thisavrou | audio | locked from Riptide

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audio | locked from Riptide

Okay, yeah, I know, bad timing Sideswipe, and we've got bigger problems, Sideswipe.

But... a lot of Not So Awesome stuff is going down with a friend of mine. And ... I...

[Some of the flippant nonchalance in his voice cracks. He goes quiet. This is really hard to admit, and yes, he KNOWS there's a lot going on right now. But it's been beyond him for a long time.]

[Too long.]

I don't know how to help. I wanna.

But I don't know how.

So if anyone's got a sec? Appreciate some feedback here. Y'know, anyone who isn't gonna yell at me for bringing this up right now. That'd be great.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Big problems are overrated. What's the hubbub, Red?

Bad stuff plus friend equals I need another adult.

... hold on.

[PRIVATE]
Is this okay?

No sweat, kiddo.

[The switch to a private feed suddenly gives Sans the impression this is not a quick phone call problem. He's holed up in his room with the lights out, but the MID does a decent enough job of illuminating him.

His expression, for once, shows something akin to genuine concern.]

Riptide?

[It's not a hard guess.]

Thanks, dude.

[He's a little surprised to see the sudden video, but less so than if he actually knew what a skeleton was in relation to humans. Normally he'd be delighted, and say something to the extent of that is so cool.]

[Not now, though. He'll tell him later.]

... yeah. Is it that obvious?

[They've hung out enough in person, his skeletal appearance is the furthest thing from Sans' mind. Instead, he seems a little more preoccupied with how muted Sideswipe seems. A far cry from what he's used to.]

Call it a hunch. [His perpetual smile quirks into something more thoughtful.] What happened?

Heh. If it wasn't, I'd go get mad at Tailgate for spilling stuff.

[He rubs at his neck, awkwardly.]

... Tarn happened to him. He won't... tell me any details. I don't blame him, though. And then he got... something bad in a box from the Importer thing.

[With all the warring he knew their race participated in, it was hard for Sans to guess exactly how someone like Riptide would react. Particularly when, well, he only really knew Riptide through Sideswipe's highly biased lens.

Not the best way to understand a person, but it was a start.]

Going through resurge can scramble a person. It's not exactly what I'd call a walk in the park. Mostly the dying part. [He cocked his head to the side.] He tell you about the box or did you just... find out about it?

It... yeah. He was scared of Tarn, too. Way before this happened... really scared. Enough to tell me to keep away from him.

[He shrugs a bit, drawing himself in tighter. He doesn't know the details. He hadn't asked, because... well. He'd been shaken too. Much less than Riptide, but--]

Both, sort of. Told me not to look in a box, because there was something bad in it. Later he... freaked out.

More than he's ever done before. Something about a spine, and... it was moving. He thought.

... pretty sure somebody's in there. Or... something that was somebody.

Ah.

[It's a grim picture. Things that came through the mail made about as much sense as any of them arriving on the ship in the first place, but that didn't make their presence feel any less prophetic from time to time.]

Y'know... sometimes people yell and hide things because they're scared, like you said. But sometimes it's not because they're just scared for themselves, but scared for the person they're yelling at.

I think he wants to keep you out of trouble, kid.

... Yeah, I. I get that.

But he doesn't have to be. And -- and it's not about me! I'm fine! I'm not the one who ... who had all this scrap happen!

[No no no, don't start the waterworks, do not let yourself get emotional -- come on Sideswipe you can do this.]

[Despite his best efforts, though, there are a few cracks in his voice.]

So I gotta help, don't I? I'm fine... so I've... gotta help.

S'why I'm asking. 'Cause I'm scared for him too... but I don't... know what to do for someone who's been hurt this bad.

[There's a little part of Sans, the part of him that's reminded of Papyrus whenever he talks to Sideswipe, that physically aches to hear his voice break around the edges.]

Yeah, I know you're fine. [He says, genuinely. The last thing the kid needed was to have his confidence eroded by people pointing out just how obviously untrue that statement was. He would need all the confidence he could get, if this was as bad as it sounded.]

There are lots of ways to help. Sometimes, the best way? Is just... being normal. [He holds up his hands, as if aware of how much of a cop out that sounded.] Don't confuse that with doing nothing, either. Showing someone things can be normal again, that they can get through this and have their old self back? That's everything, kid.

Edited 2016-06-23 07:39 (UTC)

Be... normal? Like... act like nothing happened? Like nothing's different?

[Sorry, Sans. He's listening, he really is, but he can't help but sound a little incredulous.]

[It really does just sound like doing nothing.]

