Crow jumped slightly in surprise when Penelope suddenly got up to step between him and Gavin. In his focus on her former suitor, he hadn’t even noticed her get up from her chair until she was standing right in front of him. He frowned slightly as he began to realize just how much of a toll the alcohol was taking on his mental state. In his inebriation, he couldn’t tell how much of his current behavior was due to the mugs he’d drank, but he was aware enough now to know that he wasn’t acting in his right mind. He turned back to Gavin a bit more uncertainly, suddenly feeling less inclined to start a fight.

When the knight offered Penelope his arm, Crow tensed reflexively, assuming that the other man was trying to take her away from him. However, his hasty conclusion was quickly laid to rest when Gavin clarified that he was merely going to help her walk back to her chair at the other table. He eyed the knight suspiciously, ready to get involved if he tried anything funny, but it seemed like he wasn’t lying. Following his word, Gavin just let his drunken comrade use his arm for support as they began to make their way back across the room.

Still simmering from the near fight, Crow took a moment to cool his head before he moved to walk unevenly after them. As he did, he felt Penelope slip her small hand into his, and he offered her a soft smile in appreciation for the small gesture. While he didn’t feel overly threatened by her former suitor’s offer—he was well aware that if he tried to help her walk now, they would just end up running into a table or unbalancing each other and falling over—he did like how quick she was to reassure him that she still chose him over the other knight.

When they got back to the table, the thief sat down heavily in his chair, glad that he didn’t have to keep moving around while everything felt like it was tilting. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to relax for long before a familiar voice spoke up from his side.

“Well, well, well,” Rikki purred, shifting in her chair to lean a little closer to him. “Looks ‘ike y’finally caved, huh?”

“Shuddup,” Crow slurred with a roll of his eyes. “Th’ villag’rs made us do it.”

“’S been a while since I seen y’ this drunk,” she giggled, leaning ever closer and resting a hand seductively on his leg. “An’ I happ’n t’ rememb’r y’like women with yer ale… Isn’ tha’ right?”

“Yeah, I do,” Crow shot her a mischievous look before turning around in his chair to kiss Penelope rather zealously instead. After a bit, he pulled back again just enough to rest his forehead against hers and grinned breathlessly, reaching up to affectionately tuck a strand of loose hair behind her ear. The female thief may have been right that he liked to be with women when he was intoxicated, but Penelope was the only one he wanted to be with now. His heart pounded as he held her gaze, transfixed by her beauty. Drunk or sober, he didn’t need anyone else as long as she was with him.

“Tha’s not fair,” Rikki pouted from behind him, refusing to distance herself from him despite watching him get physical with the knight. “You’ve been kissin’ ‘er all night. ‘S my turn.”