FAMILY DINNER

[falsify]

[Having Nancy over isn't as common as it used to be, life is busy and whatnot, but Eames sometimes makes an effort. He's even gone so far as to make something to eat that he knows Nancy loves, and he is well stocked with wine for the two of them.]

[Arthur's off visiting a friend or something, so it's just the two of them for tonight. The two of them and a dog who is always happy for familiar company and spends a good chunk of time sat by Nancy's feet, only slightly hoping maybe she'll share some food even if it's against the rules.]

Comments

[stauncherhearted]

[Nancy nods, even before she feels the stinging of her nose again. Happy. So they don't wind up yelling at each other across the table and she doesn't ruin his kitchen again.]

Happier. Right. 'cause someone went and made it serious first.

[She gives him a look, and a smile.]

[falsify]

[She seems mostly fine with it, so Eames nods and smiles back.]

Fine, I'll be the one to lighten the mood as penance.

[He purses his lips as he thinks on a topic, and his expression falls a little as he realises they're probably going to cycle back around to earlier topics and he going to have to share details he'd rather not share with Nancy.]

[That's fine. He'll just take a big gulp of his drink first.]

Let's skip back to earlier then, before I took us [gesture] here. Anything you're dying to know about?

[stauncherhearted]

[Nancy nods, waiting for him to offer his penance. It's shown to be adequate, but she frowns for just a moment, her brow creasing slightly.]

Dying to know about? You mean- you and Arthur, or?

[falsify]

Me and him. Somebody else. Something entirely unrelated. Whatever you like.

[Wait-- hang on.]

As long as I don't have to go into too many details that Arthur would kill me for sharing.

[stauncherhearted]

[Nancy tosses her head back and laughs, shaking her curls out.]

What's he packing, then?

[falsify]

[Well he's not going to be so vulgar as to give numbers or show her a picture, but he will mime the rough size and shape with his hands-- it's not exactly huge but by Eames' estimation it's not unimpressive either.]

It's fucking gorgeous-- you wouldn't believe the effort it takes to keep my hands off him when we're in public.

[stauncherhearted]

[Nancy has seen her fair share of dicks. It takes a lot to impress her. But if Eames is that excited about him? She nods appreciatively, with a smirk.]

Well done, you! And I assume he knows what he's doing.

[falsify]

Oh, definitely.

[He swirls his glass and looks up with a smirk of his own.]

We wouldn't be here if he didn't.

[stauncherhearted]

Brilliant! [Nancy claps for him once, grinning from ear to ear.] I'm really glad for you. You deserve it.

[She would never be able to talk to him about her romantic partners, she'd now realized.]

[falsify]

[He laughs] I don't know about deserve, but it's... It's good.

[pause]

Don't tell him I said that.

[stauncherhearted]

[Nancy raises the hand that isn't occupied with her glass.]

I swear. Your secret's safe with me. You should know that by now.

[falsify]

Just making sure. Can't let him get a big head, you know.

[says the hypocrite hypocritically]

[stauncherhearted]

Oh, no. God forbid it compete with yours.

[Nancy giggles behind her hand. It's so lovely, just sitting and shooting the shit with Eames. When things are alright and nothing terrible is happening.]

You're a good couple. You complete each other well.

[falsify]

[All things considered, it's strange to be described as a "good" couple-- of course Nancy's never been witness to the way they argue over the stupidest things, but it gets a rare, bashful smile out of Eames anyway. One that makes him duck his head and take a sip of his drink to hide it.]

Well, it's rare to find someone attractive enough I'm willing to look at them every day for years.

[Saved it.]

[stauncherhearted]

[He's absolutely adorable, Nancy decides. Eames in love. And that's what it is, she can recognize it anywhere. She knows what it is, to have that stupid surge of pure warmth come through you, making your toes crinkle up in your shoes.

Then he goes and ruins it.]

You are awful, has anyone told you that before?

[But it's said with such fondness]

[falsify]

Oh yes, frequently.

[Eames grins broadly and finishes his drink.]

Plenty more colourful names too, at that.

[stauncherhearted]

And I'm sure you've been called worse'n I've ever heard.

[She'd heard an awful lot. But Eames was old]