twenty-three ➢ spam + voice

[patheticvillain]

spam } barron

[It's really, really tempting to half-ass this, once Cassel gets up the nerve to finally do it. He's made the pictures without talking to his warden or his friends or anybody. He hasn't asked for validation; he doesn't need it. It makes him uncomfortable, but he knows he has to. He knows this is the right thing to do.]

[When he knocks on Barron's door, there's a light sweat on his palms in his black gloves, and he's moving an envelope nervously from one hand to the other. Inside, there are three photos, each with a handwritten note on the back.]

[One of himself - This is Cassel Sharpe. He's your little brother, and he loves you.]

[The second one - This is Prefect. He's your warden, and he loves you.]

[And the last one - This is Daneca Wasserman. She was your girlfriend, and you love her.]

later } kon

[He's subdued when he comes to find Kon. Mostly he just doesn't want to be alone right now - doesn't want to think about his family, or anybody's family. Maybe they can train or play with Patches or something.]

[Knocking on Kon's door, he shuffles his feet and shoves his hands in his pockets. No idea what's just happened, besides the obvious.]

later still } zane

[Now his hands are trembling. All of him is trembling. He feels weird, like this is some kind of nightmare that won't look like one until, abruptly, it does.]

[He raps loudly and arrhythmically at Zane's door, his covered knuckles stuttering on the stone.]

Zane. Zane! I need to talk to you. Please open up.

and finally } public/voice

[More than anything, Cassel sounds stunned. Not happy, not yet. Just baffled. It's been a long day.]

So, uh. I just graduated. And I'm staying.

[Long . . . pause.]

That's kind of it.

Comments

spam what

[godsays]

[ He comes to the door quickly, this time not even bothering to grab Dani. It sounds like an emergency, and there's already a hot spike of panic in him when he opens the door. ]

What's wrong?

spam whee

[patheticvillain]

I graduated.

[He looks very much like he might cry, he's that anxious.]

[routemistress]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

[patheticvillain]

. . . Gonna make me go deaf there, Iris.

NOT HERE

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Soon.]

ALSO NOT HERE

[patheticvillain]

[Egads!!]

[ Video ]

[surfaceshine]

Hell yeah! Get it, Bubbles!

[ Voice 5eva!! ]

[patheticvillain]

I was kinda hoping I'd graduate out of the nickname, too.

[outofclothes]

Sounds like you could use a drink.

[patheticvillain]

Oh my god. Yes.

[megamind]

Congratulations! That's wonderful!

[patheticvillain]

I guess it is.

[What is happen.]

[not here]

[halftheman]

[ And there's the other half of the matched set. ]

[ He'll have to think on this. ]

[mistconduct]

Oh my god why the fuck am I always the last to know?!

Jesus, man, that's fucking incredible! I told you! I TOLD you you'd be next!

[patheticvillain]

What the hell is even happening, Chris. Seriously.

Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara can talk now! She's even using the video function because this is important, okay.

She still sounds a bit hoarse, but there's no mistaking the warm pride in her voice.]

Congratulations, Cassel.

Video

[patheticvillain]

Thanks.

[He thinks. Probably. Help.]

. . . I'm not sure what to do now.

[with_my_teacup]

It's like a fucken' algal bloom around here except with kids instead of microorganisms. We're gonna have to start scraping you off the walls.

[That's probably 'congratulations' in assholese.]

[patheticvillain]

You better get a big scrub brush, man. We multiply.

[themissingpiece]

You sound surprised.

[patheticvillain]

I didn't think it was gonna happen. I mean, I did. But I didn't.

I don't know.

spam

[sharpememory]

Hi, Prefect. [Barron says, as he's opening the door. When he sees Cassel, he's visibly surprised.]

Oh. It's you. [Awkward response, Barron.] Is someone trying to kill you or something?

spam

[patheticvillain]

[He makes a sour face at that response.] Nice to see you too, big brother.