Just... keep trying to do movie nights and stuff?

Nah, nah. Not act like nothing happened. [For all that was his usual go-to, Sans had been around the block enough times to know how routinely avoidance backfired.] Like you're still his friend. Like you're still gonna be there. Like... yeah, like movie night.

And if he's having a bad day, y'know. You can be there. Everybody needs a little sunshine -- you can be that for him, man.

[Sans pauses for a second, thinking on that. On sunshine. Reminds him of something he read from the library, once.]

Have you ever heard that story about a bet between the wind and the sun?

Little ray of sunshine... cool. Maybe I should repaint myself yellow.

[He doesn't sound even remotely serious about that, though. Except for the first part. Maybe he can do the first part. It sounds easy enough.]

[Isn't he... trying that already? To an extent?]

[He frowns, shaking his head.]

Never heard it, nope.

[Well then maybe you aren't screwing up as bad as you seem to think you are, kiddo.]

Well, the wind and the sun were just chillin', you know. Kicking it. When they see a traveler walking down the road, wearing this jacket. Wind turns to the sun, all smug, and bets them that they could get the traveler to take off his jacket first. Sun's all, yeah whatever, buddy, we both know I'm gonna win but go for it.

Wind blows and blows and blows, trying their best to rip the jacket off the guy. But the more he blows, the tighter the traveler pulls the cloak around himself. So of course, Wind being the kind of person they are, gives up and figures it can't be done.

Sun comes along, cool as a cucumber, and just starts shining down on the guy. Real gentle, warmer and warmer, and sure 'nuff the traveler just takes off his cloak all on his own.

[Sans scratches at his skull, hoping that communicated his point whatsoever.]

Sometimes the best way to help someone into opening up is to make 'em comfortable, and let it be their call when they're ready. Does that make sense? [He waves a hand, chuckling softly.] Maybe not.

... heh. You sure know a lot of stories, dude.

[He doesn't say it to be insulting. In fact, he kind of sounds impressed.]

[It does make sense. But he doesn't really know if he's capable of doing it. If he has the ability to. Not that he doesn't want to. But--]

How do you do that? I mean. Yeah, the sunshine and keeping things normal stuff, but... how am I supposed to know if he's ready or not?

Does he just say so?

Eh, my hometown had a library and I pride myself on having very little to do.

[But he's smiling a little more genuinely now.]

How long have you known him?

So you... read stuff? Like a big... nerd?

[Okay that bit was more of a joke than the rest of it has been. That's a good sign, right?]

Since I got here. Few months I guess.

[It's sure not a bad sign. Sans leans in, whispering conspiratorially.]

Wanna know a big secret? [His voice hushes to a pronounced stage whisper.] I'm a huge nerd. Don't tell anybody.

[When he leans back again, it's with an even easier expression on his face.]

So you're still new friends. That's okay, y'know. Just means it's not gonna be as obvious when the time is right, but... [And here's where beating around the bush becomes less helpful. Embarrassing the kid while he's already down isn't his aim, but... Ah, well. It's a private conversation, at least.] Well, you've got feelings for him, right?

A huge nerd? Whoa. Man. Hold on. I dunno if we can be friends now. You're like -- the antiposite of cool.

[... it's up for debate whether he was trying to say 'antithesis' or 'opposite'. But this teasing is totally a good sign. So is the smug look on his face.]

Yeah, I guess so--

[Wellp. Good feelings gone. He doesn't blush, but the blue lights all over his paneling suddenly flare up like little suns.]

Um! Wh- Why would you -- think so??

[The teasing is great, and the blustering is cute, but Sans is buying exactly zero of it. Finger bones drumming on his desk thoughtfully, his eye sockets dim half lidded.]

Kid. C'mon. I don't got eyes, but I can see, y'feel me?

[OH MY GOD DAD STOP...]

[He fidgets. A lot. And ends up looking away with a hand picking at the back of his neck.]

... y'don't have to make it sound so... serious...

[You asked for his advice and everything, Red, you brought this on yourself.]

"Feelings" is serious now? [But he doesn't tease too much, not when the guy is obviously self conscious about it.] What're you afraid of, kiddo?

Um. Aren't they? I thought. They sort of were.

[He is floundering worse than an actual flounder.]

I.

Nothing. It's nothing, okay? Just forget about it right now.

[Aka: He doesn't need me bothering him with this right now.]

Heh... [The laugh comes out a little quieter, and a little kinder. Sympathetic, maybe.] It's okay, kid, it really is. I'll drop it. But I asked you for a reason, y'know?

Loving someone isn't a disadvantage.

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