2025-02-26 - Asked Not Owed

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: I have decided you may buy me a meal and entertain me with life updates.

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: I know. I am amazing like that.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: I may

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: Guess we will find out

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: How are you?

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: I'm always awesome. When getting free food, Daddy Warbucks.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: Did I just get Daddyed? I'm only 22 😆

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: I mean... you know I don't think I'm going to explain that in text

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: Haaaaa

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: what's going on with you for reals Peyton?

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: FR? I was hoping to get you to buy me snacks.

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: Then you can tell me about your life. You still single? You married now?

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: Have ten kids? Your family seems to have litters.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: There's only 3 of us

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: 3, 10.. same same

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: Yeah outside of a few people only calling me for money and then ghosting me after not a ton going on. You?

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: I was half-kidding. Do people really call you for money? That sucks.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: yeah they really really do

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: Or to get info on my mom

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: Y who is your mom?

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: Makes us be really careful about the friends we keep growing up and still. I know it's a joke, in part, but it really doesn't feel good

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: Now I'm going to have to change your name in my phone.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: You'd know her at the Grammys as Evangeline. Same one.

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: Huh. Well if it helps, I'm less interested in her. Fine. I'll buy my own lunch. Want food? I mean. I can probably buy yours too unless it's somewhere expensive.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: I would love to go to lunch with you, Peyton

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: Cool. Name the place. We'll catch up.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: I could really go for a burger at Chapters tbh. What about you?

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: I'm down. As long as there are fries. Also, I don't share my fries. Just so you know.

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: I respect this. I don't think a person should be forced to divvy up their potatoes

[TXT to Peyton] Angelo: they're snacrosanct

[TXT to Angelo] Peyton: Thank you! You are completely right on that.

After a bit of time to bundle up and then to get herself to Chapters, Peyton arrives. She is, as always, dressed in all black. There is a small sort of cross body bag that has a tiny gray 'rabbit' tucked in it. Luckily, right now, said bunny is curled into an adorable little fluff ball and sleeping. Also, it is small enough as to not raise suspicion to the staff.

Don't be suspicious.

Her hair is left to flow down her back and her eyes while metallic, are now a green metallic coloring. As Peyton waits for the man of the hour to arrive, she takes a few moments to take in the place thoughtfully. Her eyes on the ceiling with how the pages seem to be falling or floating; she's trying to figure out which.

Angelo shows up in a pair of slacks and a untucked dress shirt that's sacrificed a couple top buttons to the cause; the shiny skin continues with the faint gold sparkle trail that follows him. He does look a little tired but the smile is genuine greeting her. "boo." as if walking over was not at all blatantly obvious given the abundant lack of subterfuge.

"Awww lil bun friend. They grey cause they found their little friendo or they like a regular rabbit?" He does inform, "You beat me to texting you. Wes and Saint were talking doing a group dinner and I wanted to see what your schedule was."

Peyton watches Angelo walk over to her and he gets one of her rare and genuine smiles. It lights up her features when she does. When he says boo, she attempts to act scared. She jumps and gives a start. Which is fine. Totally fine.... however....

Peyton then lands wrong. She's probably not hurt. However, she starts to topple over. Then she reaches out to grab the host stand to steady herself. This causes it to topple with her as she catches it just right. The menus fall like those book pages all over the ground. Peyton tries to still catch herself and now the host stand, but she manages to trip over it, flips over it and lands in a heap next to it.

Silence.

It is from her. It is from the wait staff. It is from the world.

More silence.

Peyton clears her throat just a bit. "Well um... I .. .was... um... scared?" Her cheeks are flame red at this point as she tries to gather the menus while softly muttering apologies. Teach her to pretend to be scared.

Angelo remains amused until she staggers, wobbles and then looks very embarrassed. Taking a couple steps over with a hand out he gives her the 'are you ok?!' look. He says to the host as he helps picking up the menu stack, "Sorry . Blood sugar. It's okay we got this." Looking to Peyton he upnods just slightly. Menus are not that hard to wrangle at least as the ground isn't wet.

The host looking surprised and flustered manages to keep her own composure together from total alarm telling them. Oh no we'll get you seated. We'll have them bring out some bread rolls for you."

Angelo says, "That'd be outstanding. Appreciate it." Looking to Peyton he says "See, Jasmine can fix anything." he says of the hostess. Mischief managed...mostly.

