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Gav had certainly followed through on his threat of drinking Clive under the table months later. He had no worries about being able to outlast the scout as he was, without fail, bleary eyed by tankard four of the Tub & Crown's 'best brew' but, now? Clive's starting to see doubles of the man and can't help how his face scrunches trying to parse which is the real one. It can't be the one on the left, he's much too far over… Gav can't float now, can he? No, no. That doesn't make sense.
"Can you stop moving..?"
"Aye? I ain't moved since we started drinking, Clive!" A bark of delighted laughter dots the end of the answer.
Grumbling to himself Clive presses his forefinger and thumb into his eyes hoping to clear his vision but what it manages is six more copies of Gav and six more smug smiles. Fuck. Gav was not joking when he said this particular mead was potent. Clive buzzed and stumbled after a four slugs of Bacchus wine but this was ready to lay him out in only a quarter of a tankard.
Had the loss of his eikon and magic taken his ability to metabolize alcohol? If so… he may have lost his right to poke fun at his scout, how unfortunate. He did rather enjoy seeing Gav puff up in indignation and jovial play whenever he would make yet another declaration to win at their little games. Pity that. He will have to build his tolerance back up, liver willing.
Being wholly and unremarkably human continues to surprise him with each new day.
"I even brought out the lesser brew for the season! Coloured it pink as a bairn's sweet face, like." Gav waggles the ornate bottle about again the liquid rolling to and fro like Clive's mind with each minor shift of his head. Blinking hard, he makes a face at Gav that has him laughing again, loud and carefree, before he lifts his hand to get Maeve's attention, she tells him to wait leading Clive to lean heavier into the counter and regretting his decision to stand rather than find a table.
The fuck is in that mead? Just fermented honey and water as far as he knew— 'can burn the horns offa behemoth—!' he had said all those moons ago. If Ifrit still prowled his ribs would he be a hornless wonder? The idea just absurd enough to his swimming mind that his shoulders begin bouncing with the snort that quickly tumbles into open laughter, his sides beginning to ache. The damage of Origin still tender even so long out but, he can't get himself to stop.
"Ya alright there, Clive? What's so funny?" The bottle hits the counter top with a clatter as Clive feels Gav's warmth sidle up beside him sharing in the sudden mirth.
"Maeve, I think we've lost'im!" Another snort of laughter that is accompanied with tears as Clive lifts his head. Breathless and asking for mercy that he can't seem to grant himself as Gav tempers mirth higher when the press of finger tips travel along his side. Gav snickering unable to resist the sudden joy with Maeve's questioning shout going unheard.
"Cid the great and powerful outlaw! A gigglesnorter, whodda thought!" Gav's next prod turns into a grab at Clive's side that has the older man jumping with a yelp, losing his footing and landing on his ass. "Ah fuck—! Are ya alright?!"
Hiccups of laughter and the world turning on its axis from his fall, Clive tries answering but needs to smother this endless mirth over the hornless beast that pouts about in his imagination. Proving difficult as he wheezes around another breath.
Gav squats down— or maybe there's a small collection of him, about six or seven— Clive can't be sure he keeps multiplying at this point, placing a steadying hand to the outlaws shoulder and looking over him out of concern. Clive manages to quiet his laughter to reedy pops of giggles and hiccups of breath before another mind numbing shift of the world has him groaning and his stomach clenching.
"Ah ah—! Clive not here! Maeve'll have our arses if you—" interrupting himself with a suck of his teeth, Gav hauls Clive up and tries getting the other to the fence off the side of the lift. Eased onto the railing Clive groans as the world spins 'round and 'round and stomach tightens in warning. This is not fun anymore he decides as the wood digs into his chest. Just wanted a couple rounds with his partner but should have known to ease up after everything his body has been through. Lost eikon and all.
Live and learn comes to mind as he makes a face around the next roll of his stomach. The whirling easing slowly as a warm hand touches his back and begins to run and rub, bunching up his shirt and offering some comfort.
"Y'alright now… take it easy." Comes softly from Clive's left. "All that laughter didn't help I'm sure… you'll have to tell me what got ya so worked up!"
