Monday Night at Nell's

[mylandmyrules]

This would be the first time people gathered here in the New Year, so Nell wanted to make it a little special for everyone. She had carefully handpainted and baked mugs for each person so they'd each have their own special one for when they were here.

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[sword_chocobro]

When Gladio came in, he was expecting to just find what Nell was up to, interrupt whatever she was doing with a kiss, and present to her the beverage of the week (clearly inspired by his guest that weekend), but it would seem that the brazenly modded kittens, having gone an entire weekend without seeing him as much as they had gotten used to, have a very different idea, having heard him coming and went scampering and meowing to come meet him.

"And here I thought," he said with an amused chuckle, shaking his head down at them before setting aside the drinks so that he had a hand free to scoop up one of them in each, "I was finally done with whiny little babies for a while!"

Once they were settled and cradled and purring in the crook of his arm against his chest, he grinned over at Nell. "Hey, you."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "Now, now, they're not whiny, they're just expressing their happiness in seeing you again!"

She smiled at him. "And hey, you. I'm glad to see you too. But I htink I will refrain from meowing at you and trying to climb up your legs."

It was quite the adorable sight and, reminded of a conversation she'd had with Steven a while ago, she took out her phone and captured it for posterity.

[sword_chocobro]

Once Gladio realized that Nell was taking a picture, he gave her a big grin for the shot; he wasn't sure if he'd managed to get it in time, but, he had been used to always trying to put on a best face from Prompto's impromptu pictures back in the day, so he probably managed pretty well.

"Yeah, don't worry, guys," he assured them, and, now that they were settled against the significant ledge that his arm made, he could move one of his hands to give them a few ear scritches, "I'm excited to see you, too. And I appreciate that," he told Nell. "There are much better ways to climb on all of this than up my leg."

What? She brought it up!

"How's your day been?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Really?" she drawled."Maybe you'll have to show me later. For educational purposes, of course."

She looked him over fondly as she put her phone away. "I have a few ideas." She did. Lots of them.

"My day was lovely and quiet. I'm thinking of making some bath bombs and bubble bath things to sell."

[sword_chocobro]

"Speaking of ideas," Gladio had no delusions of thinking that he would be able to put the kittens down so soon without them putting up an impressive fight to retain their territory, but he could, at least, still give Nell a little nudge with his elbow whilst so unceremoniously be-kittened, "sounds like something that maybe could use a little testing out before we put it on the market. You know. Just to make sure it's all doing what it's supposed to, right?

"What made you think of that idea?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh I think we'll definitely need to do some personal testing," Nell said with a smile. "Maybe lots of testing." She nudged him back, careful not to dislodge the kittens.

"Some company sent an email about today being national bubble bath day," she explained, so it got me thinking."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana forewent the obvious response, because they were doing this 'get along' thing - and, more importantly, it was fruit so low-hanging even Noctra could have reached for it and she had standards. So she simply smirked, and said, "You've managed to survive the onslaught, however."

[sword_chocobro]

"All thanks to some strong reinforcements," Gladio said, with a nod and a slightly crooked grin back. He then gave her a nod, with a note of thanks in it. And an offering of one of the beverages he'd brought with him.

Which was a nice gesture, probably, until his grin grew and he pointed to the bottle. "That's pretty much you, right?"

You sure about that 'get along' thing, Lils?

[deathsmajesty]

"Entirely wrong color palette," Liliana sniffed. "Otherwise, the resemblance is uncanny."

Casually she pulled out her phone and did a bit of scrolling. "And this is you, right? About ten years ago?"

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio had been expecting Liliana to pull up up some ancient picture gotten from Promtpo's collection, so when he saw what she did pull up, he had to snort with laughter.

"No way," he said, and squared his shoulders a little while giving his stomach a pat, "that was me just this morning."

[deathsmajesty]

"Mmm..." She glanced back at it. "Raw and unseasoned? Yes, that does track, doesn't it?"

