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[invisibilitea]

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ANNIE CLARE SAWYER

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[humanistic]

No-- I mean, yeah, but--

[It never ended well, for starters. And anyways, this is Annie, if she's going to start going on about--

Well, it's not that it's bad. It's a good thought. Definitely good. But--]

'Cause-- you're permanently wearing it? [That's what she means by 'not true', right?]

[invisibilitea]

Yeah, but - that's what girls do, you know, when a man looks like you do-

[Pause. Well, except for the heroin chic thing]

And yes. Unfortunately.

[humanistic]

[GIRLS LIKE THE HEROIN CHIC jesus christ

Anyway. There's a beat; he looks down at their hands and, after a second, squeezes at her hand.]

We could just... do the date, thing. Worry about ghost panties later. Right?

[invisibilitea]

[No, Mitchell. They don't.

Okay maybe they do.]

Yes! Real dating. Like real people.

[humanistic]

Like real people.

[He gives her that smile again, the one nearly reserved for her and her alone. And he isn't sure about this, really, but-- it's Annie, isn't it. He's eaten dinners with Annie (so to speak), he's watched movies, he's sat right beside her on a sofa. How different can it be?]

You just-- tell me when.

[invisibilitea]

[She beams, it's spectacular for a minute there.]

All right, it's a deal!

[humanistic]

[Really, he ought to tell her what he was going to tell her: about Lucy Jaggat, about keeping George away from her away from George--it's not like he's forgotten all of that, but-- he can't ruin this right now.

He'll tell her. Just not yet. Instead, he squeezes her hand again, gently.]

But, uh, let's not tell George about this first one. He'll make it weird.

[invisibilitea]

I don't know what kind of dates you've been on, Mitchell, but best mates are not usually invited.

[Oh, oh, she just leans over to kiss him on the corner of the mouth. Don't be silly, Mitchell.]

[humanistic]

Not that I was inviting him, I meant--

[Well, that's the best distraction there ever was, so he cuts off with that reply and with that thought entirely, actually, with a grin--and then quickly turns so he can at least get a fast kiss in before she pulls back, a real one, none of this corners-of-the-mouth business.]

[invisibilitea]

It's not too cold, is it?

[She asks because it's a legitimate concern for her.]

[humanistic]

No, it's-- kinda nice.

[He's still leaning in quite close to her; he flicks his gaze up to hers, with a little smile.]

It's just different, y'know? Tingly.

[invisibilitea]

[Her smile is softer, warmer. She just nudges in and kisses him again]

You weren't just coming here for this, were you?

[humanistic]

[--a kiss which he ruins by laughing a little.]

Uh-- for your company as well, yeah, but--the kissing is nice--

[invisibilitea]

I should very much hope it's nice, I'm a terrific kisser, thank you, better than I am a tea-maker I should say, although really, I made some earlier-

[She may be babbling a little]

[humanistic]

[He laughs, pulling away a little so he can meet her eyes.]

Annie.

[invisibilitea]

What?

[That hushed her up a little.]

[humanistic]

You don't need t' convince me of your tea skills or your kissing skills, y'know. I've had experience with both. I know.

[And he leans in quick again, just-- for a fast kiss, barely more than brushing his lips against hers.]

[invisibilitea]

Maybe I should work on convincing George.

[humanistic]

On the tea thing only, I'm hoping, 'cause he and I are mates, yeah, but...

[invisibilitea]

Are you saying you wouldn't kiss George?

[humanistic]

More I meant-- you, but-- as surprising as you might find that, yeah, that's also what I'm saying.

[invisibilitea]

[She snorts]

Well that's a shock.

[Teasing!]

[humanistic]

Yeah, probably, given how often you've told us to snog each other.

[invisibilitea]

Well I'm not to blame that you act like a couple.

[She sniffs]

Certainly more than you do with me.

[Still teasing!]

[humanistic]

We-- we do not act like--

[Well, there are jokes and then there are jokes. Mitchell scowls.]

Why does every-- name one way how.