video 01 | Aortic Aneurysm

[clussy]

(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.

Comments

[clussy]

(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.)

[coercive]

[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.]

[clussy]

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?)

[coercive]

[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.]

[clussy]

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?

[coercive]

[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.]

[clussy]

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.)

[coercive]

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

What are you doing?

[clussy]

(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.)

[coercive]

[Her pinky curls around his, and she takes great care to keep it gentle. She doesn't want to hurt him.]

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.]

[clussy]

(It feels good to make an established promise on being here. It made their friendship seem much more real- even though he had no doubts about that before. He walks in after her, staring around with his big eyes.

He's never seen anything like it, really. He was used to wooden structures and American buildings. Not this.)

How big is your family?