[He remains ducked beneath the table for as long as Pepi deigns to let him pet her, but once she stalks off he slowly rises, thick hair tumbled into his face and expression curled in around a frown. Lips part in preperation for another excuse-- but there's Pasha's face, looking so earnest, and so with a heavy sigh he once again reaches for the rum bottle.

Asra being open and honest about anything sounds as unlikely as Julian acting with careful thought and rationality. If the magician really has said something like that, if Pasha really wants him to listen this badly--]

Look, I'll...I'll try. It's just, you know, it's me we're talking about. I sabotage things without even meaning to. I don't know how to stop myself. But I'll try not to do, um, any of those things you mentioned.

[And he knocks back more of the rum.]