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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(With all of his encounters so far, the last thing he expects to see is a girl almost his exact age staring back at him. People said there were kids but so far, he'd mostly met teenagers. Not kids.

What quiets him, stills his raspy, stuttering breaths, is her seemingly immobile conviction that she will protect him.)

You will?

(Except he...somehow believes her. Believes her more than the adults who told them that they would keep him safe, believes her more on account of that natural, intrinsic trust of another child.)

...Why? (They didn't even know each other. Shouldn't she worry about protecting herself?)

[The corner of her mouth curves upward and she nods. Of course she'll protect him. His breathing is weak, and he looks terrified. Laura will always protect other children. They're innocent in most things, and this boy seems painfully innocent.]

Porque puedo.

[She pauses, and looks a little more confident.]

Because I can. And because you need me to. [There's another pause, and she glances off screen before looking back.] Eddie Kaspbrak. I'm Laura Howlett.

[She's been through a lot, but that was all at the hands of adults. She intrinsically trusts other children a hell of a lot more than she does adults. And since she knows this place pretty well already, she figures it's better her that watch out for him than someone else.]

(They were going to be friends. It felt like that when he had met every one of the other Losers, that sense of This is Right, like finding another edge that matches up with your own that's been splintered off.)

Porq--What does that mean?

(His ear for any other language besides English is awful but at least he thinks to ask. Though he pronounces the portion of 'porque' as a harsh 'Pork'.)

But I might not be able to protect you. (He admits this miserably and a bit shamefully. Being protected by a girl was embarrassing in his day and age but this was something Eddie felt ashamed about just in general.)

Laura Howlett. (He echoes, works it into his memory.

If there was anything in life that Eddie has learned, even with his forgotten memories of It included, it is that adults were the worst thing he has ever encountered.

He sucks in another last breath with his inhaler before shoving it into his lap, the last of his panic shaking out of him.)

Where are you from?

[Her eyes narrow as she tries to figure out what it is he's inhaling. It must be something to help him breathe better, but she doesn't understand what it is. She'll have to ask him about it later. But for now, she mimics the motion he's just done of pressing and huffing. ]

Transi -

[She starts to bluntly answer, before realizing that she doesn't have to ever think of that lab as "home" again.]

Mexico.

[She can at least give the location of the lab.]

Porque means because. It's Spanish.

[She's pleased with how interested he is in speaking with her, especially since she finds it really easy to talk to him too. His breathing seems better now and he seems more calm, but that doesn't stop her from starting to walk around in an attempt to track him down.]

(Eddie doesn't quite understand why she's mimicking him but at the same time, he doesn't feel like she's making fun of him either. Just like she doesn't question him, he doesn't question her.)

Oh...Wait, are you saying you're protecting me 'because Mexico?'

(Or was he being stupid. Either way, what Eddie can definitely confirm is that he's impressed that someone his age can speak another language besides English.

Eddie isn't too hard to find. He's placed himself at the Ingress Memorial because it had looked clean and quiet. His bike was on the ground next to him and if Laura could pick up anything, it might be the smell of his medicine. A stale smell of Camphor.)

When did you learn to speak Spanish? Are you fluent in it? I only know like- taco. But that's not really Spanish-Spanish, I don't think, it's just food.

[She shakes her head as her cheeks puff up a little. Talking and communicating is still something that's really difficult for her. And right now, it's embarrassing.]

No. I am from Mexico. I'm protecting you because I want to.

[She hopes that makes a little more sense. Right now, she's busy listening for the sound of his speaking so she can track him down. She's so distracted by it that she doesn't answer his question about her speaking Spanish.

Thankfully, she finds him pretty quickly. And when she does, she sniffs at the air so she can commit his scent to memory. That way, she'll always be able to find him. Her eyes glance at the bike, and she makes a note to try picking it up and looking at it later. But right now, she's too busy looking him over.

They're close to being the same size, give or take. That puts her even more at ease.]

I speak Spanish better than English. But we can still talk.

(It was a fumble on both ends really. Eddie was still half disoriented from his panic had forgotten his own word order and welp- there's a reason he didn't have too many friends himself. Either way, there's no real need for embarrassment.)

Are you good at fighting or something? (She said it's because 'she can' earlier. So what, was she a girl-soldier like Shepard? Only he didn't think even boys this young could be soldiers- so maybe girls that young couldn't be either.)

