(no subject)

[anewlanguage]

Everyone make it back?

[he's, perhaps, a little more gruff than usual. And also he's bandaging his own arm, which promptly stains right through the bandage, and he tsks and applies heavier pressure to it.]

I think it's about time for another camping trip.

Comments

[anewlanguage]

[A muscle in his jaw twitches]

Yeah, she is. Cassandra. I don't know if you've met her.

[tucky]

Hmmmm... nope. I don't think so.

Is it weird having your kid here? My parents have been in prison but not at the same time as me, or in the same place.

Private

[anewlanguage]

I haven't spoken to her in more than a year, but--yeah. It's weird still. When she was here as a warden it was different. Now she's here as an inmate and...I feel guilty. You know?

Private

[tucky]

Why, do you feel like it's your fault or something?

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

It is my fault. [A short, sharp exhale] I was awful to her. She ran away when she was still a kid, just to get away from me.

Private

[tucky]

Really?

That don't seem like you, though.

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

I'm gonna take that as a sign I'm doing something right.

Private

[tucky]

Yeah.

So are you going camping?

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

Course! Never miss a chance to test yourself in the woods, right?

Private

[tucky]

Uh-huh, sure. Is it a group trip? Can I come?

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

More the merrier, kid. You done much camping back home? Fishing, that kind of thing?

Private

[tucky]

Oh, yeah. Lots of people in my family hunted, and when I was a kid I'd go along. They did overnight trips sometimes.

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

I had a feeling! Next port we get with decent wilderness I'll lend you a gun, take you out scouting with me. [Assuming her warden permits it, anyway.]

I'm thinking late-fall scenario for camping here. Something hot in the morning, cold at night.

Private

[tucky]

Fall hunting trips were my favorite ones.

This is gonna be a real good month, I can feel it. Everything is looking up.

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

[For the most part he has overcome the negativity and guilt that had made him an inmate, but he has to admit, it's easier to be optimistic with someone else leading the way. And hell, he wouldn't have called himself a follower before, but here they are.]

Hey, are you still in touch with your family? I mean were you, back home?

Private

[tucky]

A little bit, sometimes. Some of them. They didn't come visit me in prison 'cause they were too far away, and some of them were in prison too, but I talked to people on the phone sometimes.

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

So you never blamed 'em for where you were.

Private

[tucky]

Um... I don't know. Do you think I should?

Are you asking 'cause your daughter blames you for her being here?

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

[Ouch. He tries not to wince but doesn't quite stop it.]

Yeah. I guess I am. Used to be I blamed myself more than she blamed me...I hope it's still true but I doubt it.

You aren't anything like her, but I try to tell myself she might be more like you someday, when she figures her life out, figures out how to be around people.

Private

[tucky]

[That makes Tiffany blink in surprise.]

More like me? But I don't... I don't got my life figured out at all.

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

[He chuckles, shakes his head]

No, I know you don't. But you laugh a lot. She only laughed maybe two or three times when she lived with me. Know what I mean?

Private

[tucky]

Oh.

I'm happy here. Maybe she should try to be, too.

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

If I prayed that'd be what I'd pray for. If you ever meet her, maybe you'll be a good influence, though.

Private

[tucky]

Just because I'm happy? I don't know if me being happy makes other people happy; I don't know if it works like that.

But I do pray. I could pray for her, if you want.