(june)

[letitbetrue]

Were she willing to admit to such things, Demelza would have to acknowledge she's just the slightest bit nervous about having Baz over.

It isn't that she doesn't trust Baz or that she thinks he might judge her, but that she wants terribly to please him. He's been so kind to her right from the start and she's come to carry quite the affection for him, thinking of him almost as she'd thought of Jinny, someone to care for, someone who perhaps might be taken under her wing. It's that strange to think of anyone in such a manner, especially when there's so much for her to learn herself, but if there's one thing Demelza knows, it's her own mind, and she knows what she feels.

She's a mother, after all, soon to be a mother of two, and she can feel when people are in need of someone like her. Jinny had wanted for a little guidance, especially after Jim's arrest and his awful, preventable death, and Demelza hadn't thought herself fit to give it, but perhaps she'd been wrong. Perhaps there are those who might take to her simply because her feelings are so free, so unconstrained.

Whatever it is, she's invited Baz over to repay him for all he's done. She's preparing a lunch and Julia is content on the floor beside Demelza, sitting comfortably and chewing on some of her toys. There are still come teeth coming in and Demelza ducks down to check on her daughter every so often, though her growing belly has begun to make that difficult, and she kisses Julia's soft hair gently.

"Soon you shall meet Baz," she says to her daughter. "He's very sweet and I think you shall love him."

Comments

[sidestepdestiny]

When Demelza had invited me over for lunch I had accepted without a second thought. And then I had two slower-creeping concerns. The first was that I'd been foolish to agree to a meal because I don't eat in front of people. Demelza is well aware that I'm a vampire, after our first meeting at New Years, but it's quite another to eat in front of her, and likely her young daughter, fangs out. If Ross is home that'll be even worse.

Simon tells me that I worry too much about my fangs, and that it will be good for getting myself to be more comfortable with them if I start taking meals with people I trust.

But therein lies my second concern: Simon. Well, not really a concern, more like I'd just like to have him along. Demelza's only met him the once and that was a high stress situation, she should meet him properly because I'm sure they'd get on nicely. I ask her if it's alright and she says of course, so that's where we are now.

I press the button to be buzzed up, my hand in Simon's. I admit I'm still a little nervous about the meal portion of the get-together, but at least my back isn't screaming VAMPIRE any longer.

[letitbetrue]

The buzzer only serves to set her nerves further on edge, but Demelza goes to the strange contraption by the door that will let them in, the one she still doesn't entirely understand, and then she moves toward the door so that she might be there to greet them when they arrive. This, too, is different from how things had been at home. Before Ross, she had never really had guests and once in his employ, she'd been the one to answer the door. But things had changed again once they had been married, and Prudie or Jinny had always been there to see the guests in.

Now the duty falls to her once again, yet she isn't sure where she is in terms of status. She supposes it shouldn't matter, but after so long trying to discover her place, there are still times when Demelza finds herself uncertain and flustered.

But there's no time, not when Baz and Simon are at the door, and so she opens it, smiling brightly at them. "Hello," she says and for all her nerves, she's still that pleased they've come. "Come inside. I've made lunch." Garrick is already crowding forward, familiar with Baz, his tail wagging furiously.

[worst_greatest_one]

"Hi," I answer, not entirely certain what one does when a lunch guest - besides eat, I'm going to do loads of that - but all my doubts drop away as soon as I see the dog. "You've got a dog?" I exclaim, crouching down in an attempt to steal him from Baz.

He pushes his head against me and I laugh aloud. I do love Puff, but she's far too dignified to try jumping on me and licking me to death all at once.

[sidestepdestiny]

"Hello, Demelza, thank you," I say, all charm and manners. My face falls only slightly when Simon sets upon the dog. I do manage to keep my sighs and eyerolls to myself, only because Demelza wouldn't understand it, and I pat the dog cordially on the head once. For all Simon's excitement over the animal, I'm honestly happy enough to let him take the dog's attention.

"His name is Garrick," I supply, stepping all the way inside.

[letitbetrue]

"Yes and he's very old, just like me," Demelza says, having discovered a joke in the difference in time and being that pleased to use it again. She still doesn't understand how it's possible that so much time has passed, but there's no denying that it has happened and so she'll take what pleasure from it she can. "He's from Cornwall, too. He came not longer after I did, but before Ross."

Julia crows cheerfully from her place in the other room, then hauls herself to her feet and comes toddling unsteadily forward. She walks, though not well just yet, and when she sees the two strangers, she stops and stares at them.

"And this is Julia Grace," Demelza says. "Julia, this is Baz and Simon."

[worst_greatest_one]

"Oh," I say, disengaging from Garrick reluctantly, but the little girl is awfully cute. "Hullo," I say and wave, staying on the ground where I might be less frightening. "You're not terribly old, though, are you?" I add somewhat belatedly. Demelza looks all of twenty, but perhaps I'm crap with ages.

[sidestepdestiny]

I elbow Simon because I'm not sure you're supposed to comment on a lady's age, even if it's that she's young looking. As it is, I'm not sure I'd put Demelza over twenty five, and with the dog I've no idea. He just looks like a dog.

I smile over to the toddler, and join Simon in crouching as though it were one of my younger siblings. "Hello, Julia," I say, giving a little wave. "Nice to meet you."

[letitbetrue]

"Well, I'm just twenty-one," she tells Simon, pleased with her own joke still. "But I were born in 1769, which actually makes me two hundred and forty-seven."

