"I could be a pretty girl, I'll wear a skirt for you." - Clairo
Pairing: Paris the Puppet x Lily Lalah (or essentially Parily)
Context: Lily's being a miserable shit and rediscovering femininity for some puppet who doesn't even care whether you dress as a hotdog or a heel.
CW: Overthinking Lily, slightly tsundere Paris, sprinkling envy, lowkey fluff, Paris stammering over everything, Your honor they're both STUPID
A/N: Anyone smelling the scent of love in here? SPRAY SOME DEODORANT!! IT STINKS IN HERE!! I HATE THEM!! (P.S: Ts happens like a few months after the fight with Polakov.)
Lily has never had a problem dressing up. She didn't give a crap what people thought when she dressed up! Well— not too much, of course. She'd always just throw on her usual combo of a light green tank top, short jeans and sandals, or maybe a jacket on top with sweatpants replacing the jorts (jean shorts) if it was cold! Lily really didn't give much effort in her appearance, literally. perhaps for dates and special occasions, but you know what I mean.
Lily has never put too much thought into what she was going to wear.
So why..
" What the HELL am I doing?! "
Lily clutched her burning head, voice erratic, staring down at the piles of clothes she'd frantically pulled out in hopes to connect a new outfit. Iris snickered from her corner near the window of their room, swirling a cup of coffee as she watches her twin sister subconsciously panic on what to wear.
" Geez Li. You going on a daatee? "
Iris teased, wiggling her eyebrows at Lily, though she knew already what was going on. Lily could only groan, face burning hot as her hands fisted in her hair roughly. Eyes shut tight, teeth gritting against each other, knees weak. She had NO idea why she was acting like this.
But then again... it was her first time. First time hanging out with Paris— without Yumi or any other company. Just them, in a mall, with hours to spend.
Now, you're probably wondering what's happening. Well, it was nearing Yumi's birthday. A very special occasion for the albino girl, now nearing a big age of 14. And Lily had the amazing idea to invite Paris on a solo hangout— just the two of them— to the mall so they could buy Yumi her gift. Paris protested at first, saying how he had no money, but he couldn't escape Lily's determination to invite people to her planned hangouts. But now... Lily was regretting it completely. Because what do you mean she was panicking over what to wear like she was going to some date with the love of her life?
" Sh... Shut up! You can't be talking when you have a KAY situation! "
Iris spit out her coffee at the counter back. Glaring at Lily, but not daring to say anymore because then it'd turn into a cat fight. the shorter-haired twin could only sigh, placing her cup down.
" Whatever. Why are you even overthinking on what you wear? Shouldn't you just wear what you usually wear? "
Iris raised an eyebrow, crossing one leg on the other in judgement, her eyes raking over the mess of clothes on their shared bed. Iris deadpanned, Lily grumbled incoherently; picking up a sage green dress which she happened to have— and hadn’t worn in ages— the female sighed, hands fisting in the fabric.
“ That’s the thing. I should just wear what I usually wear, but it feels.. Wrong! “
Lily complains, loosening her grip on the dress she was holding.
She had never stressed on about her femininity. Though she didn't wear many dresses and preferred shorts and pants, she didn't defy femininity either. Just.. Thought it wasn't really convenient; It felt more like Iris' thing than hers. Just another choice of clothing made to impress people... And Lily didn't care about impressing people, surely not.
But what a waste of clothing if she doesn't wear it... Every other clothing Lily owns, she had already worn multiple times in front of him. Only this outstandingly pretty green dress remains as the only other option.
Lily thinks about how Paris hasn't given attention to what others wear except his own, maybe also how his eyes wander everywhere, taking in everything that's to be and outfits on mannequins, like a curious old person getting whiplash to everything's that changed over the years.
It gives Lily a small sense of relief. A short giggle that flattens her anxiety a little.
Paris wouldn't matter what she wore.
Lily could wear a zombie costume and the worst she'd get is a deadpan from the puppet. Yeah... Puppet. He wasn't a man to impress! Nor some crush she wanted look pretty for, he was just a puppet.
A ridiculously handsome puppet—
One she wanted to impress.
So, Lily wore it. Just to try on, just to see if she still fit the dress, just to see if she looked good in it for future possible occasions—
Lily almost jolted at the sudden noise. Right; Iris was also here.
" You should genuinely calm down, sis. Wear that dress already! If you want to impress that 'stuck-up jerk' of yours, then go for it! Effort. Is. Everything. "
Iris finally intervened, sitting up straighter in her seat, tired of watching her twin jumble over a dress that obviously looked wonderful on her. Foreign, but not in a way that's unpleasant. The dress was absolutely beautiful; A romantic, sage-green, one-shoulder minidress that showed off Lily's figure in a way that looked almost sophisticated but cute and also gave a unique standing to her eyes as well. It showed a slight daringness in the way the collar dipped low into the corner of her left without actually showing anything that could be considered too revealing. An incredibly romantic dress, suited perfectly for the girl wearing it.
" Plus, you look amazing in that dress, sis. "
Iris added, an appreciative smile rising the corners of her lips after that somewhat awkward pause of silence.
Lily still had Iris help her on what accessories to adorn, which she ended up going for her simple, usual green choker, after a bit of indecisive choosing. Paired with a small green purse with her phone and her wallet, and maroon-tinted lip-gloss on the usually bare lips. With all of it combined? Lily looked like an incredibly stunning lady; you could even call her a different person.
