BuzzingBee

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Poor Crow haha It worked this time though cx but probably not for the best lmao

Also Penelope may have accidentally set off Naida xD but at least it wasn't anything major lmao

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope blinked as she felt a hand suddenly rest on her shoulder and turned to see that Crow had stepped in. She considered his words before giving a small nod. It didn't take much to persuade the knight into staying, especially since she hadn't really wanted to leave in the first place. However, Kane wasn't as willing to relent. He pursed his lips into a thin line, the alcohol in his system making it difficult for him to remain polite. He met Crow's gaze unwaveringly, clearly annoyed by the viceroy's interference.

"You know..." the nobleman paused before looking back to Penelope. "I see no reason why you couldn't do both. We can step outside for a moment and then you could get some water when we return."

"But it is cold outside." Penelope reminded, leaning slightly closer to Crow as she looked up at Kane. "I don' need to sober up that badly."

"Yah it's too early to be gettin' sober." Naida grinned.

Kane frowned as he was outnumbered. Seeming to realize he wouldn't be getting Penelope to go with him, he let out a small sigh and nodded his head. "Alright well.. I'll be back in a moment then." he said as something else seemed to catch his eye. He turned and began to make his way towards the door. Penelope gave a small wave goodbye before turning back to the remaining two at the table. The knight stretched her back out slightly and then, without second thought, casually leaned into Crow's side, making herself comfortable as she pressed into him. It didn't seem like a big deal to her, which was why Penelope gave a confused expression as she noticed Naida staring at them, practically grinning from ear to ear.

"What?" Penelope asked, unable to draw up any reason for her friend to be giving her such a look.

"Nothin' you just seeemmms like you're real cozy, Penelope." Naida snickered excitedly.

Penelope tilted her head with innocent confusion and when Naida nodded to Crow in response, the knight turned her head to look up at him for an answer instead.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Honestly, especially with Kane trying to get her away from the others xD he has good intentions but he's really not helping in this case lmao

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope flickered her gaze over to Naida as her friend spoke up. She smirked amusedly to see that her friend was following closely in her own footsteps. The knight raised an eyebrow at her friend before turning to look over at Kane besides her. The nobleman was leaning a little more heavily onto the table and stifling a couple hiccups whenever they racked his chest. He looked over at Naida as she suggested the rule change and gave a small chuckle before shaking his head.

"No offense but I'd rather not be the one responsible for drinkin' the princess into a hangover." Kane smirked. The alcohol in his system made him less formal and certainly less stiff around the higher ranking nobles he had joined.

Naida rolled her eyes. "You're on'y saying that because you know you'll lose!" she taunted with a grin. "You gotta finish what you started!"

Kane looked amusedly at Naida and parted his lips to say something but paused as his gaze drifted towards Crow again. The amusement in his face faded and was briefly replaced by a more serious look. The drunken knight noticed it and furrowed her brow at him, confused by what had caused the nobleman to make such an expression. However, before anyone had the chance to question it, he focused back on Naida with a smile. "I suppose so... Well how 'bout we slow down for a moment. You're still technically a drink ahead of me so lemme catch up." he suggested before signaling to the wench for a single refill.

Naida eyed him for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Finnneee. But af'er that it's on again!" she declared.

"Of course." Kane agreed with a chuckle. He drummed his fingertips against the table and glanced around the room, seeming to search for something. He blinked, as if sprung with an idea, and slowly moved to stand up. "But until my drink gets here I think I'm gonna step outside to get some air."

"Weak stomach?" Naida questioned with a challenging smirk.

"You wish." Kane returned the smirk. He paused and then turned to Penelope, his features softening a bit. "Penelope, why don't you step out with me? The walk might help you sober up a bit." he suggested, extending his hand to the knight.

Penelope hesitated, eying his hand and then casting a glance towards Crow. She really didn't want to leave but perhaps trying to sober up a bit would be best. She aware of her inebriated state and if Naida planned to continue drinking, then Crow would have quite a bit to deal with between the two of them on their return to the castle. Not realizing the other issues that could come from accepting, the knight gave a reluctant nod and moved to take the nobleman's hand. "Ok." she agreed.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Ok! I decided Penelope would be cut off but she might still be causing some issues xD

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope blinked as Crow nudged her playfully. She rolled her eyes and gave a giggle at his words as he teased her. The knight listened as Crow and Naida spoke, absentmindedly rubbing her thumb over his hand that she was still holding. As Naida turned to her for answers, she grinned amusedly. Though the alcohol made it difficult to focus, she could still recall that Crow was bad about keeping his hands to himself. It was something she had noticed back on their trip to Younis and then experienced it much more fully on their previous trip to a tavern with Olivia and the others.

Seeing no wrong with telling Naida and wanting to get revenge for his teasing, the knight opened her mouth to reply. "Oh he—" However, she wasn't able to get another word out of her mouth before Crow suddenly cut in. Penelope blinked and looked over at him before lifting a finger up to her lips. "Shhh, I was 'alking." she shushed him before her gaze softened as she looked up at him, taking in his features. Derailed from what she was going to say, the knight couldn't help but think about how much his appearance had changed since becoming a noble. Stuck on that thought, she slipped her hand out of his and reached up to clumsily brush her fingertips over the side of his face

"You 'ook good as a noble." She mused with a thoughtful expression, nodding sagely as if she had said something profound. A second later though, she broke out into a grin. "Al'ough, I guess you 'ooked good as thief too. So no'hing changed." she added, giggling at her own words.

