Elaine Mallory [The Dresden Files] (finessing) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-08-14 20:53:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, elaine mallory, nathan summers (cable) |
WHO: Elaine, Nate
WHAT: manly maternal bonding
WHEN: backdated, during the bodyswap
WHERE: their house
WARNINGS: minor awkwardness, pretty PG
Nate had tried to be everywhere, really, working on the bodyswap engine, and helping Cora adjust and others, too, and even helping out at Frost Enterprises. He sighed, as he trudged up to the Mallory house. Now, well, he figured Elaine should get some of his time, too. He was, after all, wearing her daughter’s body for the moment.
He walked onto the porch, glanced around, then knocked.
Elaine went to the door, glancing briefly out the window to see the familiar figure, and let him in. “Hello, Nate,” she said, opening her arms to pull him into a hug. She knew he was just as upset about all of this as anyone else, and she didn’t blame him for that had happened. “How are you feeling?”
Nate hugged her back, letting himself just enjoy it for a long moment, before he pulled back. “Tired, worried, but mostly just annoyed by life. Seems like Fate is still doing it’s best to keep my life interesting.” He smiled up at her. “I know I’ve apologized already but... I’m sorry. When the machine started malfunctioning, I tried to fix it but...” He glanced down and the result was self evident. He in her daughter’s body and she in her husband’s.
“I know,” she said, giving a chuckle to make up for the gruffness of Harry’s vocal chords. She wasn’t grumpy at Nate, just mildly frustrated in general. Harry’s sometimes wayward magic was stronger, and of a different flavor than she was used to dealing with. “You did what you could. And if anyone can sort out what went wrong, I know you’ll find a way to put it right.”
Nate smiled. “Emma and Kitty are on the case, and they are very smart.” He nodded. “I’ll do my best to help.” He smiled lopsidedly at her, then nodded. “How are you holding up?” She had been there for him through a lot of craziness, and he liked her, with a warmth that surprised him sometimes.
Elaine laughed softly, and shrugged her shoulders. “Harry’s penchant for fire took some getting used to,” she said, “But I think I have a better idea, now, how to help him and Thomas learn to contain their magical auras, having experienced their brand of magic first hand.” She smiled. “Maybe something good will come out of all this after all.”
Nate nodded to her. “Good. I really hope so.” He chuckled. “Billy Batson is talking about learning a new appreciation for women, a woman named Lexi seems to be finding it educational, and even people usually hostile seem to be learning some things.” Maybe it would be okay.
She hugged him again, just a quick side thing, and rubbed his arm. “It’ll be okay. We’ll muddle through, fake it till we make it, but sooner or later, something will click.” She truly believed that.
He hugged her back, full armed, and grinned. It was definitely odd hugging her now. “True. And we have each other, all of us.” He made a link of both hands. “Dresden, Raith, Mallory, Summers, Batson, and more. We stand together.”
“We’re stronger than any one of us on our own,” she said, nodding. “As long as we work together, I think we’ll all come out the better for it.” They’d survived more awkward situations, after all.
Nate smiled to her. He admired her for far more than her body, after all. “I think so too.” He smiled softly at her, warm, now. “So, do you want to like, I dunno, do something? If you have time? I’m sort of on a break from working on the machine, and trying to just not be in the way.”
“Sure, I have time,” she said, gesturing toward the kitchen. “You want a snack? Or did you have a project in mind?”
“Not really sure. I could help make something big for dinner or... something?” He smiled earnestly up at her. “Whatever works.”
“Well, there are a couple recipes that I’ve been wanting to try,” she said, “If you and Cora think you can give me a hand without tripping over each others’ feet. Or mine.” Harry had pretty good sized feet. “Otherwise, I was thinking hot dogs and s’mores.”
Because cooking on the grill, or over a fire, meant fewer appliances to accidentally zap.
“Sure! I can try! Whichever you would rather do, you know? This is your house, your home, and I am your guest, and today, your helper.” He grinned at her, wider.
“Come on,” Elaine said, “Let’s find my little girl and get our kitchen on.” She grinned. “If that’s not too weird for the two of you, under the circumstances.”
“I hope not? Life is too short to not enjoy things like this. And Cora is still... well, she is still someone I care about, no matter what body she is wearing, and no matter how old we are.” he nodded again, eyes on hers, earnest and honest.
“Good to hear,” Elaine said, smiling affectionately. “If there’s anything I can help you sort out...I hope you know you can come to me. Anything.” Sure, some things might be a bit tricky, but she didn’t want to close any doors, or alienate her daughter and her friend. “But enough serious stuff for now. Let’s just...unwind for a bit.”
She had a feeling some culinary therapy would do just the trick.