Neena Thurman pours drinks, kicks ass. (fallsinplace) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-12-22 22:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, neena thurman (domino), velma kelly |
Who: Neena Thurman and Velma Kelly
Where: a restaurant
What: talking
When: December 14
Warnings/Rating: no warnings
Status complete
Neena was grateful, once again, that her truck had a backseat. She’d bought it with Dante in mind. He would be safest in the back, and the same was true for Luke. It also meant that she wouldn’t have to suffer the indignity of getting a van or a sedan.
She pulled up to Logan and Velma’s place, glancing back to look at Luke. She was just going in to get Velma, but she was too paranoid to leave him. So she unbuckled him and headed up to the door, wrapping his blanket around him before she knocked on the door. She just hoped he stayed happily asleep.
Velma had been waiting for Neena, so when the door knocker could be heard, she was quick to get it. “See you later!” she called to Logan, who was up doing something with Eli. Opening the door, she grabbed her purse. “Hey. Oh, wow.” She’d never seen Neena’s little one before, and she had to admit, the kid was damn cute. She hoped hers would be as cute, and squashed the thought ruthlessly. “Hi, kiddo.” She smiled, not wanting to make too big a fuss since he was clearly asleep.
Neena smiled widely, and turned so Velma could see him a little better. “How’ve you been? You look gorgeous.” She meant it, too. When it wasn’t her body she could appreciate the beauty of pregnant women. “Ready to eat?”
“I’m okay for the most part. The energy comes and goes, but I’m not feeling sick anymore. Now I’m just horny all the time.” But that was all she’d say about that. “You look really good; you about back to where you were body wise?”
Neena laughed, covering her mouth to keep the sound from carrying and waking Luke. “I remember that.” She said with a knowing grin as she took point to get the door for Velma. “And I’m not even close. I was on bedrest for nearly three months, I can’t even touch my toes anymore, and running a mile wipes me out for the day.”
“Really? Wow.” Velma raised an eyebrow. “I’m kind of lucky I was never in that kind of shape to begin with,” she teased gently. “But I mean, I hope it all goes according to plan for you. And thanks.” For getting the door. Velma was getting a little top-heavy by now. Logan was making fun of her already.
“It’s been pretty hard to deal with, honestly. I didn’t really get laid up with my first kid, so I managed to stay pretty healthy. I just feel like a blob most of the time.” She made sure Velma got into the truck without losing her balance, then went around to the driver’s side and tucked Luke back in. “April will come faster than you know it. The end part drags like crazy, but I felt like the middle just flew by.”
“I hope it doesn’t; I actually feel kinda okay. I’ll want to die at the end.” Velma cracked, sitting back. “I’m still amused that this is a girl. I gave Logan a lot of crap that he can’t make boys.” He’d had Daken, but that went horribly wrong.
Neena laughed. “You should, because it’s hilarious. And thank God, too. I like Logan, but the world doesn’t need another one of him in miniature. Bad enough poor little Laura’s going to dream of all the creepy shit she went through.” Again. That girl had worse luck than most mutants, and that was pretty hard to do.
“Do you know about that girl?” Velma cocked her head, curious. “I’d have liked a little more notice if somebody’s clone is running around, but she seemed nice enough. Shy, almost. Don’t know if it was me jumping on her or if she’s just like that. You know Logan. I live in fear that in some alternate timeline he married a gorgeous Japanese woman and she’ll come here somehow.”
“Shit.” Neena noted, frowning for a moment. “Laura’s going to have as hard a time as Logan when she dreams. I saw that she was talking about it already, and the fact that nobody had the sense to knock her out and ship her back home makes me sick.” She wished she’d done it herself, and not just with Laura. Nate would be happier far away from Orange County, even if he was doing okay right then. “What do you know already? No sense going over the same shit.”
“All I fucking found out was “Oh, by the way, she’s my clone from some kind of weapon program” ten minutes after I’d already started to talk to her.” Velma wasn’t happy with Logan over it, but she wasn’t going to raise hell. She heard the baby stir, though, and clapped a hand over her mouth. “Shit, sorry. I’ll try to keep it down.” No point in waking the little one. He’d probably be as grumpy as Velma felt; they said babies could sense that stuff.
Neena frowned again and shook her head. “I don’t know how you deal with that. So long story short, she was created out of whole cloth to be a weapon. She was trained from birth to kill people, they made her half wild and gave her an unstable trigger. Then she escaped, but with no family and no clue she became a prostitute. From what I hear that part sucked too. Then she became and X-man, and you’ve seen how sane and happy those fuckers are.” Neena didn’t consider herself one of them, and didn’t think she ever truly would.
