FLU EVENT: Bluuuhhh [Henry, Fifi, Robbie]

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle groggily stared at the veritable nest of wadded-up napkins that surrounded her pajama-clad knees as she curled up on her bed. She looked ridiculous and felt like a wreck, her sinuses felt like the Hoover Dam exploded and she kept wobbling between "maybe I will throw up" and "no wait I am okay". It was tiresome.

There was a knock on the door and Estelle poured herself out of bed and slouched towards the door. Still blinking, she sniffled and pulled the door open. It took her a moment to realize who it was.

"Henry," Estelle wiped her nose fashionably on the back of her too-long sleeve, very aware that she was in large pink pajama pants with tea cups on them and a large, long sleeve T-shirt that said "MIDDLE EARTH" on it. Still, she was happy to see him, "Sowwy. I'b sick. I shoulda called earler."

Oh yes, good, her nose should definitely choose now to clog up ridiculously.

[Henry Ballo]

Henry knew that he hadn’t really called, hadn’t really made any plans to meet her. But he thought that it might make a nice afternoon if she was free—invite her to hang out or something. Now that he was working two jobs—and no, he hadn’t told her he was working at Burlesque, as he was still trying really hard to figure out how to phrase it—he had enough money to take her to lots of places.

And to rent movies. Which he had. And as soon as she opened the door, he thought this might’ve been the better idea. His eyes skimmed down her, taking in the red nose, the large pink PJs and “MIDDLE EARTH.” Ah.

“Not at all,” he said hastily. “You should be lying down. And sleeping. Do you want me to make you some soup? I brought a movie. Are you okay?” He was talking kind of fast, he realized. And with his accent, that wasn’t going to make things easier. He inhaled, then exhaled. “I am very sorry you are not feeling well. But can I help?” There. Slower, calmer, simpler. He had to admit, though—although her BEING sick made him panic a little, she was kind of cute all bundled up as she was.

[Robbie Wilkes]

Having heard Estelle was down with the flu [no, he wasn't stalking her, what are you implying?], Robbie made hot chicken soup for her - okay he bought her one hot chicken soup, details - and brought blankets and comic books he stole from his unsuspecting roommate for Estelle to enjoy.

He hadn't been talking to Estelle too often lately and he found that he had missed her something awful (three days without Estelle felt like forever). So today was going to be all about catching up and taking care of his little Florie.

Little did he know, someone else already made plans for that. Someone he had no prior knowledge of. Someone who was about to get The Talk from Robbie once he found out the nature of their relationship.

Finding an incredibly tall [taller than JD if you could believe it] boy at Estelle's doorway, Robbie frowned but kept walking towards the door. Estelle looked horrible but Robbie would change that right up with this soup. It was really good soup.

"Sup nerd. And guy I don't know. Why are you here?" Robbie looked the boy up and down before barging into Estelle's dorm to find bowls and spoons. Why yes, he was intrusive.

"I brought soup." Captain Obvious announced. Clearly he was ignoring the tall boy on purpose.

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle gave Henry a drowsy, affectionate grin, “Aw, you’re sweet. I’ve been sleeping way longer than I’ve wanted to.” Her nose was congested, and her voice was scratchy, but she was fortunately not feeling like she was going to throw up at present. She was mostly just sleepy and dizzy and wanting to snuggle.

“I don’t wanna get you sick,” Estelle hedged, stepping back a little to let him come in, “But if you wanna hang out with me for a little while, I would appreciate it. What movie did you bring?”

However, before they could get very far, Robbie made a very Kramer-esque entrance, busting through her door and flatly ignoring Henry. Estelle grinned despite herself. “Oh my god, Robbie, don’t be rude.”

“Thanks dude, I don’t think I’m hungry, but I appreciate it.” She rushed a hand through her hair and grimaced to find that it was pretty dirty, “Robbie, this is Henry. Henry’s my boyfriend.” She gave him a stern Be Nice Now look.