I can throw rocks pretty good. So I can probably help you too if you ever need it. (He says this mildly and with a bit of a sulk. It isn't as much as he'd like it to be but he isn't the type of friend who would only stand by while others protected him. He felt weak enough as is and his loyalty wouldn't allow it. As an after thought, he adds, a bit more jokingly:) I've been told my shrieking can be a weapon of mass destruction too.

(If only he knew there was a mutant that's scream actually was a weapon of mass destruction. But that was neither here nor there.

Her sudden presence startles him only a little and Eddie scrambles to his feet, grabbing at his chest. He too feels calmer upon seeing that yeah, they're about the same size. Thank God because he was pretty small- even for his age.)

Jeeesus. How'd you find me? (This place was huge!)

That's okay. I mean it's really cool you can speak two languages at all. I only know English which is kind of lame. Maybe we can help each other? It'd be neat to know some Spanish.

[She nods a little, agreeing that it's a good idea for them to help one another.]

Friends help each other.

[She's learned that since she's been here. And since she's sure they'll be friends sooner rather than later, she extends the title to him now. Being friends also means personal space is even further ignored by her than it usually is. So she steps in closer, until she's nearly pressed up against him. She sniffs at the air, her nose wrinkling as she takes in a scent that reminds her too much of the medicine in the labs.]

Is this yours?

[She quickly pulls away after that, and goes over to his bike so she can pick it up and look it over.]

Bicicleta. Bicycle.

[See? She's teaching him Spanish already. ]

(It felt good to hear her say that instead of hear her insist that she only protect him. Eddie's shoulders rolled back and he stood a little bit straighter. Friends did help each other and something cinched inside of him to confirm Laura Howlett as a Good Guy (A Good Friend).

What he's not expecting though is the sudden invasion of his personal bubble. There's only one person who gets that close to him on the regular and Tozier's not around. Eddie lets out an embarrassing squawk and turns beet red, hands flailing uselessly. He definitely smells like a lab- the kid's doused in way more medicine than he should be.)

Uh-

(Turns out he doesn't have to worry too much because Laura's gone as soon as she came and he's left feeling a bit dazed. What just happened?

The blessed thing about being twelve meant he didn't linger on it for long, instead turning his eyes to his bike. His mind switches from 'that was weird' to excitement.)

Yup! All mine. But you can try it out if you want.

(He walks over to her, standing at the other side of the bike. He points to the pegs on the back wheel.)

I can ride you around too if you stand on those and hold onto my shoulders.

(He stares at her for a beat and then slowly mouths 'bicicleta'.)

Bicuh-Biclituh-

(Nope. That just sounded like a dirty word he's heard older boys use before. His nose scrunches up and he tries again.)

Bicicleta. (That sounds right and he automatically grins.)

Edited 2017-11-06 06:43 (UTC)

[She grins too and nods.]

Very good.

[She pushes the bike toward him so he can get hold of it and get on the seat. Her interest is solely on those pegs on the back. Standing up on a bike while he drives her around? It sounds like fun to her. Once he's in position, she hops right up into hers, landing with ease on the pegs. Her hands rest on his shoulders, though she probably doesn't really need the help with balance.]

I've never been on a bicycle before.

[She softly admits, glad that they're close enough that he'll be able to hear her say it. She doesn't want anyone else that might be out and about to hear. ]

But on the other planet, I had a horse to ride. His name was Rictor.

(Eddie doesn't need to be told twice. Riding his bike is one of his favorite things and he's soon seated firmly on it. He plants his feet on the ground and tips his head back to gesture for her to get on up.)

Are you serious? Aw man, you are missing out. It's awesome. I'll teach you how to actually ride it sometime. It's real easy. It took forever for me to convince my mom to let me be able to ride around on one. She kept saying 'Eddie! You'll break an arm! You'll break your arm then snap your neck and die!'

(Eddie even pitches his voice to more properly imitate his mother. It's not identical but they both do have a similar shriekish quality to their voice.

Before he kicks off, Laura lands a whammy on him and his head whips around.)

No way! Really? That's fucking awesome. Jesus. My mom would have an aneurysm if I ever tried riding a horse. I could never even pet puppies. A horse? Pff.

(That was the dream. They were so big and all the guys in the Westerns rode them. Laura might just be the coolest kid he's ever met- and he knows some pretty cool kids.

He pushes his foot off the ground and pedals them forward.)

Hold tight. It can hurt like a bitch if you fall. (He's a smooth rider though. He's carried around his friends before and she's lighter than some of them so he curves around a hall and bursts out going pretty fast- not bothering to hold back. He has a feeling she'd appreciate that.)

