Olberic settled himself into his seat with a quiet exhale, and glanced around the room. Saintsbridge was a fairly quiet town, and a deeply religious one besides. It showed with its tavern, which was not well-populated but for the travelers. That was perfectly fine with him, however - he was not in the mood for a large crowd today.

"Enjoying yourself, Sir Knight?"

"Primrose," he greeted. She was sauntering towards him with her own mug of mead. Maybe not a crowd, but a good friend would always have their place by him. "I daresay I am. What better way to close a day than a quiet drink with those close to you?"

She took a seat next to him. "Mm. I certainly see the appeal." Her eyes were on the other side of the room, and her expression was amused.

"C'mon, Alfyn, lemme try it!"

"Not yet, kiddo. You need a couple more years under your belt before you can drink this stuff."

"Excuse me?! I am not a kid!"

Alfyn was successfully keeping another mug out of Tressa's reach, despite her vehement protests. Ophilia put a hand on her shoulder, hoping to calm the argument.

"Please, Tressa, there's nothing wrong with being a teetotaler," she said gently. "You can sit with me and we'll enjoy something with a bit more flavor."

She grumbled under her breath, but Tressa acquiesced, seemingly accepting that Alfyn wasn't going to budge, and her and Ophilia sat down with something sweeter. Olberic chuckled.

"When do you think he'll let her try some?" Primrose asked him.

"She'll have to sneak out at night," Olberic replied. "Alfyn is a stubborn man."

"You could certainly say the same about Tressa, though," Primrose pointed out. "It wouldn't surprise me if she's done it already, and she's just putting on a show."

"She doesn't strike me as one who would enjoy the taste of alcohol."

"Maybe that's why she gave up so easily."

Olberic hummed in acknowledgement and took a long swig from his mug. To his surprise, Primrose matched him perfectly.

No, not just matched - she kept going until her mug was nearly empty. Olberic watched her.

She noticed his quizzical look. "Yes?"

"That," he said, gesturing to her drink, "is rather unusual behavior for you."

Primrose shrugged. "Well, those kids are safe and no one got seriously hurt, for once. Maybe I'm just in a good mood." She took another swig, emptying the mug.

"I took you for more of a drinker of wine," Olberic remarked.

"I enjoy a glass when the opportunity presents itself," she replied. "But the urge struck to taste something more… rugged." She swung her eyes towards him teasingly. "Do my drinking habits concern you?"

"They are no one's business but your own."

"Thought so," she replied, getting up for another drink. Olberic took another sip of his own as he watched the other travelers.

{asterisks}

"Hmmmmmm…" Primrose hummed. Her cheeks were a bit rosier than usual. "This isn't bad."

"I would hope so," Olberic replied dryly. "If my count is correct, that's your sixth mug."

"And you've matched me," she retorted.

He raised one eyebrow. "Not remotely. This is my third."

She raised one back, then shrugged. "Well, whatever. Point is, I think I could use another."

She downed her mug yet again and marched back up to the bar with no hesitation. Olberic took a sip of his own and checked his coin purse.

Perhaps this would be a good stopping point for him. A glass of water sounded nice.

Primrose sauntered back yet again, pulling her seat right up next to his. "So," she began. "What's on your mind tonight, Olberic?"

"What do you mean?"

"What sort of thoughts are rattling around in that big old head of yours?" she continued. "What are you thinking about right now?" She leaned up against him. "Me, maybe?"

Olberic exhaled lightly. He'd seen this sort of behavior before, of course, but never from Primrose. Regardless, it would probably be easier to play along.

"Yes, I am," he rumbled. "You, and everyone else."

And indeed, the others were chatting and enjoying themselves a couple tables away. Tressa had given up on alcohol for now and seemed to be far happier for it, and Cyrus lit a small flame at the tip of one finger to show something to H'aanit.

Alfyn laughed lightly at something Ophilia told him, and Olberic noticed him looking over. His smile turned a bit uneasy as he glanced at Primrose, and Olberic caught his eye and inclined his head. I'll keep an eye on her, he hoped to convey.

