75 Godiva, Sunday evening

[vdistinctive]

There wasn't anything quantifiable that Eliot could nail down, but he could tell when Fandom managed to shake off its latest evil invasion. It was like an enormous, evil weight had been lifted from the world.

It was an enormous relief, but mostly Eliot kind of wanted to take a nap. Again. Apparently freaking out as hard as he had took a lot out of a person, more than sleeping a good 10 hours straight thanks to the medication Hardison had dug up.

"Right," he said. "So . . . what. We should be good through, like, March now, right?"

[ooc: for the family, especially, but can also be open!]

Comments

[whoisalicewhite]

Easy to make, high in fiber, what wasn't to love? She leaned over to put some in front of him on the table, keeping her balance precariously. "So do you want to talk about it, or do we just go on with everything the way it was?"

[vdistinctive]

"Since when do you do emotional debriefing?" Eliot asked, snagging a few kernels and popping them in his mouth. "Thought we let that be Hardison's thing?"

[whoisalicewhite]

She shrugged a little, then grimaced. "Something he said, earlier. While you were freaking out. That he should have talked to you more about what happened last year. Like it was his job, you know? And it just felt like it shouldn't all be on him to figure this stuff out. Even though he's way better at it."

[vdistinctive]

"Ah hell," Eliot grumbled. "You told him it wasn't on him, right? I wouldn'ta wanted to talk about it, either."

[whoisalicewhite]

"Yeah," Parker said, eyes sad. "But still. We both felt bad, last year. You got it the worst of any of us, and we had no idea how to make it better."

[vdistinctive]

"Reacted worse, maybe," Eliot grumbled. He was never forgiving himself for freezing up during that fight. "I just gotta . . . rework some copin' techniques. I'll be fine."

[whoisalicewhite]

"Is this the kinda fine that has you not going to a hospital, or the kinda fine where you actually aren't bleeding?" Parker frowned. "And can we help with that, or is that a lone-work-out-run kind of thing?"

[vdistinctive]

"That second one." Predictably, Eliot would have said that no matter what kind it was. On either scale.

[whoisalicewhite]

Parker narrowed her eyes at her, then slipped off the counter to kind of drape over his shoulders. Like a cat. Or a scarf.

"We're gonna watch you. To be sure and all. And we still have Christmas to celebrate." And worse case, she'd call and invite Sophie for New Year's. "Okay?"

[vdistinctive]

"You know you watchin's just gonna make me feel like I gotta pretend," Eliot pointed out. "Was, uh. Actually thinking I might head south for a bit. After the holiday. Spend some time with Tru and the kids."

You know, the people he didn't watch himself fight and kill.

[whoisalicewhite]

Ow. That kinda hurt. But Parker locked that down as fast as she could, and nodded. If Eliot couldn't make Hardison stay at home, they couldn't make Eliot stay in Fandom.

"Sure. I mean. They'll be happy to see you."

[vdistinctive]

"Y'all should do one of your fancy 'round the world dates," Eliot suggested. "Jump off somethin' high up like the good old days. We can meet up in Paris or somethin' for New Year's Eve."

[whoisalicewhite]

That kinda sounded fun, but it didn't really eliminate Parker's worry. "Or Egypt. I read that they found a new hidden room in one of the pyramids. They haven't managed to get into it yet, though."

Hardison would appreciate that kind of challenge.

[vdistinctive]

"Okay, but we're not allowed to detour to any of the wars goin' on in that part of the world while we're there."

They got enough of that stuff here in Fandom.