( the room's spinning, the floor rising up sharply to meet him. legosi realizes belatedly that he had sat down on his haunches in the middle of his apartment, staring wide-eyed at the screen clutched between two huge hands. )
If you're certain, Haru-chan... I will be there next to you no matter what
( even if he low-key feels like he's gonna hurl. )
Okay I will come over Should I bring anything?? Should I shop for anything??
a-ah be still her heart, he really is such a great guy when it all boils down to what matters. it has her pausing for a moment, reconsidering just how far she's taking this. maybe this is mean...maybe she should cut it out, just tell him what's actually up.
...nah.]
No, you should come to my place right away. I think I'd rather we go shopping together.
Maybe we can pick out a few clothes together too, for the kid. It'll be fun!
[he's so earnest it's cute. but is it eating away at her?
maybe like...a tiny bit. though not by much. she's still in that weird in-between where back home he's been ghosting her for months, while only three days have passed here since she went home.
as far as she's concerned this is a well-deserved joke at his expense.]
It's not too early to go clothes shopping. This all may be sudden but I already have a few ideas in mind...
I'll leave the door unlocked, just knock so I know it's you before you enter.
( he's too busy thinking that it might be too early anyway, because they have no idea what their offspring would look like or how big they would get how quickly, but ... um... okay, he guesses he won't panic about that just yet. )
Okay, I'll be there soon
( and true to his word, somewhere between five and ten minutes, there is a slightly manic-sounding knocking coming at the door, followed by a hesitant, ) ...Haru-chan? It's me.
[it's no surprise that it doesn't take Legosi long to arrive, and from the way he knocks wildly at the door she can tell that he's properly panicked from their whole exchange.
she probably should answer the door, reveal to him that no, he didn't actually knock her up but actually something much more weird has happened. but, at the moment, she's up on a ladder, putting her set of kitchen knives away in upper cabinets that even a determined fawn and well-placed chair couldn't reach. same went with scissors, gardening tools...wow she owns a lot of sharp objects, huh?
and even if Louis is watching her put things away, she has one closet she can at least lock her ladder in...which will make life suck for a bit but hey, she'll manage.]
Legosi-kun, the door's unlocked! [she turns so her voice can travel better from the kitchenette to the front door.] Come on in!
( his heart is lodged in his throat, his stomach currently occupying its current spot in his ribcage, as he turns the knob and steps across the threshold. he searches the apartment with wide, wild eyes and doesn't even get far enough to find haru — he stops instead several yards away from another visitor (??) to the apartment, who had been watching her do ... something in the kitchen.
he would have looked, but he was too busy being fixated on this young deer who looked like he was barely out of his toddling years. )
Um... Haru? ( because he knows she's in the kitchen, clattering something or rather. but he can't really seem to tear his gaze away from this ... surprisingly familiar ...?? child?? ) What... Who...?
[ Louis' ears shift and turn towards the sound of the door opening. He knew someone was coming over, he had gathered that much. When the figure stands there in the doorway, Louis shifts. He's fast and unafraid. He puts himself immediately between Haru and Legosi. Louis immediately dismisses that this was an invited guest, and all he sees are fangs and claws. And that height. He's so big. No amount of bad posture would change that for the young deer who's eyes locked firmly on the figure.
He knows that this is a carnivore. Just like the ones that he saw day by day before he went home with that buck who he calls Father. His eyes flicker, and he looks like he's trying to make a decision. Legosi's attention fixed on him helped him quickly make the choice for his next move. And he closes the distance between the two of them and -- ]
Awo.
[ It comes out as a small, irritated sound. And then chomp onto the hand. ]
[it all happens so fast, and it's obvious this was not the intended outcome of getting Legosi to come over. she's about halfway down from ladder to greet Legosi, readying herself for the big reveal of the kid she's been texting him vaguely about, when Louis makes his decision to come between her and Legosi.
there's a shift in the atmosphere, slight and subtle, and Haru is able to read the air as a herbivore when another feels that there's a pending threat. and, unfortunately, it takes her a second too long to put together just why things suddenly feel so off, because she stares in amusement-turned-horror as the small deer lunges forward.]
