Quiche for Two (Louis)

[Isla Triton]

Louis was avoiding Isla. She didn't know what she had expected after the whole Eli thing, but she hadn't expected him to avoid her. Well, maybe he had thought about it. It made sense really. He was probably expecting some kind of backlash from her friends, which was entirely understandable. But, if they couldn't find Louis, then they couldn't do anything to him either. Maybe he was also hiding from Aristeides. She wasn't someone Isla wanted to cross either.

Either way, Isla needed to find Louis. She had to return the amulet to him. She'd been keeping it hidden in a large clam shell tied together with a ribbon so it wouldn't fall open. No one would think twice about Isla, resident mermaid, carrying around a clam shell. But with Louis avoiding her she hadn't been able to return it to him.

After careful deliberation Isla decided to try that little shop down in the village that served that quiche stuff that Louis liked. Stepping into the shop she carefully scanned the room and spotted the boy she was looking for. Good. She walked quickly to the counter hoping that Louis hadn't noticed her. She didn't want him to run for the hills while she was getting quiche.

When the turned around with the quiche she was relieved to find Louis still in the little shop and she hurried to his table. She placed one quiche in front of Louis and then sat across from him. "You've been avoiding me," she stated, stripping herself over her ridiculous winter jacket. "And I have something for you. Besides the quiche."

[Louis Facilier]

Lying low these past few days had been the only option for Louis. After all he had found himself in deep water once he had given the amulet to Isla to free her cousin, since it meant he had now betrayed both the heroes and the villains in the matter of a few short months. Whatever little trust he had in the villain's by being Isla's friend had been shattered the moment his shadow had snatched their precious prince away from them, and he had committed the ultimate faux pas in the art of villainry by willingly passing over the antidote to the princess. Once Ari found out the truth about what had happened, that Eli's reappearance wasn't a fluke or a timed event, you could bet your bottom dollar that Louis would be burnt to a crisp. So by all means this meant that he was now an outlier in regards to the social scene at Seacombe. He had no friends and no one would want to be his friend given his new track record. 

And it had been for what? A girl who probably now hated him more than anything? After all Louis had been the one to kidnap her cousin and hid him from Isla even when she was breaking down, begging the boy who liked her more than she knew to save him when he couldn't. He had been selfish by watching out for his back and furthering the goals of those who hated Isla. If he truly cared about her, he would have given her the amulet that night he found her in his dorm. If he truly cared he would have brought Eli back long before the frost had set in. If he truly cared... no he did. Deep down inside he knew he did. He just didn't know how to care about someone. After all nobody had ever cared about him before.

So in a way he deserved this loneliness and isolation that he was suffering. This was the least he should have to deal with after what he had done, but it didn't make it any less painful. For the most part he stayed in his dorm most of the time, making sure that the doors and windows were both locked so there would be no surprise guests. He only emerged now to go to classes and for food, but he never went to the lunchroom anymore. Oh no, everyone would be there and he wasn't ready to face anyone yet. So instead he marched down the snowy path to the polka dot palace for some comfort food; which he had really needed during this whole mess of stress, anxiety, and fear for his mortality. 

He had chased off his shadow in a fit of depressed rage after he had given the amulet away and he hadn't seen him since. Louis knew he was lurking around here somewhere waiting to hear the bokor call him back, but for the time being he was happy without him. He didn't feel as stressed when the Loa wasn't breathing down his neck. That plus nobody ever being in Minnie's meant that for a half hour or so he had peace outside his dorm. Sure it might be costing him a fortune, but it was well worth not running into anyone who wanted him dead. 

However he had never counted on someone sitting across from him. "Isla." He said dumbly out of shock that princess would even want to be near him after what he had done. His actions and own form of punishment in response had taken a clear toll on the boy, his skin was pale and dark bags had formed under his eyes. He sat there restlessly, wanting to run before she could yell at him, but staying still just to hear her voice again. He looked at her skeptically since he didn't know her true motives. This wasn't exactly the boy who had met the princess in this very shop last year. "Isla," He hissed at her with all the worry and concern that he was carrying in his heart showing through, "You shouldn't be seen with me. What if Ari --?" 

He was cut off though by her saying that she had something for him. It didn't take a genius to guess what it was, "The amulet? You still have it?" He said as his eyes scanned her up and down, searching for his necklace. He was worried that she had forgotten his warning about wearing it or harming it. He had already caused her enough pain, he didn't want to bring her into his world of voodoo, shadows, and black magic. "Did you keep your promise? You didn't wear it did you?" He pressed her, wanting to know right away that she had kept herself safe. If she had broken her promise though, he wasn't sure if there was anything he could do to protect her. Though then again maybe even if she did have an encounter with the Loa, maybe she wouldn't want his protection. 

