Spencer was absolutely not a chef by any means. She was the type of woman to pay other people obscene amounts of money to prepare meals for special events and gatherings. The last time her sister had asked her to bring desserts, she'd asked a bakery to cater, torn the stickers off, and pretended she'd made them from scratch.

Well, bullshitting like that kept digging her deeper and deeper, and now she was expected to cook almost the entire dinner for Thanksgiving (or the Pokemon equivalent). Let's just say, that Unfezant stuffed dinner better be worth it.

Asking Jessica for her assistance was a cry for help - and she knew her niece wouldn't rat her out. Of course, once she was here, singsonging her way through the front door and calling her 'Spency', she started to question her decision.

"You're laaate!" she trills back in the same singsongy note she's ben given. There is a crash coming from the kitchen, followed by a groan, and Spencer continues: "Did you bring the pie crusts like I asked?"

Jessica Manner

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Fortunately, the only thing that Spencer had broken was her-- just kidding, she hadn't broken anything. The fancy cutlery she had been trying to wiggle out of a dark corner in the cabinets had slipped from her fingers.

But on further inspection, the fancy box barely had a scuff and the countertop showed no visible change.

"If the shoe fits."

Spencer's sour mood isn't purposely directed onto the young woman. Rather, it is an amalgamation of stress compounding on top of thin shoulders. Normally this was her sister's job with help from their parents. But ever since they had passed away.. this would be the first year without them.

And, naturally, big sister was too busy living her lavish life at Gabriel's side to offer any assistance.

"I dropped the silverware box. It's fine, nothing is broken."

She sighs, lifting it up off the counter to shuffle it elsewhere. But, upon seeing the pie crusts Jessica had brought, Spencer's face melts into a grimace. She sends a prayer up to the ceiling for having not damaged the most vital component. She'd never hear the end of it.

"You wouldn't happen to know how to make pumpkin pie, would you?"

Jessica Manner

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Ahh.. 'Spency', did her sister teach her that?

Spencer forces a smile, clearly out of her element and sarcastic, as Jessica throws up a thumbs up. If she had hands available she probably would have reciprocated the same. Alas, she is opening and counting the cutlery to make sure everything is in order.

"That's great, because I don't have one of those, either."

She side-eyes the girl as she pulls out her phone, and then chooses to stand closer to hover and read. She mumbles each separate ingredient and feels herself gradually growing more and more stressed.

"You won't tell your mom, will you?"

Jessica Manner

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Oof, sore spot. Spencer can't help but raise an eyebrow and tuck her cheek to the side to hide her devious grin. More like a subtle smirk, but the effect was the same. Outside of her own dumpster fire of a social life, she didn't keep up much with the affairs of her sister's family.

This was probably the first time in.. months or longer, that she had even seen them. Jessica might be the one relative she hears from the most, and even that was somewhat uncommon.

When she glances back, she notes the woman's farmer's tan and smiles, looking up at the coupon taped to her fridge.

"Sounds like you could use a spa day."

Spencer's eyebrows raise and she sets down the napkins she's holding. Concern shimmers behind the suspicion and the intrigue, for once, genuine human emotion.

"It sounds like you really could use a spa day."

Jessica's stirring is furious for a moment and she stops before Spencer has a chance to step in and stop a mess from occurring. But she does step in anyway, hands hovering over her nieces to set the bowl and spoon to the side for a moment.

"Uptight? Demanding?"

She's referring to her sister, Jessica's mother.

"Please, continue all you like, my dear. I love to hear about other people's problems. Makes mine seem small in comparison."

Jessica Manner

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For the sake of faking politeness, Spencer keeps her hands busy. She listens attentively though, with the occasional glance over her shoulder. Nothing Jessica has to say truly surprises her, but it does intrigue her.

"I see."

She sets the timer as her niece sets the pie inside the oven.

"Then fuck Gabriel. If you're happy with the choices you're making and what you're doing, then that's what matters- not his opinion."

Spencer shrugs, and then laughs and pulls Jessica into a hug. It's awkward, because she isn't a hugger, but the moment feels right anyway.

"Then I'll book us a spa day. You know I'm coming with."

Jessica Manner

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Spencer knows that feeling all too well, that pressure. She has suffered beneath it's weight her whole life. Always the odd one out, the black sheep, the youngest disappointment.

She hadn't been good enough at running, hadn't risen to the top of her food chain. She hadn't done anything noteworthy enough to impress her parents- and then her big sister had taken the spotlight and married the man of her dreams and stolen literally everything from her.

Nice.

"Sure thing, kiddo."

Half-hearted, she presses a kiss to Jessica's temple before pulling away to continue with the pie-making. The timer was still ticking down.

"Maybe we can do our nails with those Unown designs everyone is raving about these days."

She wiggles her fingers, smirking.

Jessica Manner

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"They're pretty ugly, honestly - putting eyeballs on your fingernails.. yeesh! But.. you gotta stay with the trend, right?"

Or else, what's the point?

She inspects her nail beds for a moment. It was definitely well past time she had a manicure and gave some attention to her mistreated cuticles. Ugly nail polish or not.

"Ew. Dressing up as Unowns? Over my dead body."

Jessica Manner

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