Monday night at Nell and Gladio's

[mylandmyrules]

After work Nell headed home to get things ready for the evening. She thought simpler was better, both in case there were children and in case people chose to stay home with their children instead.

It would be easy enough to throw together an extra simple pasta bake or plain noodles to go with the fresh bread she'd made. And, of course she had plenty of cookies and brownies.

If she was perhaps a little quieter than usual, well, there were a number of things occupying her mind.

Comments

[deathsmajesty]

"Nell," Liliana said in an undertone, "it's possible I have never adored you more than I do in this very moment."

And that included the entire cake fiasco.

Cakes could be bought! Liliana's sanity could not.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed and handed Liliana the glass of wine she'd poured. "Why don't you take a seat in the living room and put your feet up for a minute. I can run interference for a bit."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana had done the impressively mature thing by showing up, she wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to enjoy a nice sit down with wine for a bit.

"Yes, that sounds delightful, dear one, thank you. It has been...a time."

Next time, she was procuring babysitters and fleeing to Argentina.

[mylandmyrules]

"Maybe this week would be a good time for that spa trip?" Nell offered.

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana snapped her fingers and pointed at Nell. "You are absolutely and without a doubt entirely correct," she declared. "I'm so tense my masseuse is going to need a masseuse. Someone needs to massage me into a puddle and then carefully move me over to the sauna to finish the job."

Had Nell always been this brilliant? No matter, she was now and that was what was important.

[mylandmyrules]

"Then I think we have a plan," Nell said, amused at the image of Liliana as a puddle. "Any day better for you?"

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana made an excellent puddle.

"How does Wednesday sound?" Liliana asked. "Thursday I'm giving my final and Friday is...prom?...I believe?" She wasn't sure what that was but it had something to do with the school and therefore her presence might be required also I'll be focusing on Arden. "Or the weekend, I suppose."

But...you know. Wednesday was closer.

[mylandmyrules]

"Wednesday sounds good to me. I have class in the morning, but I'm free after that," Nell said. "We could have the whole afternoon for pampering."

[deathsmajesty]

"Speaking my language," Liliana said. She glanced around, noting the lack of giant, shirtless children. "Is this something you've gone through before? I understand that this is a regular occurrence."

Gaia help them all.

[mylandmyrules]

"I've... " Nell hesitated. "I've never had any children show up. Last year I believe Gladio had a son show up." She hadn't made the connection really back then, but it seemed clear looking back on it now. "But no one this weekend."

[deathsmajesty]

It would be impolitic for Liliana to say 'Lucky' on any number of axes, and Nell had the wine, so she was opting for discretion being the better part of valor.

"It was quite a surprising wakeup," Liliana said. "Perhaps next time they could choose a day that didn't follow a party."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell grinned. "It does always seem to follow some sort of party - like prom."

[deathsmajesty]

"What is prom?" Liliana asked.

[mylandmyrules]

"It's sort of a close to the end of the year dance for the school," Nell said. "Couldn't tell you much more about it."

When she went to the school she'd been married, so it wasn't so much a thing.

[deathsmajesty]

"Ah," Liliana said. "Like the Magister's Masquerade at Strixhaven, I see. And that explains why everyone seemed to expect the children after it, too."

[mylandmyrules]

"Yes..." Nell said. "I suppose...?"

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana shook her head. "I simply didn't know what prom was or why there was such goings on about it, so I simply asked."

[mylandmyrules]

"I'm afraid I'm not much help on socializing type things," Nell said ruefully. "But I think any student or teacher can go."

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana waved that off - and then looked thoughtful. "I don't think Ignis would wish to go, but I suppose I could ask," she said dubiously. She was disinclined, but if he were truly interested...

They could put in an appearance. A very short appearance. Liliana's enjoyment of dressing up and dancing didn't involve also making sure no one spiked the punch.

[mylandmyrules]

"I don't know if Gladio and I will go," Nell admitted. "I actually hadn't even thought about prom until you just brought it up."

[deathsmajesty]

"And I had only heard of the concept being spoken of in general terms and wanted to understand," Liliana said. "I don't know that mingling with students holds much appeal right now. I think it's likely that Ignis and I will enjoy a quiet evening at home."

[mylandmyrules]

"There don't seem to be many students - at least not young students these days," Nell said, "But I am never one to argue with the idea of staying home and having a quiet evening."

[deathsmajesty]

"I doubted you would," Liliana said with a small smile. "But thank you for explaining, darling."

[mylandmyrules]

"Of course," Nell said, "for whatever my explanation is worth."