“Logan and Scott are just paragons of sanity.” Velma made a face. “Christ, that sounds ugly. And I’ll definitely be less paranoid at her in the future. Just, Logan apparently knew for a while. Wish he’d told me.” She sat back. “We need to see how stable she is here, though.” It might sound mean, but Velma would happily kill - for real - anyone who hurt her baby.
“Yeah.” Neena said, darkly. “She’s not human in the dreams. She doesn’t enjoy what she is or what she does, but she’s a weapon and that’s it. Scott’s the last motherfucker who can say anything about her, he drew her into shit that she didn’t need to be part of.” Neena didn’t care about killing people because she understood the need, and she’d made peace with who she was long ago. Laura was still a kid and she’d never had the chance to make a choice or any kind of peace. “I’ll be kicking my own ass for letting her come back to all this for a while.”
“The more I hear about Scott, the more I worry about that family,” Velma said grimly. “He’s always come off as surprisingly sane to me, but if he’s that reckless, and Emma is ... Emma.” Best to be diplomatic. “I don’t know. And just ... enh. I’m not trying to be stuck up, Neena, but if Logan is somewhere helping Laura out of a bad situation when I’m in labor or something, I am going to hate the damn world.” She couldn’t be angry at the girl, God knew, but still.
Neena nodded. She worried about Scott a lot. “Just be glad she’s not as bad as the dreams. I didn’t deal with her for a reason.” She made a face at the thought of Logan bailing on Velma while she was in labor. “If he’s that stupid I’ll bring you my shooting headset and all the ammunition the truck can carry.” She didn’t think Logan was that dense, but if he was he deserved whatever Velma could dish out. “I really don’t think he’ll be anywhere but with you, though.”
“I’m not saying he would most times. Just, if shit really gets bad.” Best not to think about it, probably. “I don’t know. It’s been a while since the world exploded.” She knocked on her head, which was the closest thing to wood around. “But you and your man and the kiddo are okay? Things going back to normal?”
“Yeah, hopefully shit’s going to stop being real for a while.” Neena prayed. “We’re good. He’s been working, which is a drag, but he helps out a lot with Luke.” She didn’t try to hide her goofy smile. “There’s nothing in the world that’s hotter than watching a man you’ve made a kid with playing with that kid. I don’t know what it is, but I could just fuck him where he stands about half the time we’re awake and around each other.”
“I know that feeling, I told you.” Velma snickered. “At least this stuff’s just pregnancy hormones. I tell Logan all the time not to get used to it. We’d always fuck a lot, but not this bunny type stuff.”
Neena laughed. “No shit. You’ll be too tired to bother, not to mention sore and jacked up, right after, but the second we got the all clear we were on each other like white on rice.” She grinned at Velma as they pulled into the parking lot. “You’ve got Eli to help too, if she’s still living with you guys. That’ll help.”
“She’s incredible. She’s been so much help.” Velma nodded firmly. “I keep expecting her to just be like okay, no more baby stuff, but she’s never blinked.” Getting out of things was easier than getting in, and she was able to get out of the truck in one move, steadying herself before starting to walk over to Neena.
Neena had to unbuckle the car seat, so Velma got out well before her. She tried to make sure Luke was warm, but when the cold air hit his exposed face he started to cry. She sighed softly and hurried toward the door. They were going to love her inside, but they could all fuck themselves. “I’m glad you’ve got her, then. Logan’s not a bad person, but he’s not always the most helpful.”
“He’s done more than I expected him to.” Velma chuckled. But then she heard the baby, and couldn’t help her face falling. “Oh, no, poor kid. Is he just cranky?” It honestly sort of bothered her, hearing the kid cry. It was probably a good sign.
“He hates the cold,” Neena said with a sigh. “He should settle down when we get inside and I get his face warm.” She grabbed the door and let Velma go first, because it was polite and she ought to be polite to someone during this excursion. The other diners weren’t going to be too pleased with her. She tugged her gloves off and pressed her hands gently against the boy’s face, to warm him up while they waited to be seated. “You’re lucky you’ll be having yours in the spring. Wish I’d been smart enough to avoid doing shit until Luke was born.” But she couldn’t ignore the opportunity to look for Chris. That it had been a major waste of time and energy still bugged her.
Velma hadn’t been happy about the time travel thing at the time - she’d figured Neena had basically cut off three months of pregnancy - but it was stupid to bring it up now. So she just shrugged. “He’s okay, and so are you; that’s what matters.” She eased onto the seating bench next to Neena while they waited. “How is he with strangers? I can warm him up if you have to get his stuff.”
