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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.

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[He's still scrubbing at his face while Sans talks. Not giving any indication he's actually heard. But... He couldn't say what. But something about it feels like it's breaking around him.]

[Like he's been so focused on Making Things Right, he really hasn't stopped to be anything other than "All Right" himself. Because that's who he is. The kid who isn't afraid of anything. The kid who never had a war to worry about or problems to get him down.]

[Nobody who didn't love someone would make a post like this.]

[... no one's ever really acknowledged it. That he could actually be doing the right thing.]

Doesn't really feel like one. Y'know? Just. Kinda feels stupid.

[His voice is muffled but if he picks his face up out of his folded arms, he's going to show off the waterworks.]

Feels kinda. Kind of useless.

I know it's selfish, dude, so don't say it. Feeling like scrap when nothing bad's even happened on my end. But. Oh well. I guess.

Somebody you love's having a bad time. Like, a colossally bad time.

[Sans' voice softens, trying to choose his words as carefully as possible without losing whatever casual air he can retain. Something tells him bearing down on seriousness was a fast track to making the kid cut and run.]

Sounds to me like something's happening to you.

But that.

That makes it about me, man. Doesn't it? And that's ... not what I'm trying to figure out here.

[As much as he would love to have some time to work through the scrap bouncing around in his own head, now just doesn't seem like the time.]

[He's not the one who died, after all.]

[The two couldn't be less separate, to Sans' mind. It's hard to know how much to push. His pause is longer, still sketching something.]

You want to find out how to help him, right?

[For the first time since this conversation started, he's peeking up over the side of his arm.]

Well. Yeah. That's... kinda the whole reason for this post.

Heh, yeah, I got the idea. [He sighs, setting his pencil down.] I think before you can help him, you gotta realize it's not just about him.

If it was, he wouldn't be scared of getting you involved.

[And here we see the proud Autobot teen swipe his hand across his optics, trying to look tough.]

Then. I gotta show him he doesn't have to be scared of that.

Right? That has to happen before anything?

[It's very intimidating. Really. But Sans looks a little skeptical, and not out of doubting Sideswipe's toughness.]

I mean... I guess? Why, what are you thinking?

[He's got a Bad Feeling.]

[Don't worry, Snas. Sideswipe has less than 0 ideas right now. Which is probably why he hasn't run off to do something stupid yet.]

I don't know! Aside from... saying words!

[Visibly relieved -- an impressive feat, considering his static expression -- Sans sinks down a little lower in his chair.]

Saying words is good. But, y'know... remember what I said. About being there, n' about waiting, n' about the sunshine thing.

I know it sounds crazy now, and you don't really gotta believe me, but when he's ready? I'm pretty sure you're gonna know.

... Right. Be there. Wait. Act like normal.

[He settles his head back down on his folded arms.]

If... he freaks out again... what do I do then?

Ride it out. Like you said, you're pretty tough. [Sans looks as if he genuinely believes that, too.] If you asks you to leave him alone, listen, but y'know... don't stop buggin' him to hang out.

There's something kinda reassuring about being nagged about small stuff, y'know?

Edited 2016-06-26 19:46 (UTC)

What, really? You like getting nagged?

You don't seem like the type, dude.

[There's an aching fondness in Sans' eye sockets, for all he doesn't seem to be looking at anything at all.]

Well... lemme tell ya, when you're lost in a fog and you haven't moved from one spot in 72 hours, it can be... nice to have someone pushing at you to stop being lazy. Even if that's not the reason you're sitting there.

[He's quiet for a few beats, still smiling at nothing at all, before shrugging it away. Anyway.]

Just be you, Red. You're more than enough exactly as you are, even if it might not feel like it.

[He doesn't get it. Why would you sit in the same place for that long. What good does that do, if it's not laziness?]

[He doesn't ask, though. It doesn't seem like the right time.]

You didn't snap at them for it? Cause I might've.

... okay. I'll... give it a try.

Nah. [His smile goes even fonder, like he might be the one to mist up if he thinks on it too long.] Nah, I'd never. Because I love him. And he loves you, alright?

Sometimes this stuff never goes away... but it gets better, y'know? And it's people like you who move it along. So don't think you're so useless, kid. Like I said -- super power.

I- I dunno about... love. We're friends...

[Sideswipe, honey, you can love your friends.]

Heh. Weirdest super power ever. But... y'know.

Whatever I gotta do.

[Sans' perpetual grin quirks sideways.]

Love's bigger than boyfriends. N' yeah, I know you will, kid.

Gimme a call if you need. I don't got much to do most of the time. Makes me feel important to give advice, you'd be doing me a favor.

If you say so, dude.

I uh... it's kinda new. Both of those things.

[He wouldn't normally admit that, but... he's kind of admitted a lot of things here already. What's one more?]

Heh. Really? Get tired of counting ceiling tiles?

[Maybe it's different for their race and his. Love can grow so quickly in monsters; over the course of a few hours, even. It's that predisposition to love that gave rise to the old saying -- how a monster's soul is made of compassion, kindness, and love.

Sans is sure there's plenty of room for darkness there, he's a perfect example, but it's hard to fight against nature on certain things. Even Sideswipe, for all his blustering and teenage antics, managed to worm his way into Sans' metaphorical heart.

A lot of that going around lately. Sans merely shrugs in response.]

Something like that.

Edited 2016-06-29 00:26 (UTC)

[It might be different. Or it might be Sideswipe defining it too much by who you want to kiss and be romantic with. Which, let's be real, he probably is. He's a teenager with a crush, after all.]

[Friendship is... it's different. It's not 'love' yet. Not until he grows up some. Or figures out what family is.]

Maybe I'll send you my music player sometime.

[Sounds like everyone's got some growing up to do.]

I'd like that. Thanks, kid. [He winks.] See? You're already good at this.

[He actually grins a bit.]

All right, all right... I'll take a compliment. And... thanks, dude.

Any time, Red.

[And the weirdest part: he might actually mean that.]

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