thisavrou | video 01 | Aortic Aneurysm

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video 01 | Aortic Aneurysm

(You know who is not going to react to this situation decently no matter how many times it's explained to him? Eddie. You know who doesn't have a good game face against fear? Also Eddie. He's alone, he needs an adult, and he's pretty sure they don't restock on inhalers here. He knew he didn't need it, not technically, but he also knew that his lungs were contracting at a rate that lead to hyperventilating and as far as he was concerned, that was exactly what an asthma attack was all about. He was having an asthma attack. Maybe. His body was thinking about it.

By the way, he's definitely just been staring at the video for a couple of silent seconds, his jaw working back and forth as he just tried to remind himself that he was actually capable of breathing. This kid......)

My mom's going to fucking kill me.

(The words are whispered under his breath and he would think twice about swearing if he realized how many adults might be watching this video. He was enough of a loser that he could get the whole communication device thing, really, that was fine. But he wasn't quite able to wrap his mind around the full extent of it all.

After a second, he decides fuck it. He needs his inhaler. It goes up, he gives it a few shakes, and takes a deep, deep breath in with it. Holds. Holds.

Then his whole body deflates, his eyes rolling up. He closes his eyes and thinks about how he would talk to the police in Derry. Ha. If that wasn't the biggest fucking joke ever. When he speaks next, his voice is pitched higher than before, that typical 'I'm trying super hard to be polite and endearing' voice that he uses to call his mom 'mommy' when he's real apologetic. He's not even trying to be a suck up. The kid's just scared.)

Um. My name's Eddie Kaspbrak. I'm Sonia Kaspbrak's son and I definitely need to be home for dinner which is like, in an hour. So if anyone can help...I would really appreciate it.

.....God, I really hope this isn't that creep who was taking all those kids.

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(This gives him some pause. Again, he doesn't like this texting thing. That first notion that someone can see him but he can't always see them.

It was unsettling. All the same, he replies.)

I'll be twelve in November.

(It was September when he left his world. He's just about to be twelve any day now though- depending on how the calendar system worked here.)

[If unsettling children was a measurable talent, Sans would have distinguished himself a pioneer in the field by now, regardless of intent.

There's a beat of what could be hesitation before the next reply rolls in.]

and where are you now?

(Eddie might not know a whole lot about this whole texting communication thing but something about this question makes him hesitate.

Gut instinct told him it was a bad idea to tell a stranger his location.)

I don't know if I should tell you that.

[The kid was pragmatic, he'd give him that. Tugging his hood back, Sans taps a finger bone against the communicator before pushing forward.]

stranger danger's a good instinct, kiddo. can't fault you for that one. i wish i could tell ya you had nothing to be afraid of, but lying's not really my bag.

[Unless, of course, he's lying just now.]

how about i tell you a little something about myself, first? get rid of the whole 'stranger' problem.

(A part of him is relieved that he doesn't get lectured for that and a bigger part of himself feels proud. He's pretty sure his mom would be glad for him too.)

I just can't see you is all so for all I know, you could be some weirdo.

(Which, in theory, is kind of rude to say but hey.)

Okay. But it has to be a real something about yourself. I know about those people who tell kids their names just to be all "see, now we're not strangers"

[If it's rude, the stranger doesn't seem particularly bothered. Then again, text is an imperfect medium. his messages continue to flow in uninterrupted by anything more than thought.]

okay, you got me there. brace yourself, kid. i'm not the prettiest guy.

[The feed switches from wavering text to a well lit room, bookshelves lining the background. It takes a moment of adjustment, before the feed settles on a skull's blinking eye sockets.

And then, of course, the skull starts talking.]

name's sans. that's not my real something, though.

(Eddie is suddenly scared because what if the guy has some weird skin disease? Oh, God. What if it was contagious?

That's when the video feed clicks on and.

It's a skull.

There's a faintly high pitched sound (He could hear Richie Tozier now: Somebody turn Eddie off! He's reached his boiling point!) and dimly realizes that it's him making that noise. He brings his inhaler back up to his face and takes a deep puff from it.

Then another just for good measure. (It's just hydrogen and oxygen, Eddie. Camphor to give it a medical taste.)

