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

[youngestrose]

Olenna nods. "I know you wouldn't let anyone hurt her. And I'm glad we agree that she should never, under any circumstances, meet him." Or speak to him. It would be best if she just forgot he existed completely.

She's not pleased to hear that he's still visiting the man, even if it is only for crime-solving purposes. It sounds to her that as long as Martin is alive, Malcolm will see him as a resource at the very least.

"So you have seen him recently? Perhaps you can answer a question for me, then. How far does his reach extend, beyond his cell? If, for example, he saw a photo of you and Margaery together on page 6, what's to stop him from attempting to contact her? Or send her something?" Is he even allowed a newspaper to begin with? She's sure Malcolm is aware of the inevitability of their relationship hitting not just the papers but society in general. Margaery is not concerned about this, but Olenna knows how brutal gossip can be. She will do anything she can to insulate her granddaughter from the potential social repercussions of having a boyfriend whose father is a notorious murderer.

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm takes a deep breath. He knows it's probably not wise to lie to this woman.

"My father gets newspapers, and he is able to send letters out of prison." Malcolm looks up at Olenna. "I haven't spoken a word to him about Margaery, but my father is able to... find out things. It's possible that he will find out about her and try to send her some sort of letter."

Malcolm would try to shield her as much as he can, but he only has so much control over his father and what he does.

[youngestrose]

Olenna had anticipated this possibility, and has already formed a contingency plan.

"I can take care of that." She'll simply have to have her granddaughter's mail screened before delivered to her apartment. Considering she owns the building and employs the people in the mail room, that shouldn't be difficult.

"I appreciate your honesty, Malcolm. I expect you'll let me know if any potential threat arises, however small or seemingly insignificant. We need to work together on this. Margaery is the most precious thing to me. There is nothing I won't do to keep her safe." She looks over at Margaery, who is watching them with a hint of concern while carrying on a conversation with Jessica. Ainsley appears peripheral at this point. Olenna smiles reassuringly to her granddaughter before patting Malcolm on the knee.

"I believe she could use a rescue. I think now would be a good time for the two of you to make your excuses and say your goodbyes." Now that she has the information she needs, there's no reason to put them through this discomfort any longer.

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm has absolutely no worries that she will take care of that, though he wonders how she plans to do it. Olenna has a slightly ominous air about her. Who knows? She might end up being his father's worst nightmare.

"Of course," he replies, following her gaze to where Margaery is sitting and giving her a reassuring smile before looking back at Olenna. "I care very deeply for her. I promise you that no harm will come to her."

He's relieved that she accepts this relationship and isn't telling him to get lost because of who his father is.

[youngestrose]

When necessary, Olenna can be a true force to be reckoned with. She may not be The Surgeon's worst nightmare, but she could definitely be a thorn in his side.

"Young man, do not promise that which you cannot deliver. Simply say that you will not let her be harmed by your family, and I will be sufficiently reassured." She can't help but wonder just how deeply he cares about Margaery, and whether he's told her how he feels. Margaery is not the type to jump into a relationship too quickly, and he doesn't seem the type to either. But she would not have brought him here if she were not confident that they will continue to be together. She makes a mental note to begin getting Mace used to the idea of his daughter getting married.

"Go on and keep your promise. It takes a lot to get Margaery as flustered as she looks right now."

[prodigalmess]

Olenna called him right out on that, didn't she? He knows he shouldn't promise something that he can't control, but Malcolm would honestly rather die than see Margaery hurt. Malcolm knows that he loves her, even if he doesn't think he's ready to say it yet.

He nods and stands up. "Thank you, Mrs. Tyrell."

Malcolm meets Margaery across the room and gently puts his hand on her waist. He leans in to kiss her cheek. "I think our work here is done," he tells her.

[youngestrose]

Olenna excuses herself from the gathering, using the need for naps at her advanced age as an excuse. In reality she's trying to make it easier for Margaery and Malcolm to similarly make their escape. She gives her granddaughter a wink before she leaves, making Margaery smile.