[chef_chocobro]

It should be noted that, although Ignis did already make some sweet rolls to bring to Liliana at work that day, those were not what he would be bringing with him over to Nell's tonight. He would be bringing something a little sweet and something a little savory, so that should have just about everyone covered on his end.

[mylandmyrules]

But what if Nell wanted to try some of those sweet rolls?

"Those smell wonderful, Ignis," she said. "I can't wait to try them."

[chef_chocobro]

Then Nell was, unfortunately, quite out of luck, as they were made for a very specific audience of one. Though, he supposed, it wasn't entirely impossible that that audience would be inspired to share her bounty...

"Well," Ignis informed Nell with a smile, as he handed the try over for her to take if she wanted, "there's no need to wait if you don't want to, but thank you, Nell. And thank you for all your help with Noctra this weekend; it was greatly appreciated."

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh, of course," Nell said. "I was glad to help." And getting to watch Gladio with Noctra would have been worth any effort. "Prompto and Liz got back safely, I assume?"

[chef_chocobro]

"They did," Ignis confirmed, "just this afternoon. It sounds like they had a lovely trip, but they were, understandably, also very glad to be back."

[deathsmajesty]

"You know what I think would be a delightful version of this recipe?" Liliana said, nibbling one of the cranberry tarts. "Brie instead of the cream cheese. You'll still get the creaminess, but the earthiness of the brie would be an interesting flavor profile, in a different direction than the slight tang of the cream cheese." She grinned at him. "I would, of course, be happy to taste test both. Extensively."

She was a helper that way.

And that's the version of the recipe I make for holidays, so I couldn't help myself.

[chef_chocobro]

"Well," said Ignis, a small smirk quirking, "if you must twist my arm, I suppose an attempt can be arranged."

And, hopefully, Liliana didn't necessarily need both hands to enjoy the tarts further, because at least one was now being abducted by Ignis', and he brought it to his lips, for a mirror of the kiss she'd given his earlier.

"My first compulsion, actually," he then explained, "was to use brie. But I try to keep my offerings here vegan, in the event that Detective Watts makes an appearance, but I've yet to manage a suitable substitution for vegan brie that really manages to do the tarts justice."

[deathsmajesty]

She was willing to accept the sacrifice of a hand. After all, he'd been willing to do without one of his hands from their very first dinner on the beach. It seemed only fitting that she be willing to do the same.

A question flitted through her mind, but she decided to ask another, more politic time, swapping to, "So, is it back to your apartment tonight?"

[chef_chocobro]

"It certainly seems to have been working out quite well so far," Ignis noted. "There's no denying that it does make my Tuesday mornings significantly easier. And besides..." there was a pause, one not without his own curiosity, "it will be considerably more quiet than it has been for the past few days."

Another pause, this one quite a bit difference, including the addition of a small smirk.

"Perfect for getting an early good night's rest."

[deathsmajesty]

Sadly for Nell, most of the buns hadn't lasted through the afternoon and the few that had had been sent back to the mansion with her steward for later. Thus, Liliana didn't have anything to bring along to Nell's tonight and wasn't particularly fussed about showing up empty-handed. She was here to properly appreciate the offerings of others, especially cooing over her personalized mug.

"How very dear," she declared, since it was for her and she did so adore things made for her, at least when crafted by someone at least marginally talented, which Nell certainly was.

[mylandmyrules]

It was purple, of course, and lacy with her name in elegant calligraphy. "I hoped you'd like it," Nell said. "This way you'll have your own special mug here for whenever you stop by."

[deathsmajesty]

"It's darling," Liliana said, promptly filling it with Gladio's princess juice. "This was lovely of you. When did you learn pottery?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "Oh no, I didn't make the mugs myself, just decorated thwm and followed the directions to make the colors permanent."

[deathsmajesty]

"Oh good," Liliana said with a laugh. "I was starting to worry you were ridiculously skilled at all things handicraft-related."