The Coffin Club

"...I don't get it. I don't. I. Shit. I'm having a hell of a time with this, Taylor. I am. I want you to have your life. I want you to live it. But this is the sort of money that doesn't come back when you spend it. You're smart, you know that? You and your siblings are all smart. And I thought...maybe her. Maybe the one who's most like me, but is smart like her mother. I don't know. I don't know where you're staying, I don't know who you're staying with, I don't know what you're doing or how you're going to support yourself. Becks and the twins are busy. Your mother's working on something new. And I'm keeping my head above water. But I worry about you, Taylor. Y'know? I thought you might be able to turn the money into...something. Something better with an education like that. [sighs] That's not fair. I'm frustrated, honey. We try real hard. It's not like you don't know that. I guess I kinda wish I just gave you the money up front and we called it a day, right? [laughs, stops] No that's...I don't know. I guess...good luck, honey. Do the best you can. And if you need a place to stay, the couch is open. But we can't really give you any more money. And the news has started talking about how unsafe it is, with those attacks. Promise you'll be careful. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." https://thecoffin.club

"Alright. The twins are resting, Taylor's managing to keep fluids down. Your dad's on the phone with the agent. Are *you* okay, Becky? I'm sorry. I am. It took a lot of planning, and I was excited for it too. I've only been in California a few times myself, but. We're not getting to Anaheim, not with three of us throwing up like that. Especially not by train. But, hey, it'll be alright. Klamath Falls is still a city. Has to be stuff worth doing and seeing here, right? How's it sound, you and me, fresh air, walk around, see the city and...I dunno, buy some gifts and stuff for the others? We'll probably stay the night before we get back on the train. Worst case scenario, we stay another night. [laughs] Make them regret hosting the Banks family. ...yeah, I know. This sucks, Becks. It's not any of our faults. One day when you're older, when we both have more money, we'll give it another try. I promise. Ride the rides and see the sights as a family. For now, we're going to have to make do with what two girls can get up to. And, well, we set some money aside for purchases at the park. I'll be damned if anything in this place is as expensive as California. Let's go find our own fun." https://thecoffin.club

"Okay, I gotta make this all abundantly clear: none of you kids are ever joining the fucking military. That sounds, like, weird strict dad shit, I guess, but. I gotta put my foot down. Don't tell your mother I used those words. Morgan, Nancy, you two are old enough to enlist if you really wanted to or go into ROTC or something. Don't. Becks and Taylor, you let me know if they do any of those assemblies at your school, okay? Because it's disgusting. Like. There's a lot going wrong in America these days. The solution to any of it isn't to pick up a gun and go overseas. You've got those games and movies and shows making you think it's the best thing ever. They do those assemblies where they show you the drones, talk about the benefits. Got some asshole in Marines dress pretending it's a big adventure with the speech he's giving. Don't tell your mother I said "asshole". It's a lie, it's a scam, it's a trap. Look you kids are old enough and smart enough. We're not the richest people in the world. We're *lucky* to have the position we're in; many have it better than us, but more have it worse. I know, I know, dad's having one of those opinions on society and justice and crime again. But let me be clear: I love the four of you. I will support damn near anything you do. I won't ever cut you out of my life for joining the military. But I don't want you all hurting yourselves for no good god damn reason. The world's big, and we may be small, but we fucking matter and can do what we need to get by without killing strangers over it." https://thecoffin.club

"...hello? Morgan it's. What time is it, good god...slow down, slow down, honey. Where are you? ...okay. I should not have been yo-no, no honey, it's okay, you're...your dad's not here right now. He's here, but he took some medicine before bed, so he's not gonna wake up any time soon. Fuck. Okay. Here's how this is going to work, okay? I'm not him but I know how these sorts of calls go. You don't have a record, you don't have priors, you are minor, you were a passenger, it's not your car, not your glovebox. Hold all of-Morgan, breathe for me, okay? Don't pass out in the station, you don't want that happening. You are gonna be okay. I'm going to call for a lawyer. The only thing you need to do is shut your mouth and sit tight. Don't sign anything, invoke your rights as best as you can. I know the laws have been weird lately, but you're still a minor. And, this is important: do not sell Brian out, okay? They're going to want you to do that so they can do less work, honey. Make them work for it. Don't talk back but don't give them anything to work with. ...yeah, honey, you're probably gonna have to stay the night. You'll be okay. I promise. Love you too. I gotta make some calls and tell Nancy. Of course I'm telling them. You're the one who ran off without listening to them about Brian Carter. Plus, I'll need them to watch the others. Stay safe for me. I'll see you soon." https://thecoffin.club

