Voice Mail

[bitten_notshy]

Jack changed his message in the middle of December 2011.

"Hello, this is Jack. I'm currently traveling and can't reach my phone. Leave a message and I'll return it when I can, or you may want to send a telegram or letter. No, I'm not joking. Good day."

---

In creating this journal, the author has assumed the identity of a fictional person for use in the role-playing game fandomhigh, for the sole purpose of entertainment, without intending to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud either the person who created the fictional person, or any reader of this content. The author does not purport to be the creator of the fictional person, or to be affiliated with the creator, or with any person or entity with an interest in the fictional person. The author does not claim to be the person who is being used as the graphical representation of that fictional person, nor intend to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud that person by use of their image.

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"I woke up to see them, standing at my bedside," Karla said. "Unsettling might be too mild a word for it."

But still better than when she'd thought they hadn't come at all. "It was like a very bizarre version of Parents' Weekend, really. Though trying to explain 'Dite's shop to them was fun. That, and the lack of chaperons. Thank the Darkness they didn't find out about the coed nature of the dorms."

[bitten_notshy]

"What would you have done if they had picked up that you live near boys?" Jack asked, curious. "We aren't all that bad, but I can't imagine a young lady from my own time's parents would be pleased by it either."

[glacial_queen]

"Bundled me up and tried to send me home to Glacia no doubt," Karla said wryly. "All while ranting and raving about chaperons. It's not even a propriety thing, exactly. It's just...there are too many times and ways I'm vulnerable without any males of my own there. And when I tried to point out that I did have males of my own, they just said--" Karla paused, realized what she was about to say, and revised it to "--they just scoffed at the idea of children protecting me."

Okay. They'd really taken issue with the ideas of landen children protecting her, but Karla wasn't going to say that. She felt ashamed, both that her parents would say such things, and that slightly more than a year ago, she would have agreed.

[bitten_notshy]

"You could suggest one of the teachers adopt you," Jack said, mock-thoughtfully. "Though, depending on which one, that might just make things worse...."

He wasn't sure what to say beyond trying to make her smile.

[glacial_queen]

"Too bad I never got to introduce them to Deadpool," she said, amused. "I could have held him up as the paragon of chaperons offered by the school. Then run away while they were still dealing with apoplexy."

But they had gotten far, far off-track from the reason she had called. Which wasn't entirely surprising--talking to Jack was just nice.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack snickered into the phone. He missed Fandom. It was good to be closer to home again, but it didn't make leaving the people on the island any easier.

Reluctantly, he said, "... I suppose you have things to do today that aren't talking to me on the phone."

[glacial_queen]

He was right, not that Karla wanted to admit it.

"I do," she said reluctantly. "If nothing else, I should probably find a place to hide for when Emma finds out I called you and comes to murder me. Though I do want to hear all about London sometime, if you'd like to share."

[bitten_notshy]

"I will, and you're welcome to visit anytime," Jack promised. "Just let me know when the island's got you too mad."

[glacial_queen]

"I'll probably take you up on that," Karla warned. "This place could try the patience of a Priestess."

On its good days, no less.

"But knowing you'll intercede with Emma is a weigh off my shoulders, so I suppose I can bear it for a little while longer. Thank you, Jack. I really appreciate this."

[bitten_notshy]

"Thank you for telling me," Jack said. "If I waited for Emma to, it might take months."

[glacial_queen]

"If ever," Karla agreed. "And you're welcome. Someone's got to keep an eye on her in your absence. She's less impressed by my fussing, believe me."

She sighed and shook her head. "But I should go. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Of course," Jack said, and closed the connection.