Alfyn seemed to get the message and nodded, turning back to his conversation. Primrose didn't seem to notice this exchange at all.

"Well," she muttered into her mug. "Of course you're thinking about me. How couldn't you?"

"Indeed."

She took another swig. Olberic had a sip of his own, and found that he was getting near the bottom of his mug.

"I was unaware of your tolerance, Primrose," he said quietly.

"My tolerance is outstanding," she said. "I'm perfectly sober. Watch."

She got up out of her seat, cleared a bit of space, and attempted a couple dance steps as he watched. Attempted - it was a far cry from the image of beauty and grace that Olberic was used to. His expression remained neutral as her heels bashed together clumsily, and he offered a quiet, piteous clap when she finished.

"Please sit down, Primrose," he requested. "You're having difficulty on your feet."

"I'm fine," she insisted, keeping one hand on the side of the table. "Didn't you see that mesmerizing performance just now?"

Better to keep silent at that, he thought.

"I think that deserves another drink," she mused quietly, making her way towards the bar yet again.

"Allow me to join you," Olberic said.

Primrose chuckled quietly. "My very own knight escort? I'm quite the lucky girl tonight."

She held onto him tightly as they reached the bar, and Primrose got herself yet another refill. Olberic, meanwhile, simply ordered two glasses of water.

"Giving up already?" she teased on the way back to their table. "Who would've thought that I'd be the first one to drink you under the table?"

"Self-control is a hallmark of a knight," he told her. "Tressa and Ophilia can't carry us all back to the inn by themselves, after all."

Primrose squawked out a laugh, and some of her drink splashed onto her leg. She didn't even seem to notice. "That's funny. You're very funny."

Olberic took a sip of his water as they sat back down.

{asterisks}

"Olberic," Primrose murmured. "Ollllll-buhhhhhh-ric. Your name is so… so loooooong…"

She sighed, and laid her head on the table. Olberic pushed her untouched glass of water a bit closer to her and took a moment to count the number of times she'd gone back up to the bar.

Fourteen was the number he arrived on, and that was far more than enough for one night. Nearly every member of their little group indulged in a bit of alcohol every now and then, but this had to be a record.

A rather worrying record.

"Primrose," he said. She turned her head towards him, still leaning over the table. "What say you retire for the night?"

Her eyebrows shot up, and she let out a very un-Primrose-like giggle. "Oh, my. The whole night? I'm sure you'd looooove that, Olllllll-buhhhhhh-ric."

If she were sober, a comment like that may have flustered him. "Of course. Will you accompany me?"

She glanced at her empty mug. "Mmmmm… I guess I could do that…" She reached her arms out towards him. "But only if you carry me allllll the way there."

Olberic sighed, but acquiesced. He scooped her up in his arms bridal-style. Primrose yelped as he did, which quickly turned into another high-pitched giggle. Now that she was closer to his face, the strong scent of alcohol was much more noticeable on her breath.

"Alllllllright, I'm ready," Primrose slurred out. "Back to the inn! We'll have ourselves a loooooot of fun!"

She was turning heads now, but luckily the travelers were the only ones still in the inn. Everyone looked thoroughly shocked at Primrose's behaviour - everyone except Therion, however, who had an amused little smile on his face.

"In case you didn't hear, we'll be leaving for the night," Olberic told them.

"R-Right," Tressa said. "Is she okay?"

"Oh, come now, Tressa, I'm just peachy," Primrose said. There was a very large and very goofy grin on her face. "I'm about to experience something most women could only dream of."

Tressa's face turned red, and Therion chuckled quietly. Alfyn got up and motioned for Olberic to lean toward him, and he whispered so Primrose couldn't hear. "Come get me if you need to, alright? I've got some concoctions that work good against a lotta drink, and, uh… she looks like she might need something."

"When she falls asleep," Olberic confirmed.

Alfyn nodded, and went to sit back down.

"If you two boys are done whispering," Primrose called, "we gotta go." She gave Olberic a mischievous grin, and pushed her index finger against his chest. "You only get me until the sun comes up."

