[ video ]

[hostage]

[Hooray, Jesse is finally awake and home after his half-week holiday with hookers and meth. This of course means he's looking extra groggy, red around the eyes, and not exactly the most cheerful. Which makes the following message a little dissonant:]

Hey, so... - Hey, hi, I'm Jesse. If you're new.

Anyway, um, I know I talked to a few of you earlier about maybe some baking lessons? I was thinking probably, since in a couple weeks we'll have a whole 'nother shipment of new guys, we'll practice making cookies for 'em.

Some of you saw me this last time, right? I had like this whole setup with a tent? I was thinking we could do that again, but bigger this time. Or if you don't wanna be out in the cold all day, we could set up in the lobby downstairs, like right when people come in to find their units? I dunno. I'm just thinking out loud.

Anybody into that, though? Like on the 28th or something we get together and make some cookies? Assuming nobody bombs us or anything.

Comments

[freewoman]

I'd rather be fightin' a war that's mine.

[hostage]

You don't even have to fight at all. I don't.

[freewoman]

Put a weapon in my hand, and I'll use it.

[hostage]

Why?

[freewoman]

Because y'never know who has one in their hand.

[hostage]

So, what, just killing people before they kill you? What if they weren't even gonna try?

[freewoman]

Better safe than sorry.

[hostage]

Is that better?

[freewoman]

You ever killed someone, boy? Or had cold, sharp steel pressed t'your neck? Y'know what it's like t'fight t'live?

[hostage]

Yeah.

[His tone is solemn. It's not something he'd brag about.]

[freewoman]

Then you know. [And you shouldn't ask such stupid questions.]

[hostage]

What I know is I wouldn't wanna do that to anybody. I'd rather die than kill an innocent person.

[freewoman]

If they know how t'use a weapon, and it's in their hand, they ain't innocent.

[hostage]

If they're not coming at you? I mean, you make it sound like you shoot first and ask questions later.

[freewoman]

If someone's got their blade drawn, y'know they're not takin' it out t'show you how shiny it is.

[hostage]

Could be they're scared.

[freewoman]

Then they're not innocent.

[hostage]

How's that?

[freewoman]

If you've your blade out, you've the same intent I do. I don't kill for fun. I do it 'cuz I had to.

[hostage]

Sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like... Yeah.

[freewoman]

Y'needn't apologize. I'm not.

[hostage]

Yeah...

Anyway, I just - Hard for me to imagine leaving this place when it gets so much worse everywhere else. I mean, you say it like we ain't free here, but at least we get to choose. Fighting or not fighting. They decide where we go but they don't make us do anything we don't want. That's all I mean.

[freewoman]

This ain't freedom. You don't know what bein' free is until you've got the world before you. You make your own path, do as you like, and if anyone tries t'tell y'different, you gut him. It's your own life, and you shouldn't be forced t'waste it. Here or anywhere else.

[hostage]

Yeah, I never got that down, the whole gutting people who boss you around thing.

[freewoman]

[She laughs.] They won't be botherin' you no more.