Stuff & Nonsense - Ch. 2
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Rating: PG-13 to R (depends on the chapter)
Title: Stuff & Nonsense
Disclaimer: These characters well, Nikki, Nora, Dan, Darius, Georgia, Charlie, Arthur, Bobby and Mrs. Delaney are so not mine (dammit!), but Ann and Jill and other characters not mentioned in the pilot are (Ha!). The ones in the “dammit!” category belong to Nancylee Myatt and other’s I don’t know. Title and inspiration for this piece comes from Missy Higgins’ song, Stuff & Nonsense…
A/N: Nadda, Zip, Zilch…not a whole lot here this morning…I’m more like “tree pretty, fire bad” right now…so I’m just gonna doddle off and wish everyone a good week. =0) To those that are reading, bless you, to those that leave those nifty comments, thank you too. If I had a heart, it would be warmed by them. =0P
Ch. 2 - Here & Now
However inappropriate or unkind, I can’t help but feel like a zoologist wandering around the natural habitat of creatures only before seen in a zoo. For instance, the two other times that I’ve been around Ann and Jill, Jill is usually this ball of energy that is happy-go-lucky and on the whole, fun to be around. Ann is a little more subdued, but she usually has this undercurrent of energy that you know if it can be touched just so, will spring to life and then Lord only knows what will happen after that.
At least that’s how they are when they’re down in New Orleans. I don’t know if it’s just the fact that they are away from home and on a more formal vacation that makes them so frenetic, but it was what I came here expecting. And while they will probably never be a bore, watching them in their own living space is just as interesting. Then again…
Nora is just as interesting here.
For instance, only when we are alone does she ever seem to let herself relax. Even then, it’s hard for her to get used to certain things, but here…she’s like a lazy cat. A lazy cat whose head is currently cradled in my lap as I absently comb my fingers through soft blonde locks. Ann and Jill are in a similar state of stasis. Jill’s got her feet propped up on her coffee table, stockinged feet, flannel blue plaid pajama bottoms and a sports bra are her attire and Ann’s doesn’t differ much except her feet are bare and the pants are green in color. Ann’s feet are in Jill’s lap and they look quite comfortable.
What I’ve come to realize sitting here observing the three women is that there is a way about them when they are at Nora’s and the dance between the three is fun to watch. They move well together, but in Virginia, they’re much more subdued. Relaxed if you will and getting the opportunity to view this, view Nora like this is something that I’ll likely keep with me for some time.
"I don't know what anything means anymore. I mean, I can't even read my own handwriting. What does this say? The person who wrote this should be dressed in a clown suit stuffing bodies under their porch." My head snaps up towards the T.V. when I hear the dialogue. I watch the surly looking blonde glower at a pretty blue eyed brunette.
“Ya know,” Jill says, breaking the comfortable silence between us, “Sometimes I forget why I let you subject me to this show and then…there’s this.” Jill points to the screen as Ann lets out a snicker.
“The Gilmore Girls is a good show,” Ann protests, “Who the hell writes things like this anymore?”
The what? Okay so I understand I’m not entirely familiar with the land of TV right now. I’m actually having a hard time remembering when it was on. Most of the downtime I get I’m either with Nora or I’m sleeping. Not that I’m complaining, but…television is currently lost on me.
“See that’s just it. You’ve mocked my love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for years!” Jill pouts. “Yet, here you are, watching this. And the dialogue on Buffy is better. I mean seriously, Annie, let’s think about this, Willow a la season two, ‘I knew it! I knew it! Well, not knew it in the sense of having the slightest idea, but I knew there was something I didn't know’”
Ann sits up a bit, resting on her elbows and she scoffs, “Please, the writers for Lorelai are genius, ‘Oh, is there a “you’re crazy” team? ’Cause I think they’d make you captain.’” Ann quotes.
Jill laughs as she lets her wife know, “Okay, babe, just so you know, Paladino is currently in talks to have Rebecca Rand Kirschner and Jane Espenson, the goddess of the one-liners, working for the show. You can’t win this. All great shows lead back to Buffy.”
I look down at Nora with a raised eyebrow, she shrugs looking back up at me. “How long can they carry on?” I stage whisper.
“A while,” she answers me and then turns her attention to the bantering couple, “Hey, Laverne and Shirley, can it please, I was enjoying quiet time. Can’t we just agree that both shows are incredibly ridiculous and move on?”