When the quiche was placed in front of him however he was more confused than ever. Why would she give him this, his favorite food, after he had stolen her favorite person. He was quiet for a moment, looking between both the food and the girl before quietly asking, "Don't you hate me? Why would you be so nice when you hate me?"

[Isla Triton]

Isla was unprepared for the startled look on Louis' face when she appeared. She probably shouldn't have been surprised. Why should she have anything to do with him, especially right now? He had lied to her face about Eli. He'd lied about his involvement in the whole thing. Not to mention that he was totally in cahoots with Aristeides who Isla truly despised. Honestly, she probably wouldn't even be sitting here if she hadn't still had the amulet that needed to be returned. She didn't want that around.

And yet, it was so much more complicated than all of that. Louis was so complex. He was a villain and he enjoyed being a villain, much to Isla's dismay, but he also had a heart tucked deep in there. He was still human. Not to mention that he also was intelligent. Added to that was the fact that he might maybe care for her just a little bit. Worse was that she felt the same. But at the end of the day, Isla was still a princess. She would hold her head high and continue to move forward.

Isla rummaged around in her bag for a moment before pulling out her sketchbook, which she set aside so she could find the clam shell. She then pulled that out and pushed it across the table. "No, I didn't wear it," she told him firmly and confidently. "After everything I stuck it in here and threw it in my bag so I could give it back to you and no one else would find out."

Did she hated him? No, Isla couldn't hate Louis. She probably never would. "I should hate you," she said quietly, picking at her quiche with a fork. She was still wrestling with her feelings about everything. He had been nice to her, and had seemed genuinely interested in her as a person. Plus, he'd given her the amulet in the end. That counted for something. "I don't think I can hate you." She glanced back up at Louis. "Mostly I'm trying not to think about it. Does it matter?"

Isla's friends would never welcome Louis into their inner circle, especially not now. She wasn't sure they would let any villains in, even if they tried to be on their side. Even if Louis changed, and she doubted he would, no one would think of him as she did. No one would give Louis the credit he deserved. And Isla couldn't do it without alerting everyone to her slightly massive crush on Louis. "I don't hate you, but I'm not sure I can forgive you either."

[Louis Facilier]

Louis breathed a sigh of relief when she confirmed that she didn't wear the amulet at all while she had it. He had been worried that she would disregard his warning, either through sheer carelessness or rebellion, and entrap herself in his own personal hell. He didn't know what he would do to himself if he heard that the Loa had her because of his careless mistake. Though whatever it was he knew it would be selfish enough to keep him out of the prison that his father was trapped in, paying off his debt for breaking the first amulet. Even though Louis would give anything to meet the man who was his father, he was terrified of following in his footsteps. He would give anything to keep himself out of that hell and if that made him a coward so be it. He wasn't a prince anyway, and never would be, so what did things like bravery and selflessness ever mean to him?

Though he couldn't lie, he had often daydreamed in these lonely days of what it would be like to be a prince. He had seen how dashing and handsome the princes had been at Prom before he ruined it. He saw how happy they were, how everyone practically flocked to them, and to think that was just an everyday thing to them... Louis couldn't help, but feel a surge of jealousy wash through him every time he saw that sword swinging fool and the school's fish out of water. Why did they get the perfect lives? Why did they get the happy families and caring friends? What did they get everything he had ever wanted, just to toss it around as if it meant nothing to them? He had heard the one with the dark hair complain about his mother being too overbearing once, didn't he understand that Louis would actually kill to even have a mother? Didn't any of them ever realized that he give anything to just live a day in their shoes, to be loved and wanted like they were? Couldn't anyone ever see his pain and the hole within him? After all nothing screamed more loudly for help than having your only "friends" be a bunch of shadows!

However he knew why he could never be like them. He had drawn the short straw when it came to life and he took what little he had and made bad choices. They on the other hand were raised in fortune’s lap and made good choices with their lives, or maybe no choices. It didn’t seem like they had yet reached the point where they had to make a life altering decision. Does that mean though that I can’t be happy too? He silently thought as he looked up to Isla. There had always been one part of the whole prince daydream though that he had never admitted to anyone, not even himself. Somehow he always ended up as Isla’s prince. He didn’t know why, but somehow his thoughts had always wandered to him being by her side with a crown on both of their heads, surrounded by their (well her’s since he didn’t have one), and getting to know what it’s like to be loved. However he knew it was stupid. On what planet would a villain with nothing have a chance with a princess who had everything?

He kind of wished that he could explain everything to her. From Aristeides saving his butt by getting some souls from her dad, to him protecting her by convincing Ari to chose Eli, the jealousy he had felt that night when he saw her hanging off her cousin’s arm, to the bitter regret of seeing her destroyed from the inside out, and well just everything. He wanted to explain what he did and why. However he wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to listen. He wouldn’t either if the same thing had happened to him.

