tucky | ♻ 018 | text/video

[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.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[The last time someone he loved graduated, Roderick . . . well, he had a tantrum. He knows it. He knows it wasn't right. It's just that when you see someone go in the wrong direction, when you see them walk away from you, it hurts. He's no good at being abandoned.]

[This time, he can't quite get as angry. Maybe it's because he's still in that warm being-back glow; maybe it's because it's Tiffany and not Morgana, Tiffany who he still sees as a little weak and malleable despite everything. Maybe it's because he's different, now (but not different enough, never different enough to get where she's gotten to).]

[He doesn't turn on video, because he knows he won't be able to hide his disappointment in his face. In his voice, though, that's something else.]

You proud of yourself?

Congratulations. [She's grinning wide, after their last conversation; wants to reach through the phone and hold Tiffany close, just for a minute.]

[Merlin doesn't often check Tiffany's page in the book that's become his Item; the carving on the leather changes if she's been killed, and she's rarely hard to find around the ship. It's only because he's reading his grimoire for something else that he idly flips to the back page where information about his Inmate is recorded, and -

And she's not there. The paper is blank.

There's a moment of sick panic, because there are two reasons this might have happened, but after the way they talked at the party the previous night? He's not letting that panic take hold just yet. Instead, he walks the staircase to her floor. All the while there's a bitter incredulous voice in the back of his head, that sounds like Arthur sounded when he told him he couldn't save his life, and it's asking him how he could think even for a moment that anyone in his care could actually succeed -

Her door is still there. And he knocks.]

[Tiffany, oblivious to his disappointment, just smiles. It's clear in her voice.]

Yeah, I am. I'm glad.

Hey.

You helped me. I know I don't know you much, but all that was for you, too.

[Luckily, he catches her at a time when she's in there - she has some of Barbara's books sitting next to her, but is taking a break from studying to listen to music. Hearing the knock, she thumbs down the volume on her iPod and looks up.]

Yeah? Who is it?

It's me.

[Hearing her voice, despite the evidence of her cabin door, is an incredible relief.]

May I come in? I - I have some news.

Oh. Hey, Merlin; of course you can come in.

[She doesn't hide her concern, though. "News" can mean a lot of things.]

What kind of news?

[He comes, of course, all concern when she opens the door despite her reassurances.]

What happened?

[Merlin comes in, shuts the door quietly at his back, and vacillates for a moment. He's not sure how to make an announcement out of this.]

I...you're not on my Item any more. I think you've graduated.

Be wise with how you show your emotions, Tiffany. They can be used against you.

[ Hes not dead! ]

Merlin came to see me. He said I graduated.

[And she smiles, because she is happy. It's a little nerve-wracking, and she'd gotten pretty damn comfortable as an inmate - but it's explicit confirmation that she's doing well; that she's on the right path.]

on my way bb

[She's true to her word; it's no more than ninety seconds after her text message that she's knocking on Tiffany's door.]

Cooooeeeee!!

Edited 2015-05-10 21:52 (UTC)

What?

[She, for one, is blindsided by this. Sure, she'd spent a lengthy conversation talking about graduation with Merlin, and about how she was doing so much better - but talking about it and actually seeing it happen are two very different things.]

I graduated? Really?

Holy... holy shit, Merlin.

Lots of stuff can be used against me. I don't want to stay all closed down 'cause I'm scared.

You don't have to knock, Iris; you can just come in.

[But she stands to open the door for her anyway.]

What does that mean? Cooooeeee?

Yes, that is a fine point. Though I am not speaking of fear, more simply being more careful of who you trust your emotions to.

I think it's kinda obvious what my emotions are even when I ain't announcing them.

[She's semi-aware that she's pretty much an open book 99% of the time.]

I'm glad you asked me that, my love, 'cause I can tell you it's a native Australian phrase that means "come 'ere, you." Panda looked it up last time we were out for a weekend.

[Things Iris loves: little fragments of knowledge.]

So what's up?

[He smiles.]

I knew you would.

[And feared she wouldn't - couldn't - because he wasn't capable. But they're here now, and he knows she's made it through.]

You don't have to tell me to come, Iris; I'm already here.

... I graduated.

Wow.

[This is when she'd need to sit if she hadn't already been; even now, she feels her legs turn to jelly.]

I don't even know what to say.

[Merlin crosses the room and sits down next to her.]

Well, I'm going to hug you now, so you don't need to say anything for that.

[And he's true to his word, and it's sideways and a bit awkward but it's also tight and very heartfelt.]

[She twists around and gives him a hug full-on, just as tight and just as heartfelt.]

[After a moment he relents a little, but not so much as to let her go.]

You're going to be a great warden, Tiffany. I know you are.

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