♻ 004 | audio

[tucky]

Hey.

Right now I'm seeing a lot of people - or I guess just a couple of people - talking about their friends leaving. You know, getting ported out. And what I'm wondering is, is there a way to make it so that doesn't happen? 'Cause I wanna avoid it, if I can; I actually really like it here a lot, and I wanna stay. I got my apartment, and my job, and people who are kind to me - like Raina, Traci, Dr. Chilton, Toro, Jesse, Ramír... and lots more, probably.

[A good half of the people she's named have clued into how easily led she is and are using her for their own nefarious purposes. She has absolutely no idea.]

And, I mean, I can't be the only person who feels like that, right? Do any of y'all agree with me? 'Cause a lot of people seem happy here. It's a fucking nice world we're in. Nicer than where I'm from, that's for damn sure.

If I could just stay here forever, I think I would.

Comments

[Video]

[enucleation]

There is no way to avoid it. It happens at random.

[Video]

[tucky]

Shit.

It ain't less likely if you do good by the government? 'Cause I'm registered and everything.

voice;

[notdaredevil]

A lot of people are happy here.

[ Some people don't really have anything to go back to. Not him...but some people. ]

But it doesn't matter if you like it here or not, or whether or not you want to stay. There isn't any warning when you go, and there isn't any knowing when you'll come back. If you come back. Or if you'll remember when you do.

voice;

[tucky]

If I'll remember?

I don't want my memories fucked with.

[Audio]

[hands4healing]

I don't think it matters if you want to stay or not, just like it doesn't matter if you...were in a good or bad place back in your world. It's random, either way.

And I'm one of the people who's lost some friends recently. I wish they were here still but there are. [A breath.] I'm glad they're home, too. Because this place can be stressful, especially when you're separated from people you love.

[Audio]

[tucky]

Oh, yeah.

Right.

... I mean, my family's back home and everything.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

Ain't nothing to do.

[tucky]

[Oh thank god, someone who talks like her. She's always a little reassured by that.]

There's something alive in the Porter, right? Anyone ever try talking to it?

video

[wayhot]

The Porter kind of does what it wants when it comes to bringing people in or sending them away. But if someone is sent back home, there's still a chance they can come back. I've been sent home twice, though I only remember being home one of those times.

video

[tucky]

Then how do you know you went home?

audio

[khajidont]

[Oh, so she's one of Traci's friends...? He may as well say hello.]

I hope you get to stay, then. You already got other people telling you that we don't get to control whether we stay or go, but if you ever figure it out, I hope you share the hows with everyone else. Til then, we just gotta make do.

audio

[tucky]

I can share. I don't know how I'd figure it out, though.

video

[footnoting]

Strange, how forcibly coming and going seems to be such an inconvenience.

[Bartimaeus, stop being a jerk. Just because you're still pissy about Nat going home doesn't mean you can take it out on everyone else.]

I take it you aren't used to others yanking you around on a chain?

video

[tucky]

[Well...]

I don't know. I wouldn't say that.

video;

[friendshiprocks]

[ have a blue haired Japanese teenager, nodding in agreement. ]

I kinda feel the same. I mean, I'd like to go home eventually? I've got some friends there that I miss. But, at the same time, it turns out that I don't have to worry any more about what I was worrying about back home, so I'm fine staying here as long as I can.

video;

[tucky]

Shit, your hair's wild.

[She kind of assumes it's dyed, though.]

What're you worried about at home?

video;

[flowerette]

Unfortunately these things aren't up to us. It's fate who guides the length of our stay. And all we can do is hope we're on her good side.

But thank you for saying such kind things, Tiffany.

video;

[tucky]

You're welcome, Raina. You know I meant it, especially about you.

video;

[fistofthejoestar]

This place provides amazing opportunities, doesn't it? But I don't believe that anyone's discovered a way to manipulate how we're brought and returned just yet.

[which is rather sad, if taken that way, but Jonathan prefers to look at it as just another challenge. he knows that even if he doesn't succeed in bringing his memories back to his own world, his heart will still hold the echoes of his bonds. it's enough.]

In the meantime we'll just have to cherish the time we're given even more because of its uncertainty.

video;

[tucky]

Live in the present, right? Seize the day?

[cephalothorax]

Ahh, if only it were as simple as finding a way to control it. Leaving if you'd like, or staying if you'd like.

Unfortunately, that doesn't seem possible. At least with the information we have now.

[tucky]

What would you do?

voice;

[sassguard]

Maybe if any of us knew anything about the Porter, there'd be a shot. Seems that we've got limited options as far as that goes, though.

[ Don't go putting ideas in people's heads, Shep... ]

voice;

[tucky]

Sounds to me like there's a lot of people who want to find that out.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I appreciate you, too, Tiffany.

[tucky]

Well, thank you. Thank you very much.

[ voice ]

[hostage]

[Aw, that's sweet. And... sad. Don't get too attached, poor Tiffany.]

I wanna stay here, too.

If it makes you feel any better, some people been here for like years.

[ voice ]

[tucky]

Shit, really? Well, that's... good.

[Maybe. She's not in the habit of planning for or thinking about the future. When she says "I want to stay forever", it's mostly hyperbole; what she really means is "I want to be here tomorrow, too".]

Maybe if I could just go home once or twice to tell my family that I'm alive and everything. And then come right back here. Then I'd stay for years.

Audio

[booyahh]

[ Traci can't quite place why she feels so awkward about being included but she sounds pretty happy when she responds. ] I feel pretty special to be included. I think it's not a really bad place here usually. It'd be nice if we knew more about the Porter but it just sounds like nobody knows much of anything.

Audio

[tucky]

Good; feeling special's a great thing.

If anybody does know much of anything, they ain't telling me. One girl sounded like she did, talking about how there was a goddess in there and everything. Only now people are telling me she weren't right about that.

video

[airshow]

No kidding? Y'know, it's not every day I see someone who actually kinda likes it here. Or who'll admit to liking it, anyway.

video

[tucky]

Why wouldn't you admit to liking it if you do?

audio.

[tardily]

If it's nicer than the world you're from, pretty sure most of us wouldn't blame you for wanting to stay. Even if none of us can actually control when or if we get ported out. Or even how long we might get ported out. [ Since it makes sense and honestly, if he was in that particular position, he'd do the same thing. ]

I don't— have a preference. There's some people here who I love and I don't have them at home but there's other people I don't have here that are at home. [ A pause. ] And there's the whole US and Russia not being like they are here but that's sort of secondary to everything else

audio.

[tucky]

Yeah, I'm not gonna lie - I don't pay attention to the politics much.

[acclimatized]

There's no way of preventing people from coming or going.

[ uttered rather miserably. ]

You're not from another post-apocalyptic world are you? I knew a bloke from one like that and he was far less nicer than you.

[tucky]

[Awwww yeah, getting called nice. That alone makes this post a big success in her eyes.]

Nah, I'm from a normal world. Like regular Earth, I mean. Kinda like this, but a few years in the past and with different kinds of technology. No porters or nothing.

audio; i'm allowed to be a week late

[textualhealing]

Kinda surprised they don't give people the option to perma-stay. You'd think they'd wanna latch onto those they could instead of constantly bringing in some of the crazies they get.

audio; yes you are

[tucky]

I ain't seen a lot of crazies yet. Just a few, maybe.