Hurt like a bitch.

[She repeats after him, holding on a little tighter to his shoulders. The fact that he starts out going fast makes her grin, and she loves the way they bank around a turn and just keep going. She's definitely going to have to do this more often. The fact that this is a boy her age that wants to do spend time with her makes her feel a little awkward, but she can't really put a finger on why. Her cheeks turn red as she leans in a little closer to him when she ends up wobbling a little.]

We can go to where I live. You'll stay there too.

[It's not exactly a demand, but it might as well be one. Laura likes him and wants to make sure he stays safe here. The best way to do that is to have him live with the rest of her family. She doesn't think her dad or Charles will be able to turn him away. Not since he's here all alone.]

Your mom isn't here, so you can do what you want. Even ride a horse.

[Not that there are any here, but she still naively holds onto hope that her horse will show back up here someday.]

Yup. Do you know what that means?

(It actually helped to know that Laura was only just understanding English. It made Eddie aware of himself more than he normally would have been.

She isn't the only one aware of their gender difference. Eddie has forgotten about Beverly mostly, and so as far as he's concerned, this is the first time he's properly spent time with a girl his own age alone. Just like her, he's feeling a little awkward, a little stiff, but mostly, he's treating her like he'd treat the guys. Mostly because something about her reminds him of them.)

Stay there? (Eddie glances back for only a second. He could be adventurous but not reckless.) Like, live with you? Would that be okay?

(There's an edge of hope to his voice. It had been a worry that had been gnawing intensely at him for a while now- where he'd go, what he'd do for food. He'd met adults, sure, but he felt ten times as awkward with them than he did with Laura- even with her being a girl. To have a child invite him into her home was so much easier for Eddie than Eddie having to ask an adult if it's okay if he could stay with them.

So demand or not, Laura was probably going to get her way. Eddie certainly didn't want to say no. He just knew how the world functioned. Kids didn't make the rules.

It isn't the first time that he's realized his mom isn't here but hearing someone say it so bluntly...It's...It's so freeing and God, he feels bad, but it's true. He feels something open up inside of him, a wary taste of genuine enlightenment.)

...You're right. I can do what I want. (To emphasize on that point, he does something he knows he's always been strictly forbidden to do on his bike.) Hold on extra tight now.

(That's the only command he gives, suddenly speeding up way more once they're in the clear. Then, he jerks his body upright and pulls them up. For only three short, wonderful seconds they're airborne, and then they land with a thump and keep on sailing. Eddie laughs breathlessly.)

[Laura scrambles to hold on tighter to him, and her eyes go wide as he makes the bike jump. When they land, she laughs along with him, surprised that he's able to make his bike do something like that. He's braver than he seems, she realizes, which bodes well for being able to play games together. ]

You can stay. My dad will say yes.

[He won't have a choice. Laura's a stubborn brat, but she knows how to get her way on this one. Her dad may be gruff, but he won't let an innocent kid be out there alone. Neither will Charles. Even if Eddie doesn't have a power and is completely normal, they'll let him stay. She just has to prepare him for what he might see first. The problem with that is, she isn't really sure how.]

But what does hurt like a bitch mean?

[It's either ask him or ask her dad, and she's guessing that Eddie's the better choice.]

(Kids his own age, kids who are his friends, are what give Eddie his bravery. They make it easy to forget that he's not as weak as his mother's convinced him, they make it easy to forget that he's not actually sick. Once he stops being such a headcase, he's actually got a pretty good spine.)

Your dad is here?

(Now that's intriguing for multiple reasons. He didn't know anyone had family here. He also had never had a father of his own that he could remember.

It's a pretty fair concern to have. But Eddie read comic books and was young enough that he could believe stuff pretty easily.)

It's what's called a 'simile'. You have metaphors and you have similes. (They had just learned about this in English.)

I don't actually really get why 'bitch' is used because 'bitch' means a lot of things. Bitches are female dogs, but a bitch can also be a mean girl or a guy who's acting like a pansy. Bitching can mean you're complaining about something- like 'stop bitching!' But uh- 'hurt like a bitch' is like you'll get hurt and you'll be pissed about it. Cause sometimes getting hurt makes you angry. I think that's what it means anyway.

(Explaining sexism without understanding the existence of sexism is hard.

He wants to sound smart too but he's also not the most clever in their group. He's not the stupidest either but he was still only twelve.)

