Would my company really be preferable to drinking alone?"
"Don't beg for compliments, Stein, it doesn't suit you nearly as well as it suits your weapon." She splashes an inch of whiskey into both glasses and leaves the bottle on the counter, turning back to offer Stein one of the two cups.
"It suits him, then?" the meister asks, accepting the drink from her.
"I didn't say that," Azusa clarifies. "Just that it really doesn't suit that aura of omniscience you like to cultivate." Stein chuckles and sips at his drink without moving to sit down. The whiskey is very good, though Azusa is not sure if that's inherent good taste in Stein or something he's picked up from judging her reactions to his repeated offerings. It doesn't much matter, just that the alcohol consistently gets better every time he shows up and that this is no exception. The bite of the liquid down her throat and the burn on her tongue are rich and dark and she's smiling before she even has to think about it.
"So." She takes another sip, gestures towards Stein with the hand holding her glass. "You never answered my question. How was your day?"
Stein shrugs. "Classes are much less of an ordeal for me than they are for you."
"A fact that never ceases to amaze me," Azusa interjects.
Stein glances at her and takes another drink from his glass. "But Spirit's out with Maka tonight and I'm between experiments at the moment."
"Are you lonely?" Azusa asks, shocked enough that it bleeds into her voice. "I didn't think that was something you were familiar with."
Stein's laugh has the sharp edge of true startled sincerity from his throat. "Not familiar with, yet, but I have been gaining exposure to it. It's elucidating, if not pleasant."
"Well. Congratulations." The word is flat in Azusa's mouth, but it gets a smirk to twist over Stein's lips and he lifts his glass in a half-toast before downing the last of the liquid. Azusa imitates him and takes the bottle to top off both their glasses before they head to the table by unspoken accord.
"How's Marie?" Stein asks as they sit down. His words have the lack of emotion his small talk usually displays; it makes it sound like he's following a script. Of course, he probably is, and at least he's asking.
"She's fine." Azusa smiles into her glass. "Better than fine, usually she's a delight to be with. But she loves people, especially kids, and occasionally her sunny disposition is not what I am in the mood for."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Stein deadpans. It makes Azusa laugh, the amusement coming easy as the alcohol burns warm under her skin.
"See, that's exactly what I'm in the mood for tonight."