Monday Night at Nell and Gladio's

[mylandmyrules]

Nell wasn't sure who, if anyone, would be coming tonight after the men's weekend getaway, but she had food stuffs ready to throw together. She'd wanted to bring home some of the daffodils, but given that they were toxic to cats she'd brought home a few sunflowers instead.

And,as usual, once everything was set she settled down with her book to relax a little.

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[sword_chocobro]

Well. There was at least one person who was pretty much a given for tonight, since he lived there, and if he wasn't showing up, they had bigger problems on their hands than a guest list.

Gladio had picked up some...well, distinctly not beer on his way home from his Monday errands and also some lasagna? It was a whole thing with the cat outside the store today, he wasn't sure he wanted to ask too many questions.

When he got in, he made for the kitchen to drop that off and rough-house a few kittens than went rushing for him once he'd opened the door, and then drifted over to where he figured he'd find Nell. And, with a grin that his suspicions were indeed true, he swooped in to give her a kiss before settling down on the couch beside her and craving his neck to get a peek at what she was reading.

"Good one?" he wondered.

[mylandmyrules]

They certainly would! And Nell would be so sad.

She was happy to accept his kiss and give him one back before holding up the book for him to see. "It's okay," she said. "Not as good as some of the suthor's other books, which is a little disappointing, but it's okay."

She stopped and sniffed. "Do I smell lasagna? That's a very odd flavor for a drink."

[sword_chocobro]

"I almost wish it was a lasagna-flavored soda," Gladio remarked with a laugh, but, alas, a cursory Google search pulled up no satisfactory results. And now that Nell's attention was successfully diverted from her book, he dropped an arm around her shoulders to pull her in for optimal couch snuggling. "It's actual lasagna. There was a whole thing with a cat at the store protesting Mondays. No, I have no idea what any of those things have to do with each other, but, hey. Free lasagna. I'll take it."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell made a face at that. "You'd have to drink it all yourself."

But then there was snuggling which she had missed, so she was happy to set her book aside. "Actually the lasagna is perfect. I wasn't sure if the others would be here or if you all had had enough of each other over the weekend, so I didn't make as much as usual.

Of course she'd have easily been able to whip up enough to feed an army - or just three hungry chocobros- if necessary.

"How was your day?"

[sword_chocobro]

"I'm pretty sure I could get Prompto to drink it, too," Gladio snorted with confidence. "But I'm glad I could help. And it's been a good day. Better now." Here, he gave her a shameless smirk and a little squeeze. "Sort of the the same old stuff. How 'bout you? Cover anything interesting in your first aid class?"

[deathsmajesty]

"Did I hear you got that lasagna from a cat?" Liliana checked.

Honestly, she wasn't even sure why she was surprised.

[sword_chocobro]

"Yup," said Gladio, with a nod, and then a shake of his head because he was kind of still in that surprised-but-not-really phase himself. "Big cranky orange thing hanging out outside of the T&C with a sign about how he hates Mondays."

And, oddly enough, not the weirdest thing he saw outside of the T&C that day, either!

[deathsmajesty]

"And you trust cat lasagna?" Liliana asked, which might be the weirdest thing, honestly.

[sword_chocobro]

"M'pretty sure I've eaten a whole lot worse than cat lasagna before," Gladio pointed out. He sent a look Ignis' way, which had far less to do with the quality of his cooking and way more to do with just seeing if that would get any kind of rise out of Liliana. "Besides....smelled good, looked good, he ate some, too. All passes from me. And if I get sick, then Nell can help nurse me back to health again. Wins all around."

[chef_chocobro]

It seemed as though Ignis' well of cakes to bring over to Nell and Gladio's had not yet died up, even though he was now making two cakes for Monday...one to bring with him, and one to remain at home for other egregious spoiled parties to enjoy at her leisure all on her own.

Sigh. The things one did for love. But at least this would hopefully lead to far less cutthroat competition for last slice.

[mylandmyrules]

This was a cake Nell might actually fight for the last slice of. Not really. She was too good of a hostess, but she might think about it.

"Welcome, Ignis,: she said fondly. "Not sick of all the togetherness after the weekend?"

[chef_chocobro]

Perhaps she wouldn't have to fight for it by sending Gladio to do so instead.