“He’s okay with them.” Neena said, setting his carrier on the bench. He settled down when she had him unbuckled and in her arms. “If you wouldn’t mind that would be great.” She had some diapers and wipes stowed in her purse, so she was all settled but letting someone else hold him until he conked out was fine with her. She handed him over very gently, and tried to curb her paranoia. Velma wouldn’t hurt the baby, and Neena knew it. She just had issues with accepting that anyone but herself and Thomas would be careful enough with him.
Velma very gently accepted the complaining child, settling back against the bench seat so he wouldn’t flop around. “Hey,” she murmured, sitting with her arm out, making sure Luke’s head was supported. “Hey, it’s okay. Mom’s right there. I’m just making sure you’re nice and warm.” She ran her hand over the baby’s tiny cheeks, making sure not to do it too hard, just enough to get the skin up to room temperature. Goddamn, he was cute, even when he was crying. His crying wasn’t the shrieky baby type, more just sort of complaining. She could deal with that.
Neena chuckled as his grumbling, and let Velma hang on to him as he warmed up and calmed down. He yawned once, and closed his eyes, conking out again. Neena sighed in relief. “You’re not too bad. Want to hang on to him?” She wouldn’t make Velma hold him but he was less likely to wake up if she did. They’d change over when they were seated.
Velma blinked, and her first answer was to say no, but on second thought, she nodded. He was sleeping and quiet, and if she just kept her arms where they were, it’d be okay. It was hard not to imagine her own daughter falling asleep in her arms like this. “If we move him, he might wake up again?” She figured that was the thinking.
“Yeah. He can go in the carrier when we get to the table, but the longer he stays in one place the more likely he is to stay asleep.” At least that was the theory she was operating on. Luckily they didn’t have long to wait. The host came and smiled at them, before showing them back to a small private room. Neena wondered if they’d put them there because the dining room was full, or to keep diners from complaining. She decided she didn’t care, and set the carrier on the table so Velma could set Luke down.
Velma couldn’t have cared less. She just kept the baby in as close to the same position as before until they got settled, when she laid him down in the carrier. “There you go,” she murmured, smiling a little at the child. “They’re all perfect when they’re sleeping, huh.”
“That’s a fact.” Neena said with a nod, carefully moving the car seat to a chair before taking her own seat. Being away from the other diners meant less noise that might wake him. That was fine with her. “So, I hear this place has amazing food. Do any smells set you off? I don’t want to get stinky fish and send you running to the bathroom the whole meal.” She smiled at Velma before cracking her menu.
“Only like, super sour type things. Logan was having a burger with sauerkraut the other day and I damn near barfed right then and there.” Ugh. She didn’t even want to think about the smell. “Otherwise I’m okay. It’s not nearly as bad as the first three months.” Velma chuckled a little.
“That’s good. He doesn’t like it if I eat sour stuff, anyway.” She jerked her head at Luke a little. “It took us a couple days to figure out why he was so pissy after I ate a bunch of pickles.” She laughed a little. “I hope the food’s good, I’ve never been here before.”
Velma chuckled. “It has a good reputation. I’m sure Lo will have been in - he’s my lawyer and one of my best friends, and he’s an unrepentant foodie. If it tastes good, he’s there.”
“I’ll probably hit you up for dinner ideas when I can go out without the baby.” In a couple years. “I’ve lived here for a while, but until recently I didn’t go out much. Guess this dream bullshit isn’t all bad.”
“It could be worse. Honestly. At least for me.” Velma nodded. “I’ve gone through some shit, but honestly, my dreams are a cakewalk compared to yours or Logan’s. Have a husband ignore you, catch him with your sister, go to prison for his murder, enh. He had it coming and I had a good lawyer.” She smirked a little.
Neena snorted. “Still sounds rough, but I can see that. Can’t let that shit fly.” She could definitely understand why a woman would kill her husband. It was only a very strong desire not to ever see him again that kept Milo Thurman alive.
“In my dreams I just saw red.” Velma shrugged. “Not only cheating on me, but cheating with my sister? No fucking way.” She couldn’t help but laugh. “Logan jokes that it’s what’s kept him in line.”
Neena snorted. “Something’s gotta keep him in line. I can’t blame you, though. I’d probably shoot Thomas if he cheated on me with anyone, forget about it being my sister.” She shook her head. “Sounds like he deserved it in my book.” She never pretended to be a nice person, just friendly.
“Logan once told me I could cut off a nut if he cheated. Since it’ll grow back.” It had been a joke, obviously, because Logan wouldn’t cheat, but still. “I gotta think that’d be therapeutic.” She set her menu down, having made a choice.
Neena nodded. “Whatever works for you guys. It’s all about what works for that kinda thing.” She didn't think either Logan or Thomas would cheat, but better to have a plan. The waitress came to take their order, and Neena was happy for a chance to change the subject.
