Dinner At The Phan's
2/27/2009
10:53 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Currently the moon is in the waxing Crescent Moon phase (23% full).
It is currently 22:49 Pacific Time on Fri Feb 27 2009.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric pressure reading is 30.27 and steady, and the relative humidity is 79 percent. The dewpoint is 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius.)
Phan Family Apartment(#338RJ)
The second floor of the Gold Star Laundromat is actually the home of the owners. It's a two bedroom place, spacious enough for the family of three that lives there, but perhaps not for the sheer amount of knickknacks they own. Relics from cities the world over rest on shelves, cabinets and shadowboxes; figurines, fans, dolls, shot glasses, picture frames, spoons, glasses... and all of it collecting dust here in this little apartment in St. Claire.
The front door, which leads to a set of stairs outside that hug the building and lower to street level, opens into the living room. To the left there is an archway that leads to the kitchen and the 'back door' that leads down into the shop below. To the right there is a hallway which leads to the bathroom, hall closet and the two bedrooms that house the family.
(See +view for more!)
Contents:
Jason`
Fanta
Obvious exits:
Downstairs
Proving that she really does have clothes other than the dance variety, Fanta sits near Jason on the couch in a pair of jeans and an old, faded t-shirt. The sounds of her mother cooking in the next room are clear, even over the gentle classical music playing there in the living room. "I hope you like spicy. She's probably going to pile it in there just to mess with you," Fanta notes, with some amusement.
Fanta's mother, Kim, must be a really good cook of her chosen cuisine because it undoubtedly smells only of good, authentic Vietnamese food coming from that kitchen. The sounds might be a little more questionable, as very suddenly there's a sharp *BANG! BANG! BANG!* of something hitting against a wooden butcher's block. It's followed by a calling out of the girl's name, "Maaaai!" And a river of sentences in another tongue after it.
[Long distance to Fanta: Sai | See if your friend wants to have something to drink! And does he want fruit? Did you make sure to get the apples? You better not have gotten the ones from Johnny's!]
Somewhere in the midst of the foreign language is the word "Johnny".
Jason` might be surprising in his outfit as well, since he's not wearing any clothes with worn out knees or torn seams. He's wearing a clean but comfortable pair of jeans and a long-sleeve button-up shirt, with the arms of the shirt rolled up above his elbows and his collar artistically askew. Thumbs twiddle themselves on his lap, and he grins at Fanta, "Bring it on, I say. There's this Thai place down on 5th? I'm having--" Despite the Fianna's slouching, relaxed posture, the nervousness he's hiding becomes apparent at the way he jumps in his seat at that banging.
Fanta winces slightly at the bangs, but gives Jason an apologetic look before she answers her mother, calling back in that same language. But, it's kept short before she looks at Jason. "I've actually had that Thai place. Not bad, not bad. Thirsty? We have... well, there's always tea, but there's also coke, if you like that more."
[From afar, Fanta | Yes, I got the apples! And you can /check/ them for bruises, Ma! They're fine.]
The banging follows with some hot sizzling noises. At least it's followed with another pleasant aroma of some other dish cooking. And a less pleasant stream of Vietnamese from Mrs. Phan. It gets louder, particularly because Kim comes out of the kitchen and, wiping her hands on her apron, looks around. The stern look on her features pushes off once she spots Jason again, and the older woman smiles. "Are you thirsty?"
[Long distance to Fanta: Sai | (This is meant for Fanta's father, as he's possibly in the other room. Probably reading a newspaper.) Hey Bull-brain! Almost time for dinner, and don't just sit there, come talk to Fanta's boy friend!]
Jason` spreads his hands on his knees after he jumps, letting out a slightly relieved laugh at Fanta's offer. "Hmmm? Got any tea without caffeine? I don't think I need to be any more jittery tonight." When Kim pokes her head around the door, the Fianna sits up and his smile lights up like a lightbulb. "I'm fine, thank you Ms. Phan. What're you making? It smells a-MAZE-ing!"
Whatever Kim says in Vietnamese seems to bring an embarrassed flush to Fanta's cheeks, even though Jason can't decipher the words. There is a quick response, although it doesn't seem directed at her mom. When she looks back to Jason, Fanta seems a little jittery herself. "Yeah, sure. Non-caffeinated. You got it." She stands up then, to trade places with her mother in the kitchen.
[From afar, Fanta says to her father, "/Just/ a friend, dad!"]