A mug slammed onto the table next to her, causing her focus on Crow to break. Penelope dropped her hand back down into her lap and turned her head to see that, sometime in between Crow cutting her off and her speaking with him, the other two had continued the competition. Of course, Kane had finished first again, as seemed to be custom. The knight was mildly impressed he was managing to maintain his speed three drinks in.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Good for him xD

Unfortunately Kane might accidentally cause a scene later xD he's starting to think Crow might be taking advantage of their lack of awareness in other ways lmao

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope raised her drink with the others and chugged down the cider. The second round of drinks was much harder for the knight to get through, mainly because now she actually had a full mug rather than a half full one. Coming in last, she slammed her mug down shortly after Naida. She flinched at the alcohol she had just took in and leaned heavily on the table as it settled into her stomach. Despite coming in last, she had drank that one just a tad too quickly and could already feel the effect it was having on her. She groaned and leaned her elbows on the table.

As Crow turned to her, Kane happened to as well. He raised an eyebrow at her and gave a chuckle before placing a hand on the knight's back. "Are you alright, Penelope?" he asked. The nobleman wasn't immune to the alcohol's effects but he was faring better than the two women.

"'m fine!" Penelope said with a dismissive wave.

"Onto the next round!" Naida declared with another hiccup. "And no cheating this time!" She added with an accusative look at Kane.

"I swear I didn't!" Kane held his hands up defensively. He paused and glanced over at the female knight besides him. "And it looks like you'll be sitting this one out."

"Yup." Penelope nodded her head slowly.

The nobleman gave an amused look before his gaze drifted back over to Crow. He eyed him a moment while Naida flagged down the wench so the two could continue drinking even though Penelope had tapped out. "So you really don't plan on drinking, huh?" he asked with an air of force casualness. However, Crow didn't get to answer as Penelope chimed in instead. It seemed like an easy enough question to answer. Even though it wasn't one for her.

"He don' like to and...." Penelope paused and turned her head to look over at Crow. She stared at him for a long pause, trying to recall what the other reason was. It was also a reason she needed to be careful but the knight simply couldn't place what it was in her drunken haze. She turned back to Kane to finish off her thought. "Hm.. I don' remember..." The knight pouted then blinked as something came to mind and she turned to Crow enthused by her recollection. "Oh! was 't cuz yar mess whe' you're drunk?"

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

It didn't got in Penelope's favor xD she has bad willpower when she's in a good mood lol

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope tensed as she felt a hand on her thigh. It took a moment for the knight to register that it was Crow's and immediately relaxed once she did. She smiled and shifted to drop a hand into her lap, moving to rest it over his. The knight gave a small giggle as Crow teased Naida. However, her amusement was cut short as Naida tried to con her into drinking more. The knight was about to open her mouth to protest but didn't get very far as Crow spoke up instead.

Unfortunately Crow's words didn't go very far with his sister as she continued to insist on drinking more. "I told you I wasn't getting drunk, Naida." Penelope smirked.

"Commmeee oonnn! There's no reason to stay sober." Naida pestered. She grinned mischievously. "I'm sure Collin here can keep you from falling on your face when we head back."

"Naidaaaa that's not the point." Penelope groaned, rolling her eyes. "I'm out of this game."

"Oh..." The quiet voice of Kane caught her attention next to her as he awkwardly shifted the three new and full mugs of cider. During the time the others had been talking, the nobleman had clearly wasted no time in flagging down another wench for refills. It seemed he hadn't registered Penelope's previous protests to drinking anymore. That or he had chosen to ignore them. Penelope narrowed her eyes slightly at him but as he gave her a sheepish smile and she noticed a faint tint of red on his cheeks, she began to think his reasoning was likely the former.

"See you can't let that go to waste!" Naida grinned as she took one of the mugs.

Kane glanced between the two and moved to pull the other two drinks in front of him. "'s fine. I'll just drink them both." he assured quickly.

The knight sighed and glanced over at Crow. Though she knew had been planning to stop, she supposed she could handle one more drink. Even if it did send her over, at least she could relax a little knowing Crow was sober enough to watch out for her if she accidentally said anything. Plus, she was certain it wouldn't be long before Naida was drunk as well. Hopefully that would make the princess less alert and less likely to catch any slip ups that the knight may or may not make. Satisfied with her slightly askew reasoning, she gestured for Kane to hand over the glass. "No, it's fine.. You alright got it for me so I'll drink it. But I swear to gods Papert if you order me another one, I'm going to make you chug both of them at the same time!" Penelope declared. Hearing a cheer coming from Naida, she turned to her friend and smirked. "And the same goes for you!"

"Fair is fair." Kane laughed. He grinned eagerly and lifted his mug to the two. "Bottoms up then!"