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[Excuse.

He is going to walk up to her to try and take that pillow away???]

It is if the owner was kicked out because of my negligence.

[Yep, here comes the dumb bickering that makes no sense to anyone but themselves.]

[Excuse???

She's going to hold onto that pillow tight and try to wrench it free from his grip.]

It isn't being kicked out if I offered.

[How To Bicker Like You Are Married Without Being Married: A Lesson.]

Let go of the pillow.

[Tightening that grip.]

And I am refusing.

[And she tightens it right back, and even tries to yank it away from him.]

And it's bad manners to refuse your host.

[Give. It. Back

Though, she doesn't even realize the little nudge that Valo gives her against the back of her leg with his head...]

And it's rude to try and force your guest against their will.

[YANKING HARDER—

At exactly the same time Valo is giving that nudge to Ilsa and getting in Eustace's way just enough for him to step back towards the bed.]

[GRABBING TIGHTER—

But this would be their downfall. Literally.

Because Ilsa feels a nudge on the back of her legs that makes her knees suddenly buckle and with Eustace's inconveniently timed pull, she loses her balance and smashes right into him, pushing him down onto the bed and landing on top of him with only the pillow to save her face from crashing into his.

And as soon as she lands, Valo hops up between their legs and puts his front paws on Ilsa's back to keep her down.]

[Oh what in the— Down they go and at least it's a soft landing, but now they're all tangled together with him on the bottom.]

Valo!!

[Seeing the dog on top of Ilsa makes him raise his voice for probably the first time, but Valo is not swayed. There's a low grumble and another pat pat of his paws.

BOTH WILL SLEEP ON THE BED. THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE AND YOU DID IT BEFORE JUST FINE STOP BEING BABIES!!!]

Valo!

[She shouts along with him, but he doesn't let up, and Ilsa groans under the shifting weight and the pat of Valo's paws, her face burying into the pillow to hide herself and to muffle the sounds of her curses before she's lifting it again, and every inch of it is red.]

I think he's trying to tell you somethi—hurgh!

[Valo pats his paws on Ilsa again.

AND YOU TOO, MOM!!!]

[A grunt as he's also feeling the pressure before he finally clicks his tongue in annoyance.]

All right! We both use the damn bed!

[Only then does Valo stop and wag his tail, panting happily. But he has to hear it from Ilsa, too.]

[Well, she would have been perfectly okay with sleeping on the couch...

...

....

And when Ilsa doesn't answer immediately, Valo lowers his face and licks her ear, his tongue getting right in there, and she violently flicks it back before she relents.

.......]

Fine. We'll both sleep on the bed.

[With that, Valo barks out loud with pride and climbs off them, and Ilsa immediately rolls off Eustace and onto her back with a groan.]

[Eustace will similarly roll more onto one side of the bed, a hand at his head. Not another headache...]

This dog... We sure the fae haven't cast a spell on him, either?

[There's a growling whine in protest. He's just trying to make you stop being dumb!!]

Or maybe you've rubbed off on him.

[He boofs lowly at Ilsa. Don't make him come over there...!]

You win, Valo. You two can share that side. [She gestures to one side as she pushes herself up and gathers her pajamas from the drawer.] I'm going to go get cleaned up and changed. Try not to make too much of a mess of it.

[And off she goes before either of them can give her much of a response, returning after some time following a shower, her hair and ears still damp as she pads back into the room. It's been a long day.....]

[He just shoots her a look before he tries to get a little more settled, and by the time she returns, Valo will be happily snug against Eustace's legs, sticking near the foot of the bed since space will be a little tight. Eustace for his part will keep his back to her, but he's not asleep yet. Really it's a bit hard to given everything, his thoughts still mulling over the events of the day.

He'll wait until she's closer and about to get in before he speaks up.]

Ilsa.

[She knew he was still awake, but she still tries to keep it down anyway, not wanting to disturb the silence, or Valo curled up against Eustace's legs. She's already pulling back the sheets when she pauses, hearing his voice.]

Hm?

[Her own prompt is gentle, quiet, even a little tired as she sits on the edge of her side of the bed, waiting for him to say what he wants.]

[There's another small stretch of silence as if he's trying to gather his words before he speaks again.]

...I know I've said this already, but... I'm sorry for all the mess I put you through. And thanks for handling it. I owe you.

Yes, you do.

[She's mostly jesting, but she doesn't even hesitate to say it, and it's like that's all she's about to say as she slides under the covers, feeling her cheeks grow warm as she accidentally bumps Eustace's leg with her own...

...

But when she finally rests her head on the pillow, her temple pounding with a growing headache, she sighs.]

Like I said earlier, better that you came to me than trying to navigate all of that on your own. I'm not sure what sort of enchantment that was, but I'm here to whip you back into shape, should you ever need it.

[And now they have another mess to work through... The things that happened that evening on the couch. They may not be talking about it explicitly, but it's sure to be on both of their minds for the days to come. At least now, they don't have to be awkward or avoidant about it, but can simply apply everything they've said before to it.]

[A low hum of agreement before he sighs.]

We'll have to find the ones who did this and strangle them.

[Noe even saying that as a hyperbole he will literally grab their necks—]

Hm.

[She makes a small sound of affirmation before she's shifting, turning so that her back is facing him as well, and she's right at the edge of the bed, legs almost hanging off so as not to accidentally bump him again.]

Be sure to save your strength for that. I'll be reserving mine, and we'll hunt for them tomorrow.

Sounds good to me.

[Small pause.]

You'll fall off if you stay that close to the edge.

[Excuse, don't call her out like that—]

I'll be fine. Just worry about yourself and Valo.

[And she's going to shuffle a little closer to the edge, though she doesn't miss the low groan from the dog as he lifts his head to look at her.]

[...

Why is he tempted to just grab her and pull her over—because that would be a TERRIBLE idea right after what happened. So he'll just sigh—]

Suit yourself.

[—and move himself closer to the edge a little, ignoring Valo grumping at them as he closes his eyes and tries to sleep.

Keyword: try.

After everything and despite feeling tired, it's going to take him a while... Really...sharing a bed with Ilsa right now seems to be the last of his concerns...]

[She will indeed suit herself.]

Goodnight.

[Though, like him, Ilsa has a harder time than usual falling asleep. After all the running around with Valo, and with the weary pounding of her head, it's a wonder that she doesn't completely crash the moment she rests against the pillow. She listens to Eustace, noting that his breathing doesn't even out into something slower and steadier for as long as she's awake... but by the time she really does fall asleep, she has no idea who did so first.

By morning, she will no longer be at the edge of the bed, but when she wakes, she'll be curled up right near his back and tucked against the warmth of his body, and that's when she shuffles her way out from under the covers in a panic...

...

And rushes to the kitchen to start making breakfast for them, trying to shake off that flushed, embarrassed feeling that she felt the moment she woke up. It will be a stiff breakfast, slightly awkward, but by the time he takes his leave and she reminds him to take care of himself and to keep a close watch on any suspicious activity near him, things seem to have fallen back into a place of normalcy for them.

Now she just hopes that it will remain that way.]

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