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No—!

[HURK—

He also doesn't want to puke all over her front lawn so although he's hunched over, he somehow manages to contain it. If anything he needs a moment to properly breathe and get some air...as well as maybe stop all this spinning.

Ugh....]

[Just please do not ruin her perfect grass!!!

And she'll raise her voice, barking out a command as if he were her recruit rather than an equal colleague.]

I don't care if you have two left feet, or hands for feet, keep moving them. If you hurl on my peonies, I will give you something to run from!

[Her front door is literally right there!!!]

[Unfortunately it won't be as effective as he's still just hunched over her fence. All he can do is give her a feeble wave followed by a—]

Shit, not so loud!

[But then he takes a few deep breaths and pushes himself up away from the fence.

Slowly.

And starts taking a few staggering steps onto her walkway.]

[Well, at least it got him moving, but she really is fuming at this point while her eyes dart up and down the street, making sure that there's no one watching before she's helping to rush him along her front lawn towards the door. Even Valo is giving him small nudges behind his legs to help...!

And once they're inside, Ilsa will slam the door shut behind all three of them, and now Eustace is free to do whatever he pleases. His pride will not be wounded here.

As she, meanwhile, slumps down against the door with a sigh.]

[JUST GOING TO RUSH OVER TO THE KITCHEN SINK FOR NOW. He feels less nauseous, but he feels like hanging his head over it, anyway.

Valo is really so confused, whining first at Ilsa and giving her a few licks before he moves to Eustace, ears lowered and whining more as he sits by him.]

[Poor Valo is trying so hard to keep both mom and dad appeased...

Ilsa only gives him a crooked, sheepish smile while she rests her head back against the door, trying to catch the breaths that she lacked the entire walk back from the pub... lest anyone here forget that she carried the man on her back the whole way.]

You did good. I'm sorry that I couldn't do more.

[Valo gets a light scratch on the head and an apology from her before he wanders over to bump his head against Eustace's leg.

Ilsa will call after Eustace, though, from where she's practically sitting on the floor by now.]

Drink some water.

[He doesn't move for a moment, but it does sound like a good idea. So he'll turn on the tap...

...

And just dunk his entire head under it.]

[From where she is, she can see him fairly clearly, and when he turns on the water and—]

That's not—

[She's about to call out her protest, but in the end, decides against it. She dismisses it with a groan and a wave of her hand before she's pushing herself to her feet and crossing to the kitchen to grab a fresh towel that she'll just drape over his shoulder.]

Here.

[JUST GIVE HIM A FEW MOMENTS...and then he really will tilt his head so he can just drink straight from the faucet. But after a few mouthfuls and cold water later, he pulls at the towel and slowly wipes his face.]

Sorry... Just... Suddenly really hot...

[...

Ilsa stares for a second too long before she steals her eyes away, looking anywhere but at him or the way his wet hair clings to his forehead, or how the water dribbles down the sides of his face—]

You should sit down. I can make room on the couch for you.

All right...

[Ugh... His head... Pounding... And he'll sluggishly trudge over to the couch before he flops onto it, head automatically tilting back against the back rest.]

[Ah—

Well... Alright. He flopped on there before she could move the pillows around to be more comfortable, but if he's fine, then... so be it. She's so tired, she's not going to argue with him anymore.

She'll pour him a tall glass of ice-cold water before dragging herself to the living room.

She's just going to slump down next to him and hand him the glass. The couch itself isn't that big—enough to fit the two of them and Valo if he squeezes in, but it is wide enough that she can comfortably stretch out and let her head fall back as well.]

Drink. Let's start getting you sobered up.

Mm... I think I've started...maybe...

[Though whether he'll be truly sober and in his correct mind is still questionable. He'll take the drink with some thanks and nurse it slowly. At least he's aware he's got a more empty stomach now, so drinking it too fast will do him no favors.]

...Sorry...about all this... You probably think I'm pathetic now...

[...Yeah pretty good hint he's still not of his right mind.]

[...

She watches him, something that feels a lot like pity knotting in her chest before she clicks her tongue.]

A little. [Yeah... Hard to deny that he has given her that impression today.] But not more pathetic than the fae that made you like this.

[That is to say... she doesn't blame him for it, nor does she actually think him pitiful.]

[OH HIS EARS ARE DROOPING. Even if it's just a little, it still stings. He only barely manages to not whimper about it.

Instead, he'll glance over at her at her last remark.]

...The fae?

Mm. I knew I couldn't trust them from the get-go, but any respect they have earned from me, they've thrown it to the wind.

[Ilsa never liked them much to begin with, so this just solidifies that she never, ever will. Especiallywhen she sees his ears drooping like he's some sad, kicked puppy.]

When you are feeling better, we're going to go have a few words with them. Preferably their leader, once I find them.

N-No, don't do that! They might do something against you!

[And probably in yet another bad decision, he suddenly turns and grabs her hands as if to plead with her.]

[While she doesn't snap her hands away from his, she does stare at them in shock, maybe a little bit of alarm, and she clears her throat she feels a heat creeping up into her cheeks.]

Then let them. I will give them something to truly regret after that. They can't keep thinking they can get away with this.

[Away with turning this man into the soft puppy that he is. She doesn't mind his softer side, but this is too much. She can hardly find it in her to respect Eustace when he keeps pouting like this.]

... But that will come later. For now, worry about getting back to your normal self.

[There's just a small whine from the back of his throat as he looks at her... Before the head pain, heat, and dizziness hits him and he groans.]

Sorry... Can I put my head down...

[He asked... But he's already tilting forward and his head flops unceremoniously onto her lap.]

[She's even going to grab him a pillow so that he can flop the other way, but as she turns to reach for it, she feels him fall onto her lap instead, and she freezes, the pillow partly on its way to be handed to him, and all she can do is gawp at Eustace...

...

....]

I-is that comfortable...?

[Why is she turning into a flustered, sputtering mess again now!?!??]

Mmm...

[He then unwittingly turns towards her waist, his arms wrapping around her as he starts to nuzzle her.]

...Soft...

[Oh dear primals in heaven...

Ilsa only stiffens further when he wraps his arms around her, and she still holds onto the pillow, not quite sure what to do with her hands now. Does she pat him? Does she put them to her sides? Does she rest them on his shoulder? No, she'll just... keep them up here for a little bit until she figures out what's going on.

But she also doesn't want to force him to move... He's been through a lot today, and she thinks it would be in his best interests to lie down, so...

...

....

Cue a very long, very awkward silence before Ilsa clears her throat.]

You're going to stay like this...?

Just... A little while...

[He'll feel his breath and his lips moving against her shirt as he continues to nuzzle into her.]

Smells nice... Soothing...

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

[What does someone say to being told that they smell nice? And all while he is nuzzling his nose into her, coming so, so very close to finding his way beneath her shirt. His face is so near her that she can feel the heat of his breath and the brush of his lips through the fabric, and Ilsa tries not to squirm too much at the sensation...

...

Or the memories that it stirs.

After several moments of consideration, she sets the pillow down and beckons for Valo to hop up onto the couch. He does, on the other side of Eustace, and curls up next to his legs and rests his head there. Ilsa, meanwhile, lowers her hands to rest in his hair, next to his ears.

...

Before she very gently touches one.]

[There's a light, drowsy hum when he feels her fingertips at his ear, which flick a little before they still and relax.]

Feels nice...

[Another quiet murmur as he seems to beckon for her to continue.]

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