biteouttagrimes | IC CONTACT

Hell. If only we could get rid of him the same way. The world would be better off for it.

Yeah.

It's just . . . that could've easily been us, you know? Being so far gone like that. That's what the most disturbing thing about it. If I had to live on my own back in our world, I think I could've become something like Crane.

No. You couldn't've. You're not capable of hurtin' people for the sake of it -- doin' what he did at that Swear In to everyone. That's not in you. No matter what circumstances you grew up in. Even if me an' your mom had died, I think you woulda found your way to some other group. I don't think you woulda been alone, Carl.

An' even if you were. Even if you got twisted up like Crane -- I think it'd be possible for you to come back. Crane doesn't even want to try an' come back, even with all the people here who'd give him a chance and truly befriend him.

[ Carl thinks back at that fateful encounter of the road, where Dad gutted Carl's attacker to death. How Carl didn't feel horror at the violence but satisfaction. Satisfied at his death, at his suffering, at his guts spilling over the leafy floor.

At his short conversation with Crane, Carl is starting to realize that with all the talk about high culture and fear, Crane is just a young boy who still wants bloody satisfaction at his tormentors' suffering. Who sees anyone as a potential tormentor, and wants to strike back first before they hurt him again. Carl cannot help but see a little bit of himself in Crane.

Does Crane see a little bit of himself within Carl?

Carl will never tell these thoughts to Dad. ]

You're right.

I've left him alone now. Last I saw him, he's all up in the libraries and the bookstores. I think he feels safe there. And I think he's more likely to trust me now that he's my age and I haven't shoved him into a locker or whatever it is school bullies do nowadays.

It won't last, though. An' there's no tellin' if he'll even remember it.

[ Rick does worry, though. He doesn't want Carl drawing comparisons. He doesn't want Crane to have any opportunities to prey on any weaknesses his son could show -- whether they're perceived or not. He doesn't want to even give that bastard a remote chance. ]

If he doesn't, then there's no harm. If he does . . . well. I think people will know more about him and can handle him better than they would a month ago.

[ And that's the most positive outcome. But what if Crane lashes out in retaliation if people started to outwardly showing sympathy or pity after they seen him as a kid? Carl hopes no one is going to be that stupid. ]

It's just that...the way that he is now, I just don't feel comfortable attacking a kid version of him who has no memory of what he's done here, or what he will do in the future. If the Governor was here and he was a kid, would you still go after him?

I'd probably avoid him. But if I knew takin' him out then would erase him from ever comin' back, yeah. Wouldn't hesitate.

[ Rick simply doesn't have the sympathy required to care about where their enemies came from. ]

Unfortunately things don't work like that.

[ And if Carl were younger, he'd totally agree with Dad. Maybe make a boast about it.

Carl's a little older now. Carl has hold peoples' lives in his hands and cut them down - literally, in some cases. Blood flows freely.

And now, now - he has seen Crane as who he was when he was Carl's age. He sees him, and Crane sees him back. And with that connection, Carl can't help but hesitate.

Dad's right, however. It won't last. Crane will be back, and Carl will still spill Crane's blood if it comes down to it. ]

No. You're right.

I'm heading back to the apartment soon.

Alright. I'll see you soon. An' I'll even have some takeout Chinese by the time you get here.

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