[ text - s.uris ]

[stantheman]

At home, sometimes I thought that I'd really like to get a break from my family. The town I'm from isn't so great and well a lot of bad things were happening. I got mad at my dad a lot because it felt like I couldn't depend on him or any adult to care or help with the things that were happening. We ended up not needing the adults but it sucked.

I guess, it wasn't perfect at home but now that I'm here and my family isn't I really miss them. I wouldn't think I could miss them this bad. I miss going to the Synagogue and my dad making me study Hebrew. I always thought it was really annoying and boring.

Do you miss anything that you don't have here that you didn't think you could ever miss?

Is there anything that helps?

Comments

[stantheman]

It's a people and a religion.

I do. Back at home, adults never really cared anything about what kids did so it is different here.

You sound a lot like Richie. His big mouth is always getting him beat up but he's not very good at fighting back.

[ There's a while before another message comes through. Stan's already sort of told parts of the story to Lucy and parts to Ivar. He never really tells anyone anything personal about it, though. There's a clinical detachment that he carefully puts in place. ]

There was a thing... I don't know if it was a demon or what it was. We called it It. It became what we're most afraid of... kids were disappearing and none of the adults in Derry seemed to care. So we fought it and we beat it.

But it might come back.

[tevinteraltus]

Ah, I see. [So, like the Qunari, then, only he hopes far less...indocrinating.]

Yes, well, it's quite easy for us adults to think our problems are more important than "childrens'" problems, probably because most of us have forgotten what it is to be a child.

...I'll have you know, I was and am quite capable of defending myself. I...was transferred because my parents didn't appreciate my injuring the other children. Please, don't follow my example. I was a terrible child.

[And unlike most adults, Dorian is going to actually give this a mind, because...that sounds familiar.]

...this "It" as you call it, sounds...rather like a terror demon. You and your friends are very brave...stupid, but brave.

[stantheman]

Maybe. I guess, I'll never understand how missing children didn't really seem to matter.

I am pretty sure that it would be difficult to follow your example. I'm much better at running away from a fight.

We didn't have much choice but to fight it. It kept coming after us. We didn't want to end up missing too...It had killed my friend's brother.

[tevinteraltus]

I can't say unless this demon of yours had a hand in it. They can influence minds. If this demon is indeed one of fear, it would do what was necessary to assure it could continue to feed.

In which case the lot of you are even braver than I originally assessed.

Do you stay with anyone? Communal housing or the like?

[stantheman]

I didn't think of that...

[ Maybe it had. That'd be easier to understand than that everyone else in Derry really didn't give a shit. He really doesn't think of himself as brave, though. He spent most of the time denying that anything had been real and then for the most part he hadn't even been that afraid, uncomfortable and distressed maybe.

The worst part had been being dirty in the sewers and not knowing where he was. ]

Communal housing.

[tevinteraltus]

That stands to reason, of course. I doubt you've studied the intricacies of demonic lore.

[And he certainly wasn't attempting to downplay Stan's mental capabilities. If anything, he was only trying to help the boy understand what he may have faced. Things were less frightening when they made sense, after all.]

Ah, and how are you settling in there?

[stantheman]

No... There aren't a lot that come up when I'm studying Hebrew with my Dad.

It's alright. No one really bothers me much so that's good.

[tevinteraltus]

Are demons not common in your world?

Yes, that's very good. I'm glad to hear it.

[stantheman]

No...not like this. It's usually metaphorical.

[tevinteraltus]

Well, I think that may be inaccurate, Stan.
Demons need humans to feed upon, whether that is physically or emotionally. I doubt yours is isolated. They're simply very good at hiding.

It's also possible they can influence the minds of some, the adults in your village for instance.

[stantheman]

Well, that's comforting.

[ Sarcasm is a coping mechanism. ]

[tevinteraltus]

Yes, well, I never claimed it to be foolproof.

(That being said, Dorian pauses for a moment.)

I think you should try to make more friends your age. We adults can be rather dour when left to our own devices.
That being said, have you ever played chess?

[stantheman]

My dad taught me how.

[tevinteraltus]

Splendid! And do you enjoy chess, Stan?

[stantheman]

Sometimes. Sometimes, it's just really frustrating.

[tevinteraltus]

Oh, you'll have no argument from me on that point.

Still, I'd be interested in seeing if you're "any good" as they say.

[stantheman]

You can see.

[ He's not that good, at all. ]

[tevinteraltus]

Splendid! I'll find us a set, then.

[stantheman]

Alright