"Yeah your mom is, uh. Bisexual. Pansexual? She doesn't only like guys like me. I don't know why you're asking me this, Nancy. Oh, the band. Yeah. I thought she was dating Lana when we first met, and I guess Lana thought that too. Got weird when I started hanging out. I think your mom made some mistakes at that time. We were pretty young, it was messy, I was doing my own shit and didn't...pay great attention to the two of them, and then the band fell apart... I'm not, jealous. I get it. That's a part of what she wants, and I can't really give her. Being her husband doesn't make her any less...bisexual, I guess. I'm her husband and I'm also not, dumb. Don't give me that look, that's not permission to call me dumb. I dunno! I don't have a problem with it I liked Lana. If they're good friends, they're good friends, if your mom wants to...weeeeee don't need to keep having this conversation. What was the question? Oh, no, you're thinking of nonbinary. That's kind of like when you're not a boy or a girl, it's a whole spectrum. Why?" https://thecoffin.club

You two are old enough for this talk. I love your father but he's not qualified to give it. Things aren't fair. It's not that we're lucky; we are. God, are we lucky. I've got four kids I wouldn't trade for the world. I've got a husband I love, a house I call my own, a job that doesn't break my back, some savings. We're trying to play our cards right to ensure the two of you get to go somewhere like my Aunt Elsie did. We have all of this and it's still not...safe. It's not stable. God this is a hell of a thing to tell you two. I'm sorry. But I don't want you to be blind-sided if it all changes. Because it could. The world moves in big ways we can't ever anticipate. You saw what happened with...with Mama. None of us saw it coming. We keep going, and we remember her and what we had. Sorry. Please give me a second, heh. I'm going to miss her so much. As much as you two will. God. Sorry. I'm okay. Things, uh. Things aren't fair. Your father and I want you to understand the two most important rules. We came up with them when I got pregnant, and we had to go from a couple to parents. They're simple and I hope they help you too. First, the world's not fair. That's not an excuse to not try to be kind and make it better. Second, if you have to be unkind or break the rules, you don't do it in the house. Don't bring it home. I can never be mad at that man because he follows that rule, and I do too. Okay? I love you both so much. Whatever you do, I'll be proud of you. https://thecoffin.club

We got lucky getting this house. First thing your big brother ever helped us with. I used to think I was slick but Morgan's got my charms and your mother's sense even before he was born. Got your mother's temper too but y'know don't tell him I said that, Becks. Your mother and I were, to be blunt, using contraception. We wanted kids, but we wanted them on our own timetable. I was working in construction, she was managing stores, we were making ends meet. This company put out this new birth control drug and they were looking for early adopters. It was not a medical test. That's important. Because if it was, we wouldn't have gotten the money for the house, heh. I don't know if they forced it through the FDA or if it was flawed, but the drug didn't do what it was supposed to, and a few months later she was pregnant with the twins. First thing I did was hustle her over to a doctor, get blood work, all that stuff. It cost us, but it was a smart gamble. See we weren't the only people having kids who shouldn't. And, cynical as it is, we wanted kids and we didn't have the money to. Under other circumstances, we'd've taken care of it. This was our shot *to* have kids *and* have someone else foot the bill about it. Took another risk, called a buddy of mine who was a lawyer, got us into a class action suit against them. Lots of them took the immediate payout. Not us. We got a structured settlement, a check every two weeks. Squirreled that away for a rainy day. Found this place on a police auction, actually. Hole in the ground but I'd had enough experience fixing bad houses. When the twins were born we had three rooms we could live in, and I kept working at it. You're lucky, Becks. Whole house was done when you showed up. https://thecoffin.club

