IC contact

[boughtabookstore]

 You've reached Chief Inspector Roslyn Small at [number here]. Leave your name, contact details, and intent. I will return your message soon.

Comments

[speakveryclearly]

...

[This strikes a nerve.]

...but it will take more time if I'm honest with him.

Also given the situation he's likely to mistake this for an actual example of malevolent intentions.

[boughtabookstore]

And what is a friendship built on lies?

[speakveryclearly]

Lies of ommission.

Those are in a completely different class from actual falsehoods, right?

[boughtabookstore]

[ a dismissive noise ]

That's a distinction people make when they want to feel better about themselves.

[speakveryclearly]

[It is one of those moments where you can hear the sad rain in the background.]

I don't know how to feel better about my alternate self killing him. I have to compensate somehow.

[boughtabookstore]

Isn't your argument for him trusting you that she isn't you?

[speakveryclearly]

Yeah.

But I still have to deal with it. Isn't fair. That she could get him out of her hair and I have to deal with him when he won't even let me.

[boughtabookstore]

Life isn't fair. You're a teenager, I suppose you still believe it is, but it never will be.

[speakveryclearly]

Oh, I know it's not, Ms. Small, I learned that when my home planet was destroyed by meteors.

[boughtabookstore]

Then perhaps you should take it into closer account in your dealings with life.

[speakveryclearly]

Take into account that I'm a member of a marginalized, ultimately unimportant species, you mean?

[boughtabookstore]

That life isn't fair.

[speakveryclearly]

I see.

...

Can I - negotiate anything?

[This is hard.]

[boughtabookstore]

With whom?

[speakveryclearly]

What if I have to stop stalking him in one Earth month or else you tell him.

[boughtabookstore]

Is that a deal you're willing to make?

Because I don't go back on my word.

[speakveryclearly]

...

Yes. [YEAH.]

......

...I'm going to have to find an Earth calendar, actually, I want to be sure what this means.

[boughtabookstore]

Then we have a deal.

I'll send you a copy.

[speakveryclearly]

Okay...

[IS THAT WHAT YOU GET HER FOR CHRISTMAS???]

[boughtabookstore]

[ yes. yes it is. ]

Then we have a deal.

[speakveryclearly]

If we were speaking in person I would give you an emphatic handshake. But I don't think we can do that so maybe we should just very seriously declare this conversation over instead.

[boughtabookstore]

Good luck. [ and she hangs up, rather unceremoniously. ]