But somehow, somehow, despite the panic, Eddie's looking right into those eyes. They aren't the eyes of the leper. They aren't the eyes of the- the what?)

...W-What are you? (What are you, Big Bill now?)

Edited (emphasis) 2017-11-04 21:29 (UTC)

[It's about the reaction Sans expects, though the reach for the inhaler is a new twist. There's a joke in there somewhere -- the irony of a lungless man taking a kid's breath away -- but he lets the moment pass. Another time, maybe. A less charged moment, when the kid might actually stand a fighting chance of laughing.

As it was, Sans gets the sense Eddie might just choke if he tried.]

A skeleton. [He offers, voice low and affably rumbling. For emphasis, he lifts a hand and moves each of his fingers to show off their articulation.] A monster, if you wanna get technical.

You're a human, right? [Asked casually, but genuinely. He was about 99% sure, but appearances could be deceiving aboard the Avagi.] As long as learning about each other.

(That was a kind of joke that might get a snort from Eddie if he weren't still trying to Deal With Things. Sans has hope yet though. Thing is Eddie has dealt with monsters before and even the charming ones weren't ever this nice.

It wasn't even like. That overbearing niceness either. It was just normal nice. The kind of nice a lot of adults tried to aim for but failed miserably on.

A skeleton. That could talk. Okay. Well, he was on a space station so maybe he had to start expecting weirder things. Shiro had said there nonhumans.

In a very small voice, Eddie says a simple:)

I don't think you're a monster.

(Adults were the truest monster he knew. Other creatures too. But this guy?

No way. He didn't have that looming god-like presence of Eddie's mother, didn't have that cruel twist of a smile Mr. Keene had when he dangled his information over Eddie's head. No. That was being a monster.)

...Yes. I'm a human.

[Sans can't help the low rumble that bites out past his teeth. A puff of noise, resembling a laugh in shape and size and yet somehow different. His eye sockets close for a moment, bony hand coming up to rub at his temple.

The permanent rictus stretched across his face softens into something that appears almost genuine.]

I appreciate that, kid. But I promise, monster's not much of a dirty word we're I'm from. [Not exactly true -- it certainly was to humanity -- but things were different underground. Humanity saw to that, too.] Neither is human, for the record.

[That's also not exactly true, but he'd never claimed to be honest, did he?]

Listen, Eddie, I get dinner's in an hour and I don't wanna spoil it, but d'you like french fries?

Edited 2017-11-05 00:50 (UTC)

(It's a weird enough noise but not creepy enough noise that Eddie squints curiously at the camera. What was maybe weirder than seeing a talking skeleton was seeing a talking skeleton close its eye sockets. Eddie didn't think bones worked like that but then again, what did he know?)

Oh...Well it is where I'm from. (So he was indirectly giving Sans an out of being put into the designated 'bad things go here' box of Eddie's mind.

Granted, he knew people could change. Sans might actually be worse than he seemed but Eddie wasn't so good yet at looking past the surface value of first interactions.)

I'd sort of hope so. I don't really think there's much I could do to something like you.

(That's implying the worst of humanity is all physical, Eddie boy, and shouldn't you know better than most?

Oh ho but Sans says a magic word here because suddenly Eddie's eyes are widening up as big as Richie Tozier's behind those coke bottle glasses and it's the first time since getting here that he actually smiles.)

Yes. There's fries here?

[There's that noise again, a little louder this time. The kid was earnest as all get out, and Sans couldn't help the effect it had on him. Surprise, worry, and an overwhelming relief.

Couldn't do much to someone like him? Whatever the history or reality might be, that Eddie could express such a thought was all it took to make it true.]

Sure. [Kinda.] Whaddya say, think we've hit not-stranger status enough to share a few?

(His smile fades to some degree and is replaced with another thoughtful look. Sans definitely seemed like he was safe, like he was okay, but Eddie knew better than to wander off with someone

(Is that what happened to Georgie? He was even younger. God, Christ, he bled out-)

just because they seemed safe.

But then it occurred to Eddie that there was safety in public. He had a good feeling and maybe that feeling would secure itself if he spent some time with Sans.

So he nods.)

Okay, but can we go somewhere other people are?