Peyton doesn't so much want a hole to appear under her, but well, yeah she does. She wants that so very much right now. Her hand comes out to take Angelo's arm. "Sorry. I'm sure once I eat."

Although as they move to the table and get seated, Peyton just looks at him. It's a lingering look before she offers. "I am never again going to act scared for you, Angelo." Her cheeks are slowly going back to the normal coloring. "Also, I'm going to deny that ever happened." Her eyes lift to scan for video proof that probably exists.

A soft clearing of her throat. "Thank you, Jasmine." Then back towards the man with her. "Well... how have you been?"

Angelo looks back to her in a quiet conversation of squints and eyebrows. There's a brief thanks and a yeah water's good for me before he changes to the iced tea. Looking back to Peyton after the hostess departs he does his best to keep a serious expression even if the tone is a bit amused. "You were very convincing. All out even." He points to the entryway where things went down. "See if I did that there'd still be a suspended cloud of glitter hanging there." Now the chuckle, "Other than that how've things been?"

Peyton pauses to this information. "I'm not going to do it..." Which are the famous last words of someone who just might do it. ".. but if I slapped you, would you have a glitter cloud from that too?" She tips her head trying to determine how she feels about this. There is a slow study of his form. "Wait... is everything glittered?"

Then she also gets water as well. Although, they are probably going to bring her an orange juice too for that 'low blood sugar' problem of hers. "It's been. I'm glad Valentine's is over. So many people want chocolate." She grins. "Did you get your Valentine chocolate?"

Angelo laughs not taking it as a direct threat beyond theory. "Please don't slap me like the glitter lady meme. Is the shininess all covering?" There's a small nod abating speculation with facts. "Yes. I have heard every Hasbro joke I think at this point. Turns out I'm not alone with shimmer sparkle life. August also similarly afflicted."

There's a small smile of the chocolate, "In a matter of speaking, yes. Not actual chocolate but close enough."he admits, "I gotta imagine you're probably exhausted after last week. Wes was saying good things htough."

"I love making the special chocolates. I had some people come in and it's like art. I love all of that sort of thing. I mean sure truffles and that are fine, but I like creating for people. Something special." Peyton smiles. "That would... be odd... in bed." Her eyes drop to his lap and then back up to him. Not that hanging with a guy with a tail is less odd.

"Wes? Hmmm. Yeah. He took me to dinner. I told him chocolates were off limits. I didn't want to see any." Her lips curve up a bit as she takes a drink of her water. "So you did have a valentine then? Last time we talked you were.. well.. things were not working out. I'm glad to see that changed."

Without missing a beat Angelo says "The glitter finish makes it odd and not that I'm a shapeshifter? Your priorities never cease to surprise me, Peyton." There's amused confusion for a moment with a shake of his head. The drinks come back with the bread rolls and the order placed which involves a burger, bacon and an egg on it with hot sauce.

As the waiter leaves he nods, "I did aaand we had a really good time. Last time things were not working out conveniently but they were working as they needed to to smack me in the back of the head. It was a good solid smack." Proud of this he says "She made me a cookie." He's very pleased with this fact. "Wes actually managed to help. I think you've been a good influence."

"Look, priorities okay? The glitter thing is.. well.. too Twilight for me." Peyton smiles. "Since I can make illusions and such, the shape shifting doesn't bother me. Also, I hang out with a guy that has a tail." That last comment causes her to inch her brows up to think about. "That is sometimes weird." The tail. She orders a burger with garlic, because she's not making out with Angelo, so it's all right.

"A cookie is good. So you think this girl is going to stay in your rotation? Like maybe go somewhere or it was a casual thing?" No judgment from Peyton on that one. She nods her head. "Doubtful. I'm an influence but it's not always a good one. He's... figuring stuff out. I guess. Maybe." She sighs a bit to that. "I guess." There is a wrinkling of her nose. "I don't know how to do this relationship thing successfully."

Angelo says stirring his iced tea, "Not weird, just useful." While he doesn't go into it it is a decisive statement. He pics one of the rolls and moves it to the tiny plate to crack it open and moves the crayons to the middle of the table as here you can draw all over it.