When Isla passed over the clam shell, he ignored it for a moment since he wasn’t too entirely eager to have another connection to the Loa again. However just having it sit there in plain view made Louis extremely uncomfortable and it showed. He shifted in his seat with his eyes locked on that little clam shell. Ever since he had chased his shadow back he’d been able to breathe a little deeper and not be as cold. He’d also feel safer and he just didn’t want to go back to that just yet. “Would you mind if I kept it in that for a little while? I don’t want to wear it again so soon.” He asked his companion quietly, with his voice trailing off at the end. Frankly he wasn’t sure at this point if he ever wanted to put it back on again. This was what had brought him from feeling like the king of the world to the bottom of the trash heap after all.

He perked up a bit though at the mention of Isla not being sure if she could hate him. Was that a good sign? He knew that hands down all the good guys wanted to see him dead, and once Ari got that following she wanted in the villains he was dead in that group too. (That honestly scared him more. The villains had actual magic.) The entire school basically mad at him, but the one girl who should hate him the most didn’t… well not exactly, but it still made him grin a bit, which he combatted by ducking his head slightly and stuffing his face with a bite of the quiche. It pleased him, but he knew that it wasn’t something he should be celebrating because it wasn’t sure and solid, but it was something. A sign that maybe everything wasn’t hopeless after all.

“No it doesn’t I suppose.” He said when it came to the question of whether it mattered or not. In theory it shouldn’t because Isla was just another person in a school of gems and witches, but still it sort of did to him. So maybe that’s why he then said quietly, perhaps just loud enough for to hear, “I’m just glad to hear not everyone hates me.” It was true. He had been spending the last few days ignoring and avoiding everyone in fear of how they would view him. Just knowing that this possibly was the case for one of them was a huge relief to him and was well needed. “I wouldn’t blame you though if you did, and I don’t either. I guess I don’t deserve forgiveness, not after what I’ve done.” He stated wanting to get that little bit off his chest, the acknowledgement that what he did was wrong of course. As much as he wanted to tell her everything else, he wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear it. It was a lot to stomach and revealed a lot about him. He didn’t know how she would react if he opened up like that to her.

“Is Eli okay? I uh tried to keep him safe during that time, but there were long times that I couldn’t get to the lake…” Sometimes Louis would check in on Eli, especially after that night when he found Isla in his room, but never at a time when he could see Eli. He left food and stuff in the water for him under the shade of the dock, but he never knew if it was enough. At the time he didn’t want to know and be confronted with the truth with he’s done. Now he didn’t have a choice in the matter. It was about time his wrong doings caught up to him.

[Isla Triton]

Absentmindedly, Isla drummed her fingers on her sketchbook. She hadn't done any daydreaming about Louis. Instead, to sort through her thoughts, she'd been drawing and most importantly, she'd been drawing Louis. She been drawing him over and over again. He was constantly on her mind which meant that he was constantly in her sketchbook. There were disembodied sketches of his eyes and hands. There were busts and full bodied images. There were elaborate drawings and quick five minute sketches. There was also one very incriminating sketch of Louis as merman. So yeah, Louis had been on her mind a lot, but even with all the sketching she was still so confused about him.

It was easier to pretend that she didn't care about him. It was easier to pretend that they wouldn't be a power couple that had the potential to rule than school that give in to whatever feelings she had. She was determined not to care because they couldn't be together. That just wasn't a possibility. Isla couldn't afford to care.

And yet, Louis seemed relieved that she hadn't worn the amulet. To be fair, the thing was probably dangerous. "You can keep the shell. I know where to get more." She'd given him the shell so that no one would have to see that she was giving him the amulet so no one would know that he'd given it to her in the first place. She was trying to protect him somewhat. If she could. Which was stupid because Louis would probably be fine on his own. Still, this might be better for now.

She ducked her head. "Admiral doesn't hate you," she pointed out. "He's a dog. I don't think he can reasonably hate anyone." She was deflecting and she knew it, but she didn't know what else to say.

She looked back up at him in surprise when he admitted his own wrong doing in the whole affair. That was a first and it did seem genuine. But did it make up for his lying? Especially when he was lying to her face. "You lied to me."

Isla looked away at the mention of her cousin. "He'll be fine," she replied flatly. "He's not okay, but he will be."

[Louis Facilier]

Isla was right, it would just be easier to pretend. It would be infinitely easier for the both of them to just stand up and walk away from what they could have had. They could pretend that there had never been anything, that it had all been a part of Louis's scheme to get close to Eli through his cousin. Isla had been played and she'll have been just a pawn in Louis's heartless games. However, he didn't think that could ever happen because it simply wasn't true and the both of them knew it. As dastardly as he was, in the end, he still cared for her and he still did. She may not realize it, but he did what he did to protect her. Maybe one day she would understand. Just maybe...

