I don't mind... as long as I can set some ground rules first? Nothing super hard! Just a couple things so you make a good impression. I want them to like you.
[Peter has many likeable qualities, but he's not great at first impressions.]
[It's definitely usually 'not do', and Evangeline acknowledges that with a chuckle before getting serious.]
Number one - and I probably don't need to tell you this, but just so we're clear: if you hurt my parents, I will kick your ass to the curb so hard you'll have skid marks.
Number two... just. Try not to scare them? They don't know you like I do - if they find out you've hurt other people, they're going to worry that you might hurt me. So don't talk about your knife collection or about following me around before we started dating, things like that.
Number three, we're not having sex in my parents' apartment. I would die of embarrassment on the spot.
[Peter soaks all of those rules in. The first he would like to say she shouldn't have to define but he gets it, he really does. He hates his mother with a passion and thinking about someone else liking their own parents is very foreign to him.
Trying not to scare them is again something he can fake well. He'd faked being utterly normal to more than a few business associates through the years. He can be a perfect gentleman around her parents and leave the knife collection at home.
The sex part though ... he doesn't argue with but he does quirk an inquisitive brow.]
We could always get a hotel.
[Excuse him for being an unrepentant whore for her.]
[And so the day of the visit arrives. Evangeline is dressed casually ("my parents don't really care about dressing up, don't worry about that") and radiating excitement as she knocks.
The person who opens the door is a middle-aged woman. The most immediate resemblance is in the eyes - they have the same sparkling eyes.]
Eva, sweetie! It's been so long! [She gives Evangeline a quick (but happily received) hug, then turns her attention to Peter.] And you must be P- I mean, the boyfriend. I've heard so much about you.
[Including that he doesn't like his name, which leaves her a little at a loss for how to address him, but she's trying her best.]
[Evangeline really does resemble her mother, doesn't she. It's the first thing Peter notices and it's enough to almost distract him from her near tripping over his name. When she cuts his name off short any sort of animosity he might have been inclined to when hearing it just fades away.]
You can give me any nickname you like, ma'am.
[Rather than the usual bright toothy smile he likes to give Evangeline when he's pleased he instead gives a more mulled, gentler smile for her mother. It definitely helps that she looks so much like Evangeline.]
[Evangeline's grateful that her mother remembered not to use his name, as strange a request as it is.]
Oh, gosh, that's hard to decide on so suddenly... Let me think about it? I don't want to pick a bad one...
[The apartment, once they're inside to take a look, is modestly furnished. There are the same signs of a modest budget that are in Evangeline's home - a few patches on the sofa, not much in the way of decoration.]
[If Peter notes the patches or the lack of decoration he doesn't say anything or make it obvious. After all Peter lived in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, he definitely had no right to criticize anyone. In spite of the modesty too he can outright tell this is a house with more warmth than his family home ever held.
Peter lays a casual hand on Evangeline's shoulder, the other tucked in his pocket. He looks casual and relaxed thankfully.]
Take your time. I imagine you want to catch up with Evangeline more than me anyhow. I'm just glad to be along for the trip.
[Peter is exceptionally good sometimes as masking his first response. The name Sara (even without the 'h') near triggers something in him. He squashes any image of that bitch of a sister of his as he replies.]
[On one hand Peter does want to keep her within eyesight. It's her parent's place but he's an untrusting soul at time even in the safest of spaces. Evangeline has given him no reason though to not trust her alone with her father -- it's not like she's kidnapped and he's trying to keep her from telling anyone after all.
He tries to keep the moment of unease stuffed down with a sheepish smile, patting her shoulder.]
Trust me, you don't want me anywhere near the kitchen. We'll be fine out here.
[He looks to Sara now.]
Unless you want to go help too? I'll be honest here, I'm useless in the kitchen.
[Peter flushes beautifully with the kiss and the adoration is clear on his face as he watches Evangeline leave for the kitchen. He turns to answer her mother's question with a doting grin.]
Would you believe me if I said it was love at first sight?
[Peter's smile only brightens at that. Good, he's glad others can see it so readily. It just proves to him more firmly that his love must be real.
That said he did pick up on the unspoken aspect of the question thankfully.]
There's a flower shop I like to go to that happens to be in your daughter's neighborhood. I watched her pass by at least two or three times before I worked up the nerve to go introduce myself.
[He's not lying either, it was at least two or three times. Probably more like thirty or fourty times and he'd been stalking her for months by the time he finally introduced himself.]