Edited 2017-11-06 07:40 (UTC)

[He really can talk. In some cases, that's a bad thing. In his case, it suits him. She doesn't really get all that he's saying about bitches, but she understands the general idea of what hurts like a bitch means. That's enough for now.]

I'm used to getting hurt.

[She casually doesn't answer the question about her dad. Not yet. Her mind's still racing trying to figure out how to explain her dad to him. She can't imagine he'd be anything but surly, not even to a kid. ]

It only makes me angry when I have poles run through me and I can't move. Or when I can't suck out the bullets.

[But first, maybe she should start with explaining herself. She doesn't realize how creepy what she's just said sounds. Especially when she's said it so conversationally.

The corner they need to turn to head toward the residential areas is approaching, so Laura taps his cheek and motions for him to swing left.]

(This was his tolerable talking too. Laura hasn't seen him really go off about germs or bacteria yet. Eddie doesn't glance back but he does tip his head in silent acknowledgement.)

Yeah, me too.

(Not that he ever likes it but when your town had a raging psychopath for a bully, you get used to certain things. Maybe 'used to' isn't the best way to phrase it though.

But then Eddie falls real quiet. That processing kind of quiet. He realizes he's being told something, something big and something strange.)

Bullets. You've been shot before?

(That's what he winds up asking instead of how can you survive bullets?! Shiro had told him there were inhumans here, some that still looked like people. He had met Sans who looked very much not human so Eddie? He was pretty willing to believe anything.

Although he does feel a little hyper aware that he doesn't fully know what he's dealing with here. A girl who could be stabbed with poles but survive? That was wild.

He turns accordingly, not missing a beat. They made a good team.)

[She waits until they've made the turn and he's pedaling their way toward the unit where she lives with the rest of her family. She needs to explain things to him, and feels pressed to do something she's socially not able to do right. It frustrates her and it makes her huff a little, but it doesn't deter her from trying.]

Do you know comic books? It is like that.

[It's not the best explanation, but at least it's a start. Most normal kids read and like comics, right? If he understands them, then it helps Laura at least have a way to describe things to him.]

I love comic books.

(He instantly replies with enthusiasm. He's read 'em all. Then he realizes what she's saying and he slows down on his bike before coming to a complete stop. He turns to look at her over his shoulder, jaw dropped.)

Wait. Are you serious? You have superpowers?

(He didn't look scared. He didn't look intrigued. Eddie looked like he was hearing arguably one of the coolest things in the entire universe. He had no reason to not believe her either. And it reminded him of how she had been sniffing weirdly at him earlier. Was that part of it?)

[He gets it without her having to explain much of anything. She grins and eagerly nods, looking so pleased that he put things together.]

My family is very powered.

[Meaning: everyone where she lives, for the most part, has a power of some kind. Not everyone does, but the vast majority do.

She points out a couple more turns in quick succession, and then finally they're in the block where her living unit is located. She gives a tug on the back of his shirt to signal that he should stop, and is already hopping off the back of his bike before he does. She jogs alongside him until he slows down and stills.]

Jesus Christ. That's so cool...

(Eddie sounds jealous as all hell, and just like that, accepts this as a fact of Laura Howlett. He keeps on pedaling, reeling mentally from the truth on the pure basis that he was an absolute nerd for the super hero thing.

He gets the point and keeps going for a bit until it's safe enough for him to stop. Eddie dismounts and grabs a hold of his handles.)

Does your dad have powers too then? Is that what you mean by your family is powered?

[Her hand reaches out to grab at his handlebars.]

Yes. But it is a secret. You won't tell?

[She's told him because she's quickly considered him to be a friend, and someone she can trust. He doesn't really need to promise that he won't tell, but a quick loyalty check usually goes a long way in ensuring Laura's continued trust.]

God, no. I know how important that stuff is. On my honor I won't tell.

(He crosses his finger over his chest and then holds his pinky out to Laura to secure the deal. He doesn't realize she might not know what a pinky promise is.)

[She has no idea what a pinky promise is, so she just stares at his offered finger blankly.]

What are you doing?

(Well that should have been expected. Eddie just sighs patiently and steps closer to Laura, grabbing her hand and pulling it up. He pulls open her pinkie before hooking his around it.)

This is called a pinky promise. It's probably one of the most secure way to make a promise. When you make a pinky promise, you can't go back on the promise no matter what.

(But that was just one of the most established forms of a promise. The other way was a way that, if he thought to mention it, would not result in a pleasant outcome for Eddie. That promise was a promise that was currently keeping his mind locked up.)

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video 01 | Aortic Aneurysm

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