Tuesday Night at Nell's

[mylandmyrules]

Nell was still a bit distracted and a little worried that she hadn't heard anything from Gladio, but again, missing a gym time was not something she needed to call and check on - though she wanted to. Undoubtedly he'd stroll in tonight with some fun drink to try and a story about his day and she'd feel foolish about ever being concerned at all.

In the meantime she had her usual food stuffs to set out along with some raspberry hand tarts that she'd made while she was not worrying.

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[chef_chocobro]

Ignis' own fretting had only gotten increasingly worse as the day went on with no continued sign of where Gladio had run off to, with that lecture in his head growing more and more stern and disapproving. He supposed, however, there should be some comfort in the fact that a trip to visit the gnomes at Portalocity suggested no unusual portal activity (they did not have a good history with such things, after all), but then that comfort was whisked right away when he was now having trouble getting in touch with Prompto as well.

It was hard to not feel a knot of worry tightening in his stomach, and it was clear from the platter that he'd brought with him when he came knocking, solo, at Nell's door that evening, that he'd been putting some of his stress into his knife work.

And wouldn't he feel quite foolish for worrying at all, if, indeed, he'd discovered that Gladio was already there at Nell, no doubt entertaining her with some boldly elaborate tale of whatever it was he'd been up to that day.

He had to tell himself that, anyway, else that knot in his stomach was going to become quite the tangled mess indeed.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell opened the door eagerly, but her heart dropped a little when she saw only Ignis at the door. "Oh," she said and no doubt the tone told Ignis everything he needed to know about whether Gladio was already there. "Um, come in, I mean. Hospitality and safety to you while you're here."

She led the way into the kitchen and offered him a drink before finally blurting out. "Is Gladio sick or very busy or something? Only he wasn't at the gym and he's not with you now and -" She stopped herself. "I'm sorry, it's not really my business I suppose. I just... worried."

[chef_chocobro]

Under normal circumstances, Ignis might have taken some offense to such a wilting reaction to the sight of him, but at the moment, and quite unfortunately, it was completely understandable, even if it did mean he was frowning, deeply, as he 'followed' Nell in on the now-familiar path to her kitchen.

"I was actually hoping," he admitted, after a moment to ensure that Nell had not rearranged things since last week and the table to set his platter on was indeed still there, "you could shed some light on that, actually, but it appears my hope mag have been misplaced. He did not come home last night, and I have not heard word from him since. I supposed perhaps he'd just decided to go off the grid for a bit, he is wont to do such on occasion, but I didn't pick up on any signs of his usual camping in the preserve earlier, either..."

[mylandmyrules]

"I, oh..." Nell's smile dropped even more. "No. I haven't heard a word and he wasn't at the gym this morning. I, well,I would have thought he tell me if he wasn't coming tonight," especially after Saturday, but then maybe it was because of Saturday. Maybe he'd gotten home and had second or third or fourth thoughts about the inadvisability of being involved with her, "but I haven't heard a thing. I thought you'd know."

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis' frown deepened, and he gave a small, thoughtful, disappointed hum.

"Well, he offered, "if it's any consolation, he didn't say anything to me either, since our training session yesterday morning. And I don't know if this is a good sign or something to cause more concern, but it appears Prompto has gone off somewhere, as well...."

Which meant if they were engaged in something so clandestine they could not even share it with roommates or romantic interests or even wives, well...

He was feeling a bit left out, but better that than something more...nefarious at hand.

Around here, though, it was very likely the latter, and he sighed.

"Perhaps he's just running late," he said. "I certainly hope it's that and not merely the island starting to get up to something..."

A third potential option seemed....unlikely, and he was not one to avoid examining all options, but perhaps, for Nell's sake, he'd keep that one to himself.

[mylandmyrules]

"Prompto too?" Nell was quiet for a moment. "Maybe..."

She took a deep breath and let it out a little shakily. "Maybe he's gone home. As suddenly as he ended up here. Maybe they both have. Which would be devastating for poor Liz."

For Liz. Nell herself was going to be happy that he got to see his sister and his world again. She would be. She would be, darn it all, one way or another.

If it was true.

If.

[chef_chocobro]

"That possibility did cross my mind as well,' Ignis admitted. "It was rather sudden and unexpected when we arrived back here, barely any rhyme or reason and quite random, it would see. I suppose we might wait a few days to see if I, too, will follow suite, and then perhaps you'll have your answer. Although, if not, then perjaps the universe has merely decided to be particularly cruel, in taking back the two who do have a stake here in this place and leaving behind the one who....doesn't, so much."

[mylandmyrules]

"I put no faith in the kindness of the universe," Nell said. "I don't really know what to think. If... if it did, at least for Gladio, he'd be able to see his sister again. I know how much he's missed her and being home. But Prompto. And Liz - have you checked with Liz?"

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis nodded. "Theirs was the first place I went after I finished at the diner," he said. "She said he'd gone out today to take some photos, so it still could be a case of lost time and a dead phone."

[mylandmyrules]

"Definitely a possibility," Nell agreed. "I really hope that's what it is. I..."

She was working hard not to be worried that Gladio had just decided to write her off. Hearing that Prompto was missing too, certainly helped with that, but gave her more to worry about in terms of Liz and the baby.

"I'm just... I want them both to be okay. Wherever they are."

[pocketpretzels]

“Mr. Scientia,” Watts greeted. “Good evening.”

[chef_chocobro]

"Ah, Detective Watts," Ignis, turning toward the sound of the greeting, met it with a nod. "Good evening. I hope it finds you well. And, if I'm not mistaken, it seems as though you've brought more of your excellent cinnamon rolls again, yes?"

[pocketpretzels]

“I am well,” Watts confirmed. “And it’s gratifying to hear they are enjoyed- I wondered perhaps if people were beginning to tire of them.”

[chef_chocobro]

"Maybe if they were a more frequent thing," Ignis said, "but as it stands, they're a rather delightful addition to look forward to every week or so. Is it a newer recipe thst you've recently discovered,or do they have a bit more of a history to them, as well?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Just something I discovered a few months ago, when looking up- something sweet to try making,” Watts told him.