Vance had closed his eyes as he tipped the bottle back, taking another swig from it, and started to feel a bit light headed. Usually, he could hold his liquor, but he hadn’t had something as strong as this ale in a long time. His head was turned away from the direction that Lenna was approaching.
Eve, though, did notice Lenna, and tapped Vance’s shoulder lightly. When that didn’t get his attention, she kicked him just below where she had tapped his shoulder. That got his attention and he turned towards the fairy with a glare. Just as he was about to say something, he noticed the rabbit girl approach them. His look softened as he listened to her.
"Now, sir, have some confidence in your allies. I mean, true, this guy," Lenna gestured to the unconscious dork in her arms, "is a bit of a dork, and...I don't even know what's going on with Catman over there."
Lenna gestured with her ears at Bart.
"But people will surprise you,"
“It’s true, I haven’t seen any of their combat abilities, but they don’t seem like a very organized lot.” He said. “And If we’re to set off tomorrow at noon, they had better sober up quick, before they stumble head first into an enemy’s spear.” He said.
"By the way, you are very pretty, miss. Would you guys tell me your names? I'm Lenna Underwood."
“Thank you!” Eve replied quickly.
“Lenna..” Vance repeated, If he didn’t use the name often, he would forget what it was.
“My name is Va..” and that’s as far as he got before Eve put her hands over his lips, keeping them closed with an annoyed look from him, and a bit of a grunt towards his fairy companion.
“Ugh! That breath! It’s not nice to exhale that stuff onto pretty women, Vance!” she said hurriedly. “I don’t know what’s in that ale, but you’re done for tonight!” she said in a mothering tone.
After scolding her companion, she turned towards Lenna, wearing the sweetest smile.
“My name is Eve, and this brave Templar is Vance” she said with one hand still keeping Vance’s mouth shut, though he didn’t protest, as he saw it as pointless, and she would complain if he did.
“You’re cute!” she said to Lenna, fluttering closer to her, starting to whisper. “y’know…” she started in Lenna’s ear. “Vance is single” she said with a grin, while looking at him. He was still glaring at her for shushing him moments earlier.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lenna” Vance said with a slight bowing of his head towards her.
Vance noticed Malaki walk through the door, though his first reaction was to help him, but he realized that he didn’t have the strength to heal his injured shoulder, much less wounds on another person.
As soon as Veltis entered the tavern, Vance looked to him and smiled, waving him over with his good arm. Eve, on the other hand, stared, wide-eyed for a moment before screaming like a fangirl at a concert.
“OH MY GODS! VELTIS! VANCE! IT’S VELTIS” Eve said, her words getting faster and higher pitched as she spoke. She shook his shoulder with both hands to emphasis her excitement. Luckily, it was his good arm that she was pressing against. He rolled his eyes at her reactions to seeing their comrade.
“HE’S HERE! HE MADE IT! BY THE GODS, HE SURVIVED!!!”
“Eve?” Vance said in a calm tone.
“Hmm?” she replied.
“I think Veltis is here” he said in his most sarcastic tone.
“Smart ass!” she shot back at him, crossing her small arms in front of her chest as Veltis approached. Vance was shocked that she hadn’t acquired a piece of paper for him to autograph with how excited she was to see him again.
They watched him approach, and gracefully bow in the manner that he did.
"Ah, vance, eve! I'm glad you both made it! I didn't have a doubt in my mind you'd survive! How are you both? Tired and exhausted I bet...! I used up all my energy during that fight, which is why i'm late, my apologies for making you all wait! I hope I didn't make you think I died...! That would have possibly been disastrous!"
“You better not die, pretty boy!” Eve said to him in a louder voice than she usually used.
“Vance?” she said in the tone that a child uses to get a toy from their parents.
“Hmm?” he replied.
“Can we keep him!?” she said excitedly. “Can he come with us on our next mission, please!??” she begged.
He shrugged a bit, wincing at his shoulder that still ached considerably. “I don’t know. I don’t make the roster of who’s together on these things." He said while looking at Veltis. “You would make a valuable ally”
"You don't mind if I sit here do you? I wouldn't want to be interrupting you if you're not in the mood for talking or not in the mood for company... I can respect your wishes...!"
“Not at all. I could use the company of someone who isn’t completely piss drunk” he said with a bit of a laugh. “Honestly, looking at this bunch, I don’t think any of them will be sober enough tomorrow to do any good on the battlefield.”
He raised his bottle towards Veltis, about to take another drink when Eve quickly flew to his hand and stopped him, shaking her head. “Nuh uh uh” she said, reminding him that he’d had enough.
“I’m glad that you’re here” he said to Veltis after he was denied his drink.