When will I see you again

Artorias watched Lia with a gentle, encouraging smile on his face while she bashfully took the bottle of wine from him after cleaning up her medical supplies. She took a sip, and the face she made nearly had Art bursting out in laughter. He held it in, biting his lip to let only a couple stifled snickers out instead. Lia began coughing from the alcohol, clearly her first dance with the potent liquid, and Artorias went to take the bottle from her to give her a helping paw, but she surprised him when she took a second sip more successfully. The young alpha raised a brow, impressed by her resolution. He snickered again and replied, "It's an acquired taste, I'm told. I nearly choked the first time I drank too. Fortunately, Seer made sure I didn't, and we ended up in a tickle fight." Gods, that wasn't even a year ago, was it? And yet it felt like so long ago...

Artorias gratefully took the bottle back from Lia and swallowed a long swig, hoping the alcohol would help take the edge off of the throbbing pain in his leg soon. "Thank you again for fixing up my leg. I appreciate it." Another swallow of wine, then he offered the bottle back to her. "You don't have to drink anymore if you don't like it," he offered her as an avenue out, but it would have been rude not to offer her some more. Whether she took the bottle from him or not, Artorias asked, "I know something is bothering you, Lia. I can see it on your face. What's wrong?"

"Artorias Carpathius"