mylandmyrules | Monday Night at Nell's

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Monday Night at Nell's

There was no gingerbread on the menu tonight. Nell had had enough of that nonsense. Instead she'd made a macaroni and cheese casserole and a smaller veggie casserole. She also had homemade hot chocolate ready to go as well as an assortment of frosted Christmas cookies carefully labeled as to which ones were vegan.

The gas fireplace was on and she spent some time contemplating whether she should get a Christmas tree or not. She'd never actually decorated for Christmas, though she'd enjoyed seeing the decorations around town.

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They were her walls, Ignis, she could nibble on them if she liked.

And also that right there was why she made it a point to not help people out. Because sometimes you did and then suddenly everything was very tiresome.

Still the impromptu trip had sweetened her temper back up, so it was a laughing Liliana who came in on Ignis' arm, hands also full of little presents, still holding her souvenir mug with the last few mouthfuls of glühwein in, just as excited about having been somewhere new and interesting as for the Christkindlmarkt itself.

"Welcome, Liliana," Nell said with a smile. "I see you brought your own beverage."

"Only the last little bit of it, I'm afraid," Liliana said, holding up her commemorative mug. "Look! It's a little boot!"

Clearly the most adorable thing ever.

Nell laughed. "It is very cute. Well, come on in and make yourself at home. I'm glad you're here."

"Thanks for inviting me, darling," Liliana said. "Oh! And a gift for you darling." She held out a shimmery green gift bag. "From a Christmaskindlmarket in Köln. Ignis decided I couldn't be trusted to not eat my own house."

For the very good reason of because she couldn't.

Nell laughed. "If I never see gingerbread again it may be too soon."

She took the bag. "This is very kind of you," she said, "thank you."

Inside was a snow lantern, that was, a snowglobe in the shape of a lantern. "I saw it and thought of you and Gladio," she said with a small laugh. "Out in a tent, perfectly happy and self-sufficient, even in the snow."

Nell laughed again. "Oh. Liliana, it's perfect! It's just like us and so beautiful! Thank you!"

She had a gift for Liliana as well - a basket with teas, jams, special lotions, and a small bottle of Nell's honey. "This is for you. I hope you enjoy it."

"Oooh, thank you darling," Liliana taking it and immediately pawing through it, making little oooh and ahh noises as she did. "Oh, are you hosting next Monday? That's the real Christmas, right?"

"I hadn't thought about it," Nell said. "I can, if people want to come. I figured Gladio would be here at least. The store won't be open so it will be a quiet day. Maybe people could come by in the evening for desserts if they want?"

"I don't think Ignis and I have talked about it," she said, like, you know, how lots of non-couple-y people just automatically assume they'll be spending a major holiday together and might wish to check in before making additional plans. "But considering your desserts are one of the few that he'll eat without complaint, I think he might be amenable."

"We can always see how it feels as the day gets closer," Nell said. "And if it's too much on Christmas day we can always get together on Tuesday."

"Either way there will be some kind of Christmassy thing," Liliana agreed. "I don't think I can deny Ignis the joy of making a proper Christmas dinner though. I don't think there's a gift I can give him that will grant more joy than that."

"Absolutely," Nell said. "I'm sure he'd want to do that. I haven't actually thought much about what to make. I suppose I'll see if there's something Gladio particularly likes."

It had been a long time since she'd done anything special for Christmas. Even then it had been quiet and subdued.

"That gives me the perfect idea for a gift for you to give Gladio," Liliana said with a laugh. "A Cup Noodle Cookbook! An entire meal made of different dishes wrought from Cup of Noodle."

It was a good thing that she and Ignis weren't dating, elsewise he might take this as enough reason to break up with her.

Nell laughed. "That would be very funny," she admitted, "Though I think I'd have to write my own and I don't think I have enough time before Christmas."

"Well, maybe you can get a start on trying out some dishes now and get it ready by...whenever his birthday is," Liliana suggested, full of good ideas as usual.

"Now, that's an idea," Nell said. "I'm sure I could manage that."

"And I'm pretty sure that surprising him with even a side dish on Christmas will make his entire holiday season."

Look, she didn't know him well but there were some things that were just obvious.

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mylandmyrules - 2023-12-19 17:36 (UTC) - Expand

"Liliana, hello!" Lana smiled. "How have you been lately?"

"Lana! Darling, hello." She offered Lana a smile. "I've been enjoying the season greatly. We just came back from a Christmaskindlmarket, which was delightful. Yourself?"

"Busy." Lana shook her head. "I don't think I've been to one of those - a market for Christmas things, I'm guessing?" Call it a hunch.

Liliana nodded. "Yes, Köln, in Germany. Inexplicably, Ignis doubted I could be trusted near my walls today."

"Oh, honestly." Lana shook her head. "This month these things never last more than a day. Still, a trip somewhere nice is good. Did you have fun?" She leaned in conspiratorially. "And did you get to nibble the walls?"

"I did! I haven't done much exploring of this plane at all and so it was lovely to visit somewhere else," Liliana said. "And of course not. I would never."

For all her protesting to the contrary, Liliana was absolutely nodding.

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