002 | Voice

[alittlesideways]

[Tommy's transmitting this from the bar, where he basically has been living ever since his last post. He sounds a little distant, distracted, and very very drunk.] I had a wife back home. Jeanie... We married before I shipped out to Iraq. Never even had a chance to open our wedding gifts. [Gifts that he shot.] Never will, now. [BECAUSE HE SHOT THEM. Also, he's in space. Which is good, since she has a restraining order against him.]

I keep thinking about what I'd do if I ever saw her again. What I'd say... [How he'd make things right.]

I know I'm new here, but I can't be the only one missing someone. You all have somebody, right?

[He's quiet for a while, then:]

What would you say if you could see 'em again?

[OOC: To folks I owe tags to: I have not forgotten! Just gonna play catch up later today.]

Comments

[alittlesideways]

[Tommy sets his glass down and leans forward, listening. It's a distraction from his own feelings, at least. He could use it right now.] What's she like? Your sister...

[cons]

[ ah, crap. she knows that look. it means she's the distraction now, instead of the network, and some part of her locks up at the thought. hhhhhrk. ]

She's a kid. Um, twelve years old, digs Hannah Montana more than any person ever should. But I think it's cause she's got the double life thing, you know? She likes that. [ because Hannah Montana puts on a wig and has this glamorous second life, as opposed to the masks they both put on while running a con, the characters and lies. Hannah Montana wears a wig to keep that life away from her real life; being a con artist is all she and her sister have. but, we're not sharing that. ] She's the best though, I'd do anything for her. And I still haven't gotten used to being here without her, I mean, back home I never let her out of my sight. The toughest thing is thinking about her being home without me, but apparently things are paused back home, so I guess I don't have to worry much about that.

[alittlesideways]

[Tommy's not quite sure who Hannah Montana is, being overseas when that really took off, but he thinks he gets the gist. And really, it's not the specifics that matter. Tommy's a little skeptical about things just being on hold back home, but even he's not enough of a jerk to question it while Wichita's talking about how much she misses her sister. He just nods quietly, then takes a drink.]

I was an only child, so I never... had that. With anyone. Not until I joined the army. Then it was like... [He waves his hand idly, still holding onto his glass.] Getting a whole family overnight.

[cons]

[ there's a split second, a very brief moment where she thinks to bring up that her dad was in the military. that she's heard about the 'fraternity' side of things, brotherhood, family. she was young when her dad left though, too young to remember details beyond what she could read a few times over in the letters he sent her, what she could figure out by the things he left behind. it feels like a stupid thing to share now. so she lets the thought pass, lets a smile pull at the corner of her mouth. ]

Was that the appeal, then? Why you joined? [ though her eyes are on that glass, eventually reaching to take it. ] And you need a refill. Same as before?

[alittlesideways]

Yeah, [He looks at the glass, then holds it out to her, smiling faintly.] keep it coming.

[He needs it, now more than ever if he's going to talk about the army, his family. Because inevitably... inevitably he'll think about it: Preacher. Rico. All the others who died or were injured in the line of duty. They were his brothers, still, no matter what that discharge meant.]

And I don't know. I didn't really think about it at the time. It was just this thing to do, you know? School wasn't working out, and I had nothing else. So I joined up, thought it might buy me some time to get my shit together.

I don't think I knew what family was before I enlisted.

[cons]

[ she listens even as she pours the same mix of Whatever the Fuck she managed to make last time, something strong but not absolutely disgusting like most of the liquor here was on its own. she's not shocked or disappointed by his answer, finds it normal, yeah. it's the same reasons why most people choose to do... anything, really. just to have something. but there comes a level of bravery in joining the armed forces, a willingness to go through hell to earn something. those implications aren't lost on her.

by the time he makes that last note about family, his drink is refilled and being set down on the bar in front of him. ]

Well, cheers to you anyway, dude. I've always been way too selfish to even think about joining the army or anything like that. I was never really cut out for that kinda thing.