He told you about Mike and Elsie, huh? I love your father but he can be a little judgmental sometimes. You think he wouldn't be considering his family. Well no honey they're. Mmm. I'm sorry. I get a little heated sometimes, thinking about my siblings. Imagine how you'd feel if someone started saying stuff about Becky or how the twins would feel if someone started picking on you. They're my brother and sister. I have a lot of good memories. Sometimes I wish they were better. Your Nana and Papa, I can talk to them fine, but they don't like your dad. Not since the arrest. It's a shame, you think folks like them would be able to hold grace in their hearts for their only surviving son. I tried to get it through their skulls, I promise I did. You should ask Morgan about them, he may remember more than Nancy. They were on good terms with me after your dad went inside for a while. They'd visit and help me with Becky when I was getting the others into school for the first time. Then your dad got out...and they stopped wanting to come around and see him. They'd see their grandkids, sure. Not him. Then I got pregnant with you. And they started getting opinionated about it. At the end of the day I'm not picking my husband's parents over him. Your father is a good man. Sometimes a good man makes mistakes. What's important is where you go from there, not if you have to throw out all those years together. You talk about it, maybe you separate for a while, and you see where life goes. They do send you kids money on your birthday and Christmas, and that's nice of them. But they could do more if they want to be worth being in your lives. Plus, c'mon. You got Mama and Mom still. Trust me, they bake cookies for you all much better than Nana ever could. https://thecoffin.club

Well we don't really talk to your mom's side of the family because we don't particularly. Like them, y'know? Yeah, okay, Grandma Nina and Grandma Tess are the exception, we make time for them. It's your aunt and uncle who are the problem. Your mom's still got some positive feelings but I'm the outsider so I can bring a balance to that sort of thing. So your Uncle Mike, he joined the military. I think he wanted to be a Marine but they ended up making him a drone jockey. He got involved in the surveillance push in the Thompson administration, was involved in Operation Radiant Beacon. I'll explain that when you're older but it's not a good thing he did that. I got in a fight with him one Thanksgiving before you were born. Talking about duty to the country and, well. Never join the military, Taylor, okay? No matter what they say. There's always a better way. I had Morgan and Nancy in my arms and Mike's screaming at me and I thought to myself, "hell with this, I got two toddlers and he's gonna lay into me over this? I don't care if he's her brother." Your mom and I talked about it on the way home. She wasn't happy. But she saw how he was talking to me and the twins and. Yeah. Your Aunt Elsie...different story. Smart lady. I liked her a lot. Then one day something...shifted in her. She was educated, your grandmas got her through college. She even went Ivy League with a bunch of grants and debts. One day she calls your mom up, smiling wide, "I met the most wonderful man!". They get to talking, your mom hangs up, looks into him and immediately calls her back. See, uh. Sometimes, people hear what they want to hear and then ignore the red flags. There was a lot she shouldn't have ignored. I'll tell you when you're older. Important thing is she lives on his compound out in Montana now and even if we did invite her to holidays...she wouldn't come. Sorry kiddo. I wish you could meet them. Family's important and you care for them, mostly. Family's still made of people. https://thecoffin.club

When did I first meet your father? Ah Jesus, great question. Let's see. Johnny Banks wasn't really a fixture of the scene as much as he was a nuisance. I used to play in a band back in the day. I even dropped out of school to pursue it, had to get my GED later. Don't drop out to join a band, by the way. Odds are rigged against you. Anyway you've seen those pictures of me in those jeans. We called ourselves The Screwdrivers, we thought we were punks, we thought it was cool. Played a lot of local shows, didn't ever get a record down but we got some EPs together. We were down in the scene and so was Johnny Banks. Your father, god bless him, used to have the dumbest hair I seen on a man. It was cute. He tried to do the liberty spikes, but never really put enough product in, and had half his head shaved. He looked like a palm tree. He hung around at shows and parties, this beanpole guy in an old army jacket and stompers and chains. Everyone thought he was there to score heroin or screw high school girls, so they gave him a wide berth. He wasn't confident in himself so he'd just stand and loom all quiet. I didn't meet him properly at a party. I met him at work. I did graveyard at a convenience store. He shuffles in one day, jacket too big, hair all floppy, asks me for smokes. There was this nervous energy and then, suddenly in this shotgun blast of words, he says to me: "I really like your band. I think you've got some good songs. I have questions about your lyrics. I think you tuned your bass wrong. Can I help you tune it properly?" I told him to get lost. The next day he showed back up with a tuner. I said "where did you get this?" He smiled wide and said "don't worry about it." And that's the first present your father ever gave me. https://thecoffin.club

