voicemail;

[anequal]

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION | ETC.

Comments

[phoenix_temple]

[Wow Anthony, so polite. But it is just a blonde answering the door when you arrive and the apartment is otherwise empty.]

... Why are you here?

[WOW THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE MEANT TO SAY.] I mean--why are you here? [WOW HANG ON.] I didn't know you were coming.

[There we go.]

[anequal]

... Ah.

[He closes his eyes. Thinks back to the time he first met Anais' mom.]

... Can I come in.

[phoenix_temple]

Yeah, sure. [Anais is very confused.] Mom made dinner before she left, if you're hungry...

[anequal]

... Your mom invited me.

[phoenix_temple]

But she has a recital tonight. She'll be out well pa--

[Oh my god. Oh my god. It dawns on her slowly and her face goes red and she covers it with one hand while she holds the door open for him with the other one.]

I am so sorry.

[anequal]

Well played, your mom. [He grins and puts the flowers together and holds it out to her.]

Happy Valentine's?

[phoenix_temple]

I am so, so sorry. [Anais is dying of embarrassment again.]

I knew she was crazy, I didn't think she was this crazy. I hope you didn't have plans or anything, I don't want to bug you.

[anequal]

No plans. She asked a few nights ago.

I was gonna message you about the movies anyway.

[phoenix_temple]

My mother is an embarrassment to humanity as a whole. [She will never live this down.] Sit wherever you want. If you want to sit, I mean.

[anequal]

Thank you. It's okay, Anais. Let's hang out.

[phoenix_temple]

I just can't believe she did this... [Dying to death of embarrassment.] What do you want to do?

[anequal]

Well, I haven't eaten yet. Do you want to eat?

[phoenix_temple]

Oh! Yeah, sure. My mom made pasta. Nothing special, is that okay?

[anequal]

Pasta sounds fantastic. I love pasta.

[phoenix_temple]

[She heads for the kitchen, grumbling about how she cannot believe this is a thing that is happening....]

[anequal]

[He laughs a little and follows, taking off his coat.]

Well played, well played..

[phoenix_temple]

I am really, really sorry. She just gets carried away... [She'll set the table. There is bread and plates and glasses and silverware and she's generally doing the "important guest" thing here.]

[anequal]

It's kind of nice that she likes me, to be honest. Where should I put these flowers?

[phoenix_temple]

We have a vase somewhere in the cabinet, give me a second. I don't want them to wilt... [She thinks it was a sweet gesture. She searches through a cabinet, and pops up with a crystal vase, and sets it in the center of the table.]

She likes you too much, is the problem. And she's worried that I've never dated or anything. My sister was all into boys from the time she was, like, twelve, right? So my mom thinks I'm weird.

[anequal]

Aaah...

The parent thing.

[phoenix_temple]

The parent thing. My dad was never as bad about it, though. Then again, my dad is barely around, so I guess he wouldn't notice as much.

[anequal]

Do dads do that to their daughters as much as mothers too?

[He takes the vase, putting the flowers in Anais' arms for a moment to fill the vase with water, drying off the outside before bringing it to the counter. He takes back the flowers and puts them in there nicely, bringing it back to the table.]

Here you go.

[phoenix_temple]

[She shrugs.] I don't know. I see my dad more in school than I do at home.

Thank you, again. It's really nice of you.

[anequal]

Oh yeah... he's a teacher, right?

[He smiles at her.] Happy Valentine's, I guess?

[phoenix_temple]

Math, yeah. [She smiles a little back at him, but she still feels really dumb.] You, too. Sorry I don't have anything for you... I would've if I'd known you were coming...