Infernal Rivalry - The Clash Of Vox And Alastor

Chapter 21 : Two Drunks

(Vox's POV)

As the night wore on and the drinks continued to flow, Rosie eventually announced her intention to head home. Despite our protests, she remained firm, insisting that we'd had enough for one night. With a playful admonition to behave ourselves and a promise to call and check on us in the morning, she bid us farewell and made her way out of the bar. Alastor and I exchanged a slightly tipsy glance, both of us feeling a twinge of disappointment at her departure. As Rosie insisted it was time to call it a night, Alastor and I exchanged a look, both of us slightly disappointed at the prospect of the evening coming to an end. However, when she mentioned the idea of stopping our drinking, I couldn't help but chuckle. "She's got a point, you know", Alastor remarked, nodding towards the empty glasses scattered across the bar. I grinned mischievously. "But where's the fun in that?", I quipped, motioning for the bartender to bring us another round of shots. Alastor's smile tightened slightly at the sight of the unfamiliar drinks, but he reluctantly took the shot glass I slid towards him. With a grimace, he knocked it back, the first time I'd almost seen him drop his trademark grin. Clearly, he wasn't a fan of anything other than whisky. "Well, that was... something", he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, clapping him on the back. "Ah, come on, where's your sense of adventure?", I teased, before signalling for another round. "Let's make the most of the night while we still can!".

As I signalled for another round of shots, Alastor raised an eyebrow, looking slightly apprehensive. "What's this for?", he asked warily, eyeing the approaching drinks. I chuckled, nudging him playfully. "Consider it your punishment for slamming me on my ass earlier", I replied with a grin. "You've gotta pay the price for showing off those tentacles of yours". Alastor let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head in mock disbelief. As Alastor started to protest, his voice trailing off as I leaned in, my finger lightly pressing against his lips, I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of his slightly bewildered expression. His protests turned into laughter, mirroring my own amusement as we shared this lighthearted moment. With a grin still lingering on my lips, I withdrew my finger, letting him speak again. "I suppose you're right" he conceded, still chuckling softly. "But it's only fair, isn't it?" I teased, raising an eyebrow playfully. Alastor's laughter subsided into a warm smile as he nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming with camaraderie. "Fair enough," he admitted, reaching for his glass. "To an unforgettable night" he proposed, raising his glass in a toast. I clinked my glass against his, the sound ringing out in the bustling atmosphere of the bar. "To that", I agreed, taking a moment to savour the warmth of the moment before we both downed our shots, the fiery liquid igniting a spark of energy within us.

Amidst the haze of our intoxication, we continued to indulge in our revelry, the drinks flowing freely until we found ourselves teetering on the brink of inebriation. With each shot, the world around us seemed to blur and sway, our laughter echoing in the dimly lit bar. As I reached for one more shot, determination mingling with the alcohol coursing through my veins, I glanced over to see Alastor following suit. However, his attempt at imbibing the fiery liquid ended in an unexpected tumble, his form careening off the stool in a clumsy display. A colourful stream of curses escaped his lips as the sticky residue of the spilled shot splattered over him, his ears flattening against his head in frustration. "Son of a bitch!" he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of annoyance and amusement, as he attempted to shake off the remnants of the spilled drink. Despite the mishap, or perhaps because of it, I couldn't help but find him endearingly adorable in that moment.

The way his normally confident demeanour faltered, revealing a glimpse of vulnerability beneath the surface, stirred something within me, a soft warmth spreading through my chest. As a faint blush coloured my screen, I reached out to steady him, offering a reassuring smile. "Easy there, big guy", I chuckled, suppressing a laugh as I helped him back onto his stool. "Looks like that one got the better of you", I remarked, unable to resist a playful jab. Alastor's ears twitched slightly at my teasing, his regular grin, sheepish looking. "Seems so", he conceded, his voice laced with amusement despite the embarrassment of his tumble. "But I'll bounce back, as always" he added, his trademark confidence returning in full force. With a gentle pat on his shoulder, I nodded in agreement, my gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary. In the midst of our drunken escapade, amidst the laughter and spilled shots, I couldn't shake the feeling of a deeper connection forming between us, one that transcended the haze of alcohol and the chaos of the night.