Sundays in the park with -- wait

[cutting_edgex23]

It's been a quiet day, not that X is complaining.

(She never complains.)

Breakfast was simple, just cereal and milk, followed by a heavy bout of vacuuming -- cat hair is problematic.

And now, post-lunch, X is folding laundry.

It needs to be done.

Comments

[ellectrical]

Just in time to interrupt the laundry-folding, there's a knock at the door.



Elle is trying to be considerate.

(Though it's only for X.)

[cutting_edgex23]

If X were someone else, she would probably appreciate that.

But since she is X, and this is Elle --

Even if Elle just walked into the apartment with no notice, X would not mind.

She sets down the pair of socks she was rolling and moves toward the door.

Checking who is on the other side happens to other people.

"Elle."

She opens the door, leaving it hang as she crouches down to scoop up Steve McQueen. (He never quits.)

"You are okay?"

[ellectrical]

X might have had a thing! If she were the type to have things. Elle might have had a few Things in the last few weeks, and so at least knows she might need to be considerate.

That, and the backpack slung over her shoulder doesn't feel so heavy anymore, so she doesn't mind waiting.

She shrugs one shoulder at X's question, waiting until the other woman has stepped away before she moves into the room.

"Ready to come back."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Oh."

X closes the door behind Elle, watching as Farrah skitters to a stop at the other woman's feet.

Someone has a favorite. (Someone besides X.)

"You will be going back to Milliways, too? Now. Or you will stay here longer."

The slight weight on that last sentence may indicate X's personal preferences, inasmuch as anything can.

[ellectrical]

She moves to first sling her bag on the floor (okay, it's still a little heavy), but after this, does offer Farrah some (non-sparky) fingers to sniff at.

"I don't need to go back there yet."

Small steps. Or maybe she's just grown generally bored of Other People.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says.

The habitual tension in her shoulders relaxes, just a little.

"Good."

Beat.

"You are not hungry?"

Old habits die hard, and X has leftovers.

[ellectrical]

Farrah nudges Elle's fingers with her head, and gets a few scratches at her neck in return.

"A little."

It's possible, despite the watch she's wearing, that Elle doesn't know what time it is. But she can tell that she probably skipped a meal at some point.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I made macaroni. For lunch."

The kind with tomato sauce and cheese.

"It is on the stove."

It probably needs to be warmed up a little, but --

[ellectrical]

Elle glances at the stove, then nods toward it in a questioning sort of way.

"I can do it," she suggests.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I will get a plate. For you."

And a cup. And some silverware.

Most of it is in the dishwasher.

Today, the laundry came first.

[ellectrical]

She nods again, then abandons Farrah to move to the stove. With a small snap, a flame is lit beneath the now cool pan.

Elle watches it, adjusting it slightly as she asks, "Are you okay?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says, nodding once.

Since she's already in the kitchen, she starts putting away the rest of the clean dishes.

"It has been quiet. Here."

Beat.

"I do know when it will stop."

[ellectrical]

Elle reaches for a spoon to stir the macaroni over the heat.

"Do you think it'll stop?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes."

X sounds absolutely certain.

"People still want to kill us."

Beat.

"And supervillains are very persistent."

Especially the crazy ones.

[ellectrical]

With a glance up, "But not right now?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"No," X agrees quietly.

"They are not causing trouble now."

Does she sound a little frustrated with that?

Maybe. Around the edges.

[ellectrical]

Elle doesn't smile.

At least, not very obviously. But she just answers, "I think it's ready now."

[cutting_edgex23]

X comes very close to smiling back.

"Milk is okay? To drink."

Beat.

"Or water."

[ellectrical]

"Water's okay."

She pours some of the remaining macaroni onto her plate, then returns the pot to the stove.

"Is it not quiet anywhere else?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"New York is not quiet," X offers, after a moment of thought.

"But I do not want to go there."

Beat.

"Yet."

[ellectrical]

"Will you want to go to New York?" she asks, feeling like she's missing... well, something.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Later."

X nods.

Just once.

"I have connections. There. They will be useful."

[ellectrical]

Elle pokes at the macaroni with her fork.

"Why do you want to go there?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"The Kingpin is there."

Beat.

"I worked for him. Before."

She does not shrug.

"It will be easier to get information."

[ellectrical]

Her head tilts.

"What do you need information for?"