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.

Comments

[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."

[sword_chocobro]

"Better safe than sorry, right?" Gladio grinned. "And, oh, yeah, there was something about that at T&C, when I went to get the drinks. Apu was in a bathtub and everything..."

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh dear," Nell said. "I can't say I'm sorry I missed that!"

She smiled at him. "You in a bathtub, however..."

[sword_chocobro]

Well, assuming it was a fairly large tub, anyway, otherwise all you'd get were knees blocking all the good stuff.

"Is that how you plan on marketing these new bath bombs and bubble baths?" Gladio simply had to ask.

[mylandmyrules]

She did have a lovely big soaking tub. Whoever had designed this house apparently really enjoyed their baths. But you know, enough bubbles would only tease at the good stuff anyway.

Nell pretended to consider that for a moment. "No," she said finally. "I think that any pictures I took would be solely for me."

[sword_chocobro]

"You sure?" asked Gladio, lifting skeptical brows at Nell, but her was grinning faintly. "Just think of how many bath bombs a face like this," excuse him a moment as he preened and mugged and stroked his chin to help prove his point.

[mylandmyrules]

"Nope. Too selfish," Nell said. "I guess I'll just have to take the loss of sales."

[sword_chocobro]

"See, now," Gladio grinned, waving a finger of acknowledgement at Nell, "I like that. Standing by your principles, good sign of integrity, right there."

[mylandmyrules]

"Selfishness, integrity," Nell said, waving her hand. "Same basic thing, right?"

She smiled at him. 'But I do like to keep you all to myself. Stay over tonight?" SHe'd missed having him in her bed. "Stay over any night. Or all nights."

[sword_chocobro]

"All nights, huh?" Gladio's brow lifted. "At this point, maybe I should just move in."

At first, he'd gone into saying it as kind of a joke, especially since, well, Ignis had practically done that already with Liliana, and Gladio, while staying at Nell's not nearly as frequently, wasn't that behind.

Well. He did say in class today he should give gardening as try; that was one way to plant a seed!

[mylandmyrules]

Nell stopped what she was doing and turned to give him her full attention. She just looked at him silently for a moment with very little expression.

Then she said, "Maybe you should."

Why not? She was happier when she slept in his arms. He was good company. He didn't need entertaining and was perfectly happy to read a book companionably by the fire. The cats loved him - almost as much as she did. Why not?

Why not do what made her happy?

"Maybe you should."

[sword_chocobro]

At first, with that reaction, Gladio was instantly worried that maybe, even as a joke, the suggestion had crossed a line, and he was feeling a little torn, between a frustration for having gotten it wrong and a firm belief in that he'd rather be able to be open and honest with Nell about anything and everything, especially when it came to something that, now that he'd said it, now that it was out there in the open air, really did seem...well, logical. It would make sense and be kind of nice, actually, but he also knew he had no right to just impose on her space like that, especially when he knew how important having that space for herself was to Nell...

So he took that moment of blank consideration with a sort of ready patience, preparing himself for whatever can of worms he may have just inadvertently opened, and then blinked when she finally did speak. And by the time she said it again to confirm he'd heard it correctly, he just grinned back.

"Maybe," he echoed, "I should."

And maybe he should also just take a moment to set those kittens back down on the floor so that he could wrap it around Nell instead and give her that long-overdue kiss.

They could work out the details and if they were really serious about it later. Right now, he just needed this.

[mylandmyrules]

And Nell proved her climbing skills were dead on by wrapping her legs around his waist and clinging to him as they kissed.

"Maybe we should," Nell said when they came up for air briefly - Liliana and Ignis be hanged. Then she kissed him again.