[After which his voice just . . . completely fails him, and after a moment's pause, he just gives up on trying and hands over the envelope.]

voice

[onlysurvivor]

And it feels like just yesterday you were threatening me in the greenhouse.

[And more seriously] You told Zane?

voice

[patheticvillain]

Graduation didn't make me regret doing that.

I told him first. In person. He's in the CTS.

[lastrat]

[Ahh, he's proud of you, you little shit.]

Where are you?

[patheticvillain]

My room right now. [Panicking.]

You bet against this happening, didn't you?

voice

[fire_punk]

Great. That's great. [He means it. Really. He's just feeling left behind.]

voice

[patheticvillain]

It's weird. But thanks.

Private

[buywithme]

When I graduated, Arthas told me he'd seen it coming a mile away, and that I was obviously different.

It absolutely didn't feel that way at the time, but I can see what he meant now, at least. Congratulations, Comrade.

How are you holding up?

Private

[patheticvillain]

It's really weird. Everybody's congratulating me and I'm just . . . completely confused.

. . . Did Barron talk to you yet?

[deadliestviper]

[This is a proud mama smile. That's her baby who just graduated an inmate!]

Congratulations.

[patheticvillain]

Congratulate Kon.

voice;

[insolubleriddle]

Well well, congratulations! How do you intend to celebrate?

[Get drunk, wonder what the hell to do from here?]

voice;

[patheticvillain]

I was gonna get drunk and wonder what the hell to do from here.

. . . Then get drunk again.

[an_abomination]

[When Kon's warden device stops working, he panics for a moment, dreading the worst. Fortunately, before his imagination can get the best of him, he sees the message. Kon goes from incredibly anxious to ridiculously happy.

He's so eager to answer the door that he almost trips on the wave over. Stumbles to the door, opening it up, and immediately hugging Cassel.]

We did it! I am so excited for you!

[patheticvillain]

[He's shocked at the hug, thinks Kon is talking about the photos to Barron at first and tries to figure out how he knew about it. But he hugs back anyway, just out of reflex.]

Not that I don't appreciate it, but what the hell are you talking about?

[private]

[fridgetothefire]

[She isn't devastated like Zane. She does feel slightly more conflicted than she anticipated. She tells herself it's mostly because of Lua. And when the accolades have died down, she sends him a simple message, wry and knowing.]

You're going to make a better warden than you think you will.

[private]

[patheticvillain]

[Somehow, this is worse than with Zane. He's lost one sibling, will lose another soon, doesn't know what Zane will do despite how hard he's trying to trust him. He's not sorry, no, he doesn't regret this. But he's afraid.]

[He responds in text, because he thinks maybe the question will be less pathetic if it's not said out loud.]

Are you mad?

Private;

[velocette]

Congratulations.

How do you know when you've graduated? The Admiral doesn't seem the type to give a lot of notice.

Private;

[patheticvillain]

Well, he gave me a bathroom. So that was cool.

Audio;

[some_kinda_hero]

Oh, hey, congratulations, Cassel!

Audio;

[patheticvillain]

Oh, uh, thanks.

& private

Sorry for being a dick a while ago, by the way.

[bitteraftertaste]

Congratulations.

[patheticvillain]

Thanks. Surprise, I guess?

spam

[godsays]

[ Guess who's at Cassel's room. A little bloodied up, a lot calmer. He's changed clothes, and he has rabbit with him.

He knocks. ]

spam

[patheticvillain]

[When Cassel opens the door, it's to reveal a room that's more or less trashed. It's what he decided to do to keep his head on more or less straight while he was trying to decide whether to announce this to the network or not.]

[He's surprised to see Zane, not surprised to see the blood. He bites his lip.]

Do . . . you want to come in?

timestamp, what timestamp?

[notdreaming]

That's great, Cassel! Congratulations! [ She's secretly really glad he's staying tho ]

i see no timestamp

[patheticvillain]

[He sounds kind of pathetically grateful, because he is. He has no idea how they're kind of friends but he likes it.]

Thanks. Can't get rid of me.