[ text: @s.uris ]

[stantheman]

[ The recent events have prompted Stan to be rather more quiet and reclusive than he is normally and he's even been mostly ignoring those he knows well. Too many things were reminding him negatively of Derry and he didn't particularly like facing that fear.

But it's about time to talk about something, anything. ]

If you had to guess, what do you think would be the most likely way you’ll die?

[ His thoughts aren't morbid lately or anything. ]

Comments

[stantheman]

Definitely? How do you know for sure?

[11calls]

It's just a feeling I have with everything going on back home.

[She's not going to explain the other thing, not to a kid or on a public network, even if he is asking about death.]

[stantheman]

Feelings can be wrong, though.

[ Not that he doesn't understand the sentiment. ]

[11calls]

Yeah. I know that. But sometimes you've got to go with your gut.

[and alex was just hoping to live through this entire thing.]

What made you ask?

[stantheman]

Sometimes you just make self-fulfilling prophecies that way.

[ He doesn't answer the question right away. ]

I don't know. I guess I just got to thinking about it. I didn't talk to anyone mostly for this whole month and just stuck with my thoughts.

[11calls]

I suppose so. It's a good way of finding trouble even if it doesn't end up with self-fulfilling prophecies.

[Note: Alex does not sound like she thinks this is a bad thing at all. But her voice gets softer:]

That sucks. Sometimes being stuck with just your own head is the worst.

[stantheman]

I think it was better than going out with ... everything. It reminded me of what happened at home.

[ He'd kept expecting It to suddenly show up. ]

[11calls]

[Alex's voice is soft and gentle.]

It was probably the safest thing for you, though. I don't think anyone was taken from the communal housing. For obvious reasons.

[Those reasons being that they were full of people and a little bit like a fortress..]

But were you okay alone?

[stantheman]

What is okay, anyway?

[11calls]

[Oh god, you are a tiny Richard aren't you?]

That's pretty deep for a simple question, Stan.

[stantheman]

Maybe it is.

[ He's not deflecting or anything. ]

[11calls]

[Sorry Stan, she's dealt with a master deflector for the last three years, so she sees through bullshit.]

Okay. But. Are you alright?

[stantheman]

I'm alive still.

[11calls]

Are you sleeping? Eating? Getting any exercise?

[Oh god, is this what it's like to be a mom?!]

[stantheman]

I eat and I go to the library again now.

[11calls]

Well, that's something at least. Are you doing anything for fun? Meeting any kids your own age?

[stantheman]

There's not really a lot of kids my age. The library is fun.

[11calls]

Have you met Laura and Lucy yet? They're both pretty awesome.

[stantheman]

Yes. And Gyda.

[ They're all girls, and well, that's not the real problem, though he wouldn't do well with a group of Beverlys even if he considered her one of his best friends now -- she was a Loser after all but she's not here either.

He just can't seem to really connect to anyone his own age, his friends had been a special group of people, like they were destined to be friends... you know, if he believed in that junk. ]

They're nice.

[11calls]

[Not connecting with people wasn't really a problem with Alex, and for a moment she just considered what would help. In the end, she realized she'd need to talk to Strand because this kid was far more like how she imagined him than she'd ever been herself.]

What did you like to do at home?

[stantheman]

I read a lot and went bird watching. My friends liked to go to the barrens and we'd go swimming in the lake.

[11calls]

Have you tried going bird watching here? Within the city limits I mean, definitely not beyond the wall.

[Stan, don't go beyond the wall.]

[stantheman]

Yes and I haven't even considered going out beyond the wall. It'd be stupid.

[ He's not adventurous at all. ]

[11calls]

[Alex isn't going to mention that she's considered it before.]

Good. Have you done the amusement park thing?

[stantheman]

Yeah.