Office by Alex Penny
I've seen the stars and let me tell you, I'd rather be grounded to the Earth. I'm here to offer advise for anyone whose ungrateful daughter runs off with a madman who breaks her heart, or takes in a stray god who fell from the sky. Oh and gardening tips. Blimey! I do love gardening.
Jackie took hold of her daughter’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Sweetheart, I’ve lost your father, been without ‘im for near two decades, only to get trapped in a world I didn’t know existed and find ‘im again. Now we’ve got you and Tony, somethin’ I never thought would happen. Don’t think you can surprise me with strange stories about men, I’ve been through the strange. What’s a matter?”
She wanted to confess she’d been checking in on Loki, making sure he was taken care of and had someone who’d listen to him. She wanted to tell her darling daughter that this poor lost god was as confused as she was on this whole matter, that he needed her, but she kept quiet. For once she knew when to shut up.
Rose stared for a moment at her plate, biting the inside of her cheek while she tried to come up with words. “I’s not some crazy alien thing, Mum!” her exasperated response was less attacking than it seemed as she fell into a mutter under her breath, “‘s actully pretty normal, considerin’.” Rose sighed. “He just…he crossed a line this time Mum,” she looked down at the table, “An’ I just don’t know what I’m gonna do about it yet.”
Knowing full well what line she was discussing, Jackie focused all her efforts into maintaining a mask of confusion. “Did he hurt you, Rose?” Her eyes narrowed. It was possible he hadn’t been completely honest when they spoke. He had seemed truthful, but what if he was like the rest of them?
Rose had been avoiding the topic with Jackie for the better part of a week and a half, content to just go to work, come home, play a bit with Tony, and just generally spend time with her family for a while.
But she knew this couldn’t go on for much longer. She was getting antsy, and anxiety building up in her gut. She wanted to go home, to her own flat and her own bed and to Loki. But that last part always tripped her up: Loki. She missed him, sure, he was her friend and he had no doubt found a way to muck up her flat somehow by this point, but she couldn’t quite come to grips with what had happened between them.
She had tried to keep her mind on other things. On work, on the Doctor, on aliens
not godsand on beaches. But these things were failing her now and she just didn’t know anymore.Tired of seeing dark circles under her daughter’s eyes Jackie arranged for Pete and Tony to have a boys night out: pizza, an arcade, and the latest superhero movie should tide them over long enough for a nice sit down. She sent the staff home before Rose arrived, taking it upon herself to make Rose some real comfort food: homemade fish with lovely golden chips. She already planned for tea later along with some of the dainty little petit fours she used to make when Rose and Shireen played dress up.
Hearing the door and Rose’s standard call, “Mum, I’m home,” Jackie hollered that she was in the breakfast nook, all the more cozy and better for conversation compared to the formal dining room. The table was set informally, plain white dishes like they’d had back home, a platter piled with crisp-fried cod, another heaped with chips, and nearest to Rose’s place sat the salt pot and bottle of malt vinegar. Jackie hugged her daughter before dishing up their plates.
“Rose,” she spoke softly, “don’t you think it’s about time we talked?” She didn’t press for more, knowing Rose wouldn’t say a thing until she was good and ready, stubborn as her mum through and though.
Rose sunk into her seat, giving her mother a weak smile. She could see exactly what she was doing with the setup, and she knew she couldn’t put it off any more. “Looks like I’m gonna be doin’ some talking whether I planned to or not,” she laughed, pushing hair back behind her ear as she picked up the bottle vinegar.
Jackie took hold of her daughter’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Sweetheart, I’ve lost your father, been without ‘im for near two decades, only to get trapped in a world I didn’t know existed and find ‘im again. Now we’ve got you and Tony, somethin’ I never thought would happen. Don’t think you can surprise me with strange stories about men, I’ve been through the strange. What’s a matter?”
She wanted to confess she’d been checking in on Loki, making sure he was taken care of and had someone who’d listen to him. She wanted to tell her darling daughter that this poor lost god was as confused as she was on this whole matter, that he needed her, but she kept quiet. For once she knew when to shut up.
Rose had been avoiding the topic with Jackie for the better part of a week and a half, content to just go to work, come home, play a bit with Tony, and just generally spend time with her family for a while.
But she knew this couldn’t go on for much longer. She was getting antsy, and anxiety building up in her gut. She wanted to gohome, to her own flat and her own bed and to Loki. But that last part always tripped her up: Loki. She missed him, sure, he was her friend and he had no doubt found a way to muck up her flat somehow by this point, but she couldn’t quite come to grips with what hadhappenedbetween them.