Louis! Wait-- [she scrambles down the ladder, foot getting caught in the lowest rung, and she catches herself against the counter before she can fall completely.] What are you doing??!
( he's fast. there's something that registers in the back of legosi's brain, a combination carnivorous response, something which feels both defensive and predatory at the sudden movement. he doesn't capitalize on that, however; he remains still, and there is a brief standoff between the very large wolf and the very tiny deer before (what one might not expect) the latter lunges forward and chomps down on one of the former's hands.
it certainly hurts, but probably not as much as the fawn might hope. his herbivorous teeth are flat and his prey jaws are relatively weak, so it might leave a moderate bruise, but it's something that only really makes legosi emit a dull, ) Ow. ( he's mostly frozen by the situation, simultaneously not wanting to hurt the kid in trying to get him to let go. he looks up to haru, eyes wide and confused, looking for help.
then what she cried out when it all happened slowly filters through his brain. wait -- what?? )
Louis??( he looks back down to the deer that is still doggedly chomped down on his hand. he's so small, but... he supposes he can see the resemblance. his fur is the same color, the eyes so similar... ) Um... it's okay, it doesn't hurt that bad. But -- what do I do? Why is he like this??
[ Small hands move to grip at Legosi's wrist, holding on as tight as he can to help him chomp more firmly. He's not threatened by the claws and teeth - or even the stature of the wolf there before him. But he gets more and more frustrated at the minimal reaction and the fact that his name is being said. And then Haru said it, too --
His jaw loosens and he finally relinquishes Legosi, before taking a few steps back. Arms thrown out, he's still very clearly in front of Haru as he stares down this wolf, not sure what to make of him. Not sure what to make of anything, really. He can't imagine a herbivore being friendly with someone like the carnivore before him, and if anything -- his expression says exactly that.
[it is, unfortunately, still in her nature to freeze when there's danger afoot before her body decides on whether to flee or hide. so while Louis chomps down on Legosi's hand, she remains standing even as she recovers completely from her misstep.
luckily, Louis is just a small herbivore, and even though he's sunk his teeth into Legosi's hand it's pretty obvious the wolf's "ow" is more of a habitual reaction than one of any actual pain. still, it's frightening to see a fawn react in such a violent manner; don't most herbivore parents teach their children to either be cautious around large carnivores? between Louis's limited speech and him seeming to not know what a "mom" is, she really has to wonder just what went on in his childhood...
but now isn't the time for that.]
I don't know! H-he was texting me random stuff this morning and I found him like this! Just!! don't move... [she's not??? equipped for this?? luckily Louis relinquishes himself from Legosi's hand, but his stance between her and Legosi gives tell that this kid is trying to protect her.
approaching Louis, she carefully brings her hands to rest on his shoulders.]
Louis it's ok. That's Legosi, he's a friend of ours. [she lets out a bit of a nervous laugh, looking at Legosi apologetically.] Legosi-kun this uh...was the kid I was texting you about.
( it's not necessarily that louis' efforts are without any effect — with all of his strength, he will probably leave some soreness and bruising, but at the end of the day, the jaws and teeth of a deer were not meant to leave much damage upon the body of a large carnivore. when lets him go and retreats, legosi carefully brings his hand towards himself — it hurts, and it's a little slobbered on, but it's certainly not the worst outcome from suddenly being attacked by a toddler.
he is, however, standing between himself and haru, arms flung outward. the story it tells is very plain: he's trying to defend her from him.
legosi slowly looks between the tiny deer, then haru, and then back. it's slowly starting to make sense, even though the fact that louis is for some reason a baby again doesn't make any sense at all! but — he has to somehow prove to him that he isn't a threat, right?
he knows that haru had requested he not move, but... he takes a few careful steps backwards, nearly putting his back to the door. then he slowly lowers himself until he's sat on the floor, knees folded up to his chest, arms locked nonthreateningly around them. )
It's okay, Louis-senpai ... Senpai...? No - um... ( he looks back up to haru, who stands behind him, her hands on his small, narrow shoulders. ) Is this some sort of magic, do you think? It has to be temporary, right?