Velma ordered vegetable pasta - light and airy, better for the kid - and sat back. “How’s the bar going? I take it you’re back to work?” She thought she’d read somewhere on the network.
“Yeah, I went back last night and I’m headed there after here. I’m never going to finish all the backed up work.” She sighed, resting her chin in her hand. “And all that’s after doing some kind of work every day since I came back from the hospital.”
“Jesus. That’s dedication, that you keep doing it.” Velma shook her head. “Can you hire someone else to help you?”
“I have plenty of help, but running a business is a lot of work. That’s just how it is. I couldn’t pay someone enough to do my job for me and still make enough of a profit to be worth the trouble.” She shrugged. “Bars have thin margins. Not as bad as restaurants, but nobody got rich from having one bar.”
“So it’s more a labor of love?” Velma had no experience with that kind of thing. She’d run a shop before, and a company, but not any kind of eating place.
“Yeah. I guess I just love other things more, now.” She shrugged. “If I can’t run the place anymore it’s better to step down, I guess.”
Velma nodded. “It might be, if only so you aren’t so ragged, but I don’t know. If I were you I’d talk to Thomas, see what he thinks. Look over the finances. Just like, don’t do anything right away.”
“No, we’ll definitely have to talk about it. Thomas’s acting is solid now but. . . you know how it goes.” She didn’t want him to lose work, but she wanted him to be around sometimes, too. “It’s a rough decision to make, so I’m not hurrying with it.”
“I didn’t think you would; you have a brain.” Velma shrugged. “Just, I know the temptation to do something and get it over with is always there for some people.” She would have said more, but the waiter arrived.
“No shit. I’m pretty impulsive about everything else.” She noted, before leaning back so her plate could take up the spot she’d had her elbows in. “If there was someone I could trust to take it over it would be an easier decision.” She unwrapped her silverware and inhaled over the food. “God this smells good.”
Velma nodded. “Shit, Logan would probably do it. I think he’s bored. But he’s not the type you want running your business.” She chuckled. Other people’s businesses, yeah, maybe - he had a good head for numbers. But Logan was not a managerial, people person type. She took a bite of her food and nodded, making a happy noise. “That’s delicious.”
Neena snorted. “He knows all the old bastards that go there, but poor Gemma would either love him or hate him.” She started in on her food, letting that thought sink in for a moment. She could certainly trust him. Thomas wouldn’t like it, but it wasn’t Thomas’s bar. “Definitely have to come here again.” Neena said, after her first mouthful of food. “Italian was a great idea.”
“Agreed.” And the baby was even being good. “Who’s Gemma?”
“New manager. She’s damn good at her job, I hear good things about her. I’ve only been to the bar when she’s working a couple times, but I haven’t heard any bitching.” Which was generally her litmus test for new managers. “It’s a shame, too. She seems like she’d be fun to work with, but I barely have time to sit at the bar, forget about being behind it.”
“It’s understandable, though. What with the little one, and your man working.” Unfortunately, something had to give. It sucked it was the bar, but better than Neena’s (eventual) marriage, Velma figured. “But I don’t know, if you do manage to get Logan to do something, I’m fairly sure any woman with a backbone can handle him. Is she taken?” The last was a joke.
Neena snorted. “No idea, but she could handle Logan.” This was looking more and more like an attractive option. “I’ll have to talk to him about. Probably after the Super Bowl. God knows that has to go off perfectly. It’s our black Friday.”
“I can only imagine.” Velma ate a bit more. When her mouth wasn’t full, she said, “I have no idea if Logan will actually do it, but I do know he hasn’t had much to do around the house. And I think he’s bored looking after me.” If she was wrong, fine, but if not, maybe this would help.
“He has the bike shop, doesn’t he? I thought he worked there with Eli.” She was just making conversation, while simultaneously realizing that being a good parent meant being a shitty friend. It wasn’t an awesome feeling.
“He closed it to the public. Honestly, it’s like his big garage now. He and Eli still work there, but I got the feeling he just wasn’t interested in customers.” Velma shrugged.
“Well, not anymore.” Neena said with a laugh. “If you want to talk to him about it I’ll at least seriously consider it. He’s been there long enough and we’ve been friends long enough that I’d trust him to keep the place nice.”
“I’ll bring it up with him for you, sure. Can’t hurt to ask.” Velma smiled, holding up her water glass in a mock toast. “It’ll give him a respite from baby duty if he needs one.”
Neena tapped her glass against Velma’s. It would only buy her a few months, because damned if she was going to let Logan spend the first few months of his kid’s life doing the very thing she was avoiding for that reason, but that would be long enough to figure out what to do. “Sounds like a plan.”