She had tried to keep her mind on other things. On work, on the Doctor, on aliensnot godsand on beaches. But these things were failing her now and shejust didn’t know anymore.
Tired of seeing dark circles under her daughter’s eyes Jackie arranged for Pete and Tony to have a boys night out: pizza, an arcade, and the latest superhero movie should tide them over long enough for a nice sit down. She sent the staff home before Rose arrive, taking it upon herself to make Rose some real comfort food: homemade fish with lovely golden chips. She already planned for tea later along with some of the dainty little petit fours she used to make when Rose and Shireen played dress up.
Hearing the door and Rose’s standard call, “Mum, I’m home,” Jackie hollered that she was in the breakfast nook, all the more cozy and better for conversation compared to the formal dining room. The table was set informally, plain white dishes like they’d had back home, a platter piled with crisp-fried cod, another heaped with chips, and nearest to Rose’s place sat the salt pot and bottle of malt vinegar. Jackie hugged her daughter before dishing up their plates.
“Rose,” she spoke softly, “don’t you think it’s about time we talked?” She didn’t press for more, knowing Rose wouldn’t say a thing until she was good and ready, stubborn as her mum through and though.
Pete hadn’t been happy when Rose came into work that day. By the time he’d caught word and marched down to her office most of the work-day had passed by and she promised she’d leave early, telling him she’d see him at home, which clammed him up pretty quick.
She dropped her purse in the passengeras she got in the car, sticking the key into the ignition. She couldn’t wait to get home. Some proper rest, a nice cuppa, maybe she’d stop and get pizza for dinner, and maybe she could cinvince Loki to watch something with her on the telly—
She paused with her hand on thee key, about to turn. She wasn’t going back to her flat, she reminded herself, she was going back to her mum’s. This was of course followed by the memory of what happened that was the very reason she was staying at her mother’s. She flushed and turned on the ignition.
Rose came into the spacious manor entry, already making her miss her cozy little shared flat. “Tony? Mum? I’m home!” she called, voice echoing off the tiled [or was it marble? maybe it’d been longer since she’d come over than she though] floors.
“In the kitchen, Rose!” Jackie was thrilled to have her daughter back home. It felt like such a long time since her girl had been with them. Apron tied around her waist, Jackie was fussing over dinner [having sent the help home]. She pulled a pot roast and backed potatoes from the oven.
“Pete make yourself useful and set the dang table!” She snapped him with a dish towel.
“PRINCESS ROSE!” Tony screeched, tearing across the dining room and slamming full tilt into Rose, hugging her fiercely. “Where’s Loki? Can he sit by me? Is he staying here too? You can play with us if you like, but you have to be a boy cos I don’t have any dolls. Dolls are for girls.” It all came out in a mad rush as he clung to her.
“Tony, givver a minute, will ya?” Jackie hollered, pouring a glass of wine and handing it to her exhausted daughter. “Doin’ all right then?” Her question held much more weight than the words conveyed.
Rose set her purse down and accepted the glass, swirling the glass slightly as she made her way to the table. “‘S all a bit surreal, actually,” she answered after setting down her glass and sitting down. She glanced around at Tony and Pete gathering as well. “But we’ll talk about all that nonsense later, yeah?”
“Of course sweetheart,” Jackie poured herself and Pete each a glass and set them on the table in their respective locations, “time for all that later. Tuck in, love. Looks like you and Pete both had a long day.”
Tony scrambles up to his chair as Pete and Jackie take their places at the table. Jackie beams at her family, all gathered together for the first time in so long. True, the circumstances weren’t entirely joyous, but the result was wonderful. As they passed the food around, Pete serving Tony, Jackie was taking note the dark circles under Rose’s eyes and the fact that she’d appeared to have lost several pounds recently. Clearly, she was working far too much, just as Loki had said. “Made up a room special for you, Rose. It’s yours as long as you like.”
Pete hadn’t been happy when Rose came into work that day. By the time he’d caught word and marched down to her office most of the work-day had passed by and she promised she’d leave early, telling him she’d see him at home, which clammed him up pretty quick.
