NUC

I think today's supposed to be important, but I don't remember why.

Is it your birthday?

[Repeated thunking]

Unknown ones work in a pinch, but it’s good to have a usual one on standby just in case.

Mhm.. I'll try. I won't meet the witch.

Good attitude you got there. Very refreshin’.

Thank you. Usually people don't say my attitude is very good..

Nobody’s got a good attitude—we’re in the fuckin’ Zones. I’ve gotten shot at for less.

I guess that's true. It's hard to have a good one out here sometimes. Like when you get shot at.

Fuckin’ exxies expect us to be rational and shit, too, when they’re tryna either kill us or wipe our memories clean.

Exxies? Like the exterminators?

Yep. Hadn’t picked up the slang yet?

Not yet, but I will eventually.

It’ll rub off on you, don’t worry.

[Repeated thunking]

Unknown ones work in a pinch, but it’s good to have a usual one on standby just in case.

Mhm.. I'll try. I won't meet the witch.

Good attitude you got there. Very refreshin’.

Thank you. Usually people don't say my attitude is very good..

Nobody’s got a good attitude—we’re in the fuckin’ Zones. I’ve gotten shot at for less.

I guess that's true. It's hard to have a good one out here sometimes. Like when you get shot at.

Fuckin’ exxies expect us to be rational and shit, too, when they’re tryna either kill us or wipe our memories clean.

Exxies? Like the exterminators?

Yep. Hadn’t picked up the slang yet?

[Repeated thunking]

Unknown ones work in a pinch, but it’s good to have a usual one on standby just in case.

Mhm.. I'll try. I won't meet the witch.

Good attitude you got there. Very refreshin’.

Thank you. Usually people don't say my attitude is very good..

Nobody’s got a good attitude—we’re in the fuckin’ Zones. I’ve gotten shot at for less.

I guess that's true. It's hard to have a good one out here sometimes. Like when you get shot at.

Fuckin’ exxies expect us to be rational and shit, too, when they’re tryna either kill us or wipe our memories clean.

[Repeated thunking]

Unknown ones work in a pinch, but it’s good to have a usual one on standby just in case.

Mhm.. I'll try. I won't meet the witch.

Good attitude you got there. Very refreshin’.

Thank you. Usually people don't say my attitude is very good..

Nobody’s got a good attitude—we’re in the fuckin’ Zones. I’ve gotten shot at for less.

[Repeated thunking]

Unknown ones work in a pinch, but it’s good to have a usual one on standby just in case.

Mhm.. I'll try. I won't meet the witch.

Good attitude you got there. Very refreshin’.

[Repeated thunking]

Unknown ones work in a pinch, but it’s good to have a usual one on standby just in case.

[Repeated thunking]

That's a lot.. maybe I'll wait a little longer to go. Is three people enough..?

Those’re spectators, no need for ‘em to get fixed up unless they’re fightin’ each other over losin’ a bet. The actual racers are six each race, but most participate in ‘least two races, so it ain’t too bad.

Oh. Still a lot of people.. but six people sounds a lot easier to watch than twenty or fifty.

*chuckle* tryin’ t’ keep my attention on twenty people sounds like a damn nightmare, even if I was just a spectator.

I would give up immediately. Twenty is too much.. fifty would be hell.

Don’t think there would be a track big enough t’ hold fifty racers… be so many damn crashes.

I don't think anyone would be able to go without hitting someone else. It'd be a mess..

Good thing there’s only six each race.

‘Bout a year and somethin’ months? Started when I had to reattach a friend’s finger ‘cause damn near no one else was tryna help.

... How did that even happen.?

Didn’t really care to ask ‘cause I knew the reason would just give me grey hairs.

I guess that's true.. do people usually lose fingers out here.?

Not usually, but I’m a magnet for the more extreme stuff, I guess.

Fun.. do you get any breaks from it?

Sometimes I take days off, but helpin’ out keeps my mind off things so I’m usually on duty.

I guess having something to do is better sometimes.. do you do anything else? Something for fun?

Paintin’, art related stuff mostly. I take joyrides with my family, play with my kid, read, and try to teach myself stuff.

You have a kid? How old?

Twenty-one months. She’s hell of a runner.

I'm glad she has someone good to take care of her.. and she's not in the city.

And she’ll never know what the inside of the City looks like if I got anythin’ to say about it.

