InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's only time."

Isabel Lane Hemingway (isabellane) wrote in spinningcompass,
@ 2018-05-24 13:50:00

Entry tags:

~ernest hemingway, ~isabel lane

Who: Isabel and Ernest
Where: the food court
What: getting lunch
When: Thursday afternoon
Rating: likely low
Open: no
Status: ongoing
Isabel had decided when she woke up that this was going to be a buffet kind of day. At least for lunch. Her talk with Neville had gotten her back comfortable using magic again so it was pretty easy. Along one wall of the seating area she set up several tables. Food warmers and some ice buckets as needed were spread about. She had gone with a back home barbecue kind of lunch.

There were ribs, brisket, chicken, and pulled pork. The sides were corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw, chips, and baked beans. Sje also had several kinds of pie, chocolate cake, and banana pudding. It had taken her a while but everything was out and ready before noon.

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papahemingway
2018-05-24 09:35 pm UTC (link)

Finding the strength and courage to actually get out there in public and talk to someone was a pretty big deal. Christ, this constant dark cloud he was carrying about with him lately made him almost wish he could just have an 'up' for a while. It never led to anything good, but at least it made him feel more alive.

Charlie's words had jogged his memory, and he'd started to piece things together with regards to Isabel. Her reaction to his messages had been calm and kind and as awkward as he felt heading along to the food court he felt quite sure that it was a good idea.

And it looked like he had chosen a good day. Isabel seemed to have gone all out with the lunch today, and he was damn hungry.

"Hey. Excepting a lunch rush?" he asked, more softly than his usual tone she might have been more used to.

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isabellane
2018-05-24 09:40 pm UTC (link)

Isabel smiled when she saw Ernest come in. He didn't look so bad but she'd seen him in better condition. Either way she was happy to see him.

"Just felt like a lot of cooking. If it doesn't get eaten, I can put it away for later." She wanted to walk over and give him a hug but she wasn't quite sure if he was up for that. She did move a little closer to him, though.

"How you doing, sugar?"

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	ernestoic 2018-05-24 10:05 pm UTC (link)
	She smiled, and he managed a small smile in return. "You're a real carer. I think half of us would've starved to death by now without you," he told her. How was he doing? It was a difficult question. "Okay. Getting there. How are you?" he asked, automatically deflecting. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-24 10:11 pm UTC (link)
	"I don't know about that but thank you." She nodded. She watched him as he answered and just nodded again. "I'm doing okay." She went over to the table and grabbed two plates, holding one out for him. "Mind if I join you? Smelling all of this is making me hungry." She chuckled. Yes, it was her own cooking but it didn't change anything. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-25 05:52 am UTC (link)
	Ernest took the offered plate and gave her a nod. "Of course, the company would be nice," he assured her. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-25 05:54 am UTC (link)
	"So, what have you and Charlie been up to?" She asked as she started filling her plate. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-25 06:06 am UTC (link)
	"Well, it was his birthday back on the 8th, but I went and forgot," he told her, with a hint of annoyance at himself. "We'll find something to do now. He's mostly been looking out for me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-25 06:10 am UTC (link)
	"You shouldn't feel bad about that. It's been a while for you, right?" She blinked when she realized she'd forgotten her own birthday just last week, but she shook that thought away. "It's good that he's looking after you. Somebody has to, right?" Her tone was caring with a bit of worry mixed in. She wasn't trying to scold him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-25 06:38 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah. After the island it was about ten years until I found my way here," he explained. For now, though, he wasn't about to explain the other drains on his memory. "I guess. I'm real glad he's here, but I don't want him to worry himself sick," he said softly. Plate full he nodded towards the seating area. "Shall we sit?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-25 06:41 am UTC (link)
	"Then forgetting his birthday is totally understandable." She nodded. Isabel did reach over and lightly squeeze his arm. "I think you getting out of the apartment is going to help him worry a little less." She offered a smile as she went to a nearby table to take a seat. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

papahemingway
2018-05-25 06:52 am UTC (link)

Ernest was getting slightly more used to the idea that a touch could be a kind gesture, but there was still a slight tension that ran involuntarily through his muscle as she touched his arm.

"Yeah. Maybe. Hopefully," he agreed, following her over to a seat. "And how are things with you? I'm sorry, I can't remember much. Charlie jogged my memory on... some things, but I don't remember the finer details."

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isabellane
2018-05-25 02:06 pm UTC (link)

"It's okay, hon. You don't have to remember everything at once." She smiled. She set her plate down and grabbed a glass of iced tea before actually sitting to eat.

"Things are....interesting." she nodded. "Been spending most of my time here. Getting the place exactly the way I want it, that kind of thing." He didn't need to know that she only seemed to have an apartment to shower and change clothes as of late.