She dropped her purse in the passengeras she got in the car, sticking the key into the ignition. She couldn’t wait to get home. Some proper rest, a nice cuppa, maybe she’d stop and get pizza for dinner, and maybe she could cinvince Loki to watch something with her on the telly—
She paused with her hand on thee key, about to turn. She wasn’t going back to her flat, she reminded herself, she was going back to her mum’s. This was of course followed by the memory of what happened that was the very reason she was staying at her mother’s. She flushed and turned on the ignition.
Rose came into the spacious manor entry, already making her miss her cozy little shared flat. “Tony? Mum? I’m home!” she called, voice echoing off the tiled [or was it marble? maybe it’d been longer since she’d come over than she though] floors.
“In the kitchen, Rose!” Jackie was thrilled to have her daughter back home. It felt like such a long time since her girl had been with them. Apron tied around her waist, Jackie was fussing over dinner [having sent the help home]. She pulled a pot roast and backed potatoes from the oven.
“Pete make yourself useful and set the dang table!” She snapped him with a dish towel.
“PRINCESS ROSE!” Tony screeched, tearing across the dining room and slamming full tilt into Rose, hugging her fiercely. “Where’s Loki? Can he sit by me? Is he staying here too? You can play with us if you like, but you have to be a boy cos I don’t have any dolls. Dolls are for girls.” It all came out in a mad rush as he clung to her.
“Tony, givver a minute, will ya?” Jackie hollered, pouring a glass of wine and handing it to her exhausted daughter. “Doin’ all right then?” Her question held much more weight than the words conveyed.
*smiles briefly*Oh…I honestly didn’t mean to. Not sure what came over me. She has…been kind to me and accepting of me. I now see that i was growing to like her and…it was late, she was so close and smiling…i just did it. No plan in mind.
Well, you’ve got my vote. Think you’d make each other quite happy, to be honest. Get her to stop lettin’ work control her life and see her smile more. *stirring up homemade macaroni and cheese* *points at him with the spoon* I see how you two look at each other ya know? I’m not blind, sweetie. Mum always knows.
You are kind, Jackie. Rose is… *smiles privately to self* …she is special. I have never met anyone like her before. She has…made me feel like less of a monster…and…I want to be better. I want to be better for her.
*walks over to Loki* *hugs him* I have real trouble with you callin’ yourself a monster. Just cos you had it rough growin’ up and made some bad decisions doesn’t make you a bad person. Everybody’s got somethin’ to deal with, and everybody’s got regrets. Just matters what you’re doin’ now, how you’re livin’ and how you treat others. We all have bad times.
Hope you’re hungry, I mighta gone overboard with lunch…*serves him up a huge bowl of macaroni and cheese, plus a very large sandwich*
Want me to say anything specific tonight? Plannin’ on askin’ her about what happened, playin’ dumb as usual. Swear, that girl gives me no credit for my intelligence. Anyway, you want me to ask anything for ya, love? She won’t know it came from you, promise.
*once more he smiles* *takes a few bites of macaroni*
Not that i can think of. I care for her and i have no intention of rushing her. I want to give her the space she needs. This is her choice…
*looks across at Jackie* You remind me a bit of my mother…or…the woman who acted as one to me. Thank you, for what you have done for me.
*smiles at him* That’s the nicest thing I’ve been told in a long time, Loki. Thank you. You call any time you need me, got that? Don’t think it’s fair to you, bein’ stuck here all day. Believe me, I sympathize with that. Gets downright boring, doesn’t it? Tony’d be thrilled to see you again. He still talks about you every day. *takes a few bites* Don’t you worry ‘bout things, she’ll see sense. Might take a smack upside the head, be glad to provide that one.
*he laughes*
I would very much like to come visit Tony. I must say i have missed his energy. Might make your day a bit easier, yes? I can come over when she is at work
Perfect. He’ll love it. You’re gonna need an awful lotta energy to keep up with him though, best have your coffee. He’s a force to be reckoned with for sure. Need a ride over, or can you teleport that far?
I can teleport, I will do my best not to do so with your house. Would not want to startle you or your help. Awfully rude to just appear inside someone’s house. Do not worry about energy, i have plenty. Tony and i will get on just fine.
I’ll tell him in the morning, otherwise he’ll never sleep. It’s been nice spendin’ some time with you, Loki. I don’t get much time with anyone who can carry on a conversation. Thanks for offerin’ to keep Tony company as well, you’re all he talks about…other than his imaginary world and dinosaurs *rolls her eyes* Lord, I thought the girl was a challenge…swear, he’s a little genius. Somehow figured out a way to make a remote control car move faster, been terrorizing the nanny with it. Bit funny to watch, but don’t tell her that.