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[Peter has many likeable qualities, but he's not great at first impressions.]
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Of course, darling. Whatever you want me to do -- or not do.
[Then he gives a light grin. Usually it's not do, forgive him for being a little cheeky here.]
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Number one - and I probably don't need to tell you this, but just so we're clear: if you hurt my parents, I will kick your ass to the curb so hard you'll have skid marks.
Number two... just. Try not to scare them? They don't know you like I do - if they find out you've hurt other people, they're going to worry that you might hurt me. So don't talk about your knife collection or about following me around before we started dating, things like that.
Number three, we're not having sex in my parents' apartment. I would die of embarrassment on the spot.
-That's it. Can you promise all that?
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Trying not to scare them is again something he can fake well. He'd faked being utterly normal to more than a few business associates through the years. He can be a perfect gentleman around her parents and leave the knife collection at home.
The sex part though ... he doesn't argue with but he does quirk an inquisitive brow.]
We could always get a hotel.
[Excuse him for being an unrepentant whore for her.]
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If you hold out until we get home, I'll reward you for being such a good boy. Okay?
[She's glad that's the only one he voices opposition to, since it's the least important of the three.]
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You're turning me into a real pet here, darling. I've got to admit though you've got me intrigued on your idea of a reward.
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[And they're both agreed that Rat is very, very cute.]
So do we have a deal?
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[Well and apparently parents she likes. It still astounds him that people actually do that.]
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[And so the day of the visit arrives. Evangeline is dressed casually ("my parents don't really care about dressing up, don't worry about that") and radiating excitement as she knocks.
The person who opens the door is a middle-aged woman. The most immediate resemblance is in the eyes - they have the same sparkling eyes.]
Eva, sweetie! It's been so long! [She gives Evangeline a quick (but happily received) hug, then turns her attention to Peter.] And you must be P- I mean, the boyfriend. I've heard so much about you.
[Including that he doesn't like his name, which leaves her a little at a loss for how to address him, but she's trying her best.]
Come in, make yourself at home.
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You can give me any nickname you like, ma'am.
[Rather than the usual bright toothy smile he likes to give Evangeline when he's pleased he instead gives a more mulled, gentler smile for her mother. It definitely helps that she looks so much like Evangeline.]
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Oh, gosh, that's hard to decide on so suddenly... Let me think about it? I don't want to pick a bad one...
[The apartment, once they're inside to take a look, is modestly furnished. There are the same signs of a modest budget that are in Evangeline's home - a few patches on the sofa, not much in the way of decoration.]
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Peter lays a casual hand on Evangeline's shoulder, the other tucked in his pocket. He looks casual and relaxed thankfully.]
Take your time. I imagine you want to catch up with Evangeline more than me anyhow. I'm just glad to be along for the trip.
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I do want to get to know you! You've made my little girl so happy, after all.
Mom... [Oh, now she's a little embarrassed.]
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It's just because she's made me so happy, ma'am. She's the love of my life.
[He has absolutely no embarrassment in gushing about his affection it seems.]
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Ahh, young love is so nice to see. You don't need to call me ma'am, you can just call me Sara.
[Such a polite young man!]
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Sara then.
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[She doesn't want to just ditch him, but she also wants to help her parents make dinner.]
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He tries to keep the moment of unease stuffed down with a sheepish smile, patting her shoulder.]
Trust me, you don't want me anywhere near the kitchen. We'll be fine out here.
[He looks to Sara now.]
Unless you want to go help too? I'll be honest here, I'm useless in the kitchen.
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[Evangeline kisses his cheek, then heads to the kitchen to help her dad.]
Oh, no, it'd be rude to leave you all alone. Besides, I want to hear more about you! How did you meet my daughter?
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Would you believe me if I said it was love at first sight?
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[She meant more where they met, in what circumstance, etc. but she's not going to contest love at first sight.]
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That said he did pick up on the unspoken aspect of the question thankfully.]
There's a flower shop I like to go to that happens to be in your daughter's neighborhood. I watched her pass by at least two or three times before I worked up the nerve to go introduce myself.
[He's not lying either, it was at least two or three times. Probably more like thirty or fourty times and he'd been stalking her for months by the time he finally introduced himself.]
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[Evangeline's a sucker for flowers from her boyfriend, of any variety.]
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Good.
[He casts a glance to the kitchen and then leans towards Sara.]
Don't tell her this but I had it made for her. I noticed the flowers she liked and had it custom ordered. I was relieved it turned out so well.
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