That's good. I'm glad.

Oh. I guess I forgot.. I'm Ren.

It's nice to meet you too, Nuc.

How long’ve you been in the Zones for, Ren?

Uhm.. a couple months I think? It hasn't been long.

Better out here than in there, hey? You’ve made it this long, that’s real good.

It's the passing out and getting sick all the time.. but it's probably okay, it'll go away. Probably..

Yeah, definitely more of a case for proper nutrition, hydration, and gettin’ used to everythin’. If it doesn’t, go to a medic, alright? We got a lil more access than most to stuff like medicine—cough syrup, shit like that.

I'm trying to drink more water, but I'm not sure it's helping.. I'll wait a little longer before looking for one. Thank you.

All good. Just don’t wait ‘til you’re on the Witch’s doorstep, hey?

I won't. I'll ask for help soon..

Good. Find one you’re comfortable with—it’ll make it all easier for both of you.

[Repeated thunking]

That's a lot.. maybe I'll wait a little longer to go. Is three people enough..?

Those’re spectators, no need for ‘em to get fixed up unless they’re fightin’ each other over losin’ a bet. The actual racers are six each race, but most participate in ‘least two races, so it ain’t too bad.

Oh. Still a lot of people.. but six people sounds a lot easier to watch than twenty or fifty.

*chuckle* tryin’ t’ keep my attention on twenty people sounds like a damn nightmare, even if I was just a spectator.

I would give up immediately. Twenty is too much.. fifty would be hell.

Don’t think there would be a track big enough t’ hold fifty racers… be so many damn crashes.

I don't think anyone would be able to go without hitting someone else. It'd be a mess..

Good thing there’s only six each race.

‘Bout a year and somethin’ months? Started when I had to reattach a friend’s finger ‘cause damn near no one else was tryna help.

... How did that even happen.?

Didn’t really care to ask ‘cause I knew the reason would just give me grey hairs.

I guess that's true.. do people usually lose fingers out here.?

Not usually, but I’m a magnet for the more extreme stuff, I guess.

Fun.. do you get any breaks from it?

Sometimes I take days off, but helpin’ out keeps my mind off things so I’m usually on duty.

I guess having something to do is better sometimes.. do you do anything else? Something for fun?

Paintin’, art related stuff mostly. I take joyrides with my family, play with my kid, read, and try to teach myself stuff.

You have a kid? How old?

Twenty-one months. She’s hell of a runner.

I'm glad she has someone good to take care of her.. and she's not in the city.

And she’ll never know what the inside of the City looks like if I got anythin’ to say about it.

That's good. I'm glad.

Oh. I guess I forgot.. I'm Ren.

It's nice to meet you too, Nuc.

How long’ve you been in the Zones for, Ren?

Uhm.. a couple months I think? It hasn't been long.

Better out here than in there, hey? You’ve made it this long, that’s real good.

It's the passing out and getting sick all the time.. but it's probably okay, it'll go away. Probably..

Yeah, definitely more of a case for proper nutrition, hydration, and gettin’ used to everythin’. If it doesn’t, go to a medic, alright? We got a lil more access than most to stuff like medicine—cough syrup, shit like that.

I'm trying to drink more water, but I'm not sure it's helping.. I'll wait a little longer before looking for one. Thank you.

All good. Just don’t wait ‘til you’re on the Witch’s doorstep, hey?

[Repeated thunking]

That's a lot.. maybe I'll wait a little longer to go. Is three people enough..?

Those’re spectators, no need for ‘em to get fixed up unless they’re fightin’ each other over losin’ a bet. The actual racers are six each race, but most participate in ‘least two races, so it ain’t too bad.

Oh. Still a lot of people.. but six people sounds a lot easier to watch than twenty or fifty.

*chuckle* tryin’ t’ keep my attention on twenty people sounds like a damn nightmare, even if I was just a spectator.

I would give up immediately. Twenty is too much.. fifty would be hell.

Don’t think there would be a track big enough t’ hold fifty racers… be so many damn crashes.

I don't think anyone would be able to go without hitting someone else. It'd be a mess..

Good thing there’s only six each race.

‘Bout a year and somethin’ months? Started when I had to reattach a friend’s finger ‘cause damn near no one else was tryna help.

... How did that even happen.?

Didn’t really care to ask ‘cause I knew the reason would just give me grey hairs.