I snicker, but Nora’s comment earns her an “Eat me,” from Jill and from Ann she gets the bird.
Shaking my head, I say, “Before you ladies start the second Civil War, what time are Lee and your friend due in?”
“We need to be over at Lee’s by four-ish. Her plane gets in at one and they still have to drive back from Alexandria,” Jill answers. “I think you two will like Vanessa.”
“She’s, ah, special,” Ann says slumping back down on the couch. Her attention goes back to the T.V., but I have a sneaking suspicion it’s a ruse.
“You love Vanessa just as much as I do,” Jill says, smacking her wife’s shin. “If it wasn’t for her pushing me, well, let’s just say I may not have made it your graduation party.”
Ann looks over like this is news to her and the look she’s wearing is clearly asking for more information. I, myself, am a tad curious. Nora’s given me the story, but coming from Jill this should be interesting.
The model rolls her eyes, but gives into the unasked request. “Lee’s told you, after you left, I wasn’t the same.” Jill looks to us and says, “When this one left for Tulane, I sort of just holed up. Went to class, did the basics, but the only people I really wanted to talk to were Vanessa and Lee. Vanessa sort of kicked my ass when I told her I wasn’t going with Lee.”
“She hit you?” Ann asks, her tone carrying a slight edge.
“Down girl,” Jill teases. “No, she just laid into me. Sort of chewed me out a lot.” Jill shrugs. “It wasn’t my finest moment.” Her face breaks out into a smile and she wiggles her eyebrows at Nora. “But I did manage to get the girl in the end.”
“I expect a shrine to me somewhere in this home the next time I come visit for that,” Nora informs them.
“You can get your shrine when I get an effigy in my honor in your living room,” Ann chirps.
Nora chuckles and looks up at me. “I need different friends.”
“Hey!” twin protests come from the other sofa.
“We can leave ‘em here and I can keep you all to myself,” I purr and scratch lightly at her scalp.
“That sounds wonderful,” Nora hums.
“I know where you sleep Delaney,” Ann grumbles as she crawls into Jill’s lap.
I watch as Nora winks at Ann and closes her eyes. “Fine. Now shut up and let me rest.”
The other two women snort and I go back to watching them in their natural habitat thinking that meeting Vanessa is going to be interesting. Not many people can put Jill in her place and I think I owe her a drink or two for the push. It did free Nora up after all.
Ann hands me a cold glass of what looks like Coke as she sits down on the couch next to me. Nikki’s on my left and chatting happily with the newest arrival.
“Lee!” Jill screams from the back of the house.
The conversation between the blonde and my Nikki stop and I look at Ann. “I’m not going back there,” she states. “Those two can work it out themselves.”
“Jill!” We hear Lee scream back.
Ann ribs me with her elbow and says, “Go get your kids Delaney; they’re going to wake the neighbors.”
“My kids?” My brow rises. “She’s your wife and your oldest friend Flemming. This one is all you.”
“Jill!” Ann concedes, “Woman, get your skinny ass out here.” Ann smirks and leans back against the couch.
“Do you ever feel like you’re on a reality T.V. show around them?” Vanessa directs the question to Nikki and me.
I shrug, way too used to how the women can be. It’s something that you just accept, like you accept the grass is green, the sky is blue and Ann and Jill are slightly off center with regards to each other, but it works for them.
“Not really,” I answer. Finally, I try to take a sip of the drink Ann brought me and catch a whiff of the whiskey mixed with the carmely scent of the Coke. I stop midway to my lips and see Ann grinning at me out of the corner of my eye.
“It’s five-ish. Share with your woman and shush,” she stage whispers.
“Here,” I hand the drink to Nikki. I’m not in a Jack and Coke mood. Really, I could go for some water or maybe some coffee.
Nikki takes the offered drink and sips it without question. “A little early, Nor?” she asks smiling.
“Not me,” I inform her pointing to Ann. “She’s trying to get me drunk.”
“I’m trying to get us all drunk. We’re on vacation. We need to be properly lubricated for our time off.”
“So,” Nikki cuts off the remark on the tip of my tongue and asks Vanessa, “What is it that you do in L.A.?”
“Put down the scissors woman!” Lee hollers.
This isn’t going to end well.
