extremely_hot (extremely_hot) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2022-10-15 14:37:00 |
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Entry tags: | !completed gdoc, ~2022 september, ~~ellen brandt (extremely_hot), ~~john proudstar (apachetracker) |
Who: Ellen Brandt and Thunderbird
What: Post Hide-and-Seek Dinner
When: September 14, 2022 (backdated)
Where: Crescent Moon Bayou
Warnings: None
Status: Closed/Completed G-doc
The walk back to the road and the brief Uber trip to the restaurant went quickly. Ellen took his hand as they walked. It was a pleasant evening, and made more so by his company.
The server seated them at one of the three outside tables beneath the fairy lights and lanterns. Soft jazz music played overhead. The other tables were occupied as well. Those customers had clearly been out clubbing based on their clothing, and the alcohol-fueled volume of their conversations.
"Order whatever you like," Ellen said to Thunderbird. "It's on me."
"We've covered special abilities," she said after they ordered. "So I guess it's time for the more mundane getting-to-know-you stories."
She was feeling a little uneasy. Not because she was here with Thunderbird. Quite the opposite. She was looking forward to the meal. She liked the food here and was really enjoying his company. No, she was worrying about afterward. She didn't want the night end. She wanted to invite him back to her place, but worried that she might be moving too fast.
She'd had her share of one-night stands, but she didn't want that this time. She hadn't had a real relationship in a long time, but saw potential for one with him. She didn't want to screw that up. After a bit, she put that worry aside for later.
"I'll go first. I grew up in Virginia, joined the Army after high school, and fought in Afghanistan. Lost an arm there--but got it back when I volunteered for some radical medical experiments that gave me my metahuman abilities as well."
"What's your story, Thunderbird?"
__________
He welcomed the sensation of her holding his hand, and he leaned in a little closer to her as they walked in. He wanted to make it sure that everyone knew that they were together. He had never been the type to like to share, after all.
"You're going to spoil me" he answered with a bit of a grin as he leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. Then he took the seat across from her.
He allowed her to tell her story, making sure to listen very well as she spoke. And then he finally heard her question and he realized that it was his turn. "Well I was born on the Apache reservation, and then once I was old enough I joined the military. I served for several years, but then in my world there was a catastrophic event involving mutants, so all mutants were forced to follow a new set of laws. This included not being allowed to serve in the military, so I was forcibly discharged" he admitted, seeing no reason to lie to her about his own past.
"After that I struggled a little bit to find my way, made some mistakes and then I found the mutant underground. It was an organization that helped innocent mutants that were being persecuted by the government" he added, wanting to make sure he covered as much as possible.
__________
Ellen nodded. “We all make mistakes,” she said. “Some larger than others. The people who gave me my arm back weren’t military. I was medically discharged after losing my arm. No surprise there, of course. But things were hard for me after that.”
She was silent for a moment, thinking of the best way to describe her experience. “I’ve always drawn a small circle,” she said. “My family, at first. Then my unit in the army. I’ll do anything for the people inside that circle, and everyone else can go hang. Losing that connection with my army buddies was rough–almost as hard as losing a limb.”
“When I got my arm back, I was very grateful to the people who made it possible. So when they asked me to work for them, I was glad to do it. I made them my new family. My new circle. Doing violence to protect them was something they needed. Something I could do, and I did.”
She drank some of her wine, staring off into the distance, before meeting his eyes. “I killed people. People I shouldn’t have. My new friends were not good people, but they were my people so I did it. I regret it now, but I can’t change it. So now I try to make better choices about who I let into my circle.”
__________
It was nice to see that she seemed to be understanding about the fact that he, like a lot of people, had made mistakes in his past. He knew that some people would have written him off if he had been that open with them. It encouraged him to let his guard down a little more than he already had. And then hearing that she had a sweet and sour memory with her time in the military just like he did only served to draw him to her even more.
He never liked the idea of other people getting hurt for any reason, but he also knew that he had been an enforcer of sorts for the underground. Sometimes people got hurt in those conflicts, so he knew better than to think that there was ever a white and black line in these kinds of situations…especially when you had powers. So, instead of focusing on that he focused on what she was saying about making sure to let the right kinds of people into your life. In a lot of ways she was starting to remind him of Lorna.
“Making the right kind of friends is never easy, but it is a very important skill” he answered, nodding his head slightly. “And sometimes it’s a lesson we have to learn more than once in our lives” he added, showing once again that there was more to him than met the eye.
“Though I think I just met this amazing woman to let into my circle” he added, flashing her a little grin to hint that he was really talking about her.
__________
“Really?” Ellen said with a smile. She reached over to place her hand on his. “What a coincidence. I recently met a great guy who I think could be a terrific addition to my circle, as well.”
The waitress chose that moment to deliver their orders. Ellen fell silent while she served them and asked if they needed anything more. Once she’d departed, Ellen reluctantly drew her hand back, to pick up her silverware. She tried her shrimp creole, which was as good as she remembered. She continued speaking between bites.