All in all, Lily headed out, welcoming the sun on her dark olive skin that did little to relieve her anxiety of the what ifs and the imagination of Paris’ reaction to her new attire. Then, with a heavy conscience, she hailed an uber to the place they’d meet.
The loud bustling of the mall was still a little new for Paris. The sounds of countless voices overlapping each other, hearing footsteps everywhere, hearing the distant hum of the mall's music, it was a foreign concept for the toy who'd time-jumped 80 years into the future without warning. Of course, he'd grown slightly used to it, not finding it highly uncomfortable when inside the massive building like he used to since two ladies he's frequently with, often force him out, but Paris knows he'll never get fully used to it. Not for a long while, anyway.
Anyhow, It's been 15 minutes since he's arrived. around 12 minutes earlier than the agreed meet-up Lily had insisted on. He doesn't exactly mind being early, but usually, if it were up to him, he'd surely been just on time. He isn't exactly sure why he'd come early with such a fluttery feeling in his gears. Paris had checked nothing was wrong, which wasn't anything to be worried of, but the feeling still stayed. Remained ever so present in the annoying way it clawed at his throat, like he'd forced something down his esophagus to "consume".
He wasn't sure why he was feeling the way he was. Being also, somewhat "new" at the concept of feelings and being "human", but surely it wasn't much of a deal, human emotions were complex, and Paris could do complex. Just take a look at his innards! Hah.
Maybe he shouldn't be too squirmy about the fact it's already been 3 minutes, trying to console himself with how his brunette companion has a slight habit of running a little late— It was reasonable when he and Yumi would come over for a sleepover, and Lily would stay up way past when Yumi fell asleep; leaving the pair to dive into conversations that left Paris itchy to the heart— so yeah. It was probably just her shenanigans again.
It still made him a little restless, though.
it was almost pathetic to see himself, his prideful self, get so unraveled by some human girl, he's sure he jests, but the way his gears stutter as they shift inside him, supplying a dreadful emotion as to wonder just what could've happened to his emerald-shining companion.
The dread doesn't stay for long, though. Thankfully. Because by then, he hears her familiar voice. That airy, fluttery quality of her honey-slicken voice, the small accent tainting her words when he leans his body to the direction he hears her voice, and boy, he understands why rom coms has those painful slow-motion scenes when the mc turns to see their love interest.
It was an incredibly new sight, both for Paris and for Lily when they finally meet face-to-face. Paris doesn't display his shock immediately. Blinking twice when he takes in the new look Lily went through. It wasn't ugly, at least, that was the understatement Paris gives himself when he tries not to give way a shaky smile.
It doesn't look good on her anyway. It looks hilarious on her. In fact, she looks so ugly in it. She doesn't suit it anyway. He want's to barf.
Paris mouths, voice barely audible in the boisterous noise of the mall, eyes wide when he says it like he was discovering a fact.
" What? "
" I said you look shitty. "
An offended gasp leaves Lily as soon as she hears that quick insult, throwing a curse at him like it doesn't squeeze her heart when she thinks it over. Paris can be so unreadable sometimes, it was something Lily knew more than anyone. His face barely holds emotions, except when he's boiling angry or when feeling melancholic. It was a miracle how Yumi was even able to get along with him so much. And right now? His face was especially irritating. Especially irritating when she tries reading his face and the only thing she can mentally note down is the way his eyes linger on her dress. Should she have not worn the dress after all?
Lily ponders if she didn't look as good in it as she did in the mirror.
Paris thanks his creator and the gods above and below that Lily didn't ear him say the first line.
" Now come on, we only have so much time to buy Yumi's gifts. "
Paris numbly stated, placing a hand on his hip as he looked away, incredibly thankful that he didn't have blood in his body, because if he did, he would've been blushing like a madman on steroids. He wishes he'd still commented something vague, though.
But he perishes the thought, pushing it aside for now to think about Yumi and what thing she would possibly appreciate as a gift, even if it was embarrassing to do so when he literally has no currency to spend in this godforsaken building. He only has Lily to depend on for the meantime; and he just insulted her.
What a.. 'fumble', as she would most likely called it. Paris wasn't entirely sure of how people formed today's slang, and never bothered to check until Lily used it constantly.
“ I’ll do admit. Though. You clean up nicely. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve probably thought you were the one having a birthday. "
Paris quickly replied after, raising a hand to scratch at his neck, covered by the tight-ish turtleneck he wore. Both walking to whatever catches their attention, and whatever looks like an appropriate store to buy a child's gift in. He doesn't register the other sight, though. Missing the rare occasion where Lily garners a heavy blush— from embarrassment or fluster is a detail she isn't sure about— around her cheeks, dark and velvety maroon against her mahogany-tinted skin. Not sure how to react to that rare, but back-handed sounding compliment, Lily could only stammer out a 'whatever' before she stomps forward to take the lead, heart pounding wildly and smile barely constrained when she has Paris follow her to the stores she plans to view to see if they'd get any from her list of stores she has in her notes app.
Maybe it wasn't a mistake wearing the dress after all.
Maybe if it meant implying she was pretty.
His pretty girl.