voicemail;

[anequal]

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION | ETC.

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[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...

[anequal]

It's okay. You couldn't've known if your mom was playing a prank on you, right?

You could just recommend me a few more movies? I watched the ones from last time by the way.

[phoenix_temple]

Oh, it's not a prank. She's very serious. [Anais gives a long-suffering sigh.]

Did you like them? If you want to watch some tonight, it'd be all right. I mean you came all the way out here in the snow...

Again.

[anequal]

They weren't bad! I can't give you any actual... intelligent comments? But I enjoyed them. You have good taste.

I got popcorn.

[phoenix_temple]

We'll eat dinner first, and then we can watch movies. My mom can probably take you home if you're okay with staying late.

[She's just glad her mom didn't do anything too particularly dumb.]

[anequal]

You sleeping well enough lately?

[He points to his shoulder.]

[phoenix_temple]

Yeah, I've been sleeping a lot better. Sorry I dumped everything on you last month. I won't fall asleep on you this time.

[anequal]

As long as you're doing better. All right, let's eat and watch.