"Oh thank god," Margaery whispers to Malcolm before saying goodbye to his mother and sister. Thankfully it seems everyone has had enough because they scatter, quickly saying cursory 'nice to meet you's whether they mean it or not. She takes it as a good sign that Jessica calls her 'dear'. They all pile into the same elevator, but Margaery and Malcolm get off on her floor, while Jessica and Ainsley continue down to the lobby after another round of platitudes and slightly awkward hugs.

Once inside the relative safety of her apartment she immediately kicks off her shoes and collapses on the couch, dragging Malcolm with her.

"Well, we did it. We survived."

[prodigalmess]

Even Malcolm breathes a sigh of relief as he's finally alone with Margaery. Being an introvert, spending so much time in social situations exhausts him, especially when he has to try to be on his best behavior.

He collapses with her on the couch, pulling her close to him and pressing a kiss to her mouth. "We did. We survived an ambush. I think it went... okay."

[youngestrose]

She returns his kiss and curls into his side with a side.

"You were amazing. You had every reason to get mad and yell or leave, even, but you stayed calm and eloquent even though they were horrible to you. I'm so sorry. I'd like to say I'm surprised they behaved that way, but I can't." She's beyond embarrassed. They are all going to get a very stern lecture from her the next time she sees them. Except Loras, of course. He at least tried to be nice.

"If it makes you feel any better, I think I agreed to a standing Thursday lunch date with your mother...."

[prodigalmess]

"I'm not sure if that does, honestly." Malcolm says warily. His mother is nosy, and while he's glad that she and Margaery are getting along, he doesn't want Margaery to be interrogated about everything going on in their relationship.

Malcolm strokes her hair and sighs. "It's okay. I expected them to hate me for who my father is, not for my job though." Sometimes it's strange when you're so worried about one thing that you don't even consider another. "I think your grandmother likes me though."

Generally. She seems glad that Malcolm makes Margaery happy.

[youngestrose]

"Oh Malcolm, they don't hate you." She sits up a bit so she can see his face. "They're just protective. And possessive. With only a few exceptions, they've had me all to themselves for my whole life."

She takes his hand and weaves their fingers together.

"But what we did today was show them they're just going to have to get over it, because you're not going anywhere." And even if he did, she would go with him.

"So what did Gran want to talk to you about?"

[prodigalmess]

He shrugs. "I think Loras doesn't hate me at least," Malcolm concedes. They had gotten along pretty well and he'd enjoyed their conversation about weapons.

Malcolm looks down at their hands together, fingers laced. "She's worried about my father." Rightfully so, to an extent. "Worried that he might try to contact you if he finds out we're dating. I promised her that I wouldn't let him hurt yet."

Olenna might have thought that was a stupid promise to make, but Malcolm would rather die than let his father try to harm Margaery.

[youngestrose]

"Loras likes you because I like you. He and I support one another that way, no matter what the rest of our family thinks." She can't help but wonder if Malcolm can tell that Loras is gay. If he can, she expects he wouldn't bring it up because it's an awkward subject. And Margaery won't tell him the truth because it's not her truth to tell. She and Malcolm aren't exactly at the all-encompassing 100% disclosure stage of their relationship, besides.

As for her grandmother's concerns, well, Margaery is both surprised and not.

"Wow, I hadn't even thought of that." Looking ahead and planning for all possibilities, that is Olenna's way.

"Do you think he would do that?" She squeezes his hand a little tighter, as if Malcolm is her shield against such an intrusion.

[prodigalmess]

Malcolm sighs. "Honestly, I've never been in a relationship that's this serious before. I don't know what he would do, but he wants to be involved in every aspect of my life, and I'm sure he'd want to at least meet you."

He pulls Margaery in closer to him. "For what it's worth, I don't think he would physically hurt you. He would try to manipulate you... get you to fall under his spell, I guess."

Malcolm knows just how charming his father can be. If he thought he could use Margaery to get Malcolm to do something, he absolutely would.