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papahemingway
2018-05-26 07:02 pm UTC (link)

Ernest gave her a little nod, but looked at the table top rather than making eye contact. "Yeah. Sure, of course," he agreed, although his heart wasn't in it. He knew there was some stuff, possibly important stuff, that was lost forever. But he hadn't mentioned that part to anyone yet, not even Charlie.

"Interesting? Interesting isn't good. Interesting is what you say when you can't think of anything else positive to say. How was the movie? It was... interesting," he pointed out, and just for a moment he was quite... himself. "How are things really?"

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isabellane
2018-05-26 07:22 pm UTC (link)

Isabel moved some of the food around on her plate. She took a deep breath and let it out before looking at him. "I got blamed for granting a wish that nearly killed my nephew's husband, nearly burned the kitchen down twice trying to cook without using magic, and I have a son now that I share with Brynhild because....magic." She made a face. "Saying it out loud feels really weird." She sipped her tea. "And I'm sure other people are dealing with worse."

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papahemingway
2018-05-26 07:35 pm UTC (link)

Ernest listened as she spoke, and he was sure that his face had to be an absolute picture.

"What the fuck, Isabel?!" he exclaimed, completely dismissing her stupid comment about people 'dealing with worse'. "I knew something was up, but I never would've guessed at... well, any of that, frankly. Shit," he exclaimed. "Yeah, sorry, not helping. Okay, start at the beginning. The wish?"

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isabellane
2018-05-26 07:54 pm UTC (link)

"I'm sorry." She started playing with her food again. "It's a mess." She shook heard head. Starting back with the wish. She took another deep breath. "During all the nonsense when everybody was changing ages and swapping genders, apparently Bucky got aged up. Steve found out that he wouldn't make it to see 35 because of his heart. He didn't like the idea of Bucky being alone so he came to me." She sipped her tea. "We had 13 years to figure out how to fix his heart but he wanted to make a wish." She ran her fingers through her hair.

"Once a wish is made, I have to grant it unless it breaks one of the rules. Wishing for his heart to be healthy didn't break the rules. It did cause some other issues, though, and when I told Richie what happened because he was Steve's doctor, he went off on me. Blamed me, told me I should have told Steve no." She sighed.

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papahemingway
2018-05-26 08:02 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, don't be sorry. Come on, you're not alone in the mess," he insisted, gesturing to himself. They were a damn mess together, apparently.

He ate and listened as she spoke, trying his best to take it all in. Focus and attention weren't his strong points anymore, but he was doing pretty well so far. "What about Steve? And Bucky? Did they blame you?" he asked of her, and then gave her a more curious look. "Do you blame you?"

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isabellane
2018-05-26 08:07 pm UTC (link)

She smiled a little at his comment. She definitely wasn't alone.

"No, they didn't." She shook her head. The last question was the harder one to answer. "I did. I still do a little but not as much." Neville had been a great help with that. "I warned Steve of what could happen. I told him it was messy magic. Part of me thinks I should have stopped him but.....how am I supposed to tell a 19 year old that he just has to deal with only having 13 years left?"

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	papahemingway 2018-05-26 08:14 pm UTC (link)
	"Well, good. And for the record, I couldn't blame you either," he assured her, just in case she was wondering what he was thinking of her. "And you said 'nearly'. So... hes okay? It ended up okay?" he asked her before taking a forkful of potato salad. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-26 08:26 pm UTC (link)
	Isabel nodded. "Yeah, he's going to be fine. It'll take some time. His new heart is stronger than his body is used to, but he's going to be okay." She smiled. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-26 08:35 pm UTC (link)
	Ernest's expression brightened a little at her answer. "Then you did good, right? Took a risk and it paid off," he assured her, with an eager nod. "Don't beat yourself up for that, you had good intentions." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-26 08:39 pm UTC (link)
	Isabel allowed a real smile now. She reached over and patted his arm. "Thank you. Sometimes I forget to look at things that way." It was easy to let the bad take over sometimes. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-26 08:45 pm UTC (link)
	Ernest smiled fondly back at her, and this time he didn't flinch when she touched his arm. "Yeah. An outside perspective can help," he nodded. "So what was next?" he asked, searching his short term memory and coming up short. "A fire?" he tried. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-26 08:48 pm UTC (link)
	"It does." She nodded. "Oh! That was part of the ridiculousness after the wish. I've apparently forghoten how to cook without using magic. I burned a few things." She chuckled. "I used to be really good at cooking but the magic helps so much." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-26 08:53 pm UTC (link)
	"Ah, but surely it's the results that matter? And this food is incredible. So what if you didn't cook it like a muggle," he said without thinking, and then pulled a bit of a confused face. What was a muggle? Where had that come from? "Um... heh. Um. Okay, and... sharing a kid?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)