♻ 018 | text/video

[tucky]

[filtered to Dillon, Iris, Mason, and Simon]

[Everyone on this filter gets the same message, sent separately.]

Can you come see me? I need to talk to you.

[Then, after a moment, an addition.]

Don't worry its nothing bad.

[video]

[Later, after finishing visiting with and giving her news to the above people, Tiffany sets herself up to make a public announcement. She sits cross-legged on her bed, turns on the recorder... and suddenly realizes that she has no idea how she wants to say this.]

I...

... There's a Bible verse that I like. It goes like this: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

[She isn't reading it off of anything; she's memorized it. Considering the last verse she took the time to memorize was about smiting God's enemies for Him, this is an improvement.]

If you know me much at all you probably know I'm a big believer in God. And when I first learned about Him, it was the best deal I ever heard of. I'd never been a part of anything before; never been in anybody's fold. But here I was, learning about somebody who'd love me, and give me a reason to be - I wanted that, you know? Who wouldn't? Feeling like you're loved is the nicest thing.

But then I came here, and I learned that being loved is only part of what's important. You gotta love back, honestly and truly. And I do. I have met the most amazing people and made the most amazing friends, and I wouldn't trade any of you for anything. I told Dr. Cambridge a while ago that I got a lot of hate in my heart sometimes, and that's true. I used to like showing it around a lot. But on the Barge I learned that I got a lot of love in my heart too, and I like showing that around even more.

So what I really meant to say is that I graduated, and it's 'cause of y'all, and I love you very much. Even the people I don't like I kind of love a little bit right now.

[She almost adds Except Arthas here, but bites her tongue.]

But especially the people I like; the people who have helped me. And some of you feel the same way and some of you don't, and that's okay, because love is not self-seeking and me feeling it is enough.

[Pause.]

I'm gonna stay. I'm gonna be a warden. It's kinda scary to me, but I'm doing it. I don't always like how it is on the Barge and last month I was thinking maybe I'd leave, but... I can't do that. It's like my home, now.

That's all.

[And she ends the feed.]

Comments

private

[tucky]

... Depends on how much they change, I guess.

If I didn't care about anyone or have anyone who cared about me, I wouldn't stay.

private

[characterdefect]

Well, I'm not leaving. If that helps any.

And I think people will always care about you here.

private

[tucky]

I'm liked by more people here than I've ever been liked by anyone, anywhere, in my whole life.

private

[characterdefect]

Makes sense that you like it here so much, then. It feels kind of like a family, doesn't it?

private

[tucky]

Yeah. It does. It's nice.

You wanna be a part of mine?

private

[characterdefect]

Tiffany, I'd honestly be very touched if I could be.

private

[tucky]

Of course you can be! And I am also touched that you want to be.

private

[characterdefect]

I've wanted to have family here for a long time.

Is Iris in your family?

private

[tucky]

Yeah, she is. She's a real important member of it.

private

[characterdefect]

Good. Then I think our families will overlap real nice.

private

[tucky]

Who else you got in yours?

private

[characterdefect]

Most of them left. Mira was in it. C'rizz was in it. Horatio's in it, though I don't think he really understands it.

private

[tucky]

Why not?

private

[characterdefect]

Because there are a lot of things about me he doesn't understand.

private

[tucky]

Ain't he your warden?

private

[characterdefect]

He used to be. I don't know if he will be again.

private

[tucky]

Do you want him to be?

private

[characterdefect]

More than anything.

private

[tucky]

I think that's usually how it happens, right? If you come back, you get the same warden.

private

[characterdefect]

I wouldn't know. I never left before.

. . . You think that's how it'll work out?

private

[tucky]

It makes sense, right? You was paired up for a reason the first time.

private

[characterdefect]

Yeah. We were.

It's not that he doesn't understand everything that matters. It's that he tries to understand. You know?

private

[tucky]

And trying's a good thing, right?

private

[characterdefect]

Trying's the most important thing.

private

[tucky]

Can I try too? 'Cause I don't know very much about you, actually.