EIGHTH SHOT

[dog_eat_dog]

[Dictated quite cheerfully:]

Wish me happy birthday, people, I'm 40 years old today and therefore officially old.

Comments

[not_nikkiheat]

I don't think 40 is actually all that old, but happy birthday, all the same.

[dog_eat_dog]

Feels plenty old to me, especially given most people here seem to be teenagers.

[not_nikkiheat]

[She's got a point.]

We do seem to have a lot of younger people around here.

[dog_eat_dog]

I feel like I've spoken more kids in the past month and half than I have in the past five years total.

[not_nikkiheat]

The kids that we have here are a little...outspoken.

[dog_eat_dog]

Understatement of the fucking year. I had a kid tell me to "shut my trap" the other day; if I'd ever said that to an adult when I was a kid, I would have been slapped stupid.

[not_nikkiheat]

[Kate really wants to ask which kid it was, mostly because she'd like to shake their hand.]

Well, you have to admit that you don't always make the best first impression.

[dog_eat_dog]

First impressions don't really factor in when she stuck her nose into my business uninvited, now, do they?

[not_nikkiheat]

Touche'. Do you know the kid's name?

[dog_eat_dog]

Not a clue. Maybe you recognize her voice.

[She notes down the page number for Kate neatly.]

[not_nikkiheat]

[Oh, she recognizes it alright.]

Oh yes. I don't know who she is, but she spoke to me about the same way. Though she did stop short of telling me to shut my trap, so that makes you special.

[dog_eat_dog]

No juvie hall for brats here?

[not_nikkiheat]

Do kids get juvie for smarting off where you come from?

[dog_eat_dog]

In military school? Yeah, I'll bet they do.

[not_nikkiheat]

We wouldn't have much luck trying for juvie around here though. There's not much repercussions for things like that here.

[dog_eat_dog]

I'm not saying you should lock 'em up and throw away the key. I'm saying it's ridiculous that you have kids running around being assholes and no one gives a shit about bringing them to heel.

[not_nikkiheat]

I don't think it's a matter of no one caring enough. There's just not many ways we can make people obey around here.

Kate

[dog_eat_dog]

If you can't get a twelve year old to toe the line, what happens when there are murders? Rapes? Kill the bastard and kill him again when he "comes back?"

Tess

[not_nikkiheat]

Look, what do you propose we do? You act like you hate cops, but you want someone to keep the peace?

Kate

[dog_eat_dog]

I just want to know if you're going to be a problem if I ever feel the need to take justice into my own hands.

Tess

[not_nikkiheat]

Why would you need to do that? Has something happened that I'm not aware of?

Kate

[dog_eat_dog]

Why? Because shit happens sometimes. Nothing's happened so far, but I just don't believe in a crime-free community.

Tess

[not_nikkiheat]

So what you want is for me to stand aside while you, what exactly? Murder someone that you think deserves it?

Kate

[dog_eat_dog]

Don't get so worked up. Nobody's raised a hand against me or mine, so that's not even on the table.

Tess

[not_nikkiheat]

Then why do you continue to talk about it? You act as if we live in some crime-rampant slum. Basically our biggest problem is mouthy kids.