I met Louise Wallace when fucking Richard Lincoln tried to kick my teeth in. It was a hot summer, and they'd cancelled public summer camp again for the third year in a row. I was thirteen years old. Not old enough to get a job yet, too old to hang around home and not get told off for it. Richard and Toby and Donny and me stole some shit from the Bullseye and ran off to a nearby park to see what we got and screw around. Fireworks (the boring kind), some inflatable balls, some food. We didn't steal a pump. Ended up sitting around trying to blow the stupid things up by hand (mouth, really) as we chewed shitty candies and snapping noisemakers at each other. Normal shit. We got a soccer ball mostly inflated, kicked it around a bit. Then I slipped, fell on it and popped the stupid thing. Donny and Toby started laughing, but Richard. Richard was pissed. "What good is taking crap if you're just gonna break it, you dumb piece of shit?" was more or less his sentiment at the time. Told him the truth: wasn't my fault, wet patch of grass, and maybe it wouldn't pop if you weren't such a weak loser who couldn't inflate a damn ball. He ended up on top of me as Donny and Toby stood around chanting "go! go! go!" whipping noisemakers at us. I don't remember what happened next. I do remember this clearly: Louise Wallace standing over me as Richard lay howling on the ground. Younger kid, ten years old, wiry girl. Tomboy. Richard had to go to the hospital with the way she hit him. She didn't pay him much mind as she helped me off the ground. I mumbled thanks, because what else am I supposed to say to be saved by a girl. All she did was roll her eyes. "Don't be a fucking idiot, dude. Learn to shut your mouth." And those were the first words your mother ever said to me. https://thecoffin.club

We do session zero, character creation and enclave creation for our Red Markets 2e's beta test! Thrill at what protagonists are designed! Chill at how distracted we get looking at a map of Seattle! Spill into a chair and listen up for the stories that will be told about the enclave of Deception Pass and the Banks Family Takers. https://thecoffin.club

Welcome to the end of the campaign. Let's see who lives and who dies.

"Nancy listen ca- It's mom, I- Fucking BLACKOUTS HONEY PULL O- okay. it's okay. we got enough ubiq signal. ha. hey honey. it's mom. dad's driving. he's focused right now, so he can't- Hey Nance, love you, mom's gotta talk right now. -honey focus on the- I will, I will, you talk to them- -okay, Nancy, don't go home. do not go home. it's too. I don't know. there's so much happening. there was that announcement, and those jets, and it's not safe in Seattle, it's not safe in the city. Morgan said- -Morgan's okay, Nancy, Morgan and Taylor and Becks, they're all okay- -yeah, honey, they're okay. But you can't go home. I know I said, in an emergency, go home, but. There's shooting, there's fires, and- -hand me the phone? okay, okay. Hey. Nancy. Talk to Morgan and the others. We're moving to safety. We'll find you when we can. Promise. Stay safe for me. -and me. And your mom. If you die, I'll never hear the end of it, haha. Love you." https://thecoffin.club

"Becks. It's dad. You remember those hunting lessons with Aunt Maxine? Cool. Good. No, I'm not in trouble. It's. You've seen the news, right? Kiddo we're on a phone call right now, you at least have cell reception, c'mon, don't bullshit me. And, I know, I know, I always say don't trust the news. But. There's something in California. Something is happening. It looks bad, and I don't think…it may be another pandemic or something. But they're mobilizing forces over it. And it doesn't look good. I'm not saying, y'know, get a gun. I am not saying that over a phone. What I am saying is: I love you so much. And I'm happy you and your siblings are tough as fucking nails. We weren't good parents. I'm glad we had such good kids. You don't have to come back down to Seattle. No. Whatever is happening…you might be far enough away from it. Keep yourself safe first and foremost. The rest of us…we'll do what we can. I promise. Love you, Rebecca. Call me when you can." https://thecoffin.club

"Hey, it's mom. I've got an update on things for you: it's going to be a pretty quiet dinner this weekend. Becks can't make it, she's got that new contract and the overtime is demanding. I told her not to go with that company but, well, she could use the money and work. I can't blame her. Taylor's busy with friends. She didn't say more than that. I don't know who they are or what with, but I know she won't be around. And I'm having trouble getting in contact with Nancy. I don't know if she didn't pay her phone bill or if she's on shift at her current job, or jobs. You're probably busy at work too. I hate to do this to you, Morgan, put the burden on you. Can you make sure Nancy's still going to come over too? Your dad's got business going on and I mean actual business, ha. And I have to get to *my* shift. Text me if you can. Thanks, honey. I love you. Oh, and be careful, please? I know dad says don't trust the news, but. Something feels bad. Something bigger than that. I can't explain it. Just be careful for the two of us." https://thecoffin.club