“Ten bucks says your wife went after his ties,” I wager with Ann.
“No deal. I know she went after his ties. He went and bought more clothes without her.” Ann rolls her eyes as the bickering between the two friends gets louder. My friend sighs and sets her glass down. “I’m going to go intervene before blood is spilled and we have to go to the hospital.”
Nikki and I laugh. Vanessa barks, “My money’s on the scrappy federal agent.”
“Please,” Nikki says, taking another drink of the Jack and Coke, “Jill’ll kick her butt.”
Vanessa’s mouth screws to the side for a moment and her blue eyes light up in amusement. “True. And in my spare time I teach Molecular Biology and undergrad Biochemistry. Officially, I’m a slave to the research division in the Life Science Department for UCLA. You two are with the five-oh?”
“The five…oh, the police, yes. We’re detectives with Special Crimes,” Nikki answers for us.
“Sweet, did Jill ever tell you about the time she got arrested?” Vanessa asks.
“She what?” the words escape my lips before I can think about it. In the near decade that I’ve known Jill she’s never once said anything about being arrested. Ann’s never said anything either and it’s something that Ann would most certainly share with me.
Vanessa’s face spreads into a wide grin and she bounces in her seat. Her slightly disheveled pale blonde hair gets thrown over her shoulder and the khaki’s and flip-flops that she’s in get tossed on the floor as she folds her feet under her. “We were…well it was about a year or so after Ann left for New Orleans. Jill had just started modeling. A few things here and a few things there. She had dragged me to New York for this shoot and we went with a few of the other models after for drinks.”
She looks us over and directs her question to me, “Did either of them ever really say anything about what was going on with Jill after Ann left?”
My mouth turns down in a frown as I shake my head. That time in Jill’s life is something I know to actually stay away from. The one time that subject was bought up, Ann and her ended up in this epic fight that landed Ann at my place for a few nights.
Vanessa reads the answer on my face and she quickly sweeps it away. “Well, let’s put it this way, Jill was messed up. She did some things…there was stuff.” Her lips press together and she bobs her head. “Well, anyway, we were in New York…”
“Vanessa, tell me you aren’t talking about that one trip that was never to be mentioned again,” Jill stands in the entry way of the living room, her arms are folded across her chest and I’ve only seen that look directed at one person. It was at the same person that spent the three nights on my couch while she tried to get back on Jill’s good side.
“Nope,” Vanessa squeaks. “Not saying a word actually. I was telling them about my trip to New Yorkshire. It’s this new research facility in France. Yep, France and they’re doing these really neat experiments with extraterrestrial stem cells and woodchuck ninjas.” Vanessa’s face is one of complete seriousness as she spins this story. “See what they’re doing is taking the didjerydoos out of the DNA during transcription phase of meiosis and isolating the levitation protein to copy and inject into the DNA of the woodchuck ninja fetuses. It’s all very hush hush. Don’t uh, don’t mention to anyone.”
I’m amazed at the amount of bullshit Vanessa came up with. I’m more impressed because even through half of that, which I really have no clue what in the hell she’s talking about, did she even crack a smile.
Neither did Jill.
Which might be a problem.
“Babe,” Ann calls out as she rounds the corner into the living room. Stopping cold she looks between Vanessa and Jill then directs her question to me and Nikki, “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Nikki smile brightly. “Vanessa was just telling us some fascinating information on something that I really have no clue about.”
“Jill?” Ann asks.
The model’s eyes narrow briefly before her face finally breaks and a smile touches the corner of her mouth. “Vanessa’s full of it and just so you know Doctor Vanessa Candace Bush I know all of your secrets.”
Vanessa lets out another squeak and her fair skin pales a little. Her hands shoot up to her sides in complete defeat. “I only know about the experiments in New Yorkshire…ya know that totally new and cool province in France.”
“Uh-huh,” Ann says still slightly confused by the exchange. “Right, well, since this seems like a nice point to segue into what we’re going to do for dinner.”
“Squid!” The doctor shouts.
This earns her equal looks of confusion and disgust from the remaining four of us.
Nikki looks to be at a loss for words. Which is amusing. It really doesn’t happen often.
“Okay, not squid,” Vanessa tries again, “How about something that’s not squid. Whatever really. Sushi?”
Jill makes a face. She has this no seafood policy that’s strictly adhered too. I don’t even think she’s had canned tuna.
