MCA #4, Monday Morning

[myownface]

It was probably worth noting that Sparkle wasn't cleaning the apartment from top to bottom today. Sure, he'd gotten a lot of that out of his system yesterday over at Casa del Leverage, and between that and the whole thing with the explosives, mostly he was kind of just feeling numb, now.

So instead of scrubbing the bathroom from top to bottom until his lungs hurt, he had kind of oozed into the living room and was hugging his stuffed cat, ignoring a box of Chocolate-Frosted Sugar Bombs, and staring at whatever fluffy kids' show happened to be on Netflix. Peppa Pig or something. He wasn't actually paying attention, he was just... tired. Maybe later he'd try to figure out where to go from here, but this morning? This morning was for cartoons and moping.

At least he wasn't sitting in the bathtub hugging the fish tank again. This was kind of like forward progress.

[OOC: Open for phone calls or that roomie or whatever, though I'll be pinging around work like the freewheeling rebel I am.]

Comments

[suitably_heroic]

"Three different kinds of ice cream and the worst beer I could find," Atton announced as he walked in through the front door.

(He was lying. The beer was Canadian and decent.)

[myownface]

Well, it was Canadian beer. Of course it was decent.

... Okay, no, that wasn't always true. But Sparkle had opinions about American beer anyway.

"You're the best, Jackass," he said, glancing up from... he wasn't sure. The little pig girl was asking people how to whistle or something. "Three isn't all the kinds of ice cream, but I'm willing to overlook that."

That was Sparkle-ese for 'thank you.'

[suitably_heroic]

"I'm not buying all kinds of ice cream unless you're pitching in," Atton said, setting down the sixpack and the ice cream in front of Sparkle. "I'm not made of credits, you know."

[myownface]

"... See, for all the ice cream, I am willing to make a monetary contribution," Sparkle decided. "What good is teaching and running a business if I can't buy all the ice cream?"

He was briefly actually tempted to shove his bank card at Atton and send him back out the door. But realized that that... would probably be stupid.

[suitably_heroic]

"You're also probably not going to be able to eat all the ice cream. Your skinny ass can't handle it," Atton said. He flopped down on the sofa. "...And what are you watching? Some kind of butchery commercial?"

[myownface]

"... I think it's a kids' show," Sparkle shared. "I've decided this is the favourite show of the nieces and/or nephews I'm never gonna meet. I am watching it with them in spirit."

No. He was sulking and zoning out on it while hugging a plush cat. But he figured that was a good way to touch on why he was doing just that.

[suitably_heroic]

"Okay," Atton said slowly.

He squinted at the back of Sparkle's hair. "So... definitely that bad."

[myownface]

Sparkle made a little groaning sound and kind of oozed further into the ball he'd made of himself on the couch, mashing his face into the stuffed cat toy.

"Found my sister," he said, voice muffled. "She's doing great. I'm never going to Toronto again. Toronto is stupid and I hate it."

[suitably_heroic]

"Found your sister but... she doesn't want to talk to you?" Atton guessed.

He leaned forward. To unscrew the lid from the first ice cream container, because that was the level of comforting he was comfortable with.

[myownface]

"Should've seen it coming," Sparkle muttered. Still into the cat. At least he threw a nod in for good measure. "I mean, she hasn't seen me since we were kids, and now she has kids, and her little brother grew up to be a dangerous offender."

[suitably_heroic]

"Yeah, really dangerous," Atton said, getting up to go get Sparkle a spoon. "I'm shaking in my boots every time I see you, the criminal mastermind."

[myownface]

"Well, it isn't like she knows any better," Sparkle pointed out. "She knows what the news said, and what the cops said, and, I mean, 'wanted for assault and arson and drug possession and breaking and entering' all sound worse without context."

They... were all still pretty bad, Sparkle.

[suitably_heroic]

"Could also sound like you had one really bad party," Atton said, putting the newly-procured spoon down beside the ice cream. "But okay, fine, it doesn't sound that good, I'll give you that."

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

If you pushed Minako for a reason why she felt like text Sparkle stupid selfies today, she'd tell you it was just a senshi's intuition. If you really pushed her, she might admit to the fact she miiiiiight have Sparkle-radar. It was a BFF-thing.

Which was why Sparkle was getting an incoming selfie of Minako in her Sailor Venus outfit, flashing him the peace sign, with a deflated Artemis draped over her shoulder. Look, there had been CRIME to fight. MAYBE cats should stay out of the way if they didn't want to get caught in the shockwave of a crescent beam.

[myownface]

"... Oh my god."

Sparkle had checked his phone to see one of Minako's usual fantastic selfies, with a sad, sad cat. And it was everything he'd needed today. Well, minus ice cream, anyway.

Lookin' good there, girly! Can't say the same about Artemis. What happened to him?

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

someone was a little too close to CRIME. Oops. I feel bad but not THAT bad?

Seriously, how cute was he looking so sad????

[myownface]

I mean, he'll live, right?

Sparkle was kinda squirming now, so sue him. He'd done crime. Crime was kind of his thing, lately, apparently.

... What kind of crime?

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

nothing harmed but his pride. and maybe a bent whisker. mostly pride. she tapped out, giggling. mugging. I got my hands full with yoma and school and stuff but I'll always stop for a mugging.

[myownface]

Muggings are always worth stopping for, it's true.

Sparkle had to concede that point.

The impact of it might've been dampened slightly by the follow-up text.

I blew up a house yesterday.

La.

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

...

wut.

Very articulate, Minako. Gold star!

[myownface]

Bet your bestie sense didn't prepare you for that one, did it?

House I lived in as a kid. Was gonna just bust in some windows but Parker had C-4.

Seriously, Sparkle. You knew better.

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

ffs sparkle no No, Sparkle YES, and that was the problem, wasn't it? stg if it's Lewis again you're grounded and I get to pick your next five crushes.

[myownface]

Sparkle was really, really bad at making sound life choices when he was hurting. He tended to go for the nuclear option. Which was generally the opposite of a good idea, every time.

Hardison found my big sister.

... Had he ever mentioned his big sister to Minako? He hadn't really mentioned her to most people. Talking about family wasn't really his strong point.

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

He had, which was why Minako was finding an empty fire escape where she could sit down before dialing his number and waiting to see if he'd actually pick-up.

[myownface]

It was a near thing. Sparkle contemplated the odds that he'd get yelled at versus the odds that he'd get sympathy or pity or something. And then decided, to hell with it, whichever one he got, if it was coming from Minako it was because she cared enough to do it.

So... picking up his phone.

"Hey."

And kinda sounding like crap when he did so.