"Shockingly enough, " Ignis said with a faint smile, "it would take a bit more than a single-night fishing trip for us to go weary of each other's company, sometimes for worse as much as for better. And, besides, it may have been nice to have some time for 'just us boys,' as it were, but it was lacking in your company and cooking, which is indeed a highlight to these visits. I trust you've been well? And plenty busy with your plants and bees?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "I am glad that you all got a chance to be together away from all the ordinary. ANd you're awful sweet to say that."

The lasagna in the kitchen caught her eye. "Of course, in addition to what I've made we also have lasagna from a cat apparently. As for my plants and bees, they're all thriving, I should have a ton of honey to harvest this year!"

[deathsmajesty]

"I saw the cake you left behind," Liliana purred into his ear, arms coming around him from behind. "And this is why I love you. Well, one of the reasons, I suppose." Her hand slid down his arm to tangle with his.

[hashtag_chocobro]

Not only did Noctra insist on going to Nell and Gladio's in her chocobo outfit, but she also wouldn't leave until Prompto was properly chocobo'd, too.

There was a good chance the only conversation anyone would get out of her today would made of only warks and kwehs,and Prompto wasn't even mad about it. This was, after all, clearly a monster of his own design.

(Which was a vast improvement on the monsters of his father's design, too).

[mylandmyrules]

"Well, wark to you too," Nell said with a cheerful smile for Noctra. "I see I havr two chocobros as dinner guests roday. Come on in!"

[hashtag_chocobro]

"Hey, Nell," said Prompto, grinning a little sheepishly, a little apologetically as Noctra trilled out another 'Wark! Wark! Kweh?' and blinked innocent blue eyes around the assembled masses. "Thanks. She's clearly got the chocobo spirit today, and I can't even be mad about it, this is the monster I've created." He chuckled a little fondly and poked Noctra's nose. "Chocobo nugget."

Then, putting his adult face back on, he asked, "How've you been, Nell?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I'm good," Nell said. "Glad to have Gladio back, but also glad that he got to get away with you guys."

She turned to Noctra. "Wark, Kweh! I'm afraid I'm no chocobo, but I'm glad to see you."

[deathsmajesty]

Perhaps Noctra was eager to show off her chocobo outfit. Perhaps she was eager to see what pretty jewelry Liliana would offer up. But either way, she wandered over to babble at Liliana. Luckily for the girl, Liliana was at loose ends at the moment, and was willing to listen to her with grave attention.

"I see," she said, and, with a rustle of silk, leaned down to pick Noctra up so they could continue their conversation as a more respectable height. "Mmmm, chocobos are all well and good, but don't discount horses until you've ridden one, sweeting. Regardless of what your father and uncles tell you. Trust me, I have excellent taste."

[hashtag_chocobro]

"Spoken like someone who's never ridden a chocobo before," Prompto said, with a chuckle, after watching this all fall into place with a little cautious curiosity and letting Noctra wark and kweh at Liliana a bit before coming over. "Guess we'll have to see how she feels when she's old enough to ride either, but I will point out, she's not insisting on going anywhere dressed as a horse..."

[deathsmajesty]

"Of course not, not with Daddy's insistence that there's nothing better," Liliana sniffed. "She hasn't had a chance to appreciate a good pony."

She glanced over to Noctra thoughtfully. "Another few months, sweeting, before you're old enough to ride with me, I think."

And then she seemed to notice that she was holding her and looked to Prompto to see if he wished to take her back. Ahem. "...Assuming your parents allow for it, of course," she added hastily.

[deathsmajesty]

Much of Liliana's good mood from the weekend remained on Monday, perhaps even heightened considering how Sunday had progressed. So she swept into the apartment all smiles.


"Hello, Nell dear," Liliana said. "Are you quite recovered from the fright I gave you?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Yes," Nell said with a rueful smile. "And now I know to check any wayward middle of the night text I get from you before panicking." Be careful, Liliana. An important text might go unchecked for a bit now. Oh, who are we kidding? This was Nell!

[deathsmajesty]

Somehow Liliana didn't seem overly concerned about that terrible outcome. "Sorry, dear, but I hadn't thought about what time it was or how such a thing might be taken. I simply saw and responded so you wouldn't worry."

Or assume the worst and tattle.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "Well, all's well that ends well."

Or have her show up and make you eat.