neunkugeln | fable inbox 🍌🌼

[...Huh...? She... She hates it...?

His ears are drooping now, looking so downcast.]

Oh... You hate it...

[IT'S SO PAINFUL TO SAY...]

But I felt fine...

[Ah, shit. Not this...

Suddenly, Ilsa feels conflicted about how she feels. On one hand, what the actual fuck happened to Eustace, but on the other, he looks like a kicked puppy.

She should feel worse about it, and yes, she's being a bit harsh, but is this really how he feels? Did he really wake up this morning and decide that this is what he wanted to wear!?

With a heavy sigh, Ilsa kicks her front door open.]

Get inside before someone sees you.

O-okay...

[SHE'S MAD AT HIM......

His ears droop lower and if he had a tail it would definitely be tucked in as he goes into her home...

...

And stands to the side with his head lowered as if he's done something wrong but doesn't know what.]

[Listen, she's just protecting his dignity, okay!!! If Eustace were in his right mind and anyone saw this, or if this is even the real Eustace at all, then she knows he wouldn't want a single soul—not even her—to see it. Not just the outfit, but primals help him, but the whole droopy-eared, sad puppy look.

She slams the door shut behind her and finally sets Valo down, though he remains at Ilsa's side, hiding behind her legs as he fixes Eustace with a worried, wary stare.

Ilsa, on the other hand, is completely dumbfounded and still has no idea what to say.

...

So, she just stares at him...

.....

And stares...

Before she finally sputters.]

This must be a joke.

What is?

[He's still a little droopy as he looks at her blankly. May also be fiddling with the backpack strap, those sunglasses now resting just in front of his ears.]

[She's still incredulous as she gestures to... this whole thing.]

Everything. All of...

[She walks up to him and with a click of her tongue, she gently swats his hand away from the flowery backpack strap.]

Stop that. Where did you get these ridiculous clothes?

Ow!

[It actually didn't hurt at all. But he whines about it anyway, giving her an aggrieved look. Why did you hit him???]

I told you, they were at the house with some other things...

[Did he just... whine at her? She staggers back a step in horrified surprise. It isn't just about the clothes anymore, but the weird changes to... him as well. The changes that are making her incredibly uncomfortable and weirded the hell out.

Her hand immediately goes up to press against his forehead, checking his temperature.]

You're not feeling ill, are you?

Ah...

[When she places her hand on his forehead, he instantly blushes, eyes averting.]

N-No...?

[Her hand snaps back as if he'd felt hot to the touch, but no... she sees the way his cheeks immediately flush with colour. Has that ever happened before!? Watching this all unfold is like looking directly at a world wonder.]

Are you blushing?

[Yes, she's calling him out on it, but it's more a question she asks for herself... and she finds that her own cheeks are turning a shade of red in response to it.

From behind Ilsa, Valo whines.]

Eustace, what has gotten into you? You're acting...

[...

How does she put this so that she doesn't hurt his feelings again? Or should she even care about being delicate with them?]

Not yourself.

[And he just BLUSHES MORE when she points it out and he tries to hide his face. Oh his heart is doing flip flops. She touched him...! If she knew how she's making his heart flutter...!!!!!]

What do you mean?

[Shy, bashful glances at her.]

You're blushing.

[She repeats it, as if it will help make her point, but she has to quickly backtrack when she realizes that's only going to make it WORSE...

And when he shoots those bashful glances at her—]

Why are you looking at me like that?

No, just...

[...

....

..............................................

Super quiet voice:]

You look pretty today.

[AND THEN QUICKLY LOOKING AWAY, FLUSHING.]

[She almost chokes on the air in her lungs at his compliment, and now her face is red enough to match his. Something is going on—is this a prank? Did someone pay him to put him up to this? Are they all going to laugh in her face when this is over!?

She wants to believe that he's being genuine because of the way he's looking at her, but....!?

Ilsa is trying so hard to find a logical explanation for any of this, but SHE CAN'T.]

Ah... I... Thank you...

[WELL NOW SHE'S FLUSTERED, her own voice growing quiet.]

... have you forgotten what we've talked about?

[And he's just going to quietly shake his head because he's still ~shy~ to say anything or meet her gaze.]

[When he shakes his head, she's going to reach out and take those ridiculous sunglasses off his head and wave them at him.]

Eustace.

[Look at her!!!]

[NO HE CAN'T SHE'S TOO PRETTY AND HE FEELS TOO SHY!!!!]

[When he refuses, Ilsa exchanges a look with Valo, who's still hiding behind her legs, and the dog barks up at him. Dad, stop being weird!!!

Well, if he isn't going to look at her...!]

Could you at least take off that awful sweater and backpack so we can talk? I can't take you seriously like this.

Wh-what?

Take...take it off? Here? Right now?

[He nervously looks around before he does.]

If... If that's what you want...

[And thud goes the backpack before he starts to lift of the hem of the sweater, and it'll be halfway up his chest before it's certain he has nothing underneath.]

[Wait, what is he—

Wait, why is he—

It's hard not to look when the skin peeks out from beneath the sweater as he starts to lift it, and Ilsa immediately feels a giant lump grow in her throat when she sees the carvings of his muscles, and then more, and then more, and then—]

Stop!

[She reaches out to stop before he goes any further when she realizes that he's not wearing anything underneath!? WHY!? She knows that Erunes typically don't, but WHY THIS...

Her face is the same shade as her eyes now as she tries to fix and straighten his sweater for him.]

N-nevermind. Leave it on.

[This is... fine. It will have to do. Better than trying to talk to him without a shirt at all. dkjsfsjf

She steps back and now she's having a hard time looking at him.]

What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

[Ah... He was ready to take it off?? It would have been a little weird, but... He's gone shirtless before, it would have been all right. Then again indoors... And with Ilsa... Would it have been rude??

And she's so red...

Ah, it just makes him flustered again.]

Breakfast?

[He almost stammers but he tries to think.]

Just some fruit and cereal... Eggs... And some bacon I harvested from the meat trees not too long ago. Same breakfast I've had for the past couple of days?

[So it wasn't something he ate, but she can't rule out the possibility just yet, especially when he continues to look at her like some blushing bride. How freaky—]

And you didn't go drinking last night?

No.

So what is it that has you all...

[Valo whines, and Ilsa joins in the chorus with an uncomfortable sound.]

Happy-go-lucky?

[So unnatural.]

I don't know what you're talking about... I just felt pretty good this morning.

[And although a little shy (ooh Ilsa ooh~!) he smiles brightly]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject