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

[stykera]

"Are they ever your fault?" Stark asked, eyebrow raised.

It was a very reasonable question.

"I don't think she's to blame here. Not for this. And...talking. Might help. But it's hard."

[deathsmajesty]

That question made Irrim withdraw, hunching over herself a bit. Without even thinking about it, Liliana stepped between the two of them, offering Irrim the silent safety of her shadow. "Honestly, Stark, she's a child. If two adults have some kind of falling out, I highly doubt it's the child's fault."

Normally, Irrim would protest that she wasn't a child but for some reason she was staying quiet.

"And obviously talking is hard. If it weren't, you'd have done it already. The question is, do you think salvaging the relationship is worth doing the hard thing. And before you say something about it depending on what Ignis thinks - which is obvious - I'm going to remind you that the first step is asking him."

[stykera]

"I didn't say it had to be something between two adults," Stark said. "I just asked if things were ever her fault! I didn't even say that was a bad thing. It isn't, necessarily. I meant no harm, Irrim," he said in a softer tone, "I'm sorry if it seemed that way."

He sighed and straightened his stance.

"I know. But not tonight. Calli is happy and there's no need to end that happiness early."

[deathsmajesty]

"S'all right," Irrim said softly. "And yeah. Lots of things are my fault."

From Liliana's glare in his direction, neither Stark's explanation nor Irrim's answer had made Liliana any happier with this line of questioning.

"I agree with your assessment of the situation," Liliana said. "Upsetting the children seems a poor choice all around."

[stykera]

"Lots of things are my fault, too," Stark said conspiratorially, leaning in towards Irrim a bit. "More often than I'd like. But some things aren't anyone's fault, you know. Sometimes things just happen."

[blueblackbrat]

Irrim had been looking up at Liliana in astonishment, but she glanced back at Stark as he leaned in.

"Was this one your fault?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or a thing that just happened?"

[stykera]

"Yes," Stark said. "Some of both. Not explaining myself properly, or apologizing...that was entirely my own fault."

[blueblackbrat]

"Mmm," Irrim said thoughtfully. "Do you think Ignis would be happier if this all got sorted?"

Because she could make that happen. Pretty easily even.

[stykera]

"I don't know," Stark said honestly. "I'd like to think so. But I can't be sure."

[blueblackbrat]

"I could find out," Irrim offered.

"Absolutely not," Liliana declared.

"But if it will help--"

"Stark and Ignis will work this out - or not - in their own time," Liliana said. "You're not using telepathy to solve this for them."

Irrim scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Never mind, I guess" she said, because clearly Liliana was being unreasonable here.

[stykera]

"I know I prefer when my thoughts are my own," Stark said. "I would think Ignis feels the same way on the subject."

He frowned a little. "You could tell him you don't think I'm terrible, if you'd like to help. Or... not. You shouldn't worry about our issue. It's nothing to do with you."

[blueblackbrat]

"I wouldn't do it without permission, Arden protested. "But I don't know you well enough to know that you're not terrible. You could be." She shrugged. "That's why I was going to ask."