voicemail;

[anequal]

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION | ETC.

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[anequal]

I can hear you out. What is it?

[phoenix_temple]

I don't have any windows in my room. It faces the hallway.

Can you take a picture for me to put up? It can be of anything you want.

[anequal]

... You want me to take photos? For you?

[phoenix_temple]

Only if you want! I know it's a lot to ask, but I--

[She wants something, too. Just in case someday he forgets. Or she forgets, and she goes back to being a friendless nobody.]

[anequal]

... [He smiles, happily.]

I'd be happy to.

[phoenix_temple]

Really? [She looks surprised for a second. And then elated.] I know it's kind of dumb to ask... thank you.

[anequal]

No, it's--

It's nice, for me, to have someone ask me to do something like that.

[He smiles, now to himself, looking away a little.]

[phoenix_temple]

I can't think of anything I can do for you in return, but if you can think of something, let me know, okay?

[anequal]

Of course!

And hey, I know you said anything, but give me a few things. What colors are in your room?

[phoenix_temple]

Do you want to see? It's clean and everything so you don't have to worry about it being gross.

[anequal]

Do you want to invite a guy into your room?

[phoenix_temple]

... Anthony, I know you're not going to kill me, and we're already alone in my apartment. It's just my room, nothing weird. [She gets up, nodding for him to come on.]

[anequal]

... Never mind. Okay, okay.

[He will get up t follow]

[phoenix_temple]

[It's not like it's too far away, just down the tiny hall that branched off the main section, to the door on the left and she opens it. It's decorated in soft sea foams and golds and as many bright colors as she can get, only because there's no windows to give her real light. There's classic movie posters decorating the walls, but otherwise, it's still pretty plain.

Also there's a seven foot sword in the corner.]

... Sorry it's kinda dark.

[anequal]

... No window, huh? Damn. No window.

[He shrug and gives her a smile.]

Looks pretty nice.

[phoenix_temple]

No windows. My mom's room has them, but I face the hallway. I don't mind--I'm home much less often. [She shrugs back.]

[anequal]

Still. I'll take pictures of the sky for you -- I think that'll feel like a window.

[He starts moving around, not touching anything but looking around her room to find somewhere nice for the photo.]

[phoenix_temple]

Whatever you want. [There's a big spot above her bed that she doesn't have anything on.] I appreciate you're doing it at all...

[anequal]

It's the first time I've been asked for something like this. It's kind of exciting.

[phoenix_temple]

Hopefully it's not the last. If you end up all over the world, I want photos from where you go, too. Those don't have to be professional. I'd just like to see.

[anequal]

... You want to come with me, to some places?

[phoenix_temple]

[For a second, she lights up at the idea. She opens up to answer that she'd love to.

And then she thinks of the practicalities. The money, the danger, leaving her mom for an extended period of time. And her face falls immediately, though she still smiles.]

I don't think I can leave my mom for that long. It would be nice, though. If I could.

[anequal]

[He blinks. And thinks.]

Your mom can come too. It won't be immediate. My grandparents want me to try out college at least -- I need to graduate and save up more money, too. So in the future, if your mom gets time off, we'll go somewhere nice. And affordable. Gift from me to you two.

[phoenix_temple]

[She takes a moment, considering it in her mind.

It'll probably never happen, so it can't hurt to answer.]

My mom never gets time off, but--maybe this summer we can go to the beach. It's a compromise, right?

[anequal]

A beach? Of course! We'll go there this summer, first plan.

[And then he goes a little quiet, watching her.] You still think I'm contagious?