“I think,” Lee says finally making his appearance in the living room, “We were thinking dinner here where we cook or dinner out where other people cook.”
“Then whatever everyone else wants to do,” Vanessa caves and I make a note to check to see how much that woman’s had to drink.
“Pizza,” Jill offers. “We can go to DeCarlo’s and get a tray.”
Appeased by the answer, Ann bobs her head. “Okay, I can work with that. Vanessa, you’re with me. I still don’t trust my wife yet.”
Heaving herself out of the recliner, Vanessa says, “Bless you!”
Nikki presses into my side as we watch them head out and she whispers, “Make sure she doesn’t get anything else to drink today.”
I snicker but nod my head. Sometimes it’s better if we keep the alcohol away.
“Nora,” I say struggling with my voice as her mouth trails up my the left side of my neck. Her hands knead my rear end through the soft material of my dress.
“We could just tell them you came down with something highly contagious and I’m going to nurse you back to health,” she mumbles against my heated skin.
My head falls back to give her better access and I groan. She couldn’t have thought about this over the last few days? We’ve had three days to think of something for tonight. I have this benefit thing with Ann while I get to leave Nora in the company of Jill, Lee and the surprise of the stay, Vanessa, who seems to grow on you despite the oddity of the woman.
“Sugga, Ann’s gonna need someone there tonight. You get to go have fun with Jill. We can pick this up when I get home tonight?”
My partner lets out a low grumble of protest before she backs away, stuffing her hands in her jean’s pockets. “Fine.”
“Nikki, you ready,” Ann’s head appears around the open door and she smirks at us. “Nora, behave.”
My blonde tints a nice shade of pink and takes my hand, guiding us out of the bedroom and into the living room where the rest of group is situated. I take a second and appraise Ann’s outfit, cocktail dress is a Sue Wong in a blue that just manages to make Ann’s eyes light up just so and the shoes, I dab at the corner of my mouth and the Dior peeptoe pumps she has on. “Jill,” I say, “You outdid yourself here.”
“I know!” the model gushes. “It kind of makes me rethink the concert tonight.”
“I could not go,” Ann offers.
“John would kill you,” her wife states blandly.
“If we stay in, it might be worth it,” Ann wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Besides with the way Nora looked when I walked in the bedroom, she’s thinking the same thing.”
Nora blushes but her grip on my hand tightens a little.
“You both look hot!” Lee and Vanessa pipe up from the couch. Both of them have controllers to some game in their hands and they are in constant motion as Lee shoulder checks Vanessa. The blonde loses the controller and decides to take things to another level. The four of us stand there and watch as she jumps on Lee’s back.
Without word, Jill pulls Ann towards the front door and Nora and I follow suit to scurry away from the howls of pain or laughter, I can’t be sure which, coming from the living room. Nora helps me into my coat and then turns me around to give me a once over.
She presses herself to my front and the heat from her body sends a nice jolt that originates somewhere below the waist. Leaning forward I press our lips together, the brief kiss in no way matches what I’m feeling, but if we start, I don’t think I’d be able to stop. Regretfully, I pull away as I hear Nora say, “Take care of her Ann. Anything happens…”
“I gotcha Delaney. Nikki Beaumont will be treated with the utmost care and respect,” Ann’s tone is only slightly teasing. The promise in the exchange is understood and I warm at the thought.
Much like Nora, I detest being coddled, but it’s Nora so, she can coddle to a degree.
“Have fun you two, Nikki please don’t let my wife get into any trouble,” Jill asks as she gives me a brief hug.
“She’s in good hands,” I say offering my friend a playful wink.
Ann holds her arm out for me and I slip mine through hers as she leads us to the elevator, down and outside into the cold winter dusk.
“Come on, we need to swing by John’s, pick him up and still make it there on time,” Ann says, ushering me into a late model Acura Integra. She shuts my passenger door and strides around to the driver’s side that I have open for her. “Thanks,” she says slipping and cranking over the engine. The car growls to life and I’m a little impressed. The vehicle’s been taken care of, but the engine sounds like it belongs to a muscle car, not a two door coupe.
Ann grins seeing the apparent shock on my face. “Detective, let me introduce you to my baby, J.D.” Ann pats the navy blue dashboard affectionately and revs the engine, encouraging the car to warm a little faster.
