For prodigalmess - A Meal to Remember

[youngestrose]

 As they stood outside the door to her grandmother's penthouse apartment, Margaery checked Malcolm over one last time. He looked impeccable as always, in a dark blue suit and perfectly shined shoes. The color of the suit complemented his eyes well and she found him so attractive that she'd been tempted to make them fashionably late by pulling him into her apartment and having her way with him when he arrived to pick her up. Alas, that would have to wait until after he'd dazzled her family with his wit and charm.

She was dressed a bit more casually than him, since she wasn't trying to impress anyone that night - a jumpsuit and heels she'd chosen out of her recently remodeled closet. Her turn would come soon, when she'd meet his mother and sister.  She wiped a bit of lipstick from his cheek where she'd kissed him earlier and smiled.

"Are you ready?" 

Comments

[prodigalmess]

"All of them?" Malcolm asks with a raise of his brow. It seems kind of unfair to write all of them off. Loras has potential at least, in his opinion. Malcolm also thinks his family might be setting him up with the wrong people entirely. He absolutely thinks Loras is gay, though apparently not out to his family. He's hesitant to bring it up later to Margaery, in case she doesn't know.

"Surely not," Jessica says. "It's just so hard to meet good people, even in a city of this size."

[youngestrose]

"It wouldn't be fair of me to play favorites." They all know that Loras is her favorite because they are the closest in age and have the best relationship. The two of them have secrets only shared between them that would horrify the rest of the family. She is very fond of Willas as well, but he is more withdrawn and is harder to bond with. He would make a very devoted boyfriend, though, if he would come out of his shell.

She agrees with Jessica. Quantity does not equal quality. She grins at Malcolm and leans into his shoulder a touch.

"I guess we got lucky then. It only took, what, a hundred? Two hundred? Blind dates between the two of us to find each other."

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm notices Margaery glance up at Loras when she says that and he knows immediately who her favorite is. If the two are close, she may already know something about her brother's sexuality.

"I guess we did," he replies, looking over at Margaery and smiling. "I'm glad I went on that blind date."

Jessica grins knowingly. "See? Mother knows best."

[youngestrose]

Margaery echoes Malcolm's smile, and for a moment gets lost in his eyes. Her brothers exchange glances - they have never seen her so obviously besotted. It kicks their protective instincts into high gear.

"So, Malcolm," Loras says. "What got you interested in weaponry?" Margaery gives him a 'thank you' with her eyes. At least he is trying.

"Yeah," Garlan chimes in. "You ever actually use any of them?" That surprises her, and she's not sure if he's trying to help or just point out that hanging blades on a wall doesn't necessarily make you particularly masculine.

"There's nothing like swinging a broadsword at someone's head, am I right?" Inside, she cringes.

[prodigalmess]

He's about to answer Loras's question when Garlan adds his own comment. Malcolm gives a chuckle. "The only swords I've swung at anyone were epees when I fenced in school," he replies, "and it's generally frowned upon to go for the head."

Malcolm turns back to Loras. "I always found stories about medieval knights interesting as a child. It was even better when I realized that I could actually own some of the weapons they used. In my teens I got very interested in weapons from ancient Japan and other Asian cultures."

Jessica groans with not so fond memories.

[youngestrose]

"What a coincidence. Loras fenced as well," Olenna says with a tone of pleasant surprise. Malcolm takes a step up in Olenna's opinion, not that he was particularly low to begin with. There is some merit, in her mind, to those who exercise both their minds and their bodies.

"If he'd chosen to focus on it, he could have been good enough to make the Olympic team. Unfortunately he, too, found medieval weapons more interesting." She points to the large metal shield hanging over the mantle, the painted crest on its face faded and chipped. It's clear from the dents, dings, and missing top left corner, that it saw many a battle.

"He's responsible for that monstrosity."

Loras ignores her derision. "That shield accompanied our ancestor on the Third Crusade. He fought alongside King Richard III! We should all be proud."

Olenna huffs. "Not all of us are proud to be descended from a man who murdered innocents in the name of Christianity."

