Perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised when Allison seeks him out, but Athos is still amazed at the girl’s perseverance in befriending him when he has given no indication that that is his wish, much like - well, much like Aramis and Porthos in the early days of their acquaintance. He accepts the brandy first (no reason to start contradicting expectations now), and after taking a sip, sets the glass aside and exchanges it for the bowl of stew. “So you have moved beyond muffins, I see.” It is, technically, the first time he has acknowledged the veritable avalanche of tiny cakes that appear on his doorstep with impressive regularity.