( he's not ready to raise his best friend as a kid... that's just weird. )
[ He's upset, and due to his age - there's no clear way for him to know that he shouldn't act on it. Haru's touch to his shoulder doesn't make him relax. All he sees right now is a carnivore - predator - here, and all he knows is what they are supposed to do to someone like him or her.
So for all the words she's using, there's an evident distrust. And of course, he is afraid. But he didn't want Haru taken like other friends of his and so -- he thought that was what he had to do.
But the wolf shrinks down, almost. Makes himself smaller, less intimidating, and though Louis doesn't relax or soften, he doesn't make a move. He spits out a small: ]
No.
[ No, what? It's hard to say. Sorry, Legosi, you're not getting approval just yet. ]
Louis, he's a friend! I promise. He's here because he's a friend!
[Aah she sounds...ridiculous, trying to reason with a kid, repeating herself because she doesn't know what else to say??
Legosi may not listen to her suggestion to not move, but the steps he takes to put more space between himself & Louis, bringing himself down to their level, was...well, definitely a better move than just standing around being a looming presence.
Not that it seems to be doing anything to help the situation but hey, it's not making things worse.]
Considering all the weird stuff this place does, I'd guess it's magic or...something. [Her hands are still at Louis's shoulders, sensing just how tense the small deer remains. It's not that she wants to hold him in place, but she also doesn't want him lunging at Legosi again.] And it better be temporary...
[She's 19 and not really ready for full responsibility for a kid! Babysitting for a few days or even a week or two is feasible. But for anything longer??]
I didn't realize he'd act this way. It's a bit-- [strange? messed up?] weird.
[...]
Maybe you should take your dentures out?
[Guess who doesn't have the memo that someone's teeth have grown back while they've been here.]
( legosi doesn't necessarily have very much experience with kids. he likes kids, sure, but he doesn't really know how to navigate a situation like this. how do you win a kid's trust when they view you as a threat, even when being told that wasn't the case? and how do you do any of this when that "kid" was actually your best friend, somehow having magically had the hands of time turned back something like ten or twelve years?
all he knows is that getting down on his level wasn't quite enough, so legosi ponders that, his ears lowered flat to his head. he looks around, looks down, looks up, and readjusts his position: this time he ends up flat on his back, arms outstretched, doing his best impression of a beached whale. )
Hopefully it's temporary...! ( he worries aloud, but otherwise remains completely still. his brain moves at a mile a minute, trying to search through everything he's seen, read, and learned to try to find a solution to this.
at her confusion, he decides to remain silent. legosi doesn't even know everything about it, but he knows louis has a deeply-rooted connection to the back alley market. he had seen the brand on his foot, how he had referred to it as a curse that only legosi could break. with what he had learned of the place, working with gouhin, he could make a few very accurate guesses. so, if he's acting as he might have when he was younger... perhaps this isn't such a shock, after all.
what a mess...
—his dentures? legosi flusters, sweat beading at his brow. shit... had he really not told her? )
I - If I could, I would, but... well, after I transformed back, that first Iris moon... they, uh, grew back too.
( a beat. ) Though that would be really useful right now... to be able to take them out.
( no, legosi, don't think about doing that again. )
[ He doesn't understand what is happening here, but he doesn't seem to have relaxed. He seems pretty unhappy about the entire situation. His eyes shoot defensively between the two of them, and there's immediate concern. He is trying to find the words to articulate his worry, his concern, because damn if he's going to let a herbivore get eaten here and now. But there's the friend fully submitting himself. Or at least, that's what it looks like. So, he steps forward a couple of steps, squatting down by Legosi's feet, and he puts one hand right on it, as if he's testing the waters with something marginally less aggressive.
Is he still afraid? Yes.
Is he still feeling the hatred towards carnivores through and through? Absolutely.
But, he's also infinitely curious because he'd never seen a carnivore do this so freely in front of him. ]
Oh.
