Monday Night with Nell and Gladio

[mylandmyrules]

Nell had decided on lasagna for dinner - one extra large one with meat and a smaller one without. She made up a garlic spread for the bread, that Gladio could slather on her bread before they heated it up for serving, and a large salad. That plus the usual snacks and desserts should be more than enough for anyolne who might stop by.

Once everything was set and the lasagna ready to pop in the over she had some time to put her feet up by the fireplace and snuggle with the cats and/or Gladio if he was there. Though if he growled against her neck she might just have to drag him off to the bedroom.

Comments

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana certainly had no idea where those emotions could have come from, of course. Likely some kind of kitchen mishap successfully handled.

She knew she quite enjoyed a bit of successful handling herself. Ahem. Culinarily speaking, of course.

"Indeed," she said, her smile existing for the commentary on dinner and dinner only. "I can only assume it tastes better than it smells, of course."

[mylandmyrules]

Mmm hmm, that's exactly what it was. Or not. Nell would never tell.

Nell sniffed at the lasaagna smells. "I think it smells pretty good," she said, "But I do think it should taste very good."

[deathsmajesty]

"Oh, that's what I meant, dear one," Liliana said quickly, actually looking faintly chagrinned to have misspoken like that. "It smells delicious and I'm sure will taste even better is what I was trying to say. If I ever dislike the scent of garlic and tomatoes, you've discovered a changeling creature and should attack it with all due haste."

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh," Nell said and laughed. "I misunderstood. But I'm glad you like garlic and tomatoes because I used a lot of both."

[deathsmajesty]

"I said it poorly," Liliana said. "I neglected to say 'even better. But yes, it's impossible to wrong with garlic, tomatoes, and cheese."

[mylandmyrules]

"Don't worry," Nell said with a twinkle in her eye. "I'm pretty sure that if you wanted to say something negative to me that I wouldn't be wondering what you meant. And mmm... garlic, cheese, and tomatoes..."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana beamed at Nell. "Why thank you, dear one. That's very sweet."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "You're a good friend, Liliana."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana blinked in surprise, clearly taken back by that absolute non-sequitor. "I--what?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I said you're a good friend, Liliana," Nell said again. "And I'm glad to have you in my life."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana didn't sputter, obviously. She was far too refined and sophisticated for that.

"Oh, well. Of course. Thank you, dear. I'm also glad. To be. Yes."

Dammit, she was supposed to be better than that!

[mylandmyrules]

Nell just laughed. Not in an unkind way. "Not used to hearing that?"

[deathsmajesty]

"Darling, what about me suggests I have experience with friends?" she scoffed.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell shrugged. "All I can tell you is that with me you've been kind and thoughtful and supportive. You've gone out of your way to be helpful and you're fun to talk to. That makes you a friend in my book."

[deathsmajesty]

"I--well..."

She thought back to arriving back on the island with Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto, the latter three bound by a friendship so deep she could barely fathom it, enough that one could call and the others would answer without question or fail.

About how it had been fighting Garruk with Ignis with her, an ally in a way her zombies never could be.

"Yes," she said, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Perhaps it's time I start considering friendship as a possibility in a way I have not in...well over a hundred years, I suppose."

She knew exactly how long it had been. But never mind that.

[mylandmyrules]

"Well then," Nell says. "See. You're my friend."