03 | Video

[selfinteresting]

[Remember this picture, Ange? (doesn't Battler look like a dork (doesn't dad look as cool as ever)) Mom managed to find it.  And now it's being broadcast, isn't it great...

]

Happy birthday, Ange~ Will you come over for dinner tonight? We can have a little party just like we used to.  Well, not quite the same seeing as your father isn't around, but we all know the highlight is having Battler there anyway.
I want to make up for our absence, in some small way. 

[Locked from Ange]

I'm extending an open invitation to any of Ange's friends as well.  I'll be making dinner as well as dessert and you're welcome to stay as little or long as you like.  The only condition is, please keep it a secret from Ange, I want it to be a surprise.

Comments

[selfinteresting]

[shhh, this whole family still thinks she's just plain moe, okay.]

She still whines in the same way too - don't tell her I said that.

[markofthewise]

Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. [... maybe.] Any other embarrassed secrets you have?

[selfinteresting]

They might be a little inappropriate.

[markofthewise]

... right. Forget I asked.

[selfinteresting]

Oh, it's that easy to scare you?

[markofthewise]

Scared? I wouldn't call it scared so much as not needing to know that kind of... stuff.

[selfinteresting]

Hopefully the thought will give you some appreciation for what Ange has to go through.

[markofthewise]

Having a mother out to humiliate you must be tough.

[selfinteresting]

It's any good parent's job.

[markofthewise]

Really? I don't think my dad ever did that. [Then again, Sokka is plenty talented at humiliating himself already.]

[selfinteresting]

Then you were missing out on a key part of childhood!

[Okay her parents didn't either, but that's a little different.]

[markofthewise]

Yeah. Maybe. [His dad has kind of been missing for the last four years, so.]

[selfinteresting]

[Well see there's your problem, it's only fun with teenagers, so he's been missing the key years here]

I'm happy to rent out my services. if needed.

[markofthewise]

Well maybe I'll hire you out on behalf of my sister sometime. But without knowing the right stories, I'm not sure you'd do any good.

[selfinteresting]

If it's for your sister, you'll just have to fill me in, right?

[markofthewise]

Pretty sure it's not worth the risk.

[selfinteresting]

Fair enough. But still, I feel sorry for you kids, mine love it, you can go ahead and ask them.

[And you'll get a no from both...]

[markofthewise]

You... don't really have to go feeling sorry for us. We're fine. Good, even. [A pause.] So who are the other guys in the picture?

[selfinteresting]

Oh, that would be my husband, Rudolf, and stepson, Battler. Battler is here as well, Ange really looks up to him, so I wouldn't be surprised if you've heard his name before.

[markofthewise]

... nope, haven't heard of him. But uh, I don't really know Ange anyway. [Just that one conversation abou ther love life.]

[selfinteresting]

Oh, is that so? I assumed you did, she goes off and makes friends without ever informing me, so I never do know.

[markofthewise]

Well no worries! No mystery friend here. I'm just... some guy. That's all.

[selfinteresting]

That's fine too. [She laughs lightly] You're just as welcome to come tonight, even if you're only interested in a meal.

[markofthewise]

I... don't know about that. Just showing up to someone's birthday like that would be weird.

[selfinteresting]

Well, it's clear you have at least spoken to her some, right? It's not that strange.