Yeah, right there! [Which makes sense in his head as he was the only one living in this treehouse.] It ain't like there's no one else 'sides me here, you know? Look, I even got your note here an' everything.
[Which he does rip off from the bedside. Written on it in Eustace's own script was the phrase DO NOT FORGET in capital letters.]
I wouldn't fuck 'round with somethin' this important.
[He says after fucking around with something this important just moments ago. But it is also at this very moment that a red-haired corgi peeks into the room, watching both Beat and Eustace in the middle of this stand-off.]
[The air is so cold, the pressure so high, it feels as if just one wrong move could bring everything down. His eyes only move to the note, the proof that Beat at least was indeed taking his job seriously. ...And in truth, Eustace knows this. He wouldn't have given Beat this important job if he didn't think he could trust the guy.
Naw, yo! Ain't no one's been here. We left Ol' Ghostie back in the cabin, didn't we? An' I ain't gone out all day! It jus' been me, the squirrel an' Sonic.
[Now that he thinks about it, he hasn't seen the squirrel around all day. Maybe he was out getting more nuts or something.]
Bwuh? No way he woulda gotten it, yo! [Not his newfound, furry friend!] 'Sides, ain't the box too big for him to lug 'round?
[Meanwhile, Idris has since left the room and come back with one of his toys. There's a bit of a whine as he watches the two, hoping one of them would notice him so they could play.]
Because why work for it when it could just stay with someone who could feed and house it instead? Where's its nest?
[...He might be giving this squirrel away more credit than he needs to, BUT HIS RINGS ARE GONE HE'S A BIT STRESSED AND NOT QUITE RIGHT IN HIS MIND RIGHT NOW—
Seeing Beat ignore him, Idris tries Eustace to show the toy in his hand.]
[Before he can retort, Idris is acting up and he just clicks his tongue.]
Idris, I said not now.
[His voice actually rises a bit, taking on a harder, harsher tone that makes the pup shrink back a little, ears pinning back briefly. Dad...dad got mad...! (...Uh oh—!!)]
[The way Eustace raises his voice is enough for Idris to let out a whimper, tail tucked between his legs. Out of fear that things would get worse, he begins to make his way back to the door, nudging at it with his nose, causing its hinges to creak as he makes his way back to the living area.]
He's prob'ly whinin' 'cause me and him was I playin' before you got here.
Seeing Idris's expression momentarily snaps Eustace out of his growing rage, and he feels a bit guilty for snapping at the pup. He didn't do anything wrong..................
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Are you trying to imply that Idris took the rings?
[WATCH YOUR MOUTH BEAT HE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS SLANDER???
Except.
It is...... Idris....
So while Eustace is clearly not please at the accusation, he does seem to waver a little.]
I dunno, man. Maybe it's 'cause he wants to play or somethin'? He was jus' askin' us about 'it. Maybe he thought the box was some kinda toy.
[At this point, he's just spouting whatever comes to mind. In fact, he's going to go straight to the door, passing by Eustace. With a whistle, he tries to get Idris' attention as he squats down, positioning himself closer to the ground.]
Yo Sonic, c'mere a sec.
[Idris just looks to Beat, then to Eustace, then whimpers. Dad just got mad at me though. :c]
[He just makes a sound of uncertain discontent as he turns to look at Idris, who immediately flinches a little. Dad's gonna be maaaaad....
Seeing his obvious fear, he's reminded briefly of what happened with Bri and Eustace's own ears momentarily flick back a little in pain before they lower slightly and he sighs, rubbing his brows.]
...It's all right, Idris. If you know what happened you can tell us. I won't be mad.
[It still takes some time before Idris approaches, alternating looks between Beat and Eustace all the while. When he approaches, his head is still low, tail tucked between his hind legs.]
Look Sonic, buddy.
[Beat reaches out and puts his hands on either side of the corgi's face, rubbing at the sides of his snout to try to calm him down. It seems to be working.]
Me an' your dad here's lookin' for a small box. D'you get it or somethin'? D'you know where it is, yo?
[For a moment, it looks like Idris is listening intently, understanding what Beat is telling him. But when the boy is done, Idris looks at him before tilting his head to the side, ears flopping with the gesture. Say what now?]
[Reaching for the toy Idris had dropped earlier, Beat holds it up in front of Idris and gives it a shake. The corgi perks up a little, giving the both of them a bark before pitter-pattering towards the other bag of toys and treats that Beat kept in a corner in the other room.]
Think he got it? [Despite the question, he doesn't wait for a reply, quickly following after Idris who begins nudging items within with his nose. After a moment he sits back down on the ground, panting at both Eustace and Beat. There's a confused look on Beat's face before he starts shifting through the toys himself. Tucked between a ball and another toy sat the black box that housed the rings.]
Yo, it's right here! [A SIGH OF RELIEF. And then—] The box is hella gross though.
[Eustace lets Idris look through first and then Beat...and then comes towards them for his own personal inspection. Seeing the box, there's a visible sigh of relief, the broiling storm that had been lingering around the house and constantly threatening to explode dissipating. More light filters through the room as the air becomes more breathable.]
[As light begins to shine into the room once more, Beat opens the box to find the two rings sitting securely within the plush interior of the box. Despite the slobbery mess outside, everything else seemed to be in tact.]
We good, yo. They both in here.
[An even bigger sigh of relief than earlier. He doesn't know what he would've done if they'd really been lost. Idris' tail bops against the floor, wagging wildly as he lets out a bark.]
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[Which he does rip off from the bedside. Written on it in Eustace's own script was the phrase DO NOT FORGET in capital letters.]
