43 Unicorn Street; Monday Evening [09/09].

[sword_chocobro]

With all his usual Monday errands to keep him busy, Gladio was pretty unaware of anything else going on on the island that might have left an impact on the usual Mondau night gathering, as quiet as they'd been lately, but he could tell, coming home when he was done, that something was definitely different about tonight. The vibe was off, the energy, and it instantly had him a bit worried and checking his phone to make sure he hadn't missed any important messages. But seeing none, he just dropped his things off in the kitchen and went searching for where Nell and the kittens may have wound up.

"Nell?" Honestly, at this point, checking the roof was likely the winning choice, and so it was there he headed first. "You up here?"

[[ mostly for the little woods witch tonight, although definitely open if anyone still does want to end up stopping by! ]]

Comments

[mylandmyrules]

Nell sighed contentedly. "Mostly just want to curl up with you and not think about much of anything. Got me some tea here already."

She wiggled her feet in his hand. "And you're in charge of dinner. Cup Noodle is fine if you want."

[sword_chocobro]

"Fine?" Gladio quirked an eyebrow up at Nell. "Cup Noodle^TM is fine? You take that back, Cup Noodle^TM's better than fine, it's a delicious, flavorful taste experience that can't be beat!"

His grin now came with a wink.

"And it's either that...or oatmeal."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed quietly. "Yes, yes, it's delightful. And I'd be fine with oatmeal as well since you are in charge of the oatmeal anyway."

[sword_chocobro]

"Exactly," said Gladio, though his grin was much more for that laugh than it was the confirmation. One more kiss, and he stood up again, making a theatrical show of all the groans and grunts needed to get him there.

"So," he asked, hands on hid hips as he considered Nell for a moment. "Me first? Or food first?"

[mylandmyrules]

"You, please," Nell said. "It was... when it happened... he bled on the land and..."

She shuddered. "I was hurt and afraid and it just rose up in me and I was so scared I wouldn't be able to push it back down. It took most everything I had and now... I just feel like a limp noodle. And I'm awful shaken."

She stretched out a hand to touch his face and let it fall to his shoulder. "I just want your arms around me so I can feel safe again."

[sword_chocobro]

"That," said Gladio, nodding firmly, "we can definitely do. You wanna stay up here, too? Or are we heading back in?"

[mylandmyrules]

She reached for him, shaking her head. "I can't make any decisions tonight. I trust you."

[sword_chocobro]

"Here it is, then," Gladio decided, and for that to work, he was just going to have to lean in to wrap his arms around Nell for a moment,at first just a hug with a good tight (not too tight) squeeze, but before too long, he was using that to also scoop her up, so that he could take her spot in the chair and settle her on hid lap.

"Better?"

[mylandmyrules]

So much better that she couldn't even say. Nell curled up on his lap, snuggling into his chest and resting her head against his shoulder. "Mmmhmmm," she said. "Perfect."

[sword_chocobro]

"Good," Gladio said, and he left it at that. He wanted to ask more about what had happened, the details she'd given him had just left him with more questions, but it was pretty clear that Nell was in no shape or mood to really talk about it now. He'd ask later, maybe sometime tomorrow, once it had a chance to settle. So,for now, he would just hold her, lightly rubbing a hand over her shoulder for comfort.

[mylandmyrules]

"He said my Soulwood soil... he called it 'spy dirt'," Nell murmured grumpily and more than a little sleepily. "Said I should have told people it was out there in the woods so they'd know I could spy on them. Thought it was a magic spell. M'not a witch. My Mama had me tested.

"But Liliana can call me a woods witch if she wants because I like her and she knows I'm not one."

[sword_chocobro]

"Kinda defeats the purpose of spying on people if they know you're spying on 'em," Gladio pointed out with a faint grunt, but he was hasty to add, "Not that you are. It's more like an alarm system than a spy network, isn't it? But I guess now we know some of the downfalls with it..."

[mylandmyrules]

"It made me feel not so lost," Nell said very quietly. "If I could still feel home and the land here."