"Hm."

Somehow, she doubts that. Family is complicated and indistinct. They could put knives in your back just as soon as they'd offer bandages. Perhaps she had a negative perspective, however.

At his instruction, she places the strips as suggested, smoothing them down in the right places. If it doesn't look good, she would never know.

"Hard to please- that's an understatement. If it isn't perfect, she loses her fuckin' mind."

GABRIEL BLACK

☉

gabriel laughs, ripping a hole in the netting of the bag. he'd been on the opposite side of his wife's wrath, and her judgements. spencer held an inkling of a truth. but she was a good parent. better than him, at least.
[break][break]
"i still don't think she feels that way about you. she's got, what, twenty years on you almost? you're bound to have a different view of the world."
[break][break]
he runs the sink, and prepares to slice the skin off the potatoes.

[attr="class","ooc"]Spencer Hale [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-pyroar"]

"Tell me about it. Never let's me live it down."

She's heard baby jokes for her entire 27 years of life. She'd hear it until her sister was on her death bed and it was impossible to tell the two apart from their grey hairs. The thought makes her want to roll her eyes right into the back of her head.

"I'm not a child."

Once finished, she pushes the glass away and exhales, frustrated. Her brows come together and she looks away to hide her scowl. Living in her sister's shadow was exhausting because it wasn't just hers she could see. It was all of them, her brothers, other sisters. Being the youngest, being the baby meant that nothing had been her own.

Nothing.

GABRIEL BLACK

☉

he couldn't help but muse at the similarity his cutting had with the strange unown that were popping up all around the region. it only lasted a moment, though.
[break][break]
"have you tried talking to her about it?"
[break][break]
the frustration was clear; he'd sat in plenty of board meetings to see it plainly. what would she do with it, though?

[attr="class","ooc"]Spencer Hale [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-pyroar"]

"Talking to her? That's impossible."

It was like talking to a judgemental brick wall. There was always something she could be doing better, something she should be doing that she isn't. Not once had she heard congratulations or praise, only what to start next. It was never enough.

"The only time she speaks to me is if she needs something."

GABRIEL BLACK

☉

was she always this way? she could be strict, vocal even, but she'd always treated the kids with love. at least, more than he. "i didn't realize."
[break][break]
in the sink, a naked bird carcass sits ready to be seasoned and prepared. he moves to it, hoisting it easily. "does she know you feel this way?" a dumb question, maybe.

[attr="class","ooc"]Spencer Hale [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-pyroar"]

People were capable of wearing two different faces.

"No one does."

But nausea and discomfort swell in her belly, flipping like an omelet gone bad. Maybe it is the sight of the naked bird carcass he lifts out of the sink. Maybe it's the thought of how he thinks he's going to effectively clean the sink to not get food poisoning later.

Or maybe it's the conversation altogether. Whatever it is, Spencer feels a spike of sudden, violent regret, and she turns on her heel.

"I just remembered I have.. a date."

No she didn't.

But she didn't feel like staying anymore. She didn't feel like talking about her sister to the man she'd once held fluttery feelings for. She was better than that.

GABRIEL BLACK

☉

"just remembered, huh?" he echoes, his voice not betraying any emotion. he half-expects it to be a lie, but she had been in a hurry to leave when she got here. then again, his presence was a discomfort to most; domineering in stature and personality, and he wasn't exactly a conversationalist.
[break][break]
he accepts it for what it is. an escape. "very well," the snap of latex gloves over his massive hands follows, and he narrows his eyes onto his work. "feel free to stop by for dinner, or leftovers."

[attr="class","ooc"]Spencer Hale [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-pyroar"]