[ He stands up then makes his way towards Legosi's side, shuffling across the floor in bare feet. He stares down at him, head tilted. Then he looks towards Haru, opens his mouth, and points towards his mouth, and snaps it shut. ]
No?
[ Not a very eloquent way to try and understand, but to his best understanding is that they are not food for this wolf. ]
[PLEASE DO NOT YANK YOUR TEETH OUT LEGOSI. 1) NOT IN FRONT OF YOUR GIRLFRIEND THAT IS VERY UNSEXY & 2) THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU LOOK NOT-DANGEROUS IN FRONT OF A CHILD
All in all, were it not for the level of confusion and panic Haru is feeling right now, this whole situation would be flat-out ridiculous; why does it feel like the moment Legosi stepped into both her and Louis's life for good, it's just been a nonstop comedy of errors? This place, and the current situation with Louis, certainly isn't helping, and now with Legosi laying flat on his back with his arms out, looking like a squashed spider, admitting that his teeth have grown back--
She shakes her head, letting go of Louis before he even begins his approach, running her fingers through the short fur between her ears. After a few seconds, it registers that Louis is moving towards the supine wolf, and all Haru can really do is stand in place, bracing herself for the worst.
Which...doesn't come. The atmosphere around Louis seems to shift a bit, in a way that herbivores are sensitive to the movement and feelings of others whenever potential danger is afoot, and Haru feels the tension she's been holding in her shoulder recede as Louis seems more curious than confrontational.
She blinks when the fawn looks at her and gestures to his mouth.]
No...? [No...what? No teeth? No bite? No...??? ugh she might as well just guess.] No...uh, yes. That's right.
Legosi isn't going to eat you. [Not unless you give him permission again like last time.......] He's not going to eat me either.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
If you're certain, Haru-chan...
I will be there next to you no matter what
( even if he low-key feels like he's gonna hurl. )
Okay
I will come over
Should I bring anything?? Should I shop for anything??
no subject
a-ah be still her heart, he really is such a great guy when it all boils down to what matters. it has her pausing for a moment, reconsidering just how far she's taking this. maybe this is mean...maybe she should cut it out, just tell him what's actually up.
...nah.]
No, you should come to my place right away. I think I'd rather we go shopping together.
Maybe we can pick out a few clothes together too, for the kid. It'll be fun!
no subject
Okay
I am headed out the door now
Are you sure?
Isn't it kind of early?
( shouldn't there be like... months... )
no subject
maybe like...a tiny bit. though not by much. she's still in that weird in-between where back home he's been ghosting her for months, while only three days have passed here since she went home.
as far as she's concerned this is a well-deserved joke at his expense.]
It's not too early to go clothes shopping. This all may be sudden but I already have a few ideas in mind...
I'll leave the door unlocked, just knock so I know it's you before you enter.
no subject
Okay, I'll be there soon
( and true to his word, somewhere between five and ten minutes, there is a slightly manic-sounding knocking coming at the door, followed by a hesitant, ) ...Haru-chan? It's me.
no subject
she probably should answer the door, reveal to him that no, he didn't actually knock her up but actually something much more weird has happened. but, at the moment, she's up on a ladder, putting her set of kitchen knives away in upper cabinets that even a determined fawn and well-placed chair couldn't reach. same went with scissors, gardening tools...wow she owns a lot of sharp objects, huh?
and even if Louis is watching her put things away, she has one closet she can at least lock her ladder in...which will make life suck for a bit but hey, she'll manage.]
Legosi-kun, the door's unlocked! [she turns so her voice can travel better from the kitchenette to the front door.] Come on in!
no subject
he would have looked, but he was too busy being fixated on this young deer who looked like he was barely out of his toddling years. )
Um... Haru? ( because he knows she's in the kitchen, clattering something or rather. but he can't really seem to tear his gaze away from this ... surprisingly familiar ...?? child?? ) What... Who...?
no subject
He knows that this is a carnivore. Just like the ones that he saw day by day before he went home with that buck who he calls Father. His eyes flicker, and he looks like he's trying to make a decision. Legosi's attention fixed on him helped him quickly make the choice for his next move. And he closes the distance between the two of them and -- ]
Awo.
