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[itsabead]

You can stop making jokes about 'not seeing this coming' any time now. It's not funny. It's never going to be funny! Plus, who's even going to take me, anyway? Just because I can pass for at least fourteen, doesn't mean these places are going to accept me.

You're just going to give up when it gets too hard, as usual. Trust me. I've seen it.

Comments

[crashqueen]

Don't ya let nobody tell ya what to do! They say ya ain't old enough and ya kick 'em straight in the junk, that's an automatic green light!

[itsabead]

[F-fff, what?] No offense, but I don't think kicks to the 'junk' are going to help my case. I'll keep it in mind, though. It's not like I even want to go anywhere anyway.

[crashqueen]

Ya just ain't doin' it right, then. [ >:| ] Where ya wanna go, then? Space? I gotta friend who wants space.

[itsabead]

Do you have some kind of special technique? ... [Shrug.] Doesn't seem like there's a whole lot to do in space. I kind of have an agenda, space is way too out of the way.

[crashqueen]

Aim'n'fire, they don't give it up, y'do it again!

And that's what'm sayin. Space is too spacey. I like the small. And ya dodged my question, sneaky.

[itsabead]

I didn't dodge it, I just didn't answer it. [Huge difference! Just let her take out her sketchbook and skim through all these pages. It's getting pretty full. There's also a huge difference between wanting to go somewhere and having to go somewhere.] Guess I've never really thought about it.

... Where would you go?

[crashqueen]

[ She hears that, at least. ] Same thing, mantis, same thing.

The desert! Out home. Never in one place for long, hit the red line and let the gas burn. Out in the sun and the shine and the dunes, with my boys and our lady.

[itsabead]

[You do not talk like any other kid she's ever met. And she's met a lot of weird kids.]

Sounds like a good time. Boys, plural? That's impressive. Just the one gets on my nerves. We've never been to the desert.

[crashqueen]

[ Well I mean, look at who raised her, of course she's weird. ]

Plural boys, uno, dos, tres, cuatro. Ya got the one? He's yours, yeah? Go to the desert, it's free.

[itsabead]

Nothing's free, but maybe one day. It's better if we don't nail down any big decisions. [There she goes, being cryptic with a girl half her size. Hm. She tilts the silvery pen in the younger girl's direction,] Do you draw?

[crashqueen]

Everything's free! Ya doin it wrong, mantis! Someone says it ain't free and ya take it anyway. You'll learn, you'll see.

[ As for the drawings: ] Sometimes. The little monster and I do lots of sketches on the walls.

[likeshit]

I'm pretty sure most of 'em have got some kinda policy in place anyway, you know, [ he draws a hand to about nipple height, squints his eyes, ] you must be this tall to be willingly submitted into emotional trauma.

[itsabead]

Yeah, because most respectable places base their regulations off height charts. [Smacking that hand back down.] I can get heels.

[likeshit]

Oh, so you wanna be stumbling your way into some kinda new game instead. You've got a pretty specific idea of adventure, you know. Usually ends up with you in some kinda pickle and knocking down some stranger's door to help bail you out of it.

[itsabead]

I wasn't in trouble until I knocked on your door. [Her mom was. Big difference!] Are you thinking of tagging along or something?

[likeshit]

Uh huh. You would've traversed just fine and dandy without me taggin' along. I hear you. I- Is that an invite?

[ Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on, hands up. ] You know, normally people like vacation time after they've almost been crazy murdered. Like, at least a little while.

[itsabead]

I would have figured something out! And maybe. [No, no she refuses to give you the satisfaction of seeing her crack a smile. Turning away now.]

You want a vacation? Fine. I need something to do if I can't get my mom out, because sitting around here seeing things and not being able to change them is gonna drive me crazy. I don't need a babysitter.

[likeshit]

No, but you do need someone to grab things off top shelves for you. What do you think I'm gonna do, watch you fuck off and get into all kinds of crazy crap, you get hurt, and I'm off sippin' on a fruity umbrella drink in Belize or something? Uncalled for.

[itsabead]

It's more likely that you'd be running from guys you owe money to, but the fruity drink is a nice thought. Suits you.

Okay, so I guess we just... pick a place.

[likeshit]

It's a valuable life lesson to learn, y'know. Only owing money to the people too stupid to track you down right. [ He taps a finger against the side of his noggin. ]

What'd you have in mind?

[itsabead]

Or you could not owe money to anyone! Just a thought.

[Hmmmmmm.] Let me get back to you on that one. It's not so clear just yet. [A beat.] I bet you'd get your answer sooner if you bought me some scotch.

[venatical]

Sounds like it's going to turn out okay for you then, kid.

[itsabead]

Sure. Being left to rot over the chance to go out and live with a high possibility of pain and suffering. I really won the lottery. Also, not a kid.

[venatical]

Yeah, I meant skipping out on the pain and the suffering.

Oh, okay. How old are you then?

[itsabead]

But rotting is still okay in your book. Go it.

[GLARE!] I'm thirteen.

[venatical]

It's a tough call. I made the choice once. Pain and rotting. I picked pain, but I can't say I haven't wondered what would've happened if I hadn't.

And oh, my bad. You're what... What is that? A tween?

[itsabead]

You'd probably be worm food.

It has a teen in it, I'm a teen. Thirteen. Better than being forty or whatever you are.

[venatical]

[ He would've been. But Heaven wouldn't have fallen to pieces. ]

Oh, ouch. That hurts me. [ He taps his chest. ] Right here.

[itsabead]

Better there than your junk. [She's been getting some good advice from people at that level.] Do you really want to go toe to toe with me, Dean?

[Gasp. She knows his name! Perks of being psychic.]

[venatical]

[ Ooh, impressive. Dean nods at her, but doesn't let it ruffle him too much. ] You got a lot of bark, kid. Does your bite match up?

[empath_wiggin]

There are places that'll take you even though you're young. I ended up in a bar of all places.

[Valentine makes a face]

This is also a bit disconcerting.