Carve my skin [Wriolette]

I wanted to give her a family

Neuvillette's hands trembled as he picked up his phone. His phone was old, slow, and laggy but he never seemed to mind it too much. His phone case, once clear, was now brown and not so see-through anymore. He slowly dialed the number with his shaky fingers and opened up messages.

Neuvillette thought of a million ways to send the first message but each started to sound too absurd. In the end, he closed his eyes tight and sent something before he could think about it too much.

[Neuvillette, 19.24]
Hi, Neuvillette.

He intended it to sound like a greeting and an introduction but the more he looked at it he realised that he just greeted himself. He threw his phone on his table upside down in a panic and felt blood rush to his head in embarrassment. Now Wriothesley thinks he's weird and never wants to talk to him again! Wait... Wasn't that the whole point? But now Wriothesley was basically his client too through Sigewinne!

After a few minutes or so, his phone vibrated as the ringing notification sound echoed through his empty shop. He warily picked it up and turned it. Indeed, now he felt even more embarrassed.

[Wriothesley, 19.26]
Hi, Wriothesley. How's your absolutely adorable daughter Sigewinne doing?

Neuvillette wanted to explode. Wriothesley was making fun of him! How do I ever face him again, Neuvillette thought hopelessly and paced around the space wanting to just sink through the floor. Suddenly, another notification cut off his thoughts.

[Wriothesley, 19.30]
Did I embarrass you?

Why does it feel like you can see through me even on the phone? Neuvillette thought and stared at the screen. He could almost see that playful smirk and eyes looking straight at him in mockery. Or maybe it wasn't mockery at all, that sounds too malicious.

[Neuvillette, 19.31]
Just made sure you got my number. I'm sorry.

[Wriothesley, 19.31]
What are you apologizing for? Anyway, Sigewinne said hi to "Mr. Otter".

[Neuvillette, 19.32]
Hi, Sigewinne.

[Wriothesley, 19.32]
Haha, you're funny Monsieur!

Neuvillette didn't know what he even did but smiled anyway. It wasn't too bad now was it, Neuvillette thought to himself and set away his phone. The embarrassed flush was beginning to fade from his face and his heart no longer beat anxiously. Just get over the first messages and it'll all be fine... He was maybe even a bit pleased with himself and this new accomplishment.

Neuvillette set his phone aside for the moment and suddenly got a burst of inspiration. He picked up his sketchbook which had a cool dragon design and opened it. He started sketching... Something? The hand holding a pen moved with the instructions of his inspired heart and made curvy lines that started to represent a small creature. Around the creature formed bubbles and he gave a small clam in its hands. It was an otter.

This is... The design, Neuvillette thought kind of stupidly. It was not something he should've even done in the first place. He should've just canceled everything but now he had already done the first design to further inspire Wriothesley. But I don't want to upset him by canceling... He seems to be enthusiastic about his work, after all, Neuvillette thought and made random lines on the corner of his sketchbook's page. Neuvillette's heart beat anxiously again as his head began to hurt. He was insufferable.