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[cagedlamb]

Things were...still a little touch and go between Booker and her.

But better. Much better. Elizabeth knew that and appreciated that. Since the day they began to talk again, it had almost been an attempt to start fresh, which seemed to be a trend in this place for her. She treated it as just another thing for her to adjust to. Still, there was one hurdle that she knew had to be addressed before she really allowed herself to start letting her defenses down around him.

They had stopped talking specifically because of his inability to accept she would make decisions he might not like sometimes without talking to him first. Delsin and she had been dating ever since then, and it was important for her to see him at least make an effort to get to know him. It was why she decided, then, to put together a small meal for the three of them - one she hosted in the comforts of her little apartment.

She was just about done with cooking the relatively simple meal of chicken and pasta when they arrived, one after the other. She excused herself into the kitchen to finish up putting it all together. She quietly hoped the night would go well as she worked on putting portions of the meal onto plates.

It had to go well.

Comments

[wipeawaythedebt]

"Private detective, bounty hunter." In other words, Booker knows that if anything happens between the two of them, he can find him. Sooner or later. He'll leave the pair of them alone for now, but god help this kid if he ever hurts Elizabeth. He's not a religious man, but the old testament does have some interesting things to say about retribution.

[infamousdelsin]

"Yeah? Good work in that?" He's being nice. He can totally be nice. This is for Liz.

[wipeawaythedebt]

He doesn't know if the kid's being serious or an asshole. Probably both. Gritting his teeth, Booker looks into the kitchen to see if there's anything Elizabeth needs help with. ANYTHING. Because this might be the most awkward conversation he's ever had and he wants it to end as quickly as possible.

"I get by."

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin kind of mirrors his glance into the kitchen, then looks back at Booker when he answers. "Uh-huh," he says, almost in a way that might suggest he doesn't care. But then he says, "What made you pursue that line of work?"

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth may have been listening in as she put the finishing touches of the meal. The shortness of the conversation didn't seem to be a good sign, but she was intent on trying to make steer the conversation in a better direction.

Even if she had to force them to give being civil to each other a try.

"Dinner's ready," she announced, acting as though nothing was wrong. She carried two of the plates in her hands as she came out. "Can one of you grab the last plate in there?"

[wipeawaythedebt]

"I'll get it, Elizabeth."

Thank fucking God. Small talk's never been his suite unless he's working an angle or trying to get a mark to trust him and the last thing he's supposed to be doing right now is working an angle. He's supposed to be nice and get to know the guy even though there are about a hundred things he'd rather be doing.

Silently, Booker wonders if all fathers have to go through something like this.

Heading into the kitchen he picks up the last plate and heads to the small table Elizabeth's got set up. "Smells great, hope it wasn't too much trouble."

[infamousdelsin]

"Want any more help, Liz?" Delsin asks. He gestures vaguely towards the kitchen. "I can get us all drinks." He doesn't assume she already has — Delsin has never expected Elizabeth to wait on him, not since they'd gotten comfortable together.

[cagedlamb]

"There's soda cans in the fridge if you'd like to get them," she replied, offering Booker a grateful smile as he stepped in to grab the other plate so they could be walked over to the small table. "It was really no trouble at all. I've been hoping to do this for a while."

She said it loud enough for both of them to hear it, because it was true. She knew both of them cared about her, and if she was to be the common ground, so be it.

[wipeawaythedebt]

"Well, happy to help however." Setting the plate down is the easy thing, sitting down himself is a bit harder. He's never been good at this, even when it's not his daughter and her beau. Something about the formality of it all. His wife had invited neighbors over from time to time, and it'd been hell then, too. Although this might be worse.

"And thank you for the invitation." Because he knows how hard it is for her to trust him around this kid. He doesn't blame her. He doesn't exactly trust himself either. But he's here and so far he hasn't tried to hit anyone.

[infamousdelsin]

It's easy enough to grab himself and Liz something to drink, because he knows what they both like. Booker is the anomaly, and Delsin hesitates, then grabs two different drinks. Whatever Booker doesn't drink, Delsin can, because he's that easy to please.

"Hey, Man, I wasn't sure what you liked." He holds out the two and lets him pick. He sends a sideways glance to Elizabeth. See? He's being nice. He's being friendly even.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth spotted the glance and offered a small smile in return. If it was just them, it was the type of thing she likely would've given him a small peck on the cheek for. The only thing that stopped her, really, was understanding that it might make Booker uncomfortable.

She knew it was hard on him. That this world that she really learned everything in had so many things that were different from what he was used to. She knew and she was willing to compromise if he was.

Putting the food on the table, she sat down, waiting for the two of them to join her.

[wipeawaythedebt]

Taking one of the drinks, Booker tips it at the kid in something approximating gratitude. It's easier, with Elizabeth actually in the room with them and as he sits and takes a look at the dinner she's made, he even finds himself smiling a little. "You seem to be getting along with your cooking, Elizabeth, it looks great. Getting these out of books, or is someone teaching you?"

For his part, if it didn't come out of a can or couldn't go into that microwave thing, he probably didn't eat it. Unless he was eating out.

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin sits at the last place setting with the drink Booker didn't choose, and he smiles over at Liz when he compliments on her cooking. Liz is a great cook, thank you very much. Way better than Delsin, who can only cook maybe one or two things marginally well, and everything else only decently.

[cagedlamb]

"There's a whole section of books in the library about cooking I've been working through," she explained, feeling a small bit of pride at the compliment. She worked hard on becoming even more self-sufficient than she'd already been before moving out. "It took a bit of practice. I had a couple of people willing to test the food for taste for me when I tried something knew."

She glanced at Delsin when she said that, as he'd certainly been one of them. He never said a negative word, but she knew some of her earlier meals couldn't have been very good. It only made her want to keep practicing more.

[wipeawaythedebt]

"I think -" ...your ma would be proud. But he stops short, not quite wanting to finish the sentence in current company, although it's certainly true. Aside from the crazy way people approach relationships here, he can't think of a thing Elizabeth's done that Annabelle would have disapproved of. But she'd been that kind of woman. Or maybe it's just that he chooses to remember her that way. As much as he can remember her, considering.

"Never mind. You get more out of those books of yours than I ever did."

[infamousdelsin]

"Liz has definitely worked hard to get as good as she is," Delsin says. "I don't know how she does it. Makes me feel like I could burn water, though." He grins, watching her fondly.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth wondered, briefly what Booker had been about to say and why he had decided not to say it. But she didn't ask, and the compliments from both made her smile.

"I still say you wouldn't be that terrible," she replied to Delsin, her own fondness creeping into her voice. "I think I'm simply more used to teaching myself things. Though I've been using the computer for more than just my studies, recently. The things on there really are amazing. I can show you one day if you like, Booker."

She had a feeling he mostly steered clear from it, if what she'd seen before was any indication.

[wipeawaythedebt]

"Yeah? Might be nice if you have the time." He's not completely computer-averse, he's figured out that ridiculous phone that's actually come in pretty handy, maps and all. And he's got a second-hand laptop that he uses in his work, checking warrants, communicating with the bondsmen he works for, looking up things on the spouses he's investigating, so he doesn't think he's a beginner. He's been pretty happy with the way he's finally acclimated to this crazy place. But any excuse to spend time with his daughter is alright by him.

"Could probably use some tips and I'd like to see what you're doing in school, too."