Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Damn it- why can’t this thing just- MOTHER FUCKER!”

Lanolin grabbed the off her shoulders and gripped it tightly in frustration.

Not too long from now, Lamp was going to stop by to pick up Lanolin for a date night. The restaurant they were going to was pretty fancy, so naturally, the sheep wanted to look as presentable as possible.

She had everything else in check; a black button-up collared shirt, navy blue khakis and brown lace-up shoes. But then there was her light blue tie.

Originally, Lanolin was going to just go without it. She knew it was optional; she didn’t need it.

But the more she looked at herself in the mirror, the more incomplete her outfit felt.

So the next ten minutes was spent in the bathroom trying to get that damn tie on, to no avail. And she was really at her wits end.

“You have done so many harder things than this!” the sheep scolded herself. “Why is this where you start struggling?!”

Maggie came out of her wool and pat her shoulder, attempting to offer some moral support.

And as if she didn’t have enough on her plate, she heard someone knocking on her door.

“Hey, uh, are you okay, Lano?” a voice called. “I can hear you yelling.”

Tangle.

Lanolin took a deep breath, went out of the bathroom and marched to her door. Whatever she needed had better be quick.

She swung the door open, trying to hide the irritation on her face. “Hello, Tangle.”

Behind the door, Tangle gulped. She could definitely tell something was going on. Lanolin had always been only sliiiiiightly taller than the lemur, but here, it felt like she was towering over her.

“Yo, um… sorry if I interrupted anything,” she said. She held out Lanolin’s bell. “You forgot this in the office.”

And just like that, Lanolin’s annoyance was replaced with guilt. Sighing, she took the bell out of her hand. “...thanks. That was clumsy of-”

“Woah, hold on!” the lemur gasped. It seemed like she noticed what Lanolin was wearing. “You’re looking good, Lano! What’s the occasion?"

Despite her current feelings, that got Lanolin to crack a small smile.

“Lamp and I are having a date night,” she answered. “We’re heading to this really elegant restaurant. So of course, I have to look professional.”

“Nice!” the lemur grinned. “Although… with how Lamp is around you, are you sure you won’t be getting up to some unprofessional stuff~?”

Blushing, Lanolin rolled her eyes and held her bell up. “I will hit you with this-”

A chirp came from inside the room.

Tangle looked past Lanolin and saw Maggie behind her, holding a tie. And once the sheep saw that, her smile dropped.

“Whoops, were you not done getting dressed?” she asked. “I can leave you to it if-”

She saw that aggravated look on Lanolin’s face again, and stopped talking.

“...are you alright?”

Lanolin looked back at Tangle. “...shut the door behind you.”

Oh!

“Oooookay then…” she said, stepping into the room and shutting the door as asked.

Maggie floated over, a bit worried that she was in trouble. Fortunately, Lanolin just took the tie and gave her a quick headpat. She then tossed her bell on the nearby couch.

“So, what’s the problem?” Tangle asked.

Lanolin held the tie in her two hands and grit her teeth.

“Lan-?”

“I can’t tie a tie.”

“...what?”

She turned around, fully facing Tangle and looking flustered. “I can’t tie a tie! Okay?!”

While Lanolin caught her breath, Tangle had jerked back a bit.

“You can’t… tie a tie?”

“No. I never could. I was never taught,” she started rambling. “I hardly ever wear ties, but I wanted to make a good impression on Lamp, and this outfit just… it felt unfinished without it! So I’ve spent the last, like, ten minutes trying to get this on!”

“Wha- wait, Hold on. Didn’t you have one on back when we…” Tangle started, but paused briefly. “...infiltrated Madman’s Casino?”

“Youtube tutorial,” Lanolin grumbled. “We were in a rush, so I had no time to learn on my own. And there hasn’t been a mission where I needed one anyway, so now I’m trying my damndest to get this on, and nothing I try is working!”

Once she finished, the sheep felt ashamed of herself, still not coming to terms with the fact she couldn’t do such a small task. Eyes squeezed shut, she waited for the lemur to laugh, and/or mock her.

But that never came. Instead…

“Can I see it?”

