Tuesday Night at Nell's

[mylandmyrules]

Nell had been looking forward to tonight and had made an angel food cake to add to the usual foods she set out. There was also a hearty stew simmering because she'd felt like making one, which was also available for anyone who wanted some.

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[sword_chocobro]

Things had been pretty tense around the apartment...well, for Gladio, it had been, at least, still not sure what to make of everything that had happened over the weekend and also a little uncertain about Liliana's extended stay with them, but he figured that, hey, at least they'd have tonight at Nell's, right? Well, maybe not. There'd been a little bit of an argument about it, but, in the end, Ignis had won out and elected to stay home in case she needed anything, and, well, he had seen how she was doing, and...that was fair. So he rerouted his plans a little and sent off a text to the two people he knew who could guide him on something like movie reviews, and wound up with...honestly impressive lists of recommendations from both Prompto and Summer, and then had the fun challenge of seeing what they had at the store when he went to pick up drinks and finding something from either list that seemed to be something both he and Nell could enjoy.

So when he showed up, he showed up by himself, giving Nell an apologetic smile. "Just me tonight," he said. "But I brought drinks," he held up the sampler of drinks that the thought looked kind of nice because of their simplicity, plus, you know, plants, followed by the other thing in his other hand, "and a movie we could maybe watch , if you wanted."

[mylandmyrules]

"Just you is actually perfect," Nell said. "I think it will actually be nice just to have a quiet night with the two of us. Not that I don't enoy Ignis' company or that of the Detective and Lana when they can make it, but this... you and me watching a movie together... It's nice."

She looked over the drinks. "Oh, the rose and hibiscus sounsd wonderful."

[sword_chocobro]

There was a little bit of relief in Gladio's smile; he liked to think they were at a spot where just springing on a surprise solo night on her wouldn't be an issue, but, well, you could never tell, and he knew how important these night were to her. "I'm a little curious about the cucumber one, myself," he admitted. "And it does sound nice. Just me and you....and probably the cats, too, let's be honest."

Considering how one of them was already leading the charge in saying hello by nuzzling up against his leg and purring, but kittens would have to wait. He hadn't even kissed Nell yet.

Which he was now very promptly remedying.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell was happy to kiss him back. "We can snuggle together on the couch," she said when she pulled back to catch her breath. "And they can settle themselves around us."

An evening at home with the man she loved sounded marvelous. What more could she ask for.

"I have some stew and angel food cake for after," she said. "And we can always make popcorn for the movie."

[sword_chocobro]

"Well, you gotta have popcorn, right?" Gladio grinned. "And the rest of that sounds pretty great, too. I hope the movie's okay, though, I haven't seen it, but I asked Summer and Prompto for some recommendations..."

And there seemed to have been a lot of questionable suggestions on that list. Space Battles Christmas Special, Prompto, really? It wasn't even past Halloween yet!

[mylandmyrules]

That got a smile from Nell. "If we don't like it I'm sure we can think of something else to do."

She gave him her best innocent look. "I could teach you to darn socks."

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio squinted at Nell a little, lifting a skeptical eyebrow as if gauging that alleged innocence before he shook his head.

"Well, now I don't even know if I want to watch the movie," he said, "if darning socks is on thr table."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed and stretched up to kiss him again. "Well, if Prompto and Summer suggested it we should at least give it a try."

[sword_chocobro]

"This one," said Gladio, after smiling into the kiss and maybe pulling Nell in for a little more, before releasing her to look over the case again, "is just a Summer recommendation, she says it is iconic, apparently."

He shrugged. Outside of some video games he got sucked into thanks to Noct and Prompto, he never bothered all that much with pop culture.

"So if it's bad, I think she's the one who should be darning the socks."

[mylandmyrules]

"Iconic, huh?" Nell said. "I guess we'll find out. But I have a whole basket of socks I can send her. She wouldn't, of course. Summer frightened her a bit.

[sword_chocobro]

Summer was a total softie underneath, but Gladio could get how some people might find her intimidating if they didn't know her.

"I'm gonna send her my gym socks."

That was a good way to not get those socks back, actually, Gladio.

But then he gave Nell a look for a moment before he laughed.

"A whole basket, though? Really?"

Now he wondered if, elsewhere on the island, Ignis' mending senses were tingling.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "Those would undoubtedly go right in the trash." Well, not if he gave them to Nell a good washing, some bleach, and drying in the sun would get them clean and fresh smelling.

"Well... I could put some holes in enough to make a basketful. "But no, I darn things as they get holes."

[sword_chocobro]

"I was going to say," Gladio grinned, "you don't seem the type to put off for tomorrow what you can do today."

[mylandmyrules]

"Nope," Nell agreed. "I don't much leave things undone for long."

She nodded to the kitchen. "Dish yourself up some stew, while I get some popcorn going." It must be love if Nell was letting him just get his own stew. And how far had she come that she wasn't waiting on him?

[sword_chocobro]

You loved to see it, really. And not only that, but Gladio was obviously comfortable moving around the kitchen and getting what he needed to do just that, with a small rumble in his stomach that made him realize he was hungrier than he thought he was. Or maybe it was just the promise of some of Nell's cooking that awakened it. Who could really tell?

"This smells amazing," he informed her, sending over another grin as he scooped. "Thanks."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell smiled at him, even as she marveled at Gladio happily serving himself food. Back home a man wouldn't so much as pour himself a cup of coffee.

She got the popcorn going and brought a few other things, including one of the drinks, into the living room, before returning to pour warm butter over the popcorn and rinse out the few dishes she'd just dirtied. Then she brought the popcorn into the living room and curled up on her side of the couch while Gladio dealt with the movie stuff.

"This is awful cozy," she said with a smile.

[sword_chocobro]

Was the rinsing out the dishes right away getting another crooked grin in light of his earlier comment? Oh, yeah, definitely. It might have faltered a little when he did go to deal with the movie stuff (look, he wasn't the tech guy, he was the swing-big-weapons-and-hit-things guy), but, thankfully, he was able to sort through it all without having to text Prompto asking what the hell the right input was supposed to be, and it was right back when he finally managed to get over to the couch to join Nell.

"I like cozy," he said, draping an arm over the back of the couch as he settled in. "Cozy's nice."

[mylandmyrules]

She shifted to be well within the drape of his arm and snuggled in. "Cozy is very nice," she said, taking a handful of popcorn. "So what is this movie anyway?"

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio dutifully reported the meta title, and grinned down at Nell as she got comfortable. "Apparently, it's a story within a story about a charming hero on a quest to be reuinted with his lost love. Sounds pretty epic. Romantic. And it said there was some swordfighting, too."

If you could even call those dinky little things swords! He was going to be so disappointed with the swordfighting, although it would still have its moments, for sure.

[mylandmyrules]

"Romance and swordfighting," Nell said. "Add in books and Cup Noodle and we'd have it all!"