Here, let me clean up, dear. I made the mess after all.
*smiles briefly*Oh…I honestly didn’t mean to. Not sure what came over me. She has…been kind to me and accepting of me. I now see that i was growing to like her and…it was late, she was so close and smiling…i just did it. No plan in mind.
Well, you’ve got my vote. Think you’d make each other quite happy, to be honest. Get her to stop lettin’ work control her life and see her smile more. *stirring up homemade macaroni and cheese* *points at him with the spoon* I see how you two look at each other ya know? I’m not blind, sweetie. Mum always knows.
You are kind, Jackie. Rose is… *smiles privately to self* …she is special. I have never met anyone like her before. She has…made me feel like less of a monster…and…I want to be better. I want to be better for her.
*walks over to Loki* *hugs him* I have real trouble with you callin’ yourself a monster. Just cos you had it rough growin’ up and made some bad decisions doesn’t make you a bad person. Everybody’s got somethin’ to deal with, and everybody’s got regrets. Just matters what you’re doin’ now, how you’re livin’ and how you treat others. We all have bad times.
Hope you’re hungry, I mighta gone overboard with lunch…*serves him up a huge bowl of macaroni and cheese, plus a very large sandwich*
Want me to say anything specific tonight? Plannin’ on askin’ her about what happened, playin’ dumb as usual. Swear, that girl gives me no credit for my intelligence. Anyway, you want me to ask anything for ya, love? She won’t know it came from you, promise.
*once more he smiles* *takes a few bites of macaroni*
Not that i can think of. I care for her and i have no intention of rushing her. I want to give her the space she needs. This is her choice…
*looks across at Jackie* You remind me a bit of my mother…or…the woman who acted as one to me. Thank you, for what you have done for me.
*smiles at him* That’s the nicest thing I’ve been told in a long time, Loki. Thank you. You call any time you need me, got that? Don’t think it’s fair to you, bein’ stuck here all day. Believe me, I sympathize with that. Gets downright boring, doesn’t it? Tony’d be thrilled to see you again. He still talks about you every day. *takes a few bites* Don’t you worry ‘bout things, she’ll see sense. Might take a smack upside the head, be glad to provide that one.
*he laughes*
I would very much like to come visit Tony. I must say i have missed his energy. Might make your day a bit easier, yes? I can come over when she is at work
Perfect. He’ll love it. You’re gonna need an awful lotta energy to keep up with him though, best have your coffee. He’s a force to be reckoned with for sure. Need a ride over, or can you teleport that far?
*smiles briefly*Oh…I honestly didn’t mean to. Not sure what came over me. She has…been kind to me and accepting of me. I now see that i was growing to like her and…it was late, she was so close and smiling…i just did it. No plan in mind.
Well, you’ve got my vote. Think you’d make each other quite happy, to be honest. Get her to stop lettin’ work control her life and see her smile more. *stirring up homemade macaroni and cheese* *points at him with the spoon* I see how you two look at each other ya know? I’m not blind, sweetie. Mum always knows.
You are kind, Jackie. Rose is… *smiles privately to self* …she is special. I have never met anyone like her before. She has…made me feel like less of a monster…and…I want to be better. I want to be better for her.
*walks over to Loki* *hugs him* I have real trouble with you callin’ yourself a monster. Just cos you had it rough growin’ up and made some bad decisions doesn’t make you a bad person. Everybody’s got somethin’ to deal with, and everybody’s got regrets. Just matters what you’re doin’ now, how you’re livin’ and how you treat others. We all have bad times.
Hope you’re hungry, I mighta gone overboard with lunch…*serves him up a huge bowl of macaroni and cheese, plus a very large sandwich*
Want me to say anything specific tonight? Plannin’ on askin’ her about what happened, playin’ dumb as usual. Swear, that girl gives me no credit for my intelligence. Anyway, you want me to ask anything for ya, love? She won’t know it came from you, promise.
*once more he smiles* *takes a few bites of macaroni*
Not that i can think of. I care for her and i have no intention of rushing her. I want to give her the space she needs. This is her choice…
*looks across at Jackie* You remind me a bit of my mother…or…the woman who acted as one to me. Thank you, for what you have done for me.
