Joss Kutcher

Joss Kutcher is a mother of three, and the sister of River Ward, doing her best to be a parent in strident conditions of Badlands' Trailer Park.

Biography
Joss' childhood was not an easy one. Her parents initially owned a farm that didn't succeed in the line of production. To keep business afloat, they managed to open up a small grocery store alongside it. The family of four, Joss, her brother River and the two of their parents lived on the floor above the store up until the night armed robbers broke in looking for money. The store, considering its lack of commerce had nothing to offer, so they went upstairs in pursuit of cash. Once they didn't get the answers they wanted, they killed her father and tried to force her brother to kill their mother. Once he failed to do so, they did it instead, leaving the children alone. The lack of resolution and the inefficacy of the police force leading to the assailants never being caught led her brother to join the NCPD in an inspired attempt to fix what's wrong with the society.

Not much later, Joss found herself in love with a dashing nomad of the Aldecaldos tribe. They've had three children, Randy, Monique and Dorian. However, the magic did not last forever, as her husband was not able to settle down and instead spent most of his days continuing the insurgent biker lifestyle. Joss freely admits having an easier time raising her children without him. In fact, she often wished he would not disappear for a month just to avoid him. She tells a story of the time he took Dorian to the city for an errand, under the pretenses of father and son bonding. He did not return up until late night, drunk and attacked Joss for calling the cops on him. What actually happened was her brother River finding him and his son in a dive bar, then brought Dorian home. Eventually, as a consequence of an unhinged lifestyle, Joss's husband ended up being killed. An honorable death, as his clan claimed, but seeing his body gave no solace to Joss. While it was an overall relief, she still expresses sorrow to lose the father of her children. Whether it's due to loss or because it resulted in her eldest son Randy locking up and starting following in his temperamental footsteps, she will not clarify, but she does say that life without her husband is just as rough as it was with him.

As if life would give her no peace, Joss had suffered yet another tragedy in 2077. Randy went missing. His behavioral streak would have suggested an act of rebellion, but, once River started looking into the case, he found that the boy has instead been a victim of a serial kidnapper. Needing to gather more evidence, that too, while being suspended from the force, River and V, who he hired to help with investigative work, visit the Trailer Park and face Joss, who has not been in good relations with her brother in the recent days. Being informed of the matter at hand, Joss lost all hope of her son simply having a disobedience moment and after taking it out on River for keeping such secrets from her, she will do what she can to help the search, informing the two to be careful with Randy's things, as he didn't like them being poked.

Once Randy has been rescued, he will spend a generous amount of time in the hospital, recovering. Joss will visit him on a daily basis, leaving all household duties and parenting of her two younger children to River. Joss had made calls to certain facilities, potentially of educational variety, about Randy. She will complain how they do not care about kids who don't fit the mold. But he is recovering, so her sole worry is making his return home comfortable, from getting River to tidy his trailer up to getting him some of his preferred music. Once V is invited for a family dinner, she will express her gratitude for everything they've done, admit to not being an ideal mother, but still enjoying every moment with her children, the most important thing in her life. She will also note that family life has been good to her brother, which might, later on, inspire him to not return to the force at all, instead thinking of becoming a private investigator.

Associated Quests

 * The Hunt
 * Following the River