neunkugeln | fable inbox 🍌🌼

No... I'm not sure...

[Another hiss.]

Sorry, my head...

[Does she really have to be the one to tell him...]

You removed your shirt of your own accord.

[It's technically the truth. He was the one who slipped it up over his head, but Ilsa never stopped him. Only encouraged him... and the thought has her clearing her throat, as well as Valo making a low, dubious noise at the both of them.]

I left it in the living room, but don't worry about it right now.

[A low hum as he stares up at her. More things are starting to come to mind... But it's all out of order and he's not sure if that's better or worse. He also still feels strange like...]

...Ugh... I feel like my head is being split into two...

[The enchantment probably isn't normally meant to be like this, but it probably didn't factor him getting drunk off his ass, either. His normal self vs. the change from the magic with the drinks on top of it all...]

Save it for tomorrow.

[That grumpiness sounds like his usual self...

...

As does him trying to stand again.]

Save what—I said stop it.

[Ilsa pushes him back down again, this time with more force, and she won't stop until his head is back on her pillow.]

Don't make me knock you over the head with Nybeth to get you to sleep. I'd say you deserve some of it for getting drunk off your ass, but... [It mostly isn't his fault. Well, okay, the drinking definitely was, but would he have done it if he were himself? Doubtful.] You can stay here for as long as you need, until your head no longer feels like it's going to crack like a coconut.

[Just another groan and then a more annoyed hiss that definitely sounds more like himself.]

I've already caused you enough problems... I don't remember all of it yet, but don't need it all to know.

[He's here in her bed, clearly drunk and...something else.

...And he also feels terrible about it as a wave of remorse floods him, and a hand goes to cover his face.]

...Ugh...so pathetic...

[Yep.

The magic is certainly fading away, but it's lingering a little.]

It's no trouble.

[And Ilsa doesn't disagree... and she may have given a small nod and a hum of affirmation to that sentiment. Yeah, just a little pathetic... but she won't say that out loud. She respects him enough to not wound his pride any more than it already has been.

But it does beg the question, and she will ask it very carefully—]

What do you remember? Before you blacked out on my couch.

[On top of her..... with his hands up her shirt..........]

Remember...

[His voice is low and sluggish, his hand still covering his eyes.]

I remember... Us... Your hands...

...

[And that's it because he fell asleep again.]

[...

....

Did he...? Just fall asleep? On her again?

She isn't sure if she should be relieved or annoyed by it. On one hand, maybe it's better that they skip all that awkward conversation, but on the other... this is the second time he's done it today!!! And at the most inopportune, frustrating times! She's trying to figure out what to do next, and here he goes dozing off.]

Tch. Well, not much to be done about it.

[It's more said to herself and to Valo before she moves around to the other side of the bed to slump down with Valo between them, and she addresses the dog when he looks at her.]

Just for a few minutes.

[And she closes her eyes.

...

....

....

But those few minutes turn into several more, and then it turns into an hour, and then a few hours... and then several more....

Until it's already dark out by the time she even stirs.]

Edited 2023-05-16 02:26 (UTC)

[Eustace remains completely out of it, both his mind and body exhausted from the double whammy of the enchantment and the alcohol. Valo does eye Ilsa a little questioningly... But he just snugs close to Eustace to give her some more room.

...

Until at some point the dog feels a bit crowded between the two of them. Eustace had fully turned to hug him as usual, but it also meant being a little cramped. With a little grumble, he slips out from under Eustace's arms and moves to the other side of his legs where he curls up much more comfortably.

However, the movement had roused Eustace just enough to notice that Valo had moved, but not enough to notice anything else. It's not the first time and if the dog wants to move that's fine, but he makes a half-hearted attempt to find him again. That's when his hand reaches out and touches something warm and soft...

...And immediately pulls the body towards him, face immediately nuzzling the back of the neck with a deep exhale. It's been a long day...he's tired... He just wants to hug his dog for comfort.

Unfortunately.

That's not his dog.

Nor is that a dog's waist his arm is wrapped around nor his dog's hair that he's unconsciously nuzzling into, the sweet scent pulling him in further.]

[For Ilsa, it had been the exhaustion of running around and worrying that made her doze off as hard as she did. She only wanted to close her eyes for a few minutes, to rest her own aching head for a moment before she went to prepare some soup or something for him... or bananas... she has plenty of those, but the call of the bed had called to her. It's not even that comfortable, but it had been too enticing to resist, and sooner than later, she'd completely fallen asleep.

And is still only slightly aware of what's going on. She hadn't noticed that Eustace had wrapped his arms around her, and she's yet to realize that that's his nose nuzzled into her hair, but...

...

Still too sleepy to wake up. So, instead, she turns around to face the other way—to face him—and curls up against him instead, not even questioning the new warmth that she's found (yet) but rather, inviting it.]

[By the time she turns around he's back to deep asleep. Normally he's a lot more alert and would notice such movements, but it's just proving how exhausted he is to not notice the change, his arm instead curling more around her as his chin naturally tucks over her head.

And that's how they will be until Ilsa wakes up first.]

[It's the press of something on top of her head that has Ilsa sleepily questioning things first. Her face scrunches and her ears twitch at the breath that tickles it. She's completely forgotten in her exhaustion-induced slumber that Valo and Eustace are still here, so the fact that there's anything blowing on top of her head at all is... strange to her.

Her legs stretch out and she makes a small noise of contentment, and odd as it is at first, it does feel nice. It's so warm, but so sturdy as her hands travel around his waist and up his back... Ah, she must be dreaming...

