♻ 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

[tucky]

Yeah, I'll give 'em heaven.

[She catches the surprise, but misinterprets it.]

You surprised I graduated? Kinda snuck up on everyone, I think.

[anewlanguage]

Shit, I'm still surprised you came here as an inmate.

You staying on for a wish?

[tucky]

I'm staying on 'cause I want to be on the Barge.

... You're surprised I was an inmate? Really? Why?

[anewlanguage]

I always thought the old Admiral had a coin toss with you. Heads you're an inmate, tails a warden. Never seemed clear cut with you, the way it was with Arthas or Iris or me.

[tucky]

... You never saw my file, right?

[anewlanguage]

Betcha mine's thicker.

[tucky]

But you started out as an inmate too, right?

If I told you I killed somebody, would you be surprised?

[anewlanguage]

[He thinks about it, shakes his head.]

But I'd be surprised if you didn't feel something about it.

[tucky]

I didn't used to, 'cause I never thought about it at all.

I did kill someone. More than one someone, depending on how you look at certain things. And I tried to kill more people than that. I was a bully and I was violent and I didn't know my own mind.

[anewlanguage]

Why'd you do it? [She knows herself now, or at least a little better than she did then.]

Y'know I was an assassin, before I came here. And that's not the worst of what I've done, so you can't shock me without gettin' real crazy.

[But. Still.] How d'you cope?

[tucky]

I talk to people. And I remember I can't change the past, but I can change the future.

... Well, I can't change the past much. 'Cause I'm gonna make a deal for that woman and save her life. I did it 'cause she was real rude to me, but that weren't a good enough reason to kill somebody. I know that now.

[anewlanguage]

Well, see. I can't think of anyone I'd go back to save.

[Not true, of course, but it's not the sort of thing you bring up to someone you don't know that well, and not on their graduation day.]

You gonna celebrate graduating?

[tucky]

I'm gonna spend time with the people I love.

[anewlanguage]

You got a lot of 'em now, huh? ['People' sounds like a lot, to him.]

[tucky]

I do. More than I ever thought I ever would.

[anewlanguage]

You off booze? If not--ask Iris for something to celebrate with.

[tucky]

'Course I'm not off booze. I never had problems with that.

You wanna celebrate with me?

[anewlanguage]

...Yeah. I mean if it wouldn't be cutting into your plans.

[tucky]

You can be a part of my plans.

[anewlanguage]

[And on that day the Grinch Cain's heart grew three sizes.

But outwardly he just nods.]

I'll bring the good whiskey.

...Hey can I ask you something more personal?

[tucky]

Yeah, okay. What is it?

[anewlanguage]

You've met Victor, right? What's your take on him?

[tucky]

Um... he's okay. I don't know him well at all, but he's nice enough to me.

[private]

But I heard about some of the stuff he done, and I know he hurt Iris. She don't seem to mind, but I don't like it.

private

[anewlanguage]

Yeah, he has. She's got it all figured out in her head to where she doesn't care much of people here hurt her. But I mind. [And he's glad Tiffany does, too.]

He was nice to Iris, too, you know.

private

[tucky]

Good. I'm glad. I'm still scared of him, though.

She wants me to try to be his friend, and she said she thinks I could be good for him - and that he could be a good friend to me. But she also said he rips people apart. Now, I ain't always been a nonviolent person, but that's... I don't know.