You can throw a party full of everyone you know

 "I don't understand the big deal about this," Odin didn't know who he could vent to, but Stu. Of course, he was waiting at the pub for him. "Is it too soon? You know, the parents?" He looked over at Stu who was already sipping his lager. Odin looked back at his foamy drink and hesitated to partake.

"Maybe it's just you," Stu shrugged all sleepy. "Don't make a big deal about it."

"What kind of answer is that, mate?" Odin couldn't help but scowl. He didn't know what he was getting at.

"Look, you can't make it a test, old boy, you have to just go along with whatever Shell wants. Not the Parents," Stu told him. He finished off his lager then and ordered another, this time with a brandy.

"What are you doing?" Odin thought lagers were one thing, but to bring in the brandy was heavy-duty drinking.

"Winter is coming, you have to be prepared." Stu looked over at Odin as he pushed the little glass of brandy Odin's way.

"That'll knock my socks off," Odin squinted.

"Precisely," Stu said, "Grow some balls, will you, man? Shell's your woman, isn't she?"

"But?" Odin touched his forehead then with a heavy sigh. This was confusing. What was he to do?

"So I gather you've talked to your mumzy about Shell, have you?" Stu stared back at Odin as if he really needed to be decisive.

"Well, kind of. I haven't actually given her too much information. It seems she thinks I'm talking about a puppy."

"She thinks you have a puppy?" Now Stu gave way a smile. He shook his head. "Really, you astonish me sometimes." Oh, he laughed some more and ordered himself a brandy too, and picked up a handful of roasted nuts.

"Honestly, I think you must be afraid of women more than I am," Stu grinned.

Odin took a sip of brandy as he nursed his lager. He was in no hurry to get back to Shelly quite yet. The night was young. Maybe if they drank another lager with some brandy, they just might get up there on the stage and forget their troubles.