"I have adjourned any manner of rotations and membership clubs for the time being. I'm enjoying being in orbit right now finding out where it's going to land. Trying to take Saint and Trace's advice to get out of my own way for a change." He laughs and says to one of the people he trusts to understand that, "It is haaaard to doooo. But yeah I'm working on figuring it out too. I think figuring out If we were just good at it would it be as fun though?"

"I'm okay with weird. I sort of even dig weird to a point." Peyton takes a drink of her water like a good girl. Her eyes also move to the crayons as if she had not noticed them. There is a brightening at the idea of drawing things. When Angelo starts to speak again, Peyton starts to smile a bit at the words he chooses to use.

"I just..." Peyton sighs a bit. It's not a sad sigh, just a 'how did I get here' sort of sigh. "I agreed to be his girlfriend. I just.. I didn't think I'd do that so quickly you know? But then I find that he's the first one I was to text things to and the the person I want to be around the most. I just... what do I do when it all blows up in my face and he's not there to complain about it with? Like did I mess up? Should we have stayed friends?"

Her eyes move towards Angelo as if he will have all life's answers. However, she does take a roll because while there may not be answers, there are carbs.

Carbs are eternal and he listens shaking his head, "We don't get to know, Peyton. I think we just get to do our best and see how it works and if it hits a bump adjust that." He pulls out a few crayons working on what are 2 curved likes )) in brown lightly sketched.

"It's hard though innit? Like being used to tell myself, at least, to only see people by a certain lens that's safe for expectations and operating in what I know and now? This is not that, and I don't want her to just be a 'fun weekend' so it won't be disappointing when I get to the point I'd normally take off. As I would like to stick around and see what happens that's just exactly what we now cannot do soooo we 're both in uncharted territory."

There's a smile to Peyton offering in earnest, "If you ever need real talk and a drink you can call. I think your messes match pretty well right now. I'm stoked for this."

"So there was this thing." Peyton offers and lowers her voice. Then she stops. It's clear she's debating if she should tell Angelo. Then she shrugs. "It took a lot for me to try to do this. I know that seems stupid to say. Wes is a nice guy. I could do a million times worse, but he's not the problem in this situation." She is.

"I then decide, fuck it. I"m just going to jump in and we will ride the crazy train until the wheels fall off. I trust him. Which is hard. People tend to not like me once they know me. Or they tend to .. disappoint me. It takes a lot for me to do this. I know teenagers do this. I shouldn't have so much issue, but.. I do." She offers as she watches the man. "I asked his middle name. Just .. his middle name. Nothing that really is too much. I mean, we've seen each other naked and done things by this point. He's watched me want to crawl out of my skin over most of this, but... he couldn't trust me with his middle name?"

She looks hurt.

"I mean, he eventually told me, but now there is this voice in my head wondering if I just missed a red flag. Or.. is this normal?"

Angelo is listening as the cheese sticks arrive and he draws what seems to be a palm tree in training. "Trust is kinda terrifying. A lot of people get weird about their middle names but it's not a weird thing to ask I don't think. It's a want to know someone better. Maaaaaaybe he's not used to someone bothering to ask."

He shrugs and looks to her, "What's your middle name? We're going to make this more normal." He looks up from the doodling and watches her moving the cheese stick to his plate gesturing for her to dive in. "He did eventually tell you though. I think though from what I know about Wes you're not the only one working on trust. He did do it though yeah?"

"Lynn." Peyton offers easily for her last name. "What is yours?" There is a smile to this. "It's why I'm not sure what is normal. I haven't done a lot of normal since I became a teenager. Also, I get it we are strangers really and.." She sighs.

"It's fine. Everything is fine. Tell me about your girl. You already know Wes. I don't have much to tell you on that front."

Wait. Is this how you make a friend? Does Peyton have a friend?

Angelo upnods at the shared inside mid-name intel. "Coltrane." A trade is a trade. "We're all named after jazz musicians; all three of us." He dips the cheese stick and takes a bite with an amused look. "I mean my life's on wikipedia somewhere. i grew up around Enzo. I know nothing about normal buuut I think normal is relative to the situation. So we figure out the situation and we unlock what to do about it."