My eyebrow rises at the name and the clear affection Ann has for the car. My eyes narrow as I say sweetly, “Is this a you thing or remnants of Nora?”
Ann backs out of her parking spot and heads towards the highway. “This is actually all Nora. She named J.D. It stuck.”
“I see and what does J.D. stand for?” I ask reclining in the bucket seat, amused that Nora’s small obsession with her car boiled over to affect Ann.
“No clue. She just got in him one day and was like, ‘So J.D. and I were talking and he wants a new set of rims.’ I had no clue who J.D. was and when I asked she informed me that’s what the car told her.” Ann shrugs and looks to me. “She’s your partner, you tell me.”
I chuckle and say, “No clue. I’m hoping that I’ll get to understand more as we get older.”
Her face splits into a wide grin and she sighs, “Me too, Nikki, me too.”
My head tilts at the tone. “Do I want to know what you mean?”
Ann looks to me as she changes lanes and kills her blinker. “Nora’s a great woman. It’s time that she found someone that understands and sees that. Someone that’s willing to deal with her issues and stick around. I’m grateful that’s all.”
I pause, taken a little off guard at the candor. Of course, Ann’s never been one to pull punches, at least from what I’ve seen. She further stuns me as she asks, “How is living together going? Everything okay? I know that I haven’t really helped what with the case and the past, but…”
“It’s okay,” I stop her. Sighing, I run a hand lightly through my hair before I continue, “I was worried. I’m sure Jill told you, but it’s okay. Intellectually I understand. Emotionally, I don’t know if I’ll ever be comfortable with it.”
Her lips press together but she nods. “I get that. I guess if it were me, I’d feel the same. I know Jill would. She still has her moments. Really, I just want Nora happy. She deserves it.”
I watch as Ann steers her car around two rigs with ease and fiddles with the stereo before settling on whatever’s in the CD player before I answer, “I think she is. I am.”
“She is,” Ann states. “I’ve never seen her as happy.” She casts a look my way and smiles. “Thank you.”
I beam at the nicest compliment I’ve ever been paid. She switches the CD out and I recognize the melody to a Fleetwood Mac song as we let the conversation die off to enjoy the music.
“Good evening ladies and gentleman,” Jill stands under the spotlight with the microphone in her hand looking like she belongs there.
I forget sometimes that she’s a model, that being on some stage or another is what she does. It doesn’t fit with the woman I know. I will say she looks comfortable and at ease up there so I just hang back in the reserved booth of the club and watch as Vanessa and Lee hoot and holler from the front of the stage.
“Take it off!” Vanessa shouts.
“Later,” I hear Jill hiss as she moves the microphone from her in front of her face. The crowd ‘oohs’ and gives few whistles. The mike comes back and she continues, “You’ll have to pardon the crazy blonde at the front of the audience. We’re actually here tonight to pay honor to one of the most influential artists our era, Joe Strummer.” She pauses as the audience erupts in a round of applause.
“For a lot of you, like me, we grew up listening to The Clash. I find it hard for anyone who loves music to not list The Clash as one of their favorites and when the news came down the wire that Joe had passed away due to an unchecked heart defect, it was pretty upsetting. So when Justin said that he was going to host a memorial-slash-benefit concert in Joe Strummers honor, I jumped at the chance. We have four bands lined up tonight that will be performing a mix of covers and original work. Donations are being taken at the bar for a non-profit that his friends and family are trying to start up. We take cash, cash and cash.”
The crowd laughs a little as she bows and introduces the owner of the venue, “Everyone please welcome Justin Stinson, our host for the evening.”
The crowd once again is pretty lively as they applaud and cheer. A few calling Justin a few choice names. The man is tall, lanky and even under the spotlights his pale skin is a deep red from the blush he’s sporting. “Hey, thanks everyone for coming out and please give a round of applause for super model native, Jill Ness. I’ve known this girl since high school people and it’s an honor to still call her a friend. Thanks Jill!”
Jill ducks under the spotlight that began tracking her to our table and she waves at the crowd over her shoulder. Lee and Vanessa are following her. All three of them reach me at the same time. Jill slides in next to me and takes my arm from the back of the booth to rest around her shoulders. She leans in and whispers, “I was propositioned twice on my way back to the booth. Save me.”