Yeah, sure. [It's an answer that comes easily, and not without a small measure of impressed.] Y'know, if I ever get the chance to meet your mom, remind me to give her a high-five.

[Whoever she was, whatever she believed, she'd raised her son to act smart.]

You know the greenery? Kinda can't miss it, it's the only place here that isn't metal.

Um. Okay. (He smiles a tiny little bit. He doesn't really get it and it's the first time he's ever actually heard anyone say something more positive about his mother.

And frankly, Sans might change his tune a little bit later once he understands the full situation that is Sonia Kaspbrak.

But he's got a point. Granted, it's a combination of Sonia's upbringing and the whole kids-missing thing that has Eddie being wary.)

Yeah, I do. I biked by it earlier. Did you want to meet there now?

[Ignorance is a beautiful, ugly thing, isn't it?]

You biked? [Well goddamn.] Yeesh, kid, looks like we've got the makings of a race.

First one there gets the crispy fry bits?

Yeah. I came here with my bike.

(He'd been biking home when this had all happened, after all. And he liked his bike. It felt familiar. As he didn't really have a place he was living just yet, he was nervous to lose his bike. So it came with him everywhere.)

A race?

(He wanted to say that he wasn't fast, that he wasn't going to win, but the idea of someone wanting to race him...He couldn't deny the little thrill he got from it.

(Eddie, you can't go so fast on your bike! Edddddie! You'll catch a rock and fall! You'll die, Eddie!))

Okay, okay yeah. You're on.

(He seems positively gleeful.)

On your mark, get set- go!

(The video clips off and Eddie damn near falls to get to his bike quicker. He pulls it off the wall he had propped it up against and as he jogs off, he swings himself up onto the bike and takes off. He has to swerve around people every now and then but it's easy enough to get around.

He's pretty sure he remembers where the greenery was, knew he had seen it, and after taking only one turn, he's pedaling up to it. He's standing in the pedals rather than sitting down but he lowers himself as he approaches, coming to a slow stop and setting his foot down on the ground to balance himself. He's panting a little bit, his cheeks flushed, but he doesn't seem to notice. Instead, he's staring around for any hint of a skeleton guy.

Did he win?)

[It's a far cry from the forced politeness of his initial message, all gusto and enthusiasm to cover over the papery unease from before. Did he manage to help with that? That didn't seem quite right, but Sans can't help but feel the corners of his grin pinch with something real.

It didn't look all that different, but looks weren't everything, were they?

As Eddie leaps atop his bike, Sans stretches with a roll of the shoulders.

While Eddie huffs and puffs, Sans fishes the half-eaten carton of Grillby fries out from his makeshift bedside table.

When Eddie slows to a steady stop, Sans looks down at his communicator-slash-watch from where he still sat in the library. About eight minutes since their call disconnected.

That was probably enough time.]

Jeez, kid. [The voice from the communicator is a little crisper in person, sounding from behind Eddie as Sans walks forward from seemingly nowhere. How'd he get here? Where'd he come from? Details, details.] How much did you clock on that thing?

[He holds up the paper box of fries -- cold, stale, but fries -- with a quick rattle.]

I'm a skeleton of my word. [Another rattle.] To the victor go the fry bits.

(Eddie was like just about every other kid out there. They had those two selves. The self for the adult perspective and the self for everyone else. Sans casualness and attitude certainly helped edge Eddie out from under his paranoid state that he often felt when he was dealing with adults. Adults had that magical cruelty of always making it feel like he had done something wrong even when he had never done a bad thing in his entire life (arguably).

He's rocking back and forth on his bike with simple childish elation for the sheer fact that he's never won a single race in his entire life. Eddie puts his head down on the handle bars and allows himself this private moment to smile.

Not such a loser after all, am I?

Maybe not, maybe not.

Eddie doesn't think that maybe Sans was giving him an easy out. It didn't matter for someone like Eddie, Eddie who was just young enough that this kind of validation mattered so much to him.

Eddie picks his head up and whips it around at the sound of that familiar voice. At first his eyes widen because okay, yeah, skeleton is still pretty creepy, but he relaxes pretty quickly after once he does confirm that yes, it's Sans.

