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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.
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 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.]
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(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.)
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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.]
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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.)
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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.]
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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.)
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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.]
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(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?)
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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.]
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(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?
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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.]
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(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.)
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What are you doing?
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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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Pinky promise.
[She smiles a little when she sees their joined fingers, and sees that his are just about the same size as hers. It's another reminder that he's close in age to her, and a visual representation of their new friendship.]
No take backs.
[Giving their hands a shake, she pulls away and proceeds to let them into her family's expansive home. It's larger than most units, but still feels cramped. They manage to slip inside when it looks like no one else is around.]
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He's never seen anything like it, really. He was used to wooden structures and American buildings. Not this.)
How big is your family?