"Oh god where did you kids find that record. You're all a little too young for that, heh. C'mon, let's go put it back in the attic, alright? Are you sure you want to? ...don't tell your dad, okay? I mean he likes it, but. The swearing and content. "The Screwdrivers" was a fun time. I think we could've made it. But we didn't have the money, or the commitment...it was a whole thing, we were already doing this the old fashioned way. We had a social media presence, but that's a job. And we did advertising, but that's a job. Only so many of us, not enough money. We had this run of LPs and that was really...it. Yeah, no, I was good friends with those girls. Really good friends. Sometimes I check in on Lana; she's a session musician, she does good instrumental work still. The others, we don't talk or catch up. But Lana's still doing well. When your dad was away, we would talk a bunch. Sometimes she'd sing for the twins. Help them to sleep. You all probably don't remember that, huh? You might remember this song, though. That's me and her on this duet. Oh it's called, uh. Girlkisser. We can talk about it when you're older." https://thecoffin.club

"I, uh. I dunno what to say about this, Becks. I did say you could use my card to order stuff online. I didn't expect you to sign up for a magazine, and...I'm not going to say money is tight. I am going to say I didn't expect it to be a recurring subscription, y'know? Anyway. I looked into it, because what the hell is "Grills & Grills Quarterly". So. Uh. You're kind of serious about that roadkill cuisine thing, huh. Yeah. I know. Food waste is...it sure is a real, rising problem, I could see it helping people. But like. Jesus kiddo I want to be supportive, I do, I promise I do. It's really damn weird. [exhales] Your mom is a lot more repulsed than I am. But I gotta have some limits for what I let you kids do. So I have a proposal, and I think it'd be helpful for understanding this. Interest. And give us the opportunity to bond. You remember Aunt Maxine? I still talk to her sometimes. Hunting season is coming up. We can go upstate, she can teach you how to shoot a little, the three of us go hunting, and we bring what we bag to a butcher. Let you see how, uh. The sausage is made, I guess. We'll go from there. It's. It's a weird hobby, Becks. Dip your toes and who knows what you'll learn from it. Maybe don't marry yourself to it if it doesn't. Work out, y'know?" https://thecoffin.club

"Sticking with Taylor. Okay. I get it. It's a good name. We got it on the first try, right? Hey. You did a big thing, telling all of us at once like that. Takes a lot of guts. I'm proud of you, Taylor. I'm not making excuses for your father. I'm happy he got up and didn't say anything. He's getting smarter in his old age and learning to keep his mouth shut. I am going to remind you that he loves you to pieces, Taylor. You being his daughter won't change that. I promise. He just doesn't understand it. He *will*. I promise he will. Your father is an idiot but he's not *hateful*. If he didn't love you, you wouldn't be his favorite kid. Don't tell the others we have favorites. Well it's not *you*, honey, you're *his* favorite, we can't double up and create a love monopoly. [laughs] Come here, come here. You're not so big as to not give me a hug. I love you, kiddo. Always have, always will. I'm proud of you. Plus. I'm cool. I used to share a two-bedroom with bunch of girls. I'd help them with their shots or let them crash on my bed. We have to stick together or else we're all not going to make it. Promise." https://thecoffin.club

What are they dressed as? I mean it's. Obvious, isn't it? Y'know, he's the leader, she's the lieutenant, there's the big strong one... Look, ma'am, my kids worked hard on these costumes, and for you to start throwing words like those around- I do, yes, we're in district, they go to the school at Twelfth, those two are in sixth grade- Oh I'm sorry I thought we lived in America? Since when is there a cut-off for Halloween? They're eleven! I don't give a sh-damn if fifteen-year-olds can go get a job working at Shake-It-Fast, they're still kids! Your lights are on, th- Y'know what? Fine. Fine! I hope you like getting a bad review on BlockParty! Last time we go trick-or-treating in this neighborhood! C'mon, we're leaving- I said we're leaving, you don't have to yell- Morgan, try to look a little more upset? There we go. Perfect. Where the hell are Becks and Taylor. Don't answer that. The less we know the better. Sh-damn. Sorry. I know they had those big bars. I didn't expect her to be such a shi-stick in the mud, heh. Where did you get those. ...I'm not saying don't put those in her mailbox but if you do, do not tell me. I'm gonna move to the next block. See you two there. https://thecoffin.club