Whoever it is Kim was addressing before, Fanta's father by the sound of it, doesn't answer in any form of rebuttal. But that doesn't seem to bother the older woman as she watches Fanta head into the kitchen. Turning back to Jason, she smiles and replies, "Oh you'll like it very much. Curry chicken, rice, egg roll. You've eaten it before? It's very good."
Jason`'s eyes widen and he gives two thumbs up to the Vietnamese woman, though he does his best to keep his tone respectful, "Sounds wonderful! I'm a big curry fan, and I've never had an egg roll I didn't like."
In an effort not to leave Jason alone with her mother for too long, Fanta comes quickly back into the room, that tray with cups and tea kettle in hand. She slides the tray onto the coffee table and sits back down before she starts actually pouring and preparing. She looks up at her mom, an innocent smile coming to her face, "Ma, looked like the egg rolls were burning in there."
Glancing up as Fanta returns, Mrs. Phan breaks off her all-smiles expression to gasp and quickly stands all a'fluster about the meal and hurrying off. Though, not without first a note at Fanta and a point towards the tea kettle and cups. Then it's off to the kitchen to check those frying rolls. It isn't long before the pair are interrupted by another figure, which comes in the form of Mr. Phan. Newspaper folded and tucked under arm, reading glasses sitting at the end of his nose, some flip flop sandals and loose shirt over sweats on, the man comes in to the living room to greet Jason. "Nice of you to join us," he says. There's a deft spying of the tray, looking for a free extra cup.
Jason` gives a rather impressed look matched with an amused smile to Fanta as her mom hurries out. "Very nice," he murmurs, leaning over to peer into the cups curiously as she pours them. He's never been a good judge of tea flavors by smell but--The Fianna's attention is snatched away as someone else enters the room, and Jason stands when he sees the person is, presumably, Fanta's father. Giving a small nod of the head, he extends one hand in offering, "It's good to be here...Mr. Phan? I was promised a good meal, and who could turn that down?"
[Long distance to Fanta: Sai | Kim had said: You should stand up to pour the tea, not sit down.]
"Gets her everytime," Fanta says with a quiet snap and a crooked smile. Of course, when her dad enters, that smile looks a bit more amused, "Haven't figured out his weakness yet." Clearly, she doesn't mind her dad hearing about her plotting, and she does set up an extra cup for him, as well, but she stands up before she pours this one. "This is Jason, Dad. He's a friend of Yi's."
Mr. Phan doesn't seem to mind hearing the plotting either as he finds himself a place in the living room. "It's not much, but it is home and you are welcome in it. Please. Call me 'Charlie'," the man says with a hand reaching out to shake the one offered. And maybe, there's a little bit extra a glimmer in his eyes as he offers up an alternative name. Mrs. Phan comes back in at that exchange, and huffs with a roll of her eyes. "Ay, you /know/ that joke is never funny!" she chides the man. But, looking at the three standing, she waves them on over to the dining table. "Come, come. Dinner's ready!"
Jason` grins broadly at the offering up of the new name, and the Fianna's grip is brief but surprisingly firm for how thin his hands are. "Charlie, got it. And you can call me whatever you like, as long as you don't call me late for dinner. Oop, speaking of which..." The Fianna almost hops to at the ringing of the dinner bell, though steps back to let Fanta and her father enter first, aiming to be the last to the table.
"Oh my god, Dad," Fanta says with a shake of her head, "I can't believe you just said that." However, she does seem amused, even though her mother isn't as taken with the joke. She stands up at the call to dinner, picking up the tray to carry it along with her toward the small table. Even though Jason makes it to the table last, Fanta stands next to her chair until her parents and the guest have all sat. And then the girl actually move to start serving. Jason first, even.
Mrs. Phan is true to her wife-mother's worth when it comes to dinner. Though the meal is simple cuisine, it's nonetheless a little indicative of her showing off just what she's capable of doing. The chicken is actually chopped from a whole chicken, seeing as there's still the meat stuck to the bone that's been cooked with the curry. Large chunks of potatoes and vegetables all stewed in a yellow-ish broth, ladled over rice and accompanied with some fine bread to boot. As an extra are the egg rolls, fried for just that extra crunch and most definitely Not burned. All in all, a rather large homemade meal for a small family entertaining a guest. And the evening is quite prepared to be filled with chatter as Mr. and Mrs. Phan banter back and forth at each other in three different languages.
Back | Next | 2009 Logs | Main