But that day was clearly not today. He could tell that she was still wary of him, after all, the wound he left was a little more than deep. She did seem surprised though at the fact he did have a heart in him. Of course, he didn't want her touching that god awful thing. It could have marked her in a way, or at the very least made the Loa very aware of her existence and since she was connected to Louis, that meant bad things could have happened to her. Bad things have happened to anyone who's ever been close to him.

"Thanks." He said in response to Isla once she reassured him that she could find another seashell. He knew he should have offered to return it anyway, but for some reason he knew he wouldn't. If they really walked away today, if they really tried to pretend, he wanted to at least keep something as a memory. Proof that for once he felt human too. After saying that he picked up the shell and put it underneath his seat, silently hoping that the old adage “Out of sight, out of mind” proved to be true today. As he did this, he glanced up at Isla for a moment and saw something almost kind flicker in her eyes. However before he could even make a guess as to what it was, it was gone again. Oh well, at least there was a fleeting moment where she didn’t absolutely hate him.

“But I don’t know him,” Louis replied instantly once she tried to claim that Admiral didn’t hate him. It was true, he didn’t know the puppy dog in a teenager’s body so in his mind it hardly counted. He was disappointed though that she couldn’t come up with any other name. Of course, all her friends would hate him. Nobody from that side of the school would ever forgive him, not even if they told them how Louis gave them the key to freeing the fish prince. Hell, knowing some of them, they’d probably hate him even more for not giving it to them sooner.

His expression turned to shock however when Isla accused him of lying, which simply wasn’t true. “Isla, I never lied.” He started to explain with a slight stutter. Out of the thousand scenarios that had crossed his mind when he thought of this moment, the chance he had to apologize to her, never had he imagined that Isla would accuse him of lying. “I was telling the truth, there was nothing I could do!” He exclaimed with his voice raising slightly. There really wasn’t anything he could have done at the time. With both the threat of the Loa and Aristeides hanging over his head, he couldn’t risk his skin and soul to get Eli back. Besides the prince was safe, he was safe and he was living out his dream. True it wasn’t exactly how he had imagined it, but still! It wasn’t worth dying over because then Eli would have died too.

“Well, that’s good to hear…” Louis said awkwardly as his eyes shifted back down to the plate of quiche in front of him. He was a little relieved to hear that her cousin would be alright in time. After all, it meant that Isla couldn’t completely hate him. He had protected Eli the best that he could, gave him all he ever wanted, and didn’t intervene when the heroes rushed into save him; all for her. Louis wasn’t going to lie, he did hate Eli with every inch of his being because he had what he never would. Power, family, riches, and of course Isla’s attention. Sure he may be her cousin, but half the time it felt like Louis was fighting the fish prince to spend time with Isla, even though they never met face to face before prom. He could clearly remember those feelings of jealousy and hatred he felt towards Eli on that fateful night and he didn’t feel bad at all flicking that tarot card into the lake water when it was all said and done. However, Louis had been sure to keep Eli alive in that lake for Isla. He brought him food in the evening and kept an eye on things. Surely that had to count for something…

“I helped him best I could, you do know that right?” Louis quietly said after a moment. “You probably don’t understand, but I swear I did all I could.”

[Isla Triton]

Isla shrugged off the thanks. She wasn't doing it for him. It was just easier this way. It was easier to just give him the clam shell without worrying about it. It wasn't exactly precious to a mermaid. And the fact that it might remind Louis of her was not a thought she was going to admit thinking about. She didn't want that. She didn't need that.

She shrugged awkwardly at the mention of Admiral. It wasn't her fault that Louis didn't know him, but she didn't know what else to say. Admiral was a good friend to her. He was a good friend to Eli. The fact that he didn't hate Louis was kind of a big deal. "Maybe you should get to know him," she suggested, picking at the tablecloth so she could avoid looking at him. "He's nice."

Isla looked up at Louis quickly when he denied that he was lying. "I asked you to help me," she told him, frowning. She wanted to be angry at him for denying that he lied. "I offered to pay you to help me. You wouldn't. And then, later, you give me the amulet. That seems like lying to me, Louis."

She looked at him. She watched him closely and he didn't look like he was lying, but she wasn't sure. She couldn't be sure of Louis because the truth was that he liked being the villain. He had played her for a fool in that way. "The only thing I know, Louis, is that you took my cousin, turned his dream into a monster, and wouldn't tell me where he was. I don't know why you did it. I don't know what else you did or think you did for Eli." She tapped the table in agitation. "You haven't exactly been forthcoming with me so how am I supposed to know that?" She pushed her plate away from her, no longer interested in eating. "I don't understand what or how or why. But Eli is safe now and that's the important part."