[Dial tone]

[Hangup]

ROSLYN: You've reached the Love and Luck Podcast.

[Music]

[Beep]

[Pickup]

[Beep]

KANE: [Excited] Heeey! Guess what we just got in the mail!! An invitation to your sister's wedding!!

It's really pretty, I think there's like, real lace on this. And it's...

[Shocked] Holy shit, Jason. It's in two weeks.

Who sends out wedding invitations only two weeks head of time? Wait, hang on, there's a note in here as well...

[Reading] "A note to our guests: sorry for the short notice, but we grew tired of waiting for 'the right moment' to get married. We're excited to continue our lives together as a married couple as soon as we can, and what better moment to mark the change than new years day?"

[Verbal shrug] Well. That sure is one way to throw a wedding, I guess. Did you know about this? This feels like something that would come up in conversation when you talk to Maggie on the phone or something.

Well, uh, I guess we need to roster Victor and Michael for that weekend. Because, as I said a long time ago, I am not missing your sister's wedding. Aside from the fact I love weddings, I haven't even met your family yet, and a wedding seems like a nice time to do it.

[Excited] Ooh, we're gonna have to buy you a suit! Oh, that's gonna be fun. For me, mostly. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you scrub up all fancy.

[Hangup]

[Beep]

KANE: [Solemn] Hey. Sarah just came in, she wanted to double check that she's still welcome here. Of course I told her that she was, and so did everyone else - even Mira. Then Sarah and Mira sat together and drank some tea and finished up some last minute breakup housekeeping - you know, who gets which books and that sort of thing.

I did my best not to eavesdrop, but when they both started crying a little I did head over to check on them. They were okay though. Just sad about breaking up.

Sarah left looking a bit better than when she came in, and Mira looks like she's had a weight lifted. Like, they're both still sad, that much is clear, but... I think today was a turning point for them.

I'm so glad they're handling themselves so well. Not just that they're looking after themselves and all that, but... they were still very gentle with each other, even in that painful time right after the breakup itself. There's no animosity. Just sadness, and that's understandable.

They're good girls. They'll be okay.

[Hangup]

[Beep]

JASON: Hey babe. Pretty busy night tonight, but all closed up now.

We need to order more of that fancy Tasmanian tea again, by the way. It continues to sell fast as hell.

[Content sigh] Ah... I like nights like tonight. Lots of people to keep me occupied, lots of life downstairs. I do still miss clubbing sometimes, to be honest, so... nights like this help ease that a bit.

Better soak it all up best I can before we have to go to the country for a bit, yikes.

I know you're excited but... I'm conflicted. Like I've said before, I'm not a huge fan of weddings, and... family is complicated. I mean... I'll be there, for my sister, no doubt about that. I'm happy for her, and I love her soon-to-be husband.

But... our parents will probably be there too, and that's... well, that'll be interesting, that's for sure.

Ah well, [Sigh] let's stay positive. At least I'll have you with me. And hopefully it will be a lovely wedding and no one will tell us that we're going to hell.

I love you. I love you so much I'm even going to let you make me wear a suit. Which, frankly, says an awful lot about the high level of my devotion.

[Hangup]

[Beep]

MIRA: [Tired] Hey Papa Bear. I kind of wanted to talk, but... not to anyone who might talk back, and... I don't know, I hope it's okay if I leave you another voicemail or two. I just... I need to clear my head, I think, and... this is actually a really helpful way of doing that.

[Sigh] [Sad] It was hard to see Sarah today. I mean... it was good. [Tearful] But it was hard.

Everything feels more... final, now. Like... it's not that... didn't feel final before, it's just... now it feels like something that's happened, rather than something that's still happening, you know?

I'm glad we're still on good terms. And I'm glad she feels like she can still come to the bar. Like... it's painful for me to see her, but I still want her to feel welcome and involved with the people here. I don't want us to be on the other side of a social chasm, you know? I want us to be okay.

[Quietly] I just want us to be okay.

[Hangup]

[Beep]

RICARDO: Hey, CJ... it's Ricardo.

I know it's probably weird to get a voicemail from me when you're going to wake up next to me, but... well, I started leaving voicemails for Jason when I couldn't sleep, and so... now I'm kind of developing that as a habit, I guess.

[Nervous] But... I don't need to connect with Jason tonight. I just want to talk, and... I want to talk to you. Even if you're not available to listen right this second.

Thank you for this weekend. [More nervous] I'm... sorry I freaked out last night after meeting your housemates. I... I know I can be a lot to deal with. I'm sorry. I'm trying to get better, I really am. I'm just... not there yet.

[Calmer] But... I had a really good time at Healesville today. I felt... a bit lighter.

I love animals so much, and... getting to see them all, and be with you at the same time was really, really good. I felt like my soul could breathe.

Thank you for helping me get out of my head for a little while. Let's hold hands in the sunshine again sometime soon, okay?

[Hangup]

[Beep]

CJ: [Happy] Hey Ricardo. I figured since you let me sleep, I should do the same for you now that it's morning. I was going to head out and buy something for us for breakfast, but then I thought it might worry you if you woke up and I wasn't around, so I'll just hang out in the kitchen until you're awake, okay?

[Kindly] And, hey, don't be sorry about freaking out. It's okay. Really, it is. We've all got our stuff, and I don't mind dealing with yours.

[Sweetly] Being with you makes me feel like my soul can breathe, too.

[Hangup]

[Music]

ROSLYN: Love and Luck is written by Erin Kyan, and produced by Passer Vulpes Productions.

Kane is voiced by Lee Davis-Thalbourne. Jason is voiced by Erin Kyan. Mira is voiced by Tahlia Celenn. Ricardo is voiced by Justin Jones Li. CJ is voiced by Jai Moore. Credits spoken by Roslyn Quin. Recorded by Kermie Breydon and Eris Barnes.

If you're enjoying Love and Luck, consider backing us on Patreon. We do our best not only to make a high quality show for you, but to pay everyone involved in its creation. Your monthly donation will be directly supporting queer art by queer people. Pledge now at patreon.com/passervulpes - that's patreon.com/ P A S S E R V U L P E S.

For more information about Love and Luck, check out our website, loveandluckpodcast.com. You can also find us on facebook as Love and Luck Podcast, on twitter as @LoveLuckPodcast, and on tumblr and instagram as loveandluckpodcast, all one word.

[Music fades out]