I guess that's true.. do people usually lose fingers out here.?

Not usually, but I’m a magnet for the more extreme stuff, I guess.

Fun.. do you get any breaks from it?

Sometimes I take days off, but helpin’ out keeps my mind off things so I’m usually on duty.

I guess having something to do is better sometimes.. do you do anything else? Something for fun?

Paintin’, art related stuff mostly. I take joyrides with my family, play with my kid, read, and try to teach myself stuff.

You have a kid? How old?

Twenty-one months. She’s hell of a runner.

I'm glad she has someone good to take care of her.. and she's not in the city.

And she’ll never know what the inside of the City looks like if I got anythin’ to say about it.

That's good. I'm glad.

Oh. I guess I forgot.. I'm Ren.

It's nice to meet you too, Nuc.

How long’ve you been in the Zones for, Ren?

Uhm.. a couple months I think? It hasn't been long.

Better out here than in there, hey? You’ve made it this long, that’s real good.

It's the passing out and getting sick all the time.. but it's probably okay, it'll go away. Probably..

Yeah, definitely more of a case for proper nutrition, hydration, and gettin’ used to everythin’. If it doesn’t, go to a medic, alright? We got a lil more access than most to stuff like medicine—cough syrup, shit like that.

[Repeated thunking]

That's a lot.. maybe I'll wait a little longer to go. Is three people enough..?

Those’re spectators, no need for ‘em to get fixed up unless they’re fightin’ each other over losin’ a bet. The actual racers are six each race, but most participate in ‘least two races, so it ain’t too bad.

Oh. Still a lot of people.. but six people sounds a lot easier to watch than twenty or fifty.

*chuckle* tryin’ t’ keep my attention on twenty people sounds like a damn nightmare, even if I was just a spectator.

I would give up immediately. Twenty is too much.. fifty would be hell.

Don’t think there would be a track big enough t’ hold fifty racers… be so many damn crashes.

I don't think anyone would be able to go without hitting someone else. It'd be a mess..

Good thing there’s only six each race.

‘Bout a year and somethin’ months? Started when I had to reattach a friend’s finger ‘cause damn near no one else was tryna help.

... How did that even happen.?

Didn’t really care to ask ‘cause I knew the reason would just give me grey hairs.

I guess that's true.. do people usually lose fingers out here.?

Not usually, but I’m a magnet for the more extreme stuff, I guess.

Fun.. do you get any breaks from it?

Sometimes I take days off, but helpin’ out keeps my mind off things so I’m usually on duty.

I guess having something to do is better sometimes.. do you do anything else? Something for fun?

Paintin’, art related stuff mostly. I take joyrides with my family, play with my kid, read, and try to teach myself stuff.

You have a kid? How old?

Twenty-one months. She’s hell of a runner.

I'm glad she has someone good to take care of her.. and she's not in the city.

And she’ll never know what the inside of the City looks like if I got anythin’ to say about it.

That's good. I'm glad.

Oh. I guess I forgot.. I'm Ren.

It's nice to meet you too, Nuc.

How long’ve you been in the Zones for, Ren?

Uhm.. a couple months I think? It hasn't been long.

Better out here than in there, hey? You’ve made it this long, that’s real good.

[Repeated thunking]

That's a lot.. maybe I'll wait a little longer to go. Is three people enough..?

Those’re spectators, no need for ‘em to get fixed up unless they’re fightin’ each other over losin’ a bet. The actual racers are six each race, but most participate in ‘least two races, so it ain’t too bad.

Oh. Still a lot of people.. but six people sounds a lot easier to watch than twenty or fifty.

*chuckle* tryin’ t’ keep my attention on twenty people sounds like a damn nightmare, even if I was just a spectator.

I would give up immediately. Twenty is too much.. fifty would be hell.

Don’t think there would be a track big enough t’ hold fifty racers… be so many damn crashes.

I don't think anyone would be able to go without hitting someone else. It'd be a mess..

Good thing there’s only six each race.

‘Bout a year and somethin’ months? Started when I had to reattach a friend’s finger ‘cause damn near no one else was tryna help.

... How did that even happen.?

Didn’t really care to ask ‘cause I knew the reason would just give me grey hairs.

I guess that's true.. do people usually lose fingers out here.?

Not usually, but I’m a magnet for the more extreme stuff, I guess.

Fun.. do you get any breaks from it?

