Ella (kindwithcourage) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-12-20 22:54:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !complete, !completed gdoc, !log, ~2017 december, ~25 points, ~~ella (kindwithcourage), ~~mercy thompson (coyotecalled) |
WHO Ella & Mercy
WHAT Fixing up the kitchen
WHEN Early Decemberish
WHERE Ella's new home
WARNINGS None!
STATUS Closed | Complete
Mercy knocked on Ellas door, an arm load of leftovers in a bag. “Ella, I come with food and an offer to help you get settled in better!” She called as she leaned on the doorway.
She liked the woman, and was glad the Pack was keeping her safe. Collecting strays and making them part of the safety net that was the life here.
***
Ella felt fairly settled, all things considered, but she did have a few more boxes to unpack. A great deal of her things were gifts from her friends so that there wasn’t much she still had that could remind her too painfully of her husband. She thought herself very lucky that her son was not too painful of a reminder.
When she heard the knock, she couldn’t help but smile. The Pack were hovering in a very sweet and thoughtful way. Ella appreciated it because it made her feel loved all the more. She opened the door easily for Mercy and ushered her inside.
“You have wonderful timing, my friend,” she greeted, giving Mercy a kiss on the cheek. “I am just about to start in the kitchen now that Maximilian is down for his nap.”
***
Mercy smiled and returned the kiss to the cheek with one of her own. “Good! Let’s put my muscles to good use, eh?” She set everything down and smiled gently. “How are you doing?” she moved to look around as she stepped inside. “Looks like you are doing good so far.”
The pack was overbearing in their own way. They protected those who needed protecting. It was as simple as that. Mercy was just like that because she was usually the one being protected and well that ruffled her fur. But being around wolves meant she dealt with it while finding a way to be useful.
Today that mean helping Ella.
***
Ella was still a bit unused to the idea that women worked in such physical pursuits like Mercy did, but she still adored Clay's girlfriend. "I am doing well," she replied, ever warm and friendly. "The house feels much more settled in now that much of the furniture is in place. Everyone was so helpful in moving everything in." She still needed to find the best way to thank everyone for all of their help.
"I could use your help in organizing the kitchen in the best way. I am still not certain how I'd like to arrange it." She was a bit indecisive, but Mercy would understand the need to have it be as efficient as possible.
***
Mercy smiled, she was used to people not understanding it. But she liked what she did and was happy to do other physical stuff as necessary. She was the product of a very do it yourself kind of upbringing.
“It's what we're good at Ella, helping out. We are glad to be useful to you. “ She said earnestly as she looked around the kitchen. Mercy knew kitchens, she'd taken over feeding the mongrel horde.
“You bake a lot so we should make sure everything you need for that is within easy access, both appliance wise and dry ingredients.” She smiled. “I think we can do that.”
***
“Oh, it is more than mere usefulness,” Ella replied warmly, so grateful for their friendship and support. "You have all been so supportive since I arrived, never mind since Maximilian was born." They all mattered to her and Max would know each and every one of them as Aunts and Uncles, which the exception of Jeremy, who would be known as Grandpa. He'd done too much to simply be Uncle, not after the house.
"I do hope to be baking more frequently, especially now that I have a kitchen of my own. I didn't want to take over another's kitchen too frequently." Now though, she would be able to cook as much as she wanted to. Hopefully that would help her feel more settled. "And there will be those few staples I'll need for everyday cooking," Ella added. She led the way into the kitchen, where literally everything was out on the counter tops and table.
***
Mercy smiled, knowing she couldn't argue with Ella. When Ella decided something it simply was. That's all there was to it. “Well, you've grown on us.” She smiled warmly.
She followed Ella into the kitchen and nodded. “Well then let's get you organized. I look forward to not being the only one baking them treats.” She grinned at the women before moving to sift through things.
***
Ella was incredibly grateful for the fact that they'd taken such a shine to her and she found they were all just so lovely. She couldn't have asked for a better extended family and she knew her parents would be happy for her despite everything that she'd faced.
"I am more than happy to cook for everyone as often as you'll have me in your kitchen," Ella offered as they began to look over all the things she had for the kitchen. "I think I'd like to situate my cooking utensils here," she suggested, pointing to the drawer to the right of the stove. "And the serving utensils over there, in part because there's a cabinet there I can keep the plates and bowls in. That's about as far as I'd gotten," she admitted. "What do you think?"
***
Mercy smiled. “You know they'd love any food you cook.” She smiled again because it was true, they'd all love it. They were, under that exterior, a pretty good bunch. Even if they were a little bristly from time to time.
“I'll bring over a nice container for more commonly used items, I think I have one you'd like, for the wooden spoons and stuff.” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “That's a good setup, did you want to put pots and pans in a cupboard by the stove or should we build you a hanging rack for them?”
***
"I do try to ensure that is the case," Ella replied seriously. She only ever wanted to bring happiness and joy to the people she loved through whatever means she had at her disposal. Those means generally were only food, but sometimes it included gifts or simply company.
She considered the idea of a hanging rack. "I think a rack would be most efficient," Ella admitted, "but I would not want to put anyone out by making it for me." She never wanted to be a nuisance, which was why it was a good thing she hadn't known about the small house until after it was well underway. "The container would be most appreciated as well," she added. "Thank you."
***
Mercy just smiled at Ella - everyone loved Ella. It was hard not to love the woman. She was just the epitome of kindness. It was disconcerting, actually, at some points. Mercy was used to people having a snarky, dark side even if it was just a small one. Ella didn’t have that, and it was strange. Not in a bad way, just unexpectedly so.
“Ella - dear - you are never a bother to us. If I offer - I mean it. I don’t mind helping out and if that means building a hanging rack to hold things better for you, I’ll do it. Or I’ll make one of the boys do it and you know they’ll not argue. We genuinely want to make you happy here.” she smiled earnestly and shook her head. “We will build you a good hanging rack, until then we’ll store them over here and figure it out.”
She walked over and gave Ella a hug. “None of us offer things if we do not wish to do them, you know.”
***
It was sometimes difficult for Ella to remember that she was not a burden when someone else made the offer. She hadn’t asked for a hanging rack, nor the house nor anything else. That she had so many gifts was due to her many friendships in Madison Valley, and there was nothing wrong with that. She knew each gift, who it was from and what the occasion had been. Those mementos and memories meant everything to Ella.
“I will do my best to remember,” she promised her friend. Ella returned the hug easily, always grateful when she was not the one initiating such things. Her parents had been very loving and she missed the hugs and warmth of their care.
“Now, would you like a cup of tea? I can put the kettle on while we put away the last of the things,” she suggested.
***
Everything they did, they did because they wanted too. You couldn't force a werewolf, or a coyote shifter, into anything they didn't want to do.
She smiled at the return hug then pushed her hair out of her eyes. “Tea would be lovely, Ella. Let's do that and get your kitchen all set to go.”
***