thisavrou | 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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[ She doesn't usually do video feeds but she feels it's probably important to do so with this kid. He's clearly on the verge of freaking out and needing an inhaler already made this a trepidatious situation.

She tries to put on a comforting smile -- or at least a kind one if nothing else. ]

Hi, Eddie. I'm Jean.

[ A beat, ]

There's no easy way to say that we can't help you get back home. At least not now. We're all pretty much stuck here for the time being.

[ Which has been weeks now. ]

(Another flash of red hair and it still doesn't belong to who he thinks it should. But Beverley was forgotten about long before he came here so there's no real chance just yet.

All he knows is that seeing that kind of hair makes him feel weirdly secure. Seeing a young face? Even more secure. This girl isn't his age, no, but she doesn't look like an adult either.

It puts Eddie at an awkward middle where he doesn't know how much is too much in terms of being polite. He hasn't talked to many teenagers or young adults.)

Uh. Hi Jean. It's nice to meet you.

(He thinks. He doesn't seem quite able to meet her eyes though he does keep trying at least.)

That's-. Yeah that's what people keep telling me. What exactly are we doing here anyway? Like.

(Why are they here, he means.)

[ She understands the uncertainty and shyness, it's why she keeps her voice calm, a little soft. Almost as if she's talking to Laura.

She shrugs, ]

I've been trying to figure that out for a while. There doesn't seem to be much reason for why we were brought here. A lot of people have told me it's just... random.

I know that's not very comforting but you're not alone in this, Eddie. Everyone here understands how confusing this all is. More or less.

[ Some people could seem pretty blase about it. Like it happened all the time. ]

(The thing Eddie appreciates maybe the most is that there was no baby voice. Soft talking was fine but the worst was when older people talked to him like he was an infant.)

Oh. (He's only fractionally disappointed but at least he doesn't seem surprised.) I guess that makes sense. Sci-fi always has random stuff happening because technology spazzes.

(He's talking pure fiction here but why not apply that to real life when clearly...Science fiction wasn't that far off from what was happening here.)

Um- not to be rude but how old are you? (Eddie remembers somewhere once being told it was rude to ask girls their age- but he had to know.) Are there other people like- like kids here?

(Because that's the thing. It was one thing to be confused as an adult but it was totally different to be confused as a kid. Adults at least knew the basic stuff: they knew how to use a stove or when food went bad. Eddie? He had no clue.)

[ He takes it better than she would've assumed after his initial post. So, progress? She nods, ]

Yeah, it's pretty much just like that.

[ And then some. But she figures holding off on some of the other stuff might be for the best right now. Though he catches her off guard in asking about her age. It shows on her face, her brow furrowing slightly, ]

Um, yeah. Not many but some. And others younger than me. I'm eighteen.

Edited 2017-11-05 05:04 (UTC)

(Truthfully, it helps that so many people were talking to him about this situation. He's been assured enough by now that he's not quite as worked up. It helps too that he's interested in niche things enough that some part of this is just a kid's imagination taking hold.

Though he still has a laundry list of concerns. A lot that almost seem silly, like, what's he going to eat for dinner or where can he get a toothbrush? But he doesn't know where to begin with all that.

Eighteen. His eyes widen fractionally in surprise and he almost looks nervous again. That was big. That was bigger than the high school kids. But that still wasn't an adult- well.

Wait...That meant...

He leans forward and whispers a bit conspiratorially: )

You can buy alcohol then. I mean. On your own?

(Eddie Kaspbrak. Asking about such a thing! He's thinking strictly from Maine's drinking age. It's not like he's that curious but it's one of those Forbidden Things that instantly catches his attention.)

[ Jean laughs at that, she can't help it. What a thing to ask. ]

Well, not really. There's no currency on the ship. I would either have to find some to take before anyone else did or I would have to trade for it.

(Eddie nods very sagely. He, of course, had no intention of getting alcohol or anything at all. Nope. He's a good kid.

Then he actually registers what she says and looks a little bit startled.)

Wait- like. Is that how it is for everything? Like...shampoo and stuff? Soap?

[ Okay, Eddie. Whatever u say.

She nods again, ]

Pretty much. Either it's what you find or what you can get people to trade.

[ A pause, ]

Though I think people will make an exception since you just got here. I know we've collected some stuff we don't mind sharing.

(Don't call him out Jean. C'mon. Help a brother out.)

Trade and barter. Like what the pilgrims used to do with the Indians.

(Native Americans, Eddie, jeez. This kid needs some updated education.)

I don't need a lot. But how do people get stuff? You said they find stuff? How? Do they just explore around the ship?

[ She won't now. But maybe later. Gotta keep him on his toes. ]

In a way. If you can find the stuff, first, that's usually easier than trying to trade. Unless you got stuff you really want to get rid of...

[ And even then, other people might not even want it. But she nods again, ]

That's the only way. Won't know what's around if we don't go looking, right?

(The easiest thing Jean will ever do, probably. Eddie is always on his toes.)

Do people have a farmers market or something set up? Or is it like, you just ask around?

(Eddie barely came here with anything and he definitely wasn't too willing to part with anything he had. He smiles a little uncertainly because...It kind of sounded fun. Dangerous, but fun.)

Does that mean we go exploring a lot around here?

The closest thing we have a the Greenery but I don't think you can call it a "market" just yet. So, yeah. Asking around is probably easiest right now. We kinda just got here ourselves a few weeks ago.

[ But she sees that smile and tries to smile more for him, nodding. ]

We can. It's a pretty big place.

Well. As long as I can find something to wash myself with, I'm good.

(He holds up his hand as if to say 'I'm just saying', his expression temporarily severe because space exploration did not mean neglecting his personal hygiene, thank you very much. He would wash himself with homemade plant juice if he has to.)

Do you like exploring? (One of the many mysteries of the universe: what did teenage girls like? Eddie was on a mission to crack that case- if ever so subtly.)

[ Dryly, halfway to him and halfway to herself, brows going up as someone that knows exactly where he's coming from. ]

I know the feeling.

[ She's had to go without showers for things before. It was very unpleasant and then some. Though his next question has her smiling again, ]

Yeah, I do. I've seen a lot of cool stuff by exploring. Some scary stuff, too.

[ Space is pretty big outside of a ship, after all. ]

video 01 | Aortic Aneurysm

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