Lanolin opened her eyes. “Huh?”

Tangle had her hand out. “Your tie. Can I see it?”

Lanolin looked back at Maggie, who only shrugged. Sighing, she placed the tie in Tangle’s paw.

“Alright… hold still a second,” she instructed.

“What?”

Tangle suddenly draped the tie around Lanolin’s neck.

“Gotta put the longer side on your left…” she heard her mutter. “Put the wide end under the small end, and…”

Lanolin could stand there like Tangle said, surprised by her sudden gesture. Only ten seconds later, Tangle was finished, and the tie was properly put on her.

“There ya go!” she beamed, stepping back. “Just put your collar down, and you’ll be looking even snazzier than before!” Maggie floated beside Tangle to get a good look, and winked. (Or tried to, at least. Cause y’know, one eye.)

The sheep looked down, shocked.

I- hold on! You’re able to tie a tie?!” she asked in disbelief.

…WOW, that was more insulting than I wanted it to be.

Thankfully, it didn’t faze Tangle.

“Sure! I mean, I struggled with it at first too. As anyone would,” she chuckled. “But when you spend your days tying and wrapping things around with your tail, it comes to you naturally.”

…oh. Duh.

“Patience is key. Everyone has trouble with things that they feel can be done by any ordinary person,” the lemur continued. “Between you and me, I had no idea how to snap my fingers until I was, like, twelve!”

Lanolin didn’t respond. She only glanced at the clock.

…yeah, I have some time left.

“So don’t be so doom and gloom, alright? There’s nothing wrong with not knowing how to-”

“Tangle?”

“...yeah?”

Lanolin put her hand on top of her tie, intending to loosen it. “Could you run that by me again, step by step?”

A soft smile faded onto Tangle.

“Yeah. No problem.”

The tie comes undone.

And for the next few minutes, Tangle instructed Lanolin on how to put her tie on, the sheep following her steps. She does struggle a bit, some frustration gnawing at her. But eventually she gets it, with the result being a neatly tied knot. And to end it, the sheep put her collar down.

“Do I… look good?” she asked.

“Good? You look stunning!” Tangle exclaimed, stars in her eyes. Meanwhile, Maggie was clapping her tentacles. “Lamp’s gonna be swooning over you!”

That compliment got Lanolin beaming.

“Well… I-”

Another knock startled everyone.

“Lanny? I’m here~!”

“Shit, she’s earlier than I expected,” Lanolin muttered. “Um, just… be casual, okay?”

“Gotcha,” Tangle nodded.

Meanwhile, Lamp stood outside of Lanolin’s apartment, a hand on her hip. Then, the door opened, with the sheep stepping out. “Uh, hey Lamp!”

“Hello there-” She stopped when she saw how dapper Lanolin actually looked.

“My, my! You’re looking quite nice tonight, ‘Lin,” she complimented. Then she licked her lips. “A little… too nice…~”

Yet again, Lanolin blushed heavily. And in her wool, Maggie was giggling.

“Quiet,” she hissed.

Tangle also stepped out of the door, the moth’s eyes landing on her. “Oh? Nice to see you too, Tangle.”

“Hm? Oh, uh, yeah! Hey,” she waved awkwardly. “I was just, uh-”

“She was just helping me get ready,” Lanolin interrupted, glancing at the lemur.

“Ah, I see. Well then…”

She suddenly scooped Lanolin up bridal style, making her yelp.

“How about we get this show on the road, hm?” she gazed, both pairs of eyes close to each other.

“Uh, y-yeah, sure, but do you have to carry me?”

“Oh, do you want me to put you down?”

Lanolin opened her mouth, but closed it again. Maggie smugly squinted at her.

“...let’s just go.”

“Alright then!” Lamp said cheerfully, clearly shameless. “You’re going to love this place…”

Just like that, they were off, with Lamp rambling about the restaurant. Then, Tangle heard a pssst.

Lanolin had leaned her head out so she could see the lemur. And she could make out her smiling widely and mouthing, “Thank you.”

Tangle smiled back, nodded and waved them off. Once they rounded a corner, she giggled to herself.

Man, those two are cute!