I wouldn't fuck 'round with somethin' this important.
[He says after fucking around with something this important just moments ago. But it is also at this very moment that a red-haired corgi peeks into the room, watching both Beat and Eustace in the middle of this stand-off.]
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Doesn't change the fact that something happened—]
Then what, did something come here and take it?
[LOOK BEAT HE'S TRYING TO WRESTLE HIS TEMPER!!]
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Naw, yo! Ain't no one's been here. We left Ol' Ghostie back in the cabin, didn't we? An' I ain't gone out all day! It jus' been me, the squirrel an' Sonic.
[Now that he thinks about it, he hasn't seen the squirrel around all day. Maybe he was out getting more nuts or something.]
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[He hasn't quite noticed Idris, yet he wouldn't suspect the corgi at this point. Instead he focuses on the squirrel.]
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One a' the squirrels followed me bavk after the hotpot. He's been hangin' 'round a bit more but I ain't seen him today.
[Why is Eustace even asking about the squirrel? Wait—]
You don't think he's got it, do ya?
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[And he had a t i m e dealing with them back at their house so he isn't really looking favorably at squirrels in general right now.]
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[Meanwhile, Idris has since left the room and come back with one of his toys. There's a bit of a whine as he watches the two, hoping one of them would notice him so they could play.]
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[Is this Eustace talking seriously about a squirrel? Yes. Yes it is.
Also ignoring Idris for now.]
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[Even Beat can't help but feel like this squirrel should be smarter than him.
Seeing that Eustace didn't seem to want to be bothered, Idris moves over to wear Beat stands, pawing at his leg, holding up the toy to his hand.]
Not now, yo.
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[...He might be giving this squirrel away more credit than he needs to, BUT HIS RINGS ARE GONE HE'S A BIT STRESSED AND NOT QUITE RIGHT IN HIS MIND RIGHT NOW—
Seeing Beat ignore him, Idris tries Eustace to show the toy in his hand.]
Not now, Idris.
[Idris is not pleased.]
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[He hasn't really looked for it considering the squirrel only seemed to make itself known every now and then, only giving him some trouble at times.]
But I still don't think it's got it, yo! It was still right here jus' before you come 'round.
[There's a low growl and a thump as Idris, finally having enough, drops the toy on the ground and starts barking at the two of them. Loudly.]
The hell's up with Sonic. Yo, we kinda in the middle of somethin' here!
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Idris, I said not now.
[His voice actually rises a bit, taking on a harder, harsher tone that makes the pup shrink back a little, ears pinning back briefly. Dad...dad got mad...! (...Uh oh—!!)]
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He's prob'ly whinin' 'cause me and him was I playin' before you got here.
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Seeing Idris's expression momentarily snaps Eustace out of his growing rage, and he feels a bit guilty for snapping at the pup. He didn't do anything wrong..................
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Are you trying to imply that Idris took the rings?
[WATCH YOUR MOUTH BEAT HE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS SLANDER???
Except.
It is...... Idris....
So while Eustace is clearly not please at the accusation, he does seem to waver a little.]
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[Beat's actually putting two and two together? Maybe? Someone WRITE THIS DOWN. THIS IS A MOMENT IN HISTORY. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN.]
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...
........]
But why would Idris take it?
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[At this point, he's just spouting whatever comes to mind. In fact, he's going to go straight to the door, passing by Eustace. With a whistle, he tries to get Idris' attention as he squats down, positioning himself closer to the ground.]
Yo Sonic, c'mere a sec.
[Idris just looks to Beat, then to Eustace, then whimpers. Dad just got mad at me though. :c]
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Seeing his obvious fear, he's reminded briefly of what happened with Bri and Eustace's own ears momentarily flick back a little in pain before they lower slightly and he sighs, rubbing his brows.]
...It's all right, Idris. If you know what happened you can tell us. I won't be mad.
[At him.
He will still be furious at Beat—]
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Look Sonic, buddy.
[Beat reaches out and puts his hands on either side of the corgi's face, rubbing at the sides of his snout to try to calm him down. It seems to be working.]
Me an' your dad here's lookin' for a small box. D'you get it or somethin'? D'you know where it is, yo?
[For a moment, it looks like Idris is listening intently, understanding what Beat is telling him. But when the boy is done, Idris looks at him before tilting his head to the side, ears flopping with the gesture. Say what now?]
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...
Until it unfortunately fails to an extent—
With a small breath Eustace crouches down to be more on Idris's level, but doesn't reach out to him first. Instead he'll just speak quietly.]
The box. It's about this big—[Gestures with his hands.]—and dark blue velvet. Beat had it on the table. Did you know where it is?
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[Reaching for the toy Idris had dropped earlier, Beat holds it up in front of Idris and gives it a shake. The corgi perks up a little, giving the both of them a bark before pitter-pattering towards the other bag of toys and treats that Beat kept in a corner in the other room.]
Think he got it? [Despite the question, he doesn't wait for a reply, quickly following after Idris who begins nudging items within with his nose. After a moment he sits back down on the ground, panting at both Eustace and Beat. There's a confused look on Beat's face before he starts shifting through the toys himself. Tucked between a ball and another toy sat the black box that housed the rings.]
Yo, it's right here! [A SIGH OF RELIEF. And then—] The box is hella gross though.
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It's fine... Just check the rings.
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We good, yo. They both in here.
[An even bigger sigh of relief than earlier. He doesn't know what he would've done if they'd really been lost. Idris' tail bops against the floor, wagging wildly as he lets out a bark.]
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