All at once he's grinning from ear to ear.)

Clocked enough to beat you. Although I think I might have an unfair advantage with having muscles and all.

(Look at that. He was even joking a little. His eyes fall to the fries and he rotates his bike to face Sans, leaning over it to grab the box.)

Thanks! Maybe next time I'll have something to offer you as a prize. (He suggests, sitting back on his seat and looking at the fries. Sure, they were cold and stale which was kind of gross but as a principal, Eddie didn't get to eat junk like this a lot and he was going to relish in it. And relish he does.)

Sure, if I can ever manage to beat you. [Sans winks, nodding for Eddie to follow him inside the greenery itself.

It was a strange anomaly in the grand scheme of the Avagi. Gone were the rusted metal plates that made up the winding station halls, replaced instead with grass and trees. Two weeks of climate flux meant that grass was a little yellower and the trees slightly wilted, but it couldn't completely rob it of its otherness. A slice of something different in an already wildly alien place.]

C'mon, ditch your bike, take a load off. [He invites, settling on a particularly soft patch of grass.] You ride a lot?

Edited 2017-11-05 03:30 (UTC)

You might be able to if we both raced on our feet. I did kind of have an unfair advantage.

(Eddie slips himself off his bike so that he could walk inside with Sans, leading it along next to him. As they entered, he stared about him in wide-eyed wonder. It looked a little like fall, he thought.

He does as Sans suggests and nudges his foot to get the kickstand out. Leaning his bike upright, he took a seat next to Sans and folded his legs together Indian-style.)

Yeah. I ride everywhere mostly. It's the only way I can really get around town and do stuff with my friends.

(They all rode. He munched on some more fries but wasn't such a glutton that he was going to hog them. After two more, he holds the box out to Sans.)

Do you know how to ride a bike? Actually- like. Were you ever a person? I mean, you look like a skeleton of a person but...

[It's a companionable set up, the smell of old greasy mingling with the oddly pleasant smell of plant life on its last legs. Sans had never seen a true autumn, but if he had he might be reminded of it too.

But even without the first hand experience, there was something nostalgic about it. That funny spot between life and death -- and whaddya know, limbo had french fries.]

Me? Nah. I mean, I am a person, but I was never human. [He winks, leaning over to steal one of Eddie's fries with a quick finger to his "lips."] I was a kid like you, once. A lot smaller, though. N' nope.

[Another fry stolen.]

Never learned how to ride a bike.

(Eddie liked summer for its freedom but autumn had the charm of no bugs and a little bit cooler weather. It also meant his birthday and one year closer each year to being grown up enough for his mom to stop harping on him so much. There was also Halloween and trick-or-treating and candy and then Thanksgiving....

Eddie wonders if this place is going to have all that too. A keen ache fills into the pit of his heart. Longing.)

Oh. Okay. (That...made enough sense for Eddie. Eddie looks a little frazzled at being winked at and he's reminded, not for the first time, of his friends. That ache deepens.)

A lot smaller than me?

(Eddie sounds incredulous. He snaps up a fry for himself.

Then his eyes widen spectacularly and his mouth opens until it's damn near gaping.)

Seriously? Riding a bike is one of the coolest things ever. I could teach you if you want?

A lot smaller. [He holds up his latest stolen fry as an example, though his straight face could use some work.] N' hey, you think you're up for that kinda challenge? Coordination isn't my strong suit.

[He bites the "head" off the fry he's holding.]

Would I lose cool points if I told you I'm a real speed demon on a tricycle?

Yeah right. The only time you're that small is when your in your mom's stomach. (He pokes at his own to emphasize the point. Maybe it worked differently with monsters though? He's no expert.

Eddie sniffs at that.) I've had harder challenges before. It's not too hard. And trust me, if I can ride a bike, anyone can ride a bike.

(It had taken him forever to even get his mom to agree to that one.

Sans startles a laugh out of Eddie. It's more of a snort really and something he hides behind a hand but the amused delight is obvious in his eyes.)

Trikes are cool, sure, for babies. And seeing as you're not a baby? Yeah, you lose mega cool points. That's okay though. I don't hang out with cool people anyway.

(And he sounds rather proud and fond of this fact.)

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