"Aisley is pretty remarkable. Also comes from family that moved here like I did so that's neat for me to see where the similarities are. She's smart, she really loves kids and treats them like small people with big ideas and I really love that. It's important to me. How people treat people seems to be important to her, and-" His brow creases, "Am I worried I'll get judged for maybe the less flattering parts of my life? It's not for everyone. Kinda scary though but the enjoyment of spending time with her is bigger than being scared as shit about things out of my control."

"Well if she likes kids..." Does Peyton like kids? "She's probably alright. Also, I find people are less judgy than we think." She pauses. "Except me. I judge like it's a full time job." She winks to the man over that and then picks up a crayon to draw on her side of the table. Her eyes run across his features and then she nods her head.

"I don't think I've met her, but good on you. I'm sure you haven't done anything too horrible. We all have pasts." Her brows lower a moment. "I didn't realize your mom was famous. I guess. I should have, I just didn't. That had to suck a bit. I have enough issues not being as awesome as my older brother, but.. damn. Know you can get a burger with me any time you need." She grins at him. "I'll even pay for my own." Now that she knows that's a trigger of sorts.

Peyton's smile fades, but it normally does to be honest. "By and By, I'm sorry about that. It was just a joke. I'm always trying to scam a drink or food, or something. I didn't mean to make you feel used or anything."

Angelo clarifies, "I coach youth gymnastics. Volunteer thing, like the people I learned from. Like I love love love what I do, but part of that is making kids excited about it. It might be routine for me but it's not for them. So yeah I dig that it's something she's paid to be at but she hangs out with them and encourages them and it makes me feel better about the world." When Peyton says she judges there's a sharp grin, "Oh big same, btu I try to be lenient in the sentencing."

He lifts his glass to her and takes a drink of his iced tea. "Honestly I'm glad you didn't? I weirdly feel better about it- not" his hand circles, "That I'm not really proud of her and what she's done. It's just really easy to be an accessory instead of a person. Like yes, she's amazing but I have my own passion projects and a whole life outside of being a son or a brother just like you're more than being hot and being a cocoa chemist."

he pauses really taking in the seriousness of her words and nods. "Apology accepted, and I really appreciate it. Other than 'because it works, Angelo, duh' is there a method to that tactic? You ahve me terribly curious."

"You think I'm hot?"

Of course that's where she goes with this. Peyton studies him for a moment and winks. "I don't know if there is a lot to me or people just think there is and I let them think it. It's mysterious when you don't tell them that you are a boring person with two parents that love each other." She takes a drink as well, mirroring him when he does.

"I don't know what I think about kids." She offers a bit more to that as her brain seems to be fixated before she smiles. "I'm not having any .. well not any time soon at least. I'd make a killer aunt, but a mom?" She makes a face.

"The tactic? Well here's my thought on it. It's not like we are rolling in money in what we make here. Sure, there's that whole I'm a strong woman that doesn't need anyone. If you know me for a moment, you know I'll throw hands if I think I need to. Or light a bed on fire. Whatever. However, if I ask a person to buy me something and they say no. Well, I'm where I am. If they say sure, well I'm in a better position. As well, there is something to it on how they react. You got upset. So I backed up and made a mental note. It also gives me a clue and insight into you. Maybe you never would have told me about how you feel about that. It opened the door to other things. Pu--Wes when I asked said not unless we were dating. Which told me he wanted to date me before he really said he wanted to date me or he wouldn't have said it. Also, I never claimed to be a good person and if there is an opportunity there, I'm going to try to take it. For food."

Angelo turns his hands over with a half eaten cheese stick in it. "It's a fair point of observation, yes." He'll concede the point of being hot, certainly, as a casual assessment. "And that's an ok take too. You got siblings then?" This was his take away from that.

As for the tactic he listens with a rather inscrutable expression considering this until the end. "Sometimes I can catch my sister doing that- pushing the buttons to find out what they do. Harder to get away with if you are in close quarters."

Thinking about it a bit longer his burger arrives and there is a wide, carnivorous grin with pointy fangs and all, "Yaaaaaaaasd, thank you." When the food is sorted he looks to Peyton he says "I'll help you out. Grew up wiiiith a lot of people being kinda fake or hiding their actual intentions and for me it's old and it's exhausting and it's not fun. I like people though. This? This is cool. Having parents that get along? Also not boring; neat."

he considers this and shakes his head with a dimpled grin forming, "I never accused you of being a good person, be fair!"