Garrick seems displeased he's no longer getting attention and comes to sit on Demelza's feet where she rubs his ears, but Julia is happy enough and she reaches for Baz with both hands, although she's staring wide-eyed at Simon.

"Love, no, you must be gentle," Demelza says, coming forward. "No grabbing."

[worst_greatest_one]

Simon stays where he is and gives another little wave, recalling all too well how little he'd liked adults looming over him when he was small. He pets Garrick again when he must leave Demelza's feet, trying to conceal a rumble of his stomach without much success. Really, Baz ought to be glad he tried.

"Sorry, breakfast was ages ago. It's very nice of you to have us over."

[sidestepdestiny]

I snort a small laugh. "Two hundred? You hide it well."

Demelza may not look old, but she does feel it. It must be a maternal thing. I know things were different from the time and place she's from, and that people as young as her (and younger) are still having children, but I can't imagine having a child of my own in just a few short years. If at all, really.

"She's alright, she's not bothering me," I say, offering my arm for Julia to hold onto. "And yes, thank you for having us."

[letitbetrue]

It pleases Demelza so much that Baz and Simon are being kind to Julia and her daughter clearly enjoys it as well. Her little fingers grip Baz's arm, holding onto him tightly, and she smiles up at him, babbling in her baby talk with real words occasionally thrown in. Most of them are to do with Garrick, which isn't surprising at all.

"You're that welcome," she says, smiling at them both. "Come sit. I can take Julia and we can eat." She's not yet adapted her cooking to what might be usual in Darrow, so there is meat pie and cold ham, potatoes and pudding for after they eat. A Cornish meal to be certain, but she hopes they'll like it.

[worst_greatest_one]

I do my best not to run to the table, but as soon as I see the spread I'm off. "Meat pies?" I ask with a huge smile. It's the closest thing I've had to Watford's meals in ages, and I hurriedly sit down, trying not to bounce in my chair. I'd entertained a thought or two about slipping Garrick a bite now and then, but now that I know what I'd be losing all bets are off.

"This is amazing. I'm completely starved!"

[ooc: omg I'm sorry I lost this notif for sixty years]

[sidestepdestiny]

I watch Demelza take Julia and then stand and join Simon at the table. Less hurriedly, though no less happy to be eating a home-cooked meal. Simon's hopeless at cooking, and I get by okay, but for the majority of the time we order out. (Honestly I think that's half the reason I need my job at Semele's, to keep up with Simon's appetite.)

"This is the closest I've seen to a proper English meal in awhile," I tell Demelza with a smile, though it's strained. I know I have to tell her. It will be more awkward eating behind a napkin the whole time.

"So, you know my, ah, affliction?" I start, because at least she saw what I am back at New Years. Snakes, this is embarrassing. "I can't eat without my fangs being out. Just to warn you."

[letitbetrue]

Besides her husband and Dean, there are few people who appreciate her cooking quite so much, and Demelza smiles, her cheeks flushed happily as she straps Julia in the seat they've purchased for her. Once she's wrapped a bib around Julia's front, she deposits some of the food on her tray, having cut it up in advance, then begins to serve the others.

"Oh," she says, looking at Baz as she cuts into one of the pies. "Oh, Baz, I'm that sorry, I never thought... can 'ee eat all this?" He seems to have implied he can, but she just doesn't know enough and hasn't thought to ask. "Is there something better I should have brought for you?"

Simon looks happy and she's still terribly pleased by that, but she's embarrassed that she may be serving things Baz might not want.

[worst_greatest_one]

"Oh, fu - " I start, catching myself with a quick glance at Julia, "Fudge." I was so caught up thinking about lunch, I never thought once about Baz's fangs. I'm such a crap boyfriend sometimes.

"I can lean forward," I offer, quite aware of the many years I spent trying to make Baz's fangs come out. Now I want to protect them. "Block you a bit so Julia can't see."

[sidestepdestiny]

"I can eat it, that's not the problem, it's just...embarrassing," I say, my cheeks warm and probably pink from the recent blood packet I drank just to add to an already embarrassing predicament.

Julia seems mostly enthralled with her food, and at her age I'm not sure she'd even know to be scared with the fangs anyway. I squeeze Simon's leg under the table, appreciative of the suggestion. "I think Julia will be alright. If she gets scared that might be a good idea, though," I admit, hoping it doesn't come to that. I don't want to frighten Demelza's daughter and ruin the whole thing.

But I might as well get it over with, so I eat a spoonful of potato and feel the familiar pressure as my fangs pop, extending just past my lower lip.

[letitbetrue]

"Well, you should not be embarrassed here," Demelza tells him, smiling at Simon and his sweet offer. "I'm the very last person who might judge someone based on something over which they have no control."

She remembers what it was like. The whispers, the glances from the side of Ruth Teague's eye and then the giggles she and her mother and sisters would share. She remembers the words. Not as lovely as Elizabeth, but I expect she'll clean up nice enough. As if she hadn't already spent hours trying to tame her hair and clean her skin and make certain she was on her best behaviour. No, she would never be as lovely as Elizabeth, but the words hadn't needed to be said.

"Besides, I think you look rather handsome with them out," she declares. Julia is far more interested in the food than anyone else, but when she does look up, she tries to offer Baz a handful of squished peas that Demelza immediately collects and puts back on her tray. "Doesn't he look handsome?" she asks Simon, certain he'll agree.