[Henry Ballo]

Henry was startled out of the slightly-frantic mental whirling of what-the-hell-do-I-do-with-this-sick-person by the blonde boy who brushed by him and into the room, carrying something that seemed like soup. Clearly this boy had heard that he was sick. Henry was beginning to feel like a Bad Boyfriend. And considering how he’d never been a boyfriend before, he was a little lost on how to deal with it. But if he took consideration of all the movies he’d ever seen and stories he’d heard, the steps were to:

A) wait on her hand and foot
B) get on the good graces of the best friend.

Who would appear to be this…Robbie. Who called her a nerd and him the guy he didn’t know. Henry’s smile became a little fixed, but it stayed there. That was to Estelle’s credit—without her, he probably would’ve gotten into an argument with Robbie on the slight.

“Sleep is the best way,” he agreed with Estelle. “And I have a good immune system. Ah. Movie. Yes. Ah…” He held it up. “Starship Troopers? I heard it was good.” Everyone seemed to be watching it anyways. “We do not have to watch it, though, if you want to, ah, spend time with…” He gave up and offered Robbie a faint smile instead, and then his hand. “It is good to meet you, Robbie. I have heard…” He couldn’t say good things. He hadn’t heard good things from the rest of the school. So instead he said, “Interesting things about you.” 

[Robbie Wilkes]

"I'm not being rude!" Robbie called out from the kitchen at Estelle. "You don't have to eat it now. I'll just put it in the fridge and you can heat it up later when you do want to eat." He did just that and went back to join Estelle and her boyfriend.

When introductions were made, Robbie sized the taller boy up and extended his hand as his eyes narrowed. "You're the one who can fly, right?" Robbie asked. Henry's words made his eyes even more narrow. He took the other boy's hand in his and gripped it tight. A classic gesture of manhood; at least in all the movies he'd watched. The staredown would happen some time soon and whoever flinches would lose the battle. Given the stature of the taller boy, Robbie knew he had a better chance of losing that.

"Funny I never heard a thing about you." He said. Which was a lie. Robbie heard things about certain people all the time. Not that he was going to say anything about what he'd heard about Henry. Not yet anyway.

"It's okay, Henry. We can both spend time with Estelle. She's sick after all. She needs all the company she can get. And I like Starship Troopers." Robbie lied. It was probably one of the movies he'd slept halfway through. Henry didn't have to know that.

[Estelle Flores]

“You’re always rude!” Estelle retorted over her shoulder, “but thanks for the food, man. You are the best!” She pulled out a wad of tissue from her pajama pants pocket and blew her nose loudly. “Gross. Sorry, guys.” Manners would just have to take a backseat today. She leaned on Henry’s arm and peeked at the movie, “Oh. Would you believe I’ve never seen it? I feel like a bad nerd.” She grinned, rubbing her eye sleepily.

“Oh! No, it’s cool, I’d…like to hang out with…both of you?” She didn’t know if that was a thing she could ask, but that was what she would really like.

“Robbie…” Estelle sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose so that he wouldn’t see her grin exasperatedly, “I think this counts as being rude.” In truth, she felt a little bad that she hadn’t had enough time with her bro to tell him about her boyfriend.

She eyed her best friend owlishly. “…You’ve seen Starship Troopers?”

[Henry Ballo]

“That is okay.” He smiled at Estelle. “I have never seen it either. You are not a bad nerd.”

Henry was a little skeptical of the fact that Robbie was attempting to squeeze his hand to death, but took on a polite mask over his features, smiled politely, and shook his hand in return, not wincing, and perhaps squeezing back…but only a little. Just because he did want Robbie to know that he wasn’t a wuss and he couldn’t be scared away that easily. He also wasn’t scared of the stare down. He could totally handle that. His brows rose at Robbie’s second statement, and he shrugged. “That is for the better, I think.” Considering that it was possible that some of what was being said wasn’t pretty, he didn’t want to think about it.

But he nodded to the suggestion of hanging out—it wasn’t like he had an option when it came to this, as Estelle had agreed. “Of course. We can watch it, so long as Robbie does not mind seeing it again.” He offered the other boy a smile, then turned back to Estelle. “I think you should sit down and try to get better, yes? Robbie, would you like to put the movie in? I think I will get her more tissues.

[Event !]

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