Basil sobered only just as the tone of the conversation took a turn back towards the unfriendly. He puffed at his cigarette quietly, listening and thinking, processing Nee’s sentiments. He supposed it was the duty of the best friend to try and cheer one’s spirit’s when they were particularly low, but Basil realized he didn’t want cheering. He wanted mischief and alcohol and plenty of it so he could forget this night altogether. Instead of verbalizing any of that however, he simply turned a sad little smile in the direction of his best, truest love friend.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” he said gently.

Breathing out a particularly long puff of smoke, Basil straightened and gave a stretch, his limbs feeling stiff. Likely it was from cold, but he didn’t notice. It was time to turn the tables and get away from this topic altogether. Turning towards Nee again, he nodded in the direction of the main house. “How has your evening been then?” He forced a little grin. “It has to have been less dramatic than mine for you to be so somber and sober yet.”

---