*smiles at him* That’s the nicest thing I’ve been told in a long time, Loki. Thank you. You call any time you need me, got that? Don’t think it’s fair to you, bein’ stuck here all day. Believe me, I sympathize with that. Gets downright boring, doesn’t it? Tony’d be thrilled to see you again. He still talks about you every day. *takes a few bites* Don’t you worry ‘bout things, she’ll see sense. Might take a smack upside the head, be glad to provide that one.
*smiles briefly*Oh…I honestly didn’t mean to. Not sure what came over me. She has…been kind to me and accepting of me. I now see that i was growing to like her and…it was late, she was so close and smiling…i just did it. No plan in mind.
Well, you’ve got my vote. Think you’d make each other quite happy, to be honest. Get her to stop lettin’ work control her life and see her smile more. *stirring up homemade macaroni and cheese* *points at him with the spoon* I see how you two look at each other ya know? I’m not blind, sweetie. Mum always knows.
You are kind, Jackie. Rose is… *smiles privately to self* …she is special. I have never met anyone like her before. She has…made me feel like less of a monster…and…I want to be better. I want to be better for her.
*walks over to Loki* *hugs him* I have real trouble with you callin’ yourself a monster. Just cos you had it rough growin’ up and made some bad decisions doesn’t make you a bad person. Everybody’s got somethin’ to deal with, and everybody’s got regrets. Just matters what you’re doin’ now, how you’re livin’ and how you treat others. We all have bad times.
Hope you’re hungry, I mighta gone overboard with lunch…*serves him up a huge bowl of macaroni and cheese, plus a very large sandwich*
Want me to say anything specific tonight? Plannin’ on askin’ her about what happened, playin’ dumb as usual. Swear, that girl gives me no credit for my intelligence. Anyway, you want me to ask anything for ya, love? She won’t know it came from you, promise.
*he swallowed uneasily* She work all the time and…she had been gone a week this time around. It was late when she turned up last night, dead on her feet. I helped her to her room, she told me not to worry, i did this trick to help clear her head…and…
*he hesitated*
…I… *he looked over at Jackie, uncertain on how she would take this* …I never intended…i never thought… *he swallowed anxiously* She was so close and…i do not know what came over me…but…i…kissed her…
*Smile widening across her face* Knew it, knew it the whole time! ‘Bout bleedin’ time you got around to it! You two, I saw it from the first, ya know? *kettle whistles* *gets up to prepare tea*
Whatcha mean confused? What’s there to be confused about, sweetheart? You like her, it’s not hard to figure out. She likes you, it’s why she’s gettin’ distance. *sets a cup down for each of them* It’s not gonna be easy for her, but she’ll come ‘round. Be patient.
*blinks confusedly at Jackie*
I would have thought you would be upset…
*he sighs*
And I thought she cared about…that Doctor of hers. *his eyes narrowed slightly* All i have done is manage to confuse her. As for me…I am not…this is not something i am accustomed to. I was never liked, never sought after; I am nothing but trouble to others. I am not used to feeling this…
*he clasps his hands and looks down at them* Of course i like her…and i find myself restless. I do not know what i should do.
Well, I won’t tell ya she doesn’t care for him, cos that’d be a ridiculous lie. All’s I’m sayin’ is, I’m damn sure she cares about you. That’s gonna be hard on her, Loki. *squeezes his hand* She spent years focused on him, and she’s gonna be worried what it means to feel somethin’ beyond friendship for you. *sips her tea* She didn’t slap ya, did she?
*huffs out a laugh and smiles briefly* No, she did not slap me…but…she did slam her door in my face. That is not much better, is it?
Actually, that’s just fine. Means she wasn’t angry. She was angry, she’d slap ya silly. *takes a cookie* I got the door to the face plenty, she needs some time to think things through, that’s all that is. I’ll do a bit of nosin’ around tonight, see where her head’s at, but don’t worry about it.
*gets up* *busies self making lunch for them*
Quite brave of you to just go for it like that, though. I’m impressed. She’s usually the one to make a move, bet you flustered her more’n a bit, yeah? *laughs* My girl isn’t one for not having all the control, might be you can change that.
*smiles briefly*
Oh…I honestly didn’t mean to. Not sure what came over me. She has…been kind to me and accepting of me. I now see that i was growing to like her and…it was late, she was so close and smiling…i just did it. No plan in mind.
Well, you’ve got my vote. Think you’d make each other quite happy, to be honest. Get her to stop lettin’ work control her life and see her smile more. *stirring up homemade macaroni and cheese* *points at him with the spoon* I see how you two look at each other ya know? I’m not blind, sweetie. Mum always knows.