“We were both soldiers. Violence is what we know, and we’re good at it. We’ve both admitted to making mistakes. The nature of what we do means that those mistakes can have serious, even lethal, consequences for other people. We do our best to do the right thing, and we live with the results, good or bad.”
“I was drinking alone when we met,” Ellen said. She wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t know. “I hadn’t been here long. I didn’t know many people–any people, really–and I…don’t do well on my own. I need that small circle of people important to me to give me purpose. Good people, who can help me avoid making bad decisions again. I saw something in you that made me think you could be one of them.”
Now she reached out to take his hand again. “And now that we’ve spent some time together, I’m certain I was right.” She grinned, wanting to lighten the mood after her confession. “But you must have a name or a nickname other than Thunderbird. That sounds so…formal.”
__________
John couldn’t hide the smile on his face when she called him a great guy, but it was the fact that she wanted him in her inner circle that turned that smile into a sheepish grin. It was made clear in that moment that being in her circle was something that he really wanted. He wasn’t sure how or even why, but for some reason he cared about her more and he wanted her in his life.
When the waitress came he leaned back in his chair and allowed her to place all the food on their table. He had instantly missed the contact when her hand was removed from his, but he also understood the need for both of them to eat their food. But then he heard her words, changing the topic as soon as the waitress had left the table.
He gave her hand a gentle but still comforting squeeze and he allowed a smile to form on his features. He sensed the desire that she seemed to have for lightening the mood.
“You could always call me John….or you can give me a nickname that’s reserved just for you” he offered, knowing that he was more than willing to answer to anything that she wanted to call him…..simply because it was her.
__________
“John,” Ellen said. She smiled. “John will do for now, though I reserve the right to give you a private nickname later.”
She ate her meal in silence for a few minutes, having said what she needed to say for the moment. It was peaceful sitting across from John while they ate, meeting his eyes frequently, and occasionally reaching over to touch his hand. She felt like she was smiling goofily a lot, and she knew he was. When they resumed talking it was about nothing in particular.
She didn’t want this to end. But eventually the meal was over. The patrons at the other tables had left, and the staff were clearing tables. It was nearly 4 am, and the restaurant would be closing.
“So…” Ellen said finally. “As the saying goes, ‘we don’t have to go home, but we can’t stay here.’ I’m still not ready for this night to be over, so–now what?”
__________
John smiled at her words, loving the idea of her giving him a private nickname. “And perhaps I can come up with one for you” he added in the same teasing tone.
As the meal progressed he found himself smiling more and more; he was clearly enjoying the time that he was spending with her. The last thing he wanted was for this night to end, so he was already going over ideas in his mind. But he also didn’t want to offend her and scare her off in any way.
And then came the time to make that decision, so when he heard that she also didn’t want the night to end he decided to take the chance. He took a deep breath and then looked over at her. “Well we could always go back to my place and have some coffee” he offered, not wanting her to think he was expecting anything else.
“I just want to spend some more time with you” he added, trying his best to show his motives.
__________
Ellen’s smile felt like it might crack her cheeks, and she felt a pressure in her chest that made her think of the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes on Christmas day. It made it hard to speak.
“I’d like that,” she said, finally. “I was thinking of suggesting something similar, but….”
She was silent for a moment, squeezing his hand in hers, trying to work out what she wanted to say. The truth was frightening. What if he didn’t like what he heard? That seemed unlikely, but–not impossible.
“I’ve had my share of one-night stands,” she said, “and enjoyed them. But that’s not what I want with you. I think there’s potential for a lot more here, and that’s what I want. So if…coffee turns into something more, I’d like that very much–as long as it’s a lot more. I want you in my circle for a long time to come.”
__________
He adored the way that she was smiling, but more than anything he liked the idea of him being the one to put that smile on her face. And then she had to go agree with his idea for spending more time together that evening and his smile turned into that same sheepish grin. She seemed to be bringing that side out of his alot and honestly he didn’t mind it one bit.
But then when she continued speaking and the more he heard, the more he found himself getting lost in her words. She was saying the very things that had been rushing through his head most of the evening. He was still taking in the words though, because he almost couldn’t believe he was really hearing them. So, it took a moment for him to respond. Finally his head caught up with his heart and he was able to respond.
“I don’t want a one night stand either….I would want a lot more” he finally said, before leaning over and planting a tender but passionate kiss on her lips.
__________
Ellen kissed him back with equal enthusiasm, at least until her lips twisted in a smile and she laughed at the absurdity of awkwardly leaning forward over the picnic table to kiss like a couple of teenagers making out. She broke the kiss, cupping his face in one hand as she pulled back.
“We’re not teenagers. We both have homes. What say we take this back to your place? You offered coffee. We’ll start with that and see what happens.”
Their waitress, who had seemingly been hanging back, doing her best to ignore the two of them making out, placed the bill on the table. Her face was red and she didn’t know where to look, and she retreated with a mumbled, “Whenever you’re ready.”
Ellen dropped enough cash on the bill to cover it with a hefty tip, and placed her empty wine glass on top to prevent the wind blowing it all off the table. “Thank you!” she called to the waitress, who smiled and waved, face still red.
Ellen stood and reached out a hand to John. “Shall we?”
FTB