She giggled at her own comment, and Olberic kept walking.

Saintsbridge was a quiet, pious town. Even with the cloak of night over it, there was no reason to be overly wary, and Olberic could return to the inn in peace.

Or at least, he would, if it weren't for the severely inebriated woman in his arms.

"Olberic," she murmured again. "Ollllll-buhhhhh-ric. Your name's so stupid… it's so long and dumb… hate it…"

"Pray tell, what is the problem with my name? You've never expressed such disdain with it before."

She got that mischievous grin on her face again. "Cause I wanna say it."

"You've said it several times tonight already."

She shook her head and pressed a finger over his lips. "No, no, no," she continued. "I wanna say it. Like this."

She threw her head back and let out a very loud moan. "Ohhhh, Olberic! Please, more! I want you to-"

He maneuvered his grip on her so he could keep hold with one arm, and clamped his now-free hand over her mouth before she could continue. "Primrose," he said quietly. "Please."

He felt her grin under his hand, but she nodded, and the two returned to the inn without further incident. Olberic inclined his head toward the innkeeper as he returned to one of the rooms they'd rented, and laid Primrose onto the bed as gently as he could.

"Mmmph… comfy…" she muttered, rolling on the bed a bit.

Olberic pulled up a chair next to her bed, and Primrose gave him another goofy grin.

"Wellllllll?" she asked.

"Hm?"

She giggled again. "Aren't you going to ravish me?"

"I am simply ensuring that you get a good night's rest, Primrose. Nothing more will happen tonight."

Her grin dropped into a scowl, and she rolled away from him. "Killjoy," she muttered quietly.

"You're in no position to be enjoying any, ah… strenuous activities tonight. Please get some sleep."

She turned back towards him. "Come on, Olberic, pleeeeease?

"No."

"Pleeeeeeeeeeease?"

"Primrose, my answer is final."

"What if I confessed my undying love for you?"

"I would be flattered."

"What if I came over there?"

"I would return you to the bed."

Primrose let out a drawn-out groan. "You're so boring, Olberic."

"No comment."

There was a pause before she spoke again. "You know, I really will confess my love for you."

"Mm."

She turned toward him. "I'm serious. I'll do it right now."

"By all means."

She looked him dead in the eye. "I love you."

That was… surprisingly simple. He was expecting something much more over-the-top, but the quiet confession caught Olberic off guard. "Do you now?"

She gave him another little grin. "Uh-huh." She pointed at herself and giggled again. "I. Loooooove. You."

"Interesting."

Primrose frowned. "Is that all you have to say? The most beautiful woman you've ever seen is throwing herself at you. Be a man, Olberic."

"I am enough of a man already."

Primrose groaned again. "You're so… impossible. I've never met a man who takes this much work."

"Work?"

"I could get any man on this continent to… to drool at my feet. And some women! I could string people along so well they'd follow me to the ends of the earth!" She pointed towards him lazily. "But you! I can't figure you out! We've been together for… how long?"

"Mm. Several weeks, if not months."

"Together for that! I just said I love you, even! I've never had to do that before! And you just sit there! You're like a cliff face! It's never taken me this long to figure out what to do with someone!"

Olberic paused for a moment as he worked through what she said. "Was that confession a lie, then?"

Her gaze shot towards him, and Primrose shook her head vigorously. "Not even! It was the truth, I swear it! I just…"

Olberic leaned forward and put one hand over hers. "Primrose."

She looked him in the eye.

"Rest, please. We will have all the time we need to talk about this in the morning. I'll go find Alfyn-"

"No!" Her grip tightened on his hand. Olberic stared.

"Please…" She swallowed. Her voice was still thick from the alcohol, but she sounded a bit more sincere - more like her usual self. "Don't go."

"Primrose?"

"I don't want to be alone," she continued. Her eyes were pleading.

Well, he couldn't exactly turn her down now. Olberic settled himself back in his chair. "As you wish."

Primrose squeezed his hand again, and closed her eyes. She didn't let go, and Olberic found he wasn't much inclined to either.

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, and Olberic bowed his head and followed soon after.