[ It comes out as a small, irritated sound. And then chomp onto the hand. ]
no subject
there's a shift in the atmosphere, slight and subtle, and Haru is able to read the air as a herbivore when another feels that there's a pending threat. and, unfortunately, it takes her a second too long to put together just why things suddenly feel so off, because she stares in amusement-turned-horror as the small deer lunges forward.]
Louis! Wait-- [she scrambles down the ladder, foot getting caught in the lowest rung, and she catches herself against the counter before she can fall completely.] What are you doing??!
no subject
it certainly hurts, but probably not as much as the fawn might hope. his herbivorous teeth are flat and his prey jaws are relatively weak, so it might leave a moderate bruise, but it's something that only really makes legosi emit a dull, ) Ow. ( he's mostly frozen by the situation, simultaneously not wanting to hurt the kid in trying to get him to let go. he looks up to haru, eyes wide and confused, looking for help.
then what she cried out when it all happened slowly filters through his brain. wait -- what?? )
Louis?? ( he looks back down to the deer that is still doggedly chomped down on his hand. he's so small, but... he supposes he can see the resemblance. his fur is the same color, the eyes so similar... ) Um... it's okay, it doesn't hurt that bad. But -- what do I do? Why is he like this??
no subject
His jaw loosens and he finally relinquishes Legosi, before taking a few steps back. Arms thrown out, he's still very clearly in front of Haru as he stares down this wolf, not sure what to make of him. Not sure what to make of anything, really. He can't imagine a herbivore being friendly with someone like the carnivore before him, and if anything -- his expression says exactly that.
And what comes out is a stern, defensive: ]
No.
[ Yeah. He's absolutely glaring. ]
no subject
luckily, Louis is just a small herbivore, and even though he's sunk his teeth into Legosi's hand it's pretty obvious the wolf's "ow" is more of a habitual reaction than one of any actual pain. still, it's frightening to see a fawn react in such a violent manner; don't most herbivore parents teach their children to either be cautious around large carnivores? between Louis's limited speech and him seeming to not know what a "mom" is, she really has to wonder just what went on in his childhood...
but now isn't the time for that.]
I don't know! H-he was texting me random stuff this morning and I found him like this! Just!! don't move... [she's not??? equipped for this?? luckily Louis relinquishes himself from Legosi's hand, but his stance between her and Legosi gives tell that this kid is trying to protect her.
approaching Louis, she carefully brings her hands to rest on his shoulders.]
Louis it's ok. That's Legosi, he's a friend of ours. [she lets out a bit of a nervous laugh, looking at Legosi apologetically.] Legosi-kun this uh...was the kid I was texting you about.
[...]
Surprise?
no subject
he is, however, standing between himself and haru, arms flung outward. the story it tells is very plain: he's trying to defend her from him.
legosi slowly looks between the tiny deer, then haru, and then back. it's slowly starting to make sense, even though the fact that louis is for some reason a baby again doesn't make any sense at all! but — he has to somehow prove to him that he isn't a threat, right?
he knows that haru had requested he not move, but... he takes a few careful steps backwards, nearly putting his back to the door. then he slowly lowers himself until he's sat on the floor, knees folded up to his chest, arms locked nonthreateningly around them. )
It's okay, Louis-senpai ... Senpai...? No - um... ( he looks back up to haru, who stands behind him, her hands on his small, narrow shoulders. ) Is this some sort of magic, do you think? It has to be temporary, right?
( he's not ready to raise his best friend as a kid... that's just weird. )
no subject
So for all the words she's using, there's an evident distrust. And of course, he is afraid. But he didn't want Haru taken like other friends of his and so -- he thought that was what he had to do.
But the wolf shrinks down, almost. Makes himself smaller, less intimidating, and though Louis doesn't relax or soften, he doesn't make a move. He spits out a small: ]
No.
[ No, what? It's hard to say. Sorry, Legosi, you're not getting approval just yet. ]
no subject
[Aah she sounds...ridiculous, trying to reason with a kid, repeating herself because she doesn't know what else to say??
