tucky | ♻ 007

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♻ 007 | audio

I need to go to Zero. Right now.

[There's the sound of hurried footsteps in the background; she's on her way to the stairs.]

I didn't do nothing and I don't plan to, but I have gotten confirmation that the demons and dark creatures here are after me. I ain't crazy or imagining things, and I ain't looking for signs and messages when there aren't any-- I got told straight out by Doctor Facilier that I pissed 'em off and I'm a goner. I don't know if any place is safe for me now, but I heard Zero's better than most.

[She takes a moment to catch her breath; she's still half-running.]

Please let me down. I wouldn't ask if it weren't an emergency; more important than life or death. It's not my body that's at stake, it's my immortal soul.

[She turns off the public feed and records a series of private messages, partially intended to be goodbye notes if things go badly. She knows people come back from the dead-- but she doesn't know if they come back from having their souls corrupted by creatures from hell.]

[filtered to Cambridge]

I'm gonna have to miss therapy for a while, I think. Unless you can come down to do it.

I know lots of people don't like you, and maybe some of 'em have good reasons; I don't know. But you were good to me and I think a lot about the things you said.

[filtered to Dillon]

You were the first person here who was as nice to me as you were, and that will always be real special to me. For as long as I live, I will never forget that you saw all I was but still liked me anyway. You were right about all the ugly stuff in me, but I been trying to be a little better, and that's because of you.

[filtered to Dillon and Simon]

I need your help-- please. Please. I don't know what to do. Is there a way to get rid of them? Can we cleanse the ship?

[filtered to Iris]

Can you come and visit me sometimes? I think I might be down there for a very long time, and I'm gonna miss you. More than anyone, maybe. If something happens to me, I want you to know that some of the people here have been nicer to me than anyone's ever been, and you were a real big part of that. And I didn't end up hating the Barge, even with all the terrible things.

[filtered to Mason]

In case I don't see you again for a while, or in case they get to me, I hope you don't forget what I said about you being good and being worth a lot-- 'cause I meant every word. You are the best inmate here and one of the best people too, and I won't forget all you did for me.

[filtered to Merlin]

I'm sorry. I tried. I didn't go after 'em again, but they found me anyway. I wanted to do right by you, I really did, but I don't know what's gonna happen now.

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[She starts walking, slowly and reluctantly.]

You don't get it, okay? We ain't talking about normal people here.

I don't get it?

[He follows her, not giving her the opportunity to slow further or turn back. His voice is quiet, and level, and very serious.]

Tiffany, I have seen one of my best friends raised from the dead, one of the most honourable men I ever knew, his soul bent to do evil deeds against his will. I have seen souls corrupted by torture into servitude to their worst enemies. I have been besieged by armies of the risen dead. I have been possessed by a spirit which meant to destroy my soul and make its home of my body.

[He overtakes her only as long as it takes to open the door to her cabin.]

If you want to talk about something I don't get, ask me how the televisions work.

[He holds the door for her, courteous as ever.]

[She... has nothing to say to that, really. More experience and knowledge than she thought? Check. More experience (and maybe, she thinks, possibly more knowledge) than her? Check.

She goes and flops down on the bed, facedown. She still feels wildly unsafe.]

[He closes and locks the door, then sits down on the edge of the bed.]

I saw your conversation with Doctor Facilier. He would swear he wasn't threatening you, I know, but he said what he did knowing that you would take it that way.

[He puts a hand on her shoulder.]

...Tiffany, you're on the Barge for a second chance. Your soul is preserved here. The Admiral would not permit any threat to it from any other man, no matter their powers or where they come from or which gods they worship. And nor will I.

So you know i'm not crazy.

[That's become an issue here, too. She's reminded uncomfortably of the last time people got her to believe something that made everyone else think she was nuts... and back then, no one had believed her when she told them she wasn't.

She rolls over to look at Merlin, reaching out to lightly grab his wrist.]

But what if there's threats that are bigger than the Admiral? He can't control floods and all that. Why do you think he can control demons?

Yes. I know you're not crazy.

[He doesn't respond to the hand on his wrist - just lets her do it.]

The Admiral brought everyone here. You, and I, and the demons, or the people who you might think of as demons. And he puts limits on their powers, so they can't hurt whoever they please. That's why I know he can control them. He's controlling them every day.

[Okay, she hadn't thought about that. But it makes sense, and it makes her feel a little bit better.]

... I wasn't gonna want to stay in Zero forever.

[Maybe.]

I was just told it was the safest place to be.

It is. [He's not going to lie.] No-one has their powers there. You could curl up in the back of a cell and nobody would be able to touch you.

But you don't deserve that, and I want better for you. The safest place isn't always the best place.

It wasn't gonna be forever.

[She sighs heavily.]

Can I go see Simon later? And David Cain?

You don't usually ask my permission to see your friends. Why would I say no today?

[He could hazard a few guesses but in this case he'd prefer the insight into her logic.]

'Cause you're mad. I thought maybe you'd want to keep me in here for a little bit.

I'm not - mad. It just worries me that you make trouble for yourself.

[He gently reclaims his hand.]

When you made that announcement, you let Facilier and everyone like him know that you feel threatened by them. That you can be goaded by little more than words. Now you have a responsibility to prove them wrong.

Should I have made it so only wardens could see it? ... I didn't think of that.

But they're not wrong. I do feel threatened by him; I'm scared of him.

But he has no more power to hurt you than anyone else - except the power that fear gives him. Do you understand what I mean when I say that?

[It's not said in a condescending way, nor intended to be taken as such. He just needs to know that she understands.]

Yes. I think so. But I can't just turn my feelings off, you know?

No. Of course not. But you don't have to let everyone know how you feel, either. I think you were right to say that you might have only spoken to the wardens about this.

Well... maybe it's a good thing it was public, so the other inmates could be warned, too. I don't like most of 'em but they don't deserve to lose their souls.

They're not going to. And nor are you.

[He takes his communicator out of his pocket and gestures with it.]

...I didn't like this when it was first given to me. There was nothing of its kind where I come from. It seemed...unnatural, to use a device like this to talk to someone when I could seek them out in person. But I've come to like it. It -- it gives me space to consider what I say before I say it.

That's what you want me to do, right?

[She rolls back over onto her stomach, resting her head on her crossed arms.]

I was freaking out; I didn't want to take time to consider.

[Gently:]

That's the problem. I know you're not crazy, Tiffany, and I know you're not stupid. But when you don't give yourself time to think, you don't let people see who you are. All they see is the...the freaking out.

No, that ain't true. I got friends here. Like you-- you see who I am.

Yes, I do. I see. Your friends see. What about everyone else? People like Facilier and the men you've fought with. What do they see?

I don't get why I'm supposed to give a fuck what they see, though.

Because what they're seeing now is someone who can be provoked. They're seeing you ask to be locked away for your own safety and it's funny to them. So they'll keep doing it, as long as you keep entertaining them.

So you're saying I might not've been in danger before, but I am now?

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