[youngestrose]

In his arms, she feels like nothing could ever hurt her. Malcolm is fiercely protective, even to a fault. But she enjoys the comfort in that.

"Well, I for one am not worried." She can't blame her grandmother for being so, but at least she's being reasonable about it. The fact that she's even openly discussing it with him, and not just working behind the scenes on her own, is a change that Margaery appreciates.

"Besides, how can I fall under his spell when I'm already under yours?"

[prodigalmess]

He's incredibly protective of Margaery, whether it's from others or from her own family. Malcolm cares so much about her that it would kill him to see her hurt in any way.

He laughs quietly at her comment. "My father can be very convincing, but you won't ever meet him, so it doesn't matter." Looking into her eyes, Malcolm brushes her hair back behind her ears. "Promise me, if he ever tries to contact you, you'll let me know?"

[youngestrose]

"Of course," she promises before resting her head on his shoulder. That was exhausting, and if ever there was a time for a nap, it's now.

"So how hard will it be to get me out of this lunch thing?" She's well versed in extraordinarily boring topics. She can make their first lunch so mind-numbing that Jessica makes excuses to get out of subsequent ones.

[prodigalmess]

"Do you want to get out of it?" Malcolm asks. As much as he doesn't really want the women in his life gossiping together and potentially plotting, he knows letting his girlfriend and his mother become closer will ultimately be a good thing.

He curls a piece of her hair around his finger. "She's not that bad," he says quietly. "She's just overprotective of me."

[youngestrose]

"Only if it makes you uncomfortable." Deep down, Margaery thinks that she and Jessica have a lot in common and could, potentially, become very close. It would almost be like finally having a mother. Even deeper down, she wants that.

"Gee, overprotective family. I have no idea what that's like," she teases, watching as he affectionately twirls her hair.

"Ainsley seems fairly normal, though. I would definitely like to spend more time with her."

[prodigalmess]

He shakes his head. "I'm not thrilled with the idea that she might ask you detailed questions or share my deepest most embarrassing secrets behind my back," Malcolm says, "but I do want you guys to get to know each other better. You're probably the two most important women in my life."

Malcolm can definitely see that Margaery might want a mother figure as well. He's not sure how much Olenna has served as one, at least not in a nurturing sense.

"She is normal," Malcolm tells her with a smile. "I think she's the only normal one in the family, if I'm being honest."

[youngestrose]

"That's easy enough to avoid - I'll just appeal to her ego. Tell her I'm interested in getting to know her, not hearing about you." Which will, in fact, be true. "And if she asks about us, I'll be politely vague."

"Wait, you're keeping secrets from me?" she asks, obviously teasing. And embarrassing ones at that. Now she's curious if they are the usual stories from when one was a child, or if they're more recent. Because her family have plenty of those that she'd never want Malcolm to know.

[prodigalmess]

"That's a good tactic," Malcolm agrees. Margaery definitely knows how to deal with people, which is something Malcolm can both respect and appreciate.

He laughs. "I'm not going to tell you every embarrassing story from my childhood," he tells her, "and I'm going to make sure that my mother doesn't either."

Malcolm squeezes her and kisses her temple. "We survived today though. I think we did well."

[youngestrose]

"Yes, we did." Especially considering how unprepared she was to meet his family.

"Does your mother do that often? Show up without warning?" Because if so, they need to add some sort of stop on his front door, otherwise she's going to walk into something Margaery definitely doesn't want her to see.

[prodigalmess]

"Oh yeah," Malcolm says with a short laugh. "She thinks because she owns the building she can show up whenever she wants to."

Jessica has some problems with respecting boundaries. He knows it's something they're going to have to work on, especially now that he and Margaery are getting more serious.

[youngestrose]

"And invites herself to things... she's crafty." Margaery would feel so uncomfortable doing that, wondering if anyone wanted her there the whole time.

She fiddles with the cuff of his shirt, unbuttoning and then rebuttoning it.

"It might be time to change the locks at your place. Or put in a backup lock or chain or something. Considering how often we're in your bed, it's a miracle she hasn't already walked in on us."