Dreaming of a strong man laying here next to her. Of a man who holds her with such conviction and devotion, just like they do in all those books that she's read. One who keeps in good shape, too, judging by the curves of his sculpted muscles beneath her fingertips, and she presses a little more firmly.

...?

But then she feels something wet pressing to her fingers. Something wet and soft licking at them, and then a whine...

......???

Before Ilsa finally opens her eyes.

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

And it dawns on her.

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

Immediately, she pushes back with a yelp, hard enough to send Eustace rolling over.]

[It's when Ilsa starts touching him that he frowns a little... But he's used to Valo sometimes bumping into him. Except... This feels different? But it's not until Ilsa yelps that his eyes snap open in time to find himself staring up at the ceiling as he's rolling off the bed, Valo also yelping as he quickly jumps out of the way in time everyone to hear the loud THUD as Eustace lands hard onto the floor.

And just.

Lies there stunned, one leg still partially hooked over the bed as he lies on the ground on his back with his eyes just staring up into the ceiling momentarily dazed before Valo quickly comes over to lick him.]

—! Hang on—Valo—

[His head is hurting again for a different reason ow.]

[She really hadn't meant to push so hard but hearing him fall over on the bed has her crawling to the other side to check on him to make sure that he's alright first, but Valo seems to already have that taken care of.

So, instead...]

How long were you holding me like that!? Save those cuddles for your dog.

[IGNORING THAT SHE WAS LITERALLY JUST FONDLING HIS MUSCLES, OKAY...]

What are you talking about?? Who was I holding?

[Just a frosty glare up at her.]

And who was the one touching who, huh?

[Well.

At least it's a sign that he's back to normal.]

No one.

[She's going straight into pure denial mode, sitting back with a huff, ignoring the dubious stare that even Valo is giving her. She will not be judged by a dog, thank you!!!]

Good to see you're back to normal.

[...Ah...

After shooting Ilsa another dubious stare and giving Valo a rough ear ruffle before pushing him aside, he finally flips himself over so he can sit on the floor, back leaning against the bed as he closes his eyes.

...Ugh.]

...It's slowly coming to me... Unfortunately.

[Because wow. WOW. HE WOULD PREFER TO HAVE BLACKED OUT AND LOSE ALL HIS MEMORIES.]

...I've troubled you a lot. Sorry.

[Understatement.]

[Understatement of the century.

But that must mean he remembers everything... so from where she sits on the bed, refusing to look over at him for more than just the peek spared his way to see him sitting up on the floor, she mutters under her breath.]

It wasn't your fault.

[Though how much he does remember still remains unanswered, but she's not going to ask again.]

I'd rather you come to me for these things... than anyone else.

[Especially when he lets other women touch his ears willy nilly like that!? Ahem.]

.......Hrm.

[It's still a bit fragmented, but he does recall.... A few things. That he rather wouldn't.

Primals to think he completely lost his mind like that—]

Even so, my behavior.......

[He can't even word it properly.]

It was... Improper and offensive towards you.

[And, well, to everyone, but she got the worst of it.

Ugh, it makes him sigh and rub his brows. He's not even sure what to make of his behavior and thoughts at the time. Any of it real? Or just part of the magic that was over him?]

I said it's fine, so quit apologizing.

[Stop talking about it like that! While most of the behaviour was indeed... strange... some of it she really should have said no to......

Speaking of that, she's going to ask the question anyway—]

Was any of that real?

[Mainly the things that happened at the end, but honestly? All of it works too, because what the hell...]

[LOOK THIS HAS BEEN A VERY. NOT GREAT EXPERIENCE OKAY.

BUT uh..

....

He's silent before he can finally answer with some resignation.]

I don't know.

[And he really doesn't.

They already established there is indeed something between them, but neither are still sure if it's genuine or influenced by the magic.]

It...felt a little similar to back at the masquerade. But stronger.

[Which is also concerning...

But he doesn't say more for now as he tries to not only remember but also process what he was thinking and feeling at the time.]

[She winces visibly and audibly at that. Stronger than the masquerade...? As if that wasn't powerful enough magic, she can't help wonder what today must have been like for him. He felt compelled to... gods forbid, smile at people, and socialize with them. Share details about his life when he is Mister "It's Classified" every other time.

So, if it were like the masquerade, then she can reasonably conclude that some of it was real. It had made her act on every impulse she had when she was under the influence of the cocktail, but did Eustace really have such impulses? What happened between them, maybe, but everything else?

Plus, he'd said all those things to her earlier, too... things that she hasn't forgotten...]

Well. [Her voice is sharp, back to the way it had been when they met again after the first incident, right back to Business. It's easier this way.] At any rate, you seem to be recovering. Let's not dwell on what happened and move forward? Unless you'd rather discuss it further.

[They've already talked this through for the most part.... and that seems like the best way to move past it is to just... do.

Clearing her throat loudly, Ilsa pushes herself off the bed.]

You should stay the night, though. Just in case.

[He doesn't mind the tone, probably preferring it. There's a lot he has to think about and recall, and his mind still feels heavy from everything.

But when he hears her get up and makes that suggestion, he frowns and starts to pull himself up to stand.]

I won't refuse, but I'll take the couch.

[She looks him up and down, a questionable brow arching.]

You won't fit comfortably on the couch.

[He's too tall for it, and if he's still feeling sick—]

I'd rather you get a comfortable night's sleep and feel refreshed in the morning. Though, with how hard you slept, I'd be surprised if you could fall asleep again for a while.

I've already caused you enough discomfort, I'm not taking your bed on top of it.

[A sigh.]

And you're not wrong... But it would be better. Not sure if it's a hangover or aftereffects of the spell... Or hitting my head on the floor that's giving me this headache.

[Probably all three.]

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