Margaery intercedes. "Please, can we not have this argument again? You promised no family feuds until at least the fourth time Malcolm joins us."

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm would wonder what she thinks of yoga. That's his primary form of exercise these days.

It's kind of nice to hear a family argue about relatively normal things, and not whether or not it's okay to speak to their psychopath father in prison.

"That alright. Technically the first weapon I collected was the saber one of my mother's ancestors carried in the Civil War, so I like to say that any obsession I might have with it is her fault."

[youngestrose]

It's probably better if he keeps the yoga thing to himself for the time being. There are worse physical pursuits, of course, but yoga is in a gray area best not to explore.

"It's always the parents' fault," Mace mutters as he smears cream cheese on a toasted bagel. Jessica's head tilt implies that she agrees.

"Anyone famous?" Willas asks, genuinely curious. Generally only officers carried sabers, and the few that survived the war are highly sought after. He may not care much about ancestry, but when it comes to things of value he'll always perk up.

"You could claim the obsession is in your genes," Margaery quips. "You were predisposed to it by your ancestor."

[prodigalmess]

"He was a captain in the Union army, but I wouldn't call him famous," Malcolm replies.

"Miltons are always famous," Jessica chimes in.

"Miltons have had money for a long time and have been able to buy themselves military positions," Malcolm continues with a smile. "But all records show that William Milton really was a good captain and took his position seriously."

[youngestrose]

"At least yours was on the right side," Willas retorts, fully expecting the stinkeye that comes from Loras, which he completely ignores.

"Or fought at all," Margaery adds. She doesn't know their family tree as in-depth as Loras, but she does remember the more notable branches, even if the notoriety is less than admirable.

"Gran's great grandfather spent the majority of the war hiding in the woods. And though his wife claimed she didn't know where he was, she still managed to get pregnant while he was 'missing'."

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm nods. "Family can be disappointing sometimes." There's silence at the table after that, as Malcolm realizes what everyone is thinking. He turns his attention back to the eggs benedict.

"So," Jessica cuts in. "You two have been seeing so much of each other that I feel like we hardly get to see you anymore. And I must say that while I miss you, I'm very pleased."

[youngestrose]

He may assume that everyone is thinking about his father, but the reality is that everyone has been disappointed by someone in their family. Margaery thinks of her own father. Olenna thinks of her late husband. Willas thinks of himself, sadly.

"I'm happy to hear that," Margaery replies. Based on Malcolm's description of his mother, she'd worried that she might be seen as a rival for Malcolm's attention.

"I suppose by monopolizing his free time, I am keeping him out of trouble."

[prodigalmess]

Jessica likes having Malcolm's attention, but she would definitely rather see him with someone like Margaery. Her greatest goal for Malcolm is to get him settled down and married. Maybe then he'll stop being so hyperfocused on solving every murder that comes across his desk.

"You are indeed," Jessica tells Margaery, "and I thank you for that."

Malcolm rolls his eyes. "Don't think I'm quitting my job any time soon, Mother."

[youngestrose]

Uh oh. Margaery's accidentally stepped into what she'd forgotten was a long-standing argument. She's definitely going to need a refill on her mimosa. Where did that girl get off to?

"You know I would never ask you to do that, right?" she whispers to Malcolm. That would be like asking any other person to stop breathing. His job means everything to him. He'd made that clear on their very first date.

[prodigalmess]

"I know," he whispers back with a squeeze of her hand. His job is incredibly important to him. Malcolm feels called to do it in a way that his mother doesn't understand. Thankfully, Margaery does. As important as his job is, she's very important to him too.

"All I'm saying is that maybe you should consider something safer?" Jessica quips.

[youngestrose]

"When you have a true calling, is it possible to consider something else?" Margaery posits. She too feels it, the need to do something meaningful and help others.

"Yes, what Malcolm does can be dangerous, but that's why it's important. We can't keep going through life acknowledging that these jobs need done but then expecting someone else to do them." She feels passionate about this, and it's obvious in the way she talks. Garlan may be rolling his eyes.