I snort and tighten my hold. Ann will have my hide if anyone touches her. My friend isn’t possessive and Jill can take care of herself, but I promised Ann nothing would happen to her just like she promised me Nikki’s safety. Although I think she’ll have an easier time with Nikki.
It doesn’t take long, maybe a few minutes before a guy comes up to the table. He looks at Jill and his eyes skirt to my arm around her shoulders. “Uh, hi, I’m Matt. My friends and I wanted to know if you guys would like to join our table.” He points across the bar. A table slightly larger than ours plays host to two other men. They both look like Matt with their smooth chiseled jaw and scruffy clothes.
Vanessa eyes the table, but shrugs. Jill looks to me and I dip my chin. She nods slightly and says, “Thanks Matt. We’re good though.”
“Oh, okay, uh, can I buy you a drink then?” His confidence went to hell and I can’t contain the snort of laughter.
I see Jill’s jaw clench a little and she tries again, “Matt, I’m with someone.”
“Right, but he’s not here now is he. I don’t see him. One drink?” he asks again.
Oh, boy.
The hand that was resting on my knee flexes and digs into my jeans. “She’s with me,” I cut in. I’ve seen Jill in action. The guy would walk away with fewer parts than he came to the table with.
His eyes go wide and he re-examines my arm around Jill’s shoulder. For good measure, I lean in and kiss her temple. “Oh,” he says, finally getting it. “Sorry. I didn’t…”
“How could you?” Vanessa asks him.
He looks blankly at the blonde across from me and I shake my head. “Matt, it’s nice of you, but I’d go back to your friends before you get yourself into trouble.” I smile at him, trying to diffuse a potentially volatile situation.
He nods and spins around, scurrying off to his friends.
“Why are boys so dense?” Jill asks, her question directed at Lee.
His hands go up and he shrugs. “I would have thought you treating Nora like your Siamese twin would have given him a clue.”
“I swear some days I think it’d be easier to just have Lesbian stamped on my chest,” Jill huffs.
I can’t agree with her there. I want no part of having my sexuality stamped anywhere on my body. It’s nobody’s business who I have in my bed.
“Oh, you could get like a superwoman outfit, tights and cape and all, and where the ‘S’ should be, we could stitch in an ‘L’ instead.” Vanessa jokes.
“And what would she do I ask?” I don’t know why I asked…the look Vanessa gets lets me know I just rammed my foot in my mouth.
“She could help out lesbians in need of getting rid of unwanted suitors,” Vanessa answers. “But that will only be part time, for the rest of her day she could solve things like world hunger and the age old question of why in the fuck two negatives multiplied together give a positive or why when you have zero as a dividend and any number as a divisor the answer is always zero, but when zero is the divisor the answers is undefined.”
My eyebrow rises. See I just knew I shouldn’t have asked.
Jill lets out a patented squeal and spins to me. “You need to dance with me. Come on…up!”
I don’t recognize the song and look to Lee for help. He shakes his head.
“I love this song,” Jill pleads and I concede finally letting her drag me from the booth and on to the dance floor.
Her hands slip around my waist and she pulls us together. Her leg slips between mine as I shoot her a look. She rolls her eyes, “Relax Nor. Matt’s still looking this way and we need to sell you and me together.”
I shrug and rest my linked fingers at the small of her back. She’s taller than me by a few inches so I rest my head on her shoulder and she sings, “When you lot get out, we’re gonna hit the town, we’ll burn it fucking down to a cinder…”
I chuckle and she snorts. “Don’t laugh at my poor singing. Besides this is one of Ann’s and mine’s songs.”
“You have more than one song?” I ask curious. I had no clue they had a song or multiple songs.
“Of course silly. There’s Anthem by Cock Sparrer, you know the British band you make fun of me for listening to, then there’s Sonny and Cher’s I Got You Babe, this song, Stay Free, by The Clash and Ring of Fire, the Social Distortion version not the Johnny Cash version,” Jill says. She says this like it’s common knowledge.
Who knew?
“What’s yours and Nikki’s?” she asks, twirling us around on the dance floor as the song begins to die down.
I pull back and shake my head. I didn’t know we needed one.
She rolls her eyes and laughs. “I swear Nora…sometimes you're fucking clueless. It would be frustrating if it weren’t so fucking cute.”
I sigh. Really what am I supposed to do with that?