Gav chuckles to himself, the circles he's running along Clive's back hopefully doing anything to ease him. Always felt a tender hand to the back could help lessen the wretchedness of it all.
A few more rubs later and a groan from Clive, Gav hums a question before the other begins to turn himself around on the railing— back to the wood and eyes closed as he pants lightly.
"I'm all right—" It's slurred.
"The hell ya are, mate!"
Gav run his hands along heated and clammy skin, pushing Clive's bangs from his face and tucking parts behind his ears, some strands disobey and curl along his cheeks. Clive huffs once before leaning into the touch— the scout's hands feeling somewhat cold and a minor relief.
"Cute as you're being, Clive, let's get you back to your solar, yeah?"
Nodding and confident enough that he won't lose his stomach onto the weathered wood of the landing he gratefully drapes his arm over Gav's shoulders and slowly they make their way back in.
It's a gentle descent to Clive's bed with Gav fluffing his pillow before easing him back and pulling his boots off. Being horizontal helps, but barely a flicker as the ceiling boards seem to wobble and wave about. His tongue feels fuzzy and too big for his mouth, pursing his lips and scrunching his nose at the sensation.
Setting Clive's boots off to the side of the bed proper Gav turns back to him a lopsided smile on his face— or at least that's what it looks like, Clive's not too sure— pulling the blanket up enough for Clive to grab should he need or want it at any point.
"Guess I finally drunk ya under that table now, didn't I?"
"There was no table to be under…"
"Ha! Don't be a sore loser, Clive! Told ya the mead would knock ya on your arse. Sorry about that by the way." the smile is bigger now and Clive feels his heart pitter-patter at the sight. Colour warms his face further as he reaches across himself for Gav's hand. Gav makes a curious sound as he offers it, a loose hold at his wrist and thumb running along pulse point, Clive stares intently. Mind distracted by the feel of skin. He doesn't go without his gloves very often so it's a small wonder whenever he feels it. Not that he, himself is any better but at least Clive dressed down further than usual today. Can't imagine trying to get out of his leathers like this, his head twangs in pain just imagining it and trying to attend to it with clumsy fingers and one handed. Silver linings.
"What's on your mind, love?" Oh, there he goes again, face warming impossibly more. May combust with this and the alcohol running through him. Clive pulls on Gav's wrist causing him to lean over just a hair as he looks up at his scout. His eyes, glassy and unfocused blink once, twice before focusing proper on the man before him.
"Are you going to leave after this?"
"Aye, I have a couple other things to do before the days done. But, I can return to ya as quick as a 'bo, if ya like."
Clive nods, that's understandable he did mention needing to follow up with the backyard and run an errand for Charon. He can be patient.
"Kiss me before you leave?" It comes out messier than he intended, tiredness easing into the edges of his vision and Gav laughs. It's a warm thing and he shifts about in that bashful way of his out of habit.
"If ya weren't just about to heave ho all over the side of the ship, I would— now don't pout! You won't getcha way this time!" Playfully defeated Clive resigns himself to waiting till Gav returns later in the night, eyes downcast but he can wait. They have time now.
"Ach, cmawn don't be like that-! Makin' me feel bad—" The smile never leaves his voice and Clive can't help but crack his own. "There it is!" Gav takes his hand between his own and gives a firm squeeze as Clive feels warm lips press to his forehead.
"Be back before ya know it, sweetheart. Don't worry 'bout nothin', yeah?"
Gav has turned and on his way out before Clive gets the gumption to sit up and tilt the world anew touching the spot where Gav left his promise and smiling to himself.
There's a noise of eureka before the door to his solar closes and Gav calls back, "I'll let Joshua know where ya are and have him check on ya! Can't have you wasting away up here all on yer lonesome!"
"Thank you, brother-" Comes from Clive which gets a squawk from the scout in the doorway.
"Ay now!! None of that, none of that—!" Clive can practically hear the flush race across Gav's face. There's mumbling and something along the lines of "Always needing the last laugh—" before the door closes with a swift click.
He'll take that as a victory.