Edmund sat up and looked at the silver rectangular container in Tebbitt's hand. He thought he could hear the liquid inside sloshing around as the other man waved the flask in front of him.
Perhaps he will not run Peridan through after all. And he will not have to give Susan a reason to toss him overboard.
Tebbitt twisted the cap off and handed the metal container to him. Edmund brought it to nose and sniffed. It certainly smelled of liquor. He raised the flask in mock salute and took a swig. He swished the liquid in his mouth, savoring the burning sensation before he swallowed.
"Good stuff," he said, warmed by the alcohol flowing through his body. He lowered the flask and examined the dents and scuff marks that marred the silver. "Dare I ask?" he said, rubbing his fingers into the shallow depressions in the metal.
"Better not to," answered the other man. "I may have to kill you if you knew."
Edmund briefly entertained the idea of a duel with the man. He wondered which of them would win. Tebbitt knew how to use a gun and fly a plane, but Edmund had learned how to fight with blades and his hands. He shook his head and dismissed the thought (for now). With a shrug, he reluctantly returned the flask to its owner. "It makes the vodka taste like water."
Tebbitt snorted. "From what I've heard, you were drinking it like water." He took a deep draught from it and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
"It was stronger than I expected it to be."
"Finest compliment you can pay to any Gentleman's good taste," Tebbitt recited. At Edmund's querying glance, he elaborated. "It's an Old Forester from the early '40s. I've hoarded a few bottles while working at the Embassy in Washington."
"Ah." He wasn't of drinking age back then. At least, not in this world. "And you're sure my sister knows nothing of your contraband?"
"As I said, contingency plans. Otherwise, I'm sure she would have tipped it into the Black Sea by now."
"I highly doubt that."
"Oh?"
"Susan is to aged bourbon as Peter is to tequila."
(Tebbitt is quoting directly from a 1941 advertisement for Old Forester, which you can see here.)
Re: The bit I posted on Twitter
Perhaps he will not run Peridan through after all. And he will not have to give Susan a reason to toss him overboard.
Tebbitt twisted the cap off and handed the metal container to him. Edmund brought it to nose and sniffed. It certainly smelled of liquor. He raised the flask in mock salute and took a swig. He swished the liquid in his mouth, savoring the burning sensation before he swallowed.
"Good stuff," he said, warmed by the alcohol flowing through his body. He lowered the flask and examined the dents and scuff marks that marred the silver. "Dare I ask?" he said, rubbing his fingers into the shallow depressions in the metal.
"Better not to," answered the other man. "I may have to kill you if you knew."
Edmund briefly entertained the idea of a duel with the man. He wondered which of them would win. Tebbitt knew how to use a gun and fly a plane, but Edmund had learned how to fight with blades and his hands. He shook his head and dismissed the thought (for now). With a shrug, he reluctantly returned the flask to its owner. "It makes the vodka taste like water."
Tebbitt snorted. "From what I've heard, you were drinking it like water." He took a deep draught from it and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
"It was stronger than I expected it to be."
"Finest compliment you can pay to any Gentleman's good taste," Tebbitt recited. At Edmund's querying glance, he elaborated. "It's an Old Forester from the early '40s. I've hoarded a few bottles while working at the Embassy in Washington."
"Ah." He wasn't of drinking age back then. At least, not in this world. "And you're sure my sister knows nothing of your contraband?"
"As I said, contingency plans. Otherwise, I'm sure she would have tipped it into the Black Sea by now."
"I highly doubt that."
"Oh?"
"Susan is to aged bourbon as Peter is to tequila."
(Tebbitt is quoting directly from a 1941 advertisement for Old Forester, which you can see here.)