"It's not fair, asking others to do what we're not willing to do ourselves. I'm sure if you had Malcolm's gifts you would use them to save lives too, wouldn't you?"

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm bites his lip and puts a gentle hand on Margaery's knee under the table. Jessica is giving Margaery a sharp look. Isn't this what she always anticipated happening though? She never should have expected that any girlfriend of Malcolm's would be on her side when it comes to his career.

"My son is indeed very gifted," Jessica agrees, "though my concern is that he often finds himself in dangerous situations. Surely that gives you concern as well?"

This probably isn't something they should be talking about at breakfast in front of all of their family members, but here they are.

[youngestrose]

Margaery takes the touch on her knee as a warning to tread lightly. She does tend to get carried away when it comes to topics she is passionate about, and this happens to be one of them. She takes a breath before answering Jessica.

"Of course it does. But I wouldn't ask Malcolm to change who he is in order to make me feel comfortable." For Margaery, the danger still feels theoretical. That will change, of course; it is inevitable so long as Malcolm continues at his job.

She used to worry a lot, about everything. A very skilled therapist had asked her a simple question that had set her free from that constant anxiety - 'Is worrying about it going to change what happens?' Worrying about him every time he steps out his door would only be a waste of her time and energy that could be better spent actually accomplishing something. So she thinks about it, and prays for him, but doesn't let it eat her up inside.

"I know that the concern I feel is nothing compared to that of a mother for her child. It's never been my job to protect him or keep him safe, so I can't possibly know what it's like for you."

[prodigalmess]

"Perhaps this is a topic we can revisit later," Malcolm cuts in. Aka not when they're trying to have a 'meet the parents' breakfast. He shoots a look at his mother, one that contains both a plea and a warning.

Of course, this means he needs to come up with another topic of conversation, which he sucks at. Fortunately, Ainsley jumps in. "Where did you go to college, Margaery?" she asks.

[youngestrose]

Margaery can't believe that it's not possible for them to have a healthy debate, but between the hand on her knee and the look he's giving his mother, she gets that regardless of whether she and Jessica can handle it, he clearly can't. She puts her hand over his to reassure him that she'll let it go.

"Columbia," is the quick and simple reply. "You?" Very nicely done. Obviously Ainsley is well-practiced in heading off arguments before they get ugly.

[prodigalmess]

It's certainly possible for them to have a healthy debate, but Malcolm doesn't really want to have it right now. They're trying to have a pleasant breakfast, and things can get ugly when he and his mother have this talk. Malcolm would rather have it without the rest of her family present.

"Me too," Ainsley replies with a smile. "What did you study?"

[youngestrose]

"Business Management, as an undergrad, with almost a minor in psychology. Then I got my MBA." She'd heavily concentrated her studies in social sciences as well. She'd known from the beginning how she wanted to use her education.

"Is it safe to assume yours was journalism?"

[prodigalmess]

"Yeah," Ainsley replies. "I discovered that I liked presenting the news more than writing it though." She's done her share of research for pieces and in depth interviews though.

"Malcolm obviously majored in psychology, so you two have that in common," Jessica says. "Does your business degree help with the charity work that you do?"

[youngestrose]

Margaery nods at her statement of the obvious - she does have that in common with Malcolm. And her knowledge of at least basic psychology is, she suspects, why she has stayed with him where other women have not. With understanding comes compassion and patience, and less judgement. Most women wouldn't even try to understand why he has such high anxiety and night terrors. She never imagined that her higher education would give her relationship skills.

"It does help, particularly because I focused on non-profits and foundations. I wasn't sure if I would end up working for the family, but I knew I wanted to start my own foundation even then. Surprisingly, though, I used what I learned in psychology much more often."

[prodigalmess]

He appreciates her for that. Malcolm never really expected to find someone who understands him. While she can never know exactly what it's like to be him, Margaery does at least get why he is the way he is. That's more than he'd hoped for in a relationship.

"See?" Malcolm says. "Psychology is a valid degree. You were so worried that I'd never use mine."