IC Voicemail

[evowhisperer]

 *There's nothing but a long silence after the ringing stops. If the caller's been looking at their screen, there are plain black-and-white letters on display:*

Please leave a message after the beep.

*Beep.*

Comments

[Text]- evening of the 6th

[oncedevil]

Your doppelganger problems have been solved.

[Text]

[evowhisperer]

That's what I hear.

I have you to thank for this, don't I?

[Text]

[oncedevil]

I only finished what he started.

[Text]

[evowhisperer]

He took on more than he could handle.

Are you alright? L wouldn't go into detail, but I'm gathering there were injuries.

[Text]

[oncedevil]

So he did.

Nathan got out of it unharmed, physically anyway. Whole thing stressed him out, can't blame him though I know the feeling. I'm fine, shot me a bit but nothing worse than I've already been through.

[Text]

[evowhisperer]

I still can't believe this happened.

Are you okay? You say you're fine, but will your wounds leave any permanent effects?

[Text] -

[oncedevil]

Can't say I'm surprised by things going south anymore. Guy really had it out for me.

Like I said, I'll be fine. You bleed to death once after that everything else seems easy.

[Tony that's not how you do reassuring.]

[Text] -

[evowhisperer]

... That's not comforting to hear.

*He switches to video. The room around him is mostly dark, and his brow is furrowed with concern. Hopefully Tony can read the sincerity in his expression as easily as the paper sign he's holding.*

I'm really very sorry for all of this. I feel at least partially responsible, considering that he was an alternate version of me.

[Text]

[oncedevil]

Heh.

[The response comes once the feed is switched to video. Tony can read it well enough, and Cesar can likely read that Tony doesn't really appear any worse for wear at this point. It's been a few days, he's eaten a lot to make up for all the healing. He's fine, not that Cesar can possibly know that.

Not yet, anyway.]

Don't sweat it, you're not responsible for what someone else does. Even if he was wearing your face.

[Text]

[evowhisperer]

*He... looks okay, doesn't he? The klaxons that went off at hearing 'bleed to death' start to quiet.*

Well, I'm glad you know the things my evil twin refused to acknowledge.

[Text]

[oncedevil]

[Quite fine, miraculously fine, in fact. Though Cesar didn't know the extent of the damage and that was by design. Tony kind of didn't have the heart to tell him about having his eye back just yet.]

Yeah. Guess not everyone's so forgiving. So, what'd he tell you about me, anyway?

[Tony wouldn't be surprised if the copy had a backup 'murder this fool' plan.]

[Text]

[evowhisperer]

About what you'd expect. He warned me that you were an abomination from the void that was going to destroy us all.

He also said my brother would rather stay dead than see who I've become today, so I'm inclined to take everything with a grain of salt.

[Text]

[oncedevil]

Wait, what? Who the hell says something like that? Screw the shit-talk about me I don't even give a shit, but that's a low blow.

[Wow, doppel-Cesar, you were a dick.]

[evowhisperer]

Considering his recent actions, 'low blows' seem to be his first resort.

[oncedevil]

Being as he was a gigantic coward too? I wouldn't be surprised if 'low' wasn't the only way he knew.

[Tony does not approve of using Nathan as a shield.]

[evowhisperer]

It's possible.

These copies of us certainly seem to work in extremes.

[oncedevil]

They make an art form out of it, that's for sure. I'm not even sure how I'm gonna deal with mine when he shows back up again.

[evowhisperer]

Yeah?

Do you think he's going to try to hurt any of your friends again?

For the record, I have no plans of going rogue vigilante on this situation, even if your answer is yes.

[oncedevil]

Hard to say, he hasn't gone out of his way or anything. Maybe he's content to leave well enough alone?

[One can hope?]

[evowhisperer]

*As though he read Tony's mind,*

'Hopefully.'

[oncedevil]

You read my mind.