Sometimes I take days off, but helpin’ out keeps my mind off things so I’m usually on duty.

I guess having something to do is better sometimes.. do you do anything else? Something for fun?

Paintin’, art related stuff mostly. I take joyrides with my family, play with my kid, read, and try to teach myself stuff.

You have a kid? How old?

Twenty-one months. She’s hell of a runner.

I'm glad she has someone good to take care of her.. and she's not in the city.

And she’ll never know what the inside of the City looks like if I got anythin’ to say about it.

That's good. I'm glad.

Oh. I guess I forgot.. I'm Ren.

It's nice to meet you too, Nuc.

How long’ve you been in the Zones for, Ren?

Uhm.. a couple months I think? It hasn't been long.

Better out here than in there, hey? You’ve made it this long, that’s real good.

[Repeated thunking]

That's a lot.. maybe I'll wait a little longer to go. Is three people enough..?

Those’re spectators, no need for ‘em to get fixed up unless they’re fightin’ each other over losin’ a bet. The actual racers are six each race, but most participate in ‘least two races, so it ain’t too bad.

Oh. Still a lot of people.. but six people sounds a lot easier to watch than twenty or fifty.

*chuckle* tryin’ t’ keep my attention on twenty people sounds like a damn nightmare, even if I was just a spectator.

I would give up immediately. Twenty is too much.. fifty would be hell.

Don’t think there would be a track big enough t’ hold fifty racers… be so many damn crashes.

I don't think anyone would be able to go without hitting someone else. It'd be a mess..

Good thing there’s only six each race.

‘Bout a year and somethin’ months? Started when I had to reattach a friend’s finger ‘cause damn near no one else was tryna help.

... How did that even happen.?

Didn’t really care to ask ‘cause I knew the reason would just give me grey hairs.

I guess that's true.. do people usually lose fingers out here.?

Not usually, but I’m a magnet for the more extreme stuff, I guess.

Fun.. do you get any breaks from it?

Sometimes I take days off, but helpin’ out keeps my mind off things so I’m usually on duty.

I guess having something to do is better sometimes.. do you do anything else? Something for fun?

Paintin’, art related stuff mostly. I take joyrides with my family, play with my kid, read, and try to teach myself stuff.

You have a kid? How old?

Twenty-one months. She’s hell of a runner.

I'm glad she has someone good to take care of her.. and she's not in the city.

And she’ll never know what the inside of the City looks like if I got anythin’ to say about it.

That's good. I'm glad.

Oh. I guess I forgot.. I'm Ren.

It's nice to meet you too, Nuc.

How long’ve you been in the Zones for, Ren?

[Repeated thunking]

That's a lot.. maybe I'll wait a little longer to go. Is three people enough..?

Those’re spectators, no need for ‘em to get fixed up unless they’re fightin’ each other over losin’ a bet. The actual racers are six each race, but most participate in ‘least two races, so it ain’t too bad.

Oh. Still a lot of people.. but six people sounds a lot easier to watch than twenty or fifty.

*chuckle* tryin’ t’ keep my attention on twenty people sounds like a damn nightmare, even if I was just a spectator.

I would give up immediately. Twenty is too much.. fifty would be hell.

Don’t think there would be a track big enough t’ hold fifty racers… be so many damn crashes.

I don't think anyone would be able to go without hitting someone else. It'd be a mess..

Good thing there’s only six each race.

‘Bout a year and somethin’ months? Started when I had to reattach a friend’s finger ‘cause damn near no one else was tryna help.

... How did that even happen.?

Didn’t really care to ask ‘cause I knew the reason would just give me grey hairs.

I guess that's true.. do people usually lose fingers out here.?

Not usually, but I’m a magnet for the more extreme stuff, I guess.

Fun.. do you get any breaks from it?

Sometimes I take days off, but helpin’ out keeps my mind off things so I’m usually on duty.

I guess having something to do is better sometimes.. do you do anything else? Something for fun?

Paintin’, art related stuff mostly. I take joyrides with my family, play with my kid, read, and try to teach myself stuff.

You have a kid? How old?

Twenty-one months. She’s hell of a runner.

I'm glad she has someone good to take care of her.. and she's not in the city.

And she’ll never know what the inside of the City looks like if I got anythin’ to say about it.

That's good. I'm glad.

Oh. I guess I forgot.. I'm Ren.