Legosi may not listen to her suggestion to not move, but the steps he takes to put more space between himself & Louis, bringing himself down to their level, was...well, definitely a better move than just standing around being a looming presence.
Not that it seems to be doing anything to help the situation but hey, it's not making things worse.]
Considering all the weird stuff this place does, I'd guess it's magic or...something. [Her hands are still at Louis's shoulders, sensing just how tense the small deer remains. It's not that she wants to hold him in place, but she also doesn't want him lunging at Legosi again.] And it better be temporary...
[She's 19 and not really ready for full responsibility for a kid! Babysitting for a few days or even a week or two is feasible. But for anything longer??]
I didn't realize he'd act this way. It's a bit-- [strange? messed up?] weird.
[...]
Maybe you should take your dentures out?
[Guess who doesn't have the memo that someone's teeth have grown back while they've been here.]
no subject
all he knows is that getting down on his level wasn't quite enough, so legosi ponders that, his ears lowered flat to his head. he looks around, looks down, looks up, and readjusts his position: this time he ends up flat on his back, arms outstretched, doing his best impression of a beached whale. )
Hopefully it's temporary...! ( he worries aloud, but otherwise remains completely still. his brain moves at a mile a minute, trying to search through everything he's seen, read, and learned to try to find a solution to this.
at her confusion, he decides to remain silent. legosi doesn't even know everything about it, but he knows louis has a deeply-rooted connection to the back alley market. he had seen the brand on his foot, how he had referred to it as a curse that only legosi could break. with what he had learned of the place, working with gouhin, he could make a few very accurate guesses. so, if he's acting as he might have when he was younger... perhaps this isn't such a shock, after all.
what a mess...
—his dentures? legosi flusters, sweat beading at his brow. shit... had he really not told her? )
I - If I could, I would, but... well, after I transformed back, that first Iris moon... they, uh, grew back too.
( a beat. ) Though that would be really useful right now... to be able to take them out.
( no, legosi, don't think about doing that again. )
no subject
Is he still afraid? Yes.
Is he still feeling the hatred towards carnivores through and through? Absolutely.
But, he's also infinitely curious because he'd never seen a carnivore do this so freely in front of him. ]
Oh.
[ He stands up then makes his way towards Legosi's side, shuffling across the floor in bare feet. He stares down at him, head tilted. Then he looks towards Haru, opens his mouth, and points towards his mouth, and snaps it shut. ]
No?
[ Not a very eloquent way to try and understand, but to his best understanding is that they are not food for this wolf. ]
no subject
[PLEASE DO NOT YANK YOUR TEETH OUT LEGOSI. 1) NOT IN FRONT OF YOUR GIRLFRIEND THAT IS VERY UNSEXY & 2) THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU LOOK NOT-DANGEROUS IN FRONT OF A CHILD
All in all, were it not for the level of confusion and panic Haru is feeling right now, this whole situation would be flat-out ridiculous; why does it feel like the moment Legosi stepped into both her and Louis's life for good, it's just been a nonstop comedy of errors? This place, and the current situation with Louis, certainly isn't helping, and now with Legosi laying flat on his back with his arms out, looking like a squashed spider, admitting that his teeth have grown back--
She shakes her head, letting go of Louis before he even begins his approach, running her fingers through the short fur between her ears. After a few seconds, it registers that Louis is moving towards the supine wolf, and all Haru can really do is stand in place, bracing herself for the worst.
Which...doesn't come. The atmosphere around Louis seems to shift a bit, in a way that herbivores are sensitive to the movement and feelings of others whenever potential danger is afoot, and Haru feels the tension she's been holding in her shoulder recede as Louis seems more curious than confrontational.
She blinks when the fawn looks at her and gestures to his mouth.]
No...? [No...what? No teeth? No bite? No...??? ugh she might as well just guess.] No...uh, yes. That's right.
Legosi isn't going to eat you. [Not unless you give him permission again like last time.......] He's not going to eat me either.