A Grandson's Secret

[strike_you_out]

Who:  Lil' Slugger & Susan Sto Helit with special appearances by Edward Nigma, Death (Discworld) and Death (Sandman)
What:  Slugger tells Susan about her grandfather's secret. 
Where:  726 Anderson Lane; possible other
When:  Preceding the Major's latest visit, I'd imagine (will modify upon request)
Warnings:  Incineration None

Following a long and uneventful day at school, Slugger's book bag is dropped into an empty seat at the kitchen table. Distracted, he doesn't bother emptying its contents and wanders from the room in search of a certain sword-toting, time-stopping woman in black. But even Susan, who seemed unnaturally privy to the inner workings and thoughts of the minds of all those around her, didn't know everything. At least, Slugger is fairly certain she doesn't know anything about what he hopes to tell her. Though she was known for being the "sensible" one, he's slightly apprehensive about how he's going to broach the subject and more than slightly apprehensive about how Susan will respond to it. 

Outside the kitchen he pauses, adjusts his cap needlessly, then calls out.

"Mom?"

Comments

[inthebones]

It still took a few moments for her to realize that the voice calling for Mom was, in fact, calling for her. It had been some time since Slugger had slowly eased his way into this habit, but her instincts refused to adjust accordingly. Insisting on being called Miss all her life may have had something to do with it.

Whether it was this sense of unfamiliarity or whether her more-than-perfect memory was finally proving itself of some use, Susan feels a strange apprehension as she pops her head around the corner.

"Yes, what is it?"

[strike_you_out]

Slugger ventures hesitantly closer. Having removed his skates at the door, his movements are unusually silent. But there's something else, an underlying caution in his demeanor.

"Can I ask you something?"

[inthebones]

"I'll refrain from responding with the stock 'you already have' and merely point out instead that nobody in the history of the world has ever responded to that question with 'no'."

Susan, as always, is the epitome of constructive conversationalism.

[strike_you_out]

Fortunately, all of this constructive conversation gives him time to think of something else to say that doesn't directly have to do with what he really wants to say.

"Right. Um..." He joins her in the room, treading quietly in his socks. "Have you ever really wanted to be with someone? Someone you felt close to?"

His face is lowered, eyes hidden beneath his cap as he speaks. It's a little embarrassing to ask her this but he thinks it might help.

[inthebones]

Susan almost looks relieved.

"I already know about Ai, Slugger. I would have said something back when this started if I had anything to say at all."

[strike_you_out]

He looks up. That wasn't quite the avenue he was heading down but he can work with it.

"So, you agree. It's possible for it to happen to... things like us." A suggestive pause follows as if he's half hoping she'll magically deduce for herself what he's trying to say.

[inthebones]

Susan, for once in her life, doesn't cotton on immediately. Or if she does, she deliberately chooses to skip past that possibility given that it was patently ridiculous.

"Naturally. Anthropomorphics created by humanity have human traits by definition. It's one of those unfortunate things that can't be helped - Ask Grandfather to tell you about poor War sometime."

[strike_you_out]

Speaking of Grandfather... "What if Death was unfortunate?"

[inthebones]

Susan looks vaguely amused. "Grandfather makes towels that feel like bricks, pipes that don't lead anywhere, and swings that go through trees. I don't think he'll be ready for love for another few million years."

A pause.

"He's different from the others. He has to be detached. Clinical. Every time he manages something resembling emotion, he goes on vacation for a month and everything goes wrong. It's the only way he can do his job."

[strike_you_out]

"What if it happened in a place where his job can't be done?" Ahem, like Mayfield -- a place where everything is already going wrong.

Slugger averts his gaze uncomfortably. "What if he does have emotions, even if he doesn't want them? Even if he tried not to have them, what if he just couldn't help it?"

[inthebones]

Any ore obvious and he'd be hitting her over the head with a hammer. Her features slowly shift as she levels her Look. Not the one with the skull; the slightly more terrifying one that could kill a basilisk.

"Then I think he'd better shake off his unwanted emotion of fear, and tell me directly instead of sending you."

[strike_you_out]

His cap is adjusted once again so that its visor may deflect some of the look's intensity.

"I volunteered. He helped me when you were... gone. I wanted to do something for him."

[inthebones]

"Why in the world would you want to insert yourself into the middle of something like this?" Susan frowns as her gaze eases up slightly. "We're adults. Or something equivalent. He and Didi can come speak with me in person so my disapproval doesn't have to be conveyed secondhand."

[strike_you_out]

By telling Susan himself, it would create a small buffer between her rage and his grandparents. Or so he'd thought. He doesn't tell her any of this.

"So, you knew it was Didi."

[inthebones]

"I do now."

Susan crosses her arms and leans against the doorframe for a moment or two. There's a stiffness to her manner. Her emotions, as usual, are kept under wraps, but it seems she's restraining herself for Slugger's sake. Mission successful, then.

"Why don't you tell them to come? Now, preferably."

[questionauthority]

Enter Edward Nigma from stage right. He would be headed for the fridge to grab a snack (and to make sure that Susan hasn't gotten to the last slice of chocolate cake just yet), but he pauses, glancing from Slugger to Susan.

"...Did I miss something?"

That's what he asks, but he's aware of what's going on. Slugger's not the only one guilty of eavesdropping in this house.

[strike_you_out]

Edward will find that three-fifths of the slice are missing, though at no fault of Susan's. Figure out that mystery. At the Riddler's entry, Slugger looks from Susan to him with what could be a hint of relief. If Edward was here, he'd probably heard what was being said.

"I was telling Susan about Death." Implying Edward knows about it, too. Slowly, his gaze returns to Susan whose order he still hasn't obeyed. If she asks again, he'll respond, but he hopes Edward will be an effective stalling device.

[inthebones]

"Edward knew?"

Her pronunciation of that name is enough to express the irritation and disdain she feels at the idea. "For goodness' sakes, what do they think I'm going to do? Ban them from seeing each other?"

[questionauthority]

Way to put him on the spot, Slugger. Frowning, Edward quickly tries to take a bit of initiative. If he can help Slugger warm Susan up to the idea of Death and Didi seeing one another, it can only mean excellent things in the Riddler's future.

You know. Like Death not hating him anymore.

"If it were up to me, Susan, I wouldn't do anything quite so drastic. Show some support! Throw the old man a bone."

[strike_you_out]

It takes great personal strength not to visibly cringe at such a tired, old pun. Lacking that strength, Slugger winces but keeps focused on Susan.

"So... are you mad?"

[inthebones]

Susan doesn't show such restraint. Edward receives a withering glare.

"I'm not mad; there's nothing to be mad about. ...It's really not any of your business. Either of you."

[questionauthority]

"Debatable."

A clearing of the throat. Edward's made it his business.

"You look mad." Certainly not at the pun, right? Everyone loves puns. "Regardless... I would advise you to take my words into consideration."

[strike_you_out]

Family business is Slugger's business. He shrugs and is, for once, inclined to agree with Edward.

"He seems happy. Strange things happen in Mayfield. But it isn't like it matters. We won't remember anything when we leave." A depressing outlook, perhaps, but realistic nonetheless. There is only one place in one time in one reality where any of this can happen. And this is it, here and now.

[inthebones]

"And what if we win whatever sort of battle this is supposed to be and return home gloriously with all our memories intact? The Discworld is left with a Death with the most profound emotional hangup imaginable and walