♻ 005 | audio

[tucky]

Okay, I got a question - why's there so many kids here? You can't turn a corner without running into an imPort kid.

[This... may be a slight exaggeration. It almost does feel that way to Tiffany, though; she came through the Porter from a totally kid-less environment. She'd seen child visitors to the prison in passing, but hadn't interacted with one in years until coming here - and that's not even touching on her own vague Kid Issues, which are currently heightened after her conversation with Jesse about her past.]

I mean, it just seems kinda cruel, you know? Porting in a bunch of kids without anyone to look after 'em. I mean, unless the people here are meant to look after 'em, but come on. How many of us are the type? And I know I would've missed my mama something fierce if I was taken to a whole new world when I was little; some weird fucking stranger wouldn't've cut it.

... Hell, I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong; I could be wrong. Never really knew what to do with kids myself, so it ain't like I know how they think - how y'all think.

So never mind, maybe.

Comments

[nohalfway]

It's so fucking dumb when you really think about it.

I wasn't doing anything. I was trying to find some new clothes, do something normal for a change, and he walked in front of me!

This guy was like over 6 feet tall, so he probably didn't even see me.

[tucky]

Sounds like a bully to me.

[Being a (mostly former) bully herself, she would know.]

I would say you should've punched him, but I'm moving past solving problems with violence. Should've yelled at him, maybe.

[nohalfway]

I don't think he'll be doing what he did again.

Pretty sure I gave him more than a few extra grey hairs.

[ Meaning she did waaaay more than just yell at the guy. ]

[tucky]

Well, he deserved it. What a dick.

[nohalfway]

He didn't deserve what I did, but... Yeah.

[tucky]

Why, what'd you do?

[nohalfway]

I um.

Sort of flipped out on the guy. With a weapon.

I didn't shoot him! Just... Threatened.

[tucky]

Was it 'cause of your world back home? 'Cause you thought he was gonna attack you for real or something?

[nohalfway]

This is embarrassing...

But yeah. I can't really explain it but just.

Like out of nowhere, he started looking like a hunter. I don't know what came over me, he just started looking dirty and beat up and his voice got hoarse and I could have sworn he started to come at me.

[tucky]

What, like he changed?

Do you think it was real or all in your head?

[nohalfway]

I'm pretty sure it was in my head.

[tucky]

Why do you think it happened? Was it like a... what do they call 'em, like a flashback?

[nohalfway]

I... Guess so?

I really have no fucking idea what to call it. I've read about PTSD in books? It just seems so surreal to me because what happened in my world was my whole life.

I shouldn't even be fazed.

[tucky]

You mean that things soldiers get?

Maybe it fazed you cause it was your life, and now it ain't anymore, and you was worried it was gonna start to be again.

[nohalfway]

Yeah, that.

And I guess you have a point there. I don't know. I should probably talk to Joel about it, but...

[ He doesn't really like talking about the past. ]

[tucky]

Who's that? Friend of yours?

[nohalfway]

Yeah. He's from the same world as me. We'd been travelling together to find some people.

[tucky]

Did you ever end up finding 'em?

[nohalfway]

Who, Joel?

Oh, yeah. I actually met up with him my first day here. Thankfully, there wasn't a problem finding him.

[tucky]

Nah, I mean did y'all find the people you was looking for.

[nohalfway]

Oh.

No... Not yet. I got pulled here when we were still looking.

[tucky]

Well... good luck and everything. Yeah. I bet you will find 'em.

[nohalfway]

Maybe.

I know that people come and go here. I found out my first day that I've been here before, and I don't remember that at all.

Part of me hopes we can go back, yeah.

[tucky]

Why? You got people there?

[nohalfway]

Something like that.