Tuesday Night at Nell's

[mylandmyrules]

Nell might just have hung some fairy lights around the kitchen and living room. Just because. Ignis wouldn't see them and Lana and the Detective, should they attend, wouldn't think anything of it, but Gladio would know.

She'd gone with finger foods for tonight, some sandwiches and a few hand pies both savory and sweet. Ice cream was also on the menu because the heat called for it. Otherwise it was mostly the usual fare. Which meant she had a little extra time to curl up in a chair with the kittens and read for a bit before people arrived.

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[sword_chocobro]

"'Dress to impress,'" Gladio quoted, with a wry snort since his version of what that meant probably wasn't what they'd have in mind. He gave her a faint, somewhat hopeful smile that seemed to contradict the nonchalant lift of his shoulder in a dismissive shrug. "I know big parties aren't really your thing, but...think you might wanna go with me?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell's eyes went huge. For some reason it felt completely different to be asked to go with someone to an event than to be asked to go for ice cream or camping. "You want to go... with me?"

It wasn't quite a 'do you really want to be seen in public with a nobody like me?' but close.

"I... if you're sure you want me to go with you... I... yes, if I'm with you I'd go."

She didn't quite know whether to be ecstatic, horrified, or terrified. But she knew if she was with Gladio and he really wanted her there, she knew she'd be okay.

And maybe more then okay.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio had been watching Nell's reaction carefully as he worked through another bite of the tart, and it....hadn't really been what he expected. The fact that she seemed, somehow, astonishingly, more focused on the idea that he would be inviting her than just nervous about the size and scope of it like he thought she would be was...

...well, it was some more food for thought, that was for sure, and he shook his head a little. "Really isn't anyone else I'd want to go with," he told her, because it felt important to let her know that, since, apparently, it somehow wasn't obvious yet. "So, yeah," he offered her a crooked grin, "I'd say I'm pretty sure."

[mylandmyrules]

Size and scope came next, Gladio.

"Well, then, yes, I would be happy to go with you." She smiled at him, feeling a growing sense of happiness that - she couldn't even say what exactly. Maybe that he'd want to be seen with her in public at some big fancy party.

Some big fancy party.

A big fancy party that she'd just agreed to go to.

She swallowed hard. "It... I haven't really ever been to anything like that before. It... I might be a little overwhelmed. And maybe wouldn't want to stay for the whole thing? But, I'll be with you, so that... I think it will be okay. And if..."

There were a lot of ifs and worries, but she took a deep breath. "If I'm with you I know I'll have fun, so yes. Thank you."

She'd figure it all out later somehow.

[sword_chocobro]

There was always something both so charming and heartbreaking about seeing Nell working through some complicated mess of feelings that she was very clearly trying not to show, but Gladio was pretty sure he recognized it when he saw it. It made him smile softly and, for a moment, just lean in to give her a soft kiss of reassurance, staying close when he pulled back with a grin.

"I promise you," he said, "I will make sure you have...so much fun, you won't be able to stand it. And..." A bit least teasing, a lot more genuine now, "if you do get overwhelmed, that's fine, too. We can duck out whenever you feel you need to. All I ask is that we get at least one dance in."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell clung to him for a moment after the kiss and his reassurance, just so grateful and happy that he understood.

And then her eyes widened again. This time in awe and delight.

"Dancing! Oh, yes, we will definitely have to dance at least once!" Maybe many many times!

[sword_chocobro]

See, now, that was more like it, and Gladio's grin grew to suit that almost immediate and quite frankly delightful shift.

"At least," he emphasized. "Assuming your toes can handle handle it when I eventually step all over 'em."

Please. He didn't step on anything such thing when they'd dance before, he certainly wasn't about to start toe-tredding now.

[mylandmyrules]

She nudged him and gave him a grin. "You won't step on my toes. You're as graceful at dancing as you are at fighting.

Nell might step on his toes, but she knew he wouldn't mind.

"I'm a little nervous about going to a fancy party," she admitted, "But I can't wait to dance with you with real music and all."

[sword_chocobro]

"Impossible," said Gladio, returning the nudge and the grin, of course. "I'm not as good at anything as I am good at fighting."

Which was not a disparaging mark against his other abilities in the slightest so much as an appeal for just how really freaking good he was at fighting.

"And don't be nervous," he said. "It's nothing to be nervous about. Just an excuse for people to socialize, pull out some nice clothes, and probably drink a whole lot, too. You'll be fine."

[mylandmyrules]

She'd never really seen him fight, but she'd believe it. "Okay I'll give you that, but you're still awfully good at dancing. Maybe because you're so good at fighting."

Nell's smile dimmed just the tiniest bit. "Oh... I'll have to find some nice clothes. And hopefully no one will mind that I don't drink much."

[sword_chocobro]

"Maybe," Gladio threw out there, because he really couldn't not, "I'm only as good as my dancing partner. And no one'll mind. I don't really drink that much, either."

Yes, he realized the irony of that statement considering he was in a bar at least twice a week, but for someone who was kind of a barfly, he really didn't drink hardly at all.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "I don't know about that! But good. I'm glad it will be okay."

Gladio didn't seem like a hard drinker to her and certainly hadn't drunk much while she'd been with him those two Thursdays.

[sword_chocobro]

Not to mention just how much alcohol it would actually take to get a man like him even so much as buzzed...

"It's going to be more than okay," Gladio assured her, with the utmost confidence and an incredibly pleased grin. "It's going to be perfect."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed again. "Perfect?"

[sword_chocobro]

Gods, he was never going to get sick of that laugh, was he? Gladio just needed a moment to bask in it a little before responding with a casual shrug of his shoulders that definitely didn't match the grin on his face.

"Well, yeah," he said, like it was obvious, and, honestly? He felt it was. "Me. You. Together." Another shrug. "What could be more perfect than that?"

[mylandmyrules]

Well, he was going to hear it again as she laughed delightedly at his answer.

"Of course! You and me together? Of course it's going to be perfect. No matter what."