Phonecall (rp thread for questionorigin and a_carrion_crow)

[take_mychances]

(a day after previous post)

When she knew her parents would be watching TV, Dalia slipped away to her bedroom, cordless phone in her hand. Quietly, she dialed Duela's cell phone. After getting her voicemail, Dalia sighed, then, with reluctance, dialed the Crane residence.

Comments

[a_carrion_crow]

Once his mother hung up the phone, Joshua said, "Maybe I'd like to go with you tomorrow."

[questionorigin]

Duela looked at her son with a small smile. "You can join Dalia and me for coffee some other time, Joshua."

[a_carrion_crow]

He made a face. "But what if I wanted to go tomorrow? You're not picking her over me, are you?"

[questionorigin]

"Something's wrong, and it's something we need to talk about alone," Duela replied. She frowned slightly. "With the way my parents can be... Well. She needs me right now. Forgive me for not bringing you along tomorrow?"

[a_carrion_crow]

"I don't see why I can't come just because Harvey's ridiculous," he sat up, perched on the edge of the couch. "Father would say it isn't fair. Maybe I should ask him."

[questionorigin]

"I'm sure your father will agree, and you're welcome to ask him." She smiled at her son, almost playfully, "But he doesn't get to overrule me just because you like his answer better."

[a_carrion_crow]

"Maybe," Joshua countered, the picture of innocence, "I'll call Grandmother Nadine while you're gone. She ought to be able to tell me what's going on with The Urchin."

[questionorigin]

Duela arched an eyebrow slightly. "I suppose I'll have to speak to your father about that. I had hoped we'd raised more than," she paused, more for effect, "a common brat, but if that is the manner in which you feel you must conduct yourself... Your father and I shall have to determine an appropriate punishment."

[a_carrion_crow]

He narrowed his eyes, but paused before replying. "It's not common. You're lying to Grandmother and you're interfering, and you won't tell me why. That's patently unfair. You're keeping secrets, and I bet you're not even telling Father."

[questionorigin]

"Yes, I am lying to my mother, just as I am sure you will lie to me eventually." She made a small gesture. "I am interfering because my sister said she needed to speak with me. I don't know why yet." Then, calmly, almost primly, she added, "And no, I may not tell your father. It doesn't concern him. If it comes to, then I will tell him."

She smiled. "Is that clearer now?"

[a_carrion_crow]

"You don't care about my feelings," he huffed.

[questionorigin]

"Joshua, darling," Duela said, leaning forward, still smiling, "I care deeply about your feelings. However, you've met my mother. Do you really think that emotional blackmail is going to work on me?"

[a_carrion_crow]

"It's not emotional blackmail," he scowled. Well, it was, but it was annoyingly ineffective, almost as useless as trying it on his father. "You're leaving me out for her - and she's not even worth bothering with. She calls me a creep. She hates me, and you're being nice to her for it."

[questionorigin]

"Yes, she does call you a creep, and you call her an urchin. You're even on that front," Duela pointed out, grinning wider. "You're smarter than this, Joshua. You are quite aware that the majority of my time is spent with you and your father. However, tomorrow, my little sister needs to talk to someone, likely about something my parents have done. I can't very well leave her without someone to turn to."

[a_carrion_crow]

He stood, grabbing his book, and made to leave, muttering in a peevish tone, "I don't see why you even care about your replacement. Father thinks it's stupid for you to stay involved with any of them."

[questionorigin]

Duela looked at him for a moment, her smiling faltering. She did her best to keep her voice light as she said, "Go on upstairs. I'll call you when dinner's ready." The look in her eyes, though, said that he'd hit a nerve. Not one to make her angry, no, but a spot of slight pain, even if she wouldn't admit to it.