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“One drop of wine is not going to kill me,” Oswald smiles, a rare gesture for him, but any changes to the permanent scowl of his lips recently have been resolutely aimed at Ianos.
“We don’t know that,” Ianos’ words are somewhat slurred, the alcohol clearly hitting him. Usually, he wouldn’t be caught so tipsy off only half a bottle, but it was strong stuff, and being dead for thirty years had fucked his tolerance. “You said yourself everything has to be on a case-by-case basis.”
“Well, if you drink all that alone at the rate you’re getting drunk, you’ll get alcohol poisoning before I can even introduce you to Robin.” Oswald found little resistance when taking the bottle from him. “And if I do die? There’s a diamond in my bag, should be expensive enough for a cheeky little Revivify spell.”
“Does that even work on the undead?” He frowns, surveying the vampire.
“Case-by-case basis?” Oswald offers innocently. That earns him a small chuckle he’s very pleased to have caused. He swings his feet off the double bed of the inn room and stands, bottle in one hand. His sword is still attached to his hip, but his coat and corset have been discarded to leave him only in trousers and a very loose white shirt. He takes a long sip of the wine (rather expensive, much like the rest of the amenities at this particular inn) and leaves a dramatic pause before speaking.
“Well?” Ianos presses, stretching out from where he’d been sitting cross-legged and leaning against the headboard.
“Absolutely fine,” Oswald shrugs, sitting back down and drinking again. He pauses and offers the bottle back whilst he loosens the leather strap across his hip and puts his sword down by his bag. He turns back to find Ianos mid-gulp, cheeks getting redder by the second. “You should slow down on that.”
“Why?” He drags out the word like a petulant child, but the vampire can’t help but find it mildly endearing. “I’m alright ‘swald, promise.” Ianos turns onto his side, facing Oswald.
“And they used to call me an alcoholic.” He laughs quietly.
“Yeah, well you were,” The Paladin points out, pressing the wine bottle back into his hands. “I’m just… Happy to be alive.” Oswald drinks, silently dedicating that particular swig to the continuity of Ianos’ wellness. They fall silent for a bit, just passing the wine back and forth until it’s empty.
“Are you alright?” Ianos finally asks, quieter than before.
“I suppose, just a little worried.” He sighs, looking down at where Ianos is lying. “Many of the group are at least in part, Paladins. It’s not far-fetched to assume they won’t take kindly to my new, uh, abilities.” He runs a hand through his hair, face scrunching momentarily as he feels how long it’s getting. The curl is beginning to drop and the white is streaked with grey. Ianos watches him do this, eyes half-glazed over.
“Just fucking… Kill them or something.” Oswald raises an eyebrow.
“Well that’s massively out of character.” He comments. Ianos makes a non-committal noise, shuffling closer to the vampire. He watches him move into a comfortable position and tries to remind himself that the Paladin is undoubtedly drunk and would not normally be doing such things. These thoughts disappear the minute Ianos presses his face into his side in a weird hug and Oswald begins to panic, having no idea how to react.
“Shhhhh,” Ianos laughs, noise fragmented as he hiccups. It’s truly astounding how quickly the wine has gotten to him, but Oswald supposes he’s still woozy from the recent resurrection and also having his blood drunk. Ianos kicks his shoes off and flings them unceremoniously off the bed without even looking up.
“Comfy?” Oswald asks with a laugh he hopes hides his nervousness.
“Sleeping.” Ianos makes a noise of contentment and to his surprise, horror and delight, Oswald feels an arm wrap around his waist from where Ianos is pressed into his side. He stiffens on reflex, very much unsure of what to do in such a situation, before slowly letting his hand rest within the strands of his hair. Slowly, as if terrified of shattering the moment, the vampire strokes his hair with a gentleness he’s unaware he was capable of.
It’s nice. It’s temporary, but it’s nice.