.. huh?

[ Fabian definitely did not expect this. Hell, he already didn't really expect Doreen's help with the baby in the first place, but.. this isn't about the baby. Even Fabian knows that babies don't eat sandwiches.

(Luckily Doreen will definitely be able to find formula in the fridge, considering it stocked itself when Fabian first showed up here..)

The young man isn't helping with the formula right now though. He just stands there, having followed Doreen into the kitchen but now standing awe-struck in the doorway leading to the kitchen, staring at her from there. ]

What.. do you mean?

[ She's asking such a simple question, yet Fabian still looks baffled.

Only one person ever offered to do this for him, after all, and he's pretty sure it was something unique to her, or just part of her job description. He doesn't know how to deal with someone else offering it to him. ]

No, I-- I know what sandwiches are.

[ Even while his thoughts are still a scrambled mess right now, he does feel the need to correct her on that one - even if he's not sure what else to say.

At least the correction seems to snap him out of his frozen state a little, the boy taking a few hesitant steps into the kitchen now, rather than remaining there on the doorstep. He opens his mouth a few times, like he keeps thinking of stuff to say, only to think better of it and shut up each time before he says it.

It's only after those few moments that he manages: ]

Do you.. usually make sandwiches for people? [ Maybe that's why this is happening? Maybe Doreen is actually a maid outside of this place, just like Cathilda. She would've made sandwiches for him in these circumstances. She always did, even though that feels so long ago now that this entire situation is severely blowing his mind. ]

[ Don't worry, that fake baby is clearly having the time of its life now there's someone around who actually knows how to look after a baby. It's just sitting there in the chair without trying to escape, having enjoyed that formula..

Which only leaves one confused, tired child. Except this one is a whole lot larger than the baby. Yet Fabian kind of looks the way the crying baby did moments ago as he's standing there - like he doesn't know how to deal with this situation in the slightest. Like he's way out of his depth here as he stares at Doreen. ]

I don't-- [ He starts, then cuts himself off.

Fabian awkwardly clears his throat, like he's trying to keep certain emotions at bay, and then tries to sound a little more stable as he asks: ]

Do I really look that bad?

[ Yes.

Yes, he really does look that bad. ]

It's just-- I've.. I've been busy.

[ Smart move, Doreen! Indeed - Fabian doesn't see her face with the way she's turned towards the counter and the sandwiches she's working on, so he has no idea what sort of facial expression she's making right now. Great success!

Which is probably for the better, because it leads to Fabian actually admitting a little bit more a moment later, rather than getting hurt and retreating. ]

I.. I should probably learn. [ He suddenly says.

It's an explanation as to why he's even bothering to try and take care of the baby, despite the fact it's obviously not a living human being in any way.. ]

My mama is probably going to have a baby soon.

[ Fabian tries really darn hard to sound neutral about this, but if Doreen is listening well enough, she may discover that there seems to be a little bit more to it. Like there's some emotion stirring right underneath the surface there. ]

Well, it's..

[ There's a weird struggle in Fabian's voice, like he wants to embrace that compliment to brag about it and dismiss it at the same time. Which in the end he does, when he goes through the verbal rollercoaster of: ]

I mean, it is very cool. Of course it is, since I am very cool. [ Says the guy who's currently having a literal babysitter making sandwiches for him. Just to put this into perspective here. ] But it is also far more common where I come from than it might be in other places.

[ .. a slight pause, because even that rollercoaster was easier than trying to process any of his other thoughts here, or to think about what to tell her.

He awkwardly moves over towards the table to sit down on top of it, legs hanging off the edge. ]

We are going to be half-siblings though. The baby's father will be different than mine. Mine is-- uh, dead. He's been dead for about a year and a half now. [ It definitely sounds like this is leading to something.

But Fabian is taking an awfully long time to get there - like he isn't sure if he wants to go all the way. Like he's awkward about it. ]

[ Fabian slowly nods.

.. then he realizes that - of course - she can't see him like this, so he adds out loud: ]

Yes, there is.

[ Honestly, he is being so forthcoming here. Most of the time people have to drag this out of Fabian, but there's something about Doreen's sheer energy that makes it all come out. Maybe it's the babysitter vibes, considering that the household's maid back home was the only person Fabian could ever be truly open with like this.. ]

And he is just-- I don't even know how to describe him, other than to say he is the least cool man to have ever walked the face of any planet. I truly don't even understand what mama sees in him. [ Now this is typical teenager talk. He even sounds like he's sulking as he says it. ] She was married to the most amazing man alive. A man who was a true hero, whose name everyone knew, a man who could do anything!

[ The boy may be a little biased. ]

And then he dies, and almost right after his funeral she runs off with a pathetic new man. And then she wants a new baby with him, as if she doesn't have me already..! None of it makes any sense whatsoever.

[ Doreen definitely has the perfect approach to this situation. Because Fabian definitely would have gotten super defensive if she had questioned it any more than that out loud - but since Doreen is immediately moving on to a different track, he's instead getting distracted enough to pay attention to that, rather than her outrage.

Because clearly impromptu ding-dong surgery is a great idea! Fabian sure thinks so! He likes to think his papa would greatly approve!! ]

Of course. I have told her many times that she absolutely should not get together with that man. I mean-- I told her as much back when she was oogling him at papa's funeral!

[ Fabian opens his mouth.

He is about to - instinctively - ask what she means about parents not being great at listening to their kids, of course they are, but then he kind of remembers more than a few conversations from his childhood, and realizes that is going into dangerous territory. So he promptly shuts that mouth again, listening to the rest of what Doreen has to say.

Not that it's necessarily making Fabian look less like he's sulking though. ]

And what when you think your parents are not really the type to be impressed by some fancy degree? [ Certainly not his dad, but considering this is more about his mother-- Fabian doesn't really think she'd care either.

If anything-- ]

I think she might be more willing to listen if said family therapist could defeat her in combat. [ This is probably saying so much about Fabian, especially since he's saying it with a straight face - like he doesn't think it's weird at all. ]

.. uh.

[ Seems like he has to think about that for a moment too. Though less than the pause she needed. ]

I think that might actually work. [ Fabian even sounds like he's telling the truth. He sounds surprised, like he only realized it after thinking about it just now. ] I don't think mama respects anything more than anyone who could beat her in a duel with swords.

[ See, Fabian was in thought so much about the very possibility that he didn't realize Doreen was actually going somewhere with this. It was just a surprising realisation to him, okay! He never really thought about that before!

But it also means that what Doreen says next hits him like a second surprise right after. The boy's one eye goes wide. ]

Wait do you mean? [ Fabian asks, almost instantly.

Judging by him continuing a moment later, he does get what she means. It's just-- ]

Why would you? [ It's not like it's her problem, after all. ]