myownface | Voicemail / Disclaimer

"I get my own phone? I get my own PHONE. You have GOT to realize that's going to mean you'll get my voicemail all the time, right? I mean, they can't hand me my own PHONE and then expect me to not use it, so leave a message on my voicemail for me and I'll get back to you, unless I don't. And if that's the case I guess you're going to have to try again later, aren't you? Hah!"

BEEP!

For the Demon Marcus Business Voicemail, go here!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'd rather you weren't criminal at all.

If a text could be plaintive, this one was.

And I'd rather the world was a happy place full of sunshine and free puppies, but...

See? Lisa Frank!

I can't promise anyone I'll stay out of trouble. I can only really guarantee that I don't want to BE in it.

I never asked for a promise!

Seriously, Sparkle. Did she look stupid?

I just said I'd rather you weren't. That's different. Breaking the law is a big deal to me, so I can't help wishing even if wishes are kinda crap all around.

Hey, around there, who knows what wishes will come true? The island is just messed-up enough to start granting those things indiscriminately just because.

It was a few more minutes before he added,

Does it help if you just never find out about it?

It took Karina a long, long time to answer that text. Long enough that it was late afternoon by the time she did and she answered it while walking along the beach, holding her sandals in one hand while the water brushed her knees.

Finding an answer to his question wasn't easy. Between her own feelings, their friendship, and her careers, Karina wrestled with herself about it.

Eventually, she texted:

Do you remember the conversation we had about strings a long time ago? Legally, it's probably better for both of us if I don't know anything about the laws you break.

That was truth.

But I don't like the idea of being a friend you HAVE to lie to either.

The very idea hurt her feelings in complicated ways. Honesty was, strangely enough, one of the things that let them be friends--at least, it was in her eyes. Even if it was sometimes a weird, sideways honesty.

So I don't know, Sparkle. I don't know.

Then I'll use discretion or something. And I'll fucking hate it, but I'll understand if I admit to something that's too damn much and you feel like you have to do something about it.

That was probably the most frank honesty that Sparkle had shared with anyone in a while. And here it really was that one big important thing between them. No-holds-barred honesty.

I'll probably be pissed, though.

And I'll be pissed if I have to do something about it.

Karina didn't want to have to turn in a friend.

She hesitated a moment, then added:

Don't hurt people. I'm not saying you would. I'm just saying that, if you want a hard line... I'm not talking bar fights, those I don't care about. Or stupid, petty crime like shoplifting a pack of gum or something just because you can. Or vandalizing someone's car because they insulted you or because you think it's funny or because you're drunk. I'll smack you, but I don't care.

Did he understand what she meant by that?

Spray painting walls or--or whatever. I don't care. I should, and I do, but not enough to turn you in over stupid shit. I mean it, though. Things that seriously hurt people, don't do them. Or, if you do, don't ever tell me unless you hurt them by accident, and didn't mean it. If you ever hurt someone in a criminal way, seriously hurt someone, out of malice... you have never seen me angry, Sparkle. Not the way I would be then.

Because he'd be dealing with Blue Rose, then. Not Karina. Even if she was still wearing Karina's face and hair and clothes.

It took a while for Sparkle to reply to that one. Maybe he just got held up with camp workshops. Maybe he was trying to digest all of that, to figure out what would be the best way to tackle a reply like that.

Finally, he replied with the best he really had.

That's the one thing you won't ever have to worry about. I'm never going to become those people. I know those people. I fucking hate those people.

Waiting probably should have bothered her, but there was no one left out on the area of beach she was on, and it was one of those afternoons that seemed to stretch on forever. Karina was okay with waiting.

And she was okay with his response.

Then I think we'll be okay. And if only she ever knew how glad she was about that... well, that was her business. I'll probably yell, and smack you, and give you crap about the crimes you do. I don't ever want to be part of them. But we'll be okay. If you need it, I'll bail you out, if that's all it is.

I've spent a lot of time wondering, what's the worst I can do. How angry can I get. How far can I be pushed. I'll bite back when someone hurts me, but even that's fucking tiring. I'll go a long way, I'll do a lot of stupid shit. But nothing that matters. Never something that matters.

Stealing fancy napkins from rich people or drawing his name on the walls or smoking weed in the back alleyway or burning down an empty shed, sure. But he wasn't going to be the people he was lashing back out against. That wasn't his style.

Good.

Karina thought about leaving it there, since this was a sad, dark place for a text that had just been her wanting to congratulate him on his good fortune.

But she thought that, in his place, she'd be angry if he left it there, after all of this.

I've never gotten angry, really angry, on the island. This was an unplanned fit of honesty on her part, Sparkle. Shh, don't tell. I bitch, I complain, I raise fusses. I've been scared. But never super, super angry. I don't usually get REALLY angry, which is probably for the best for everyone. Even if no one else knows what happens, I know what I'm capable of, if pushed.

Karina was pretty sure Elsa would be able to hazard a guess about what would happen.

It's not comforting to know. I think people are better off not knowing. The only comfort I have is that, overall, my worst could be a lot worse.

So, let's hope nobody ever does something that causes you to show that worst side. I'm angry like all the time. Helps with the not getting too pissed off later. Ish.

There was a long pause, and then he added,

However bad it is, I'm not afraid of you. So.

Karina sighed, her shoulders slumping, and she was glad Sparkle wasn't there to actually, you know, see her.

I'm afraid of me.

Fair enough. For what it's worth, I'm afraid of me, too.

Of course, he'd proven time and time again that if anyone had just cause to be afraid of the stupid shit that Sparkle did, it was Sparkle himself.

What a sorry pair we are.

That was flippant mostly because Karina had absolutely zero inclination to even begin to explain what she was afraid of.

Pretty sad, yeah. But at least we're in good company.

Go practise, she texted back. Do your best.

Then, just so he wouldn't do something stupid like worry that she was just brooding, Karina added: I think I might go see if there's a place to skate somewhere around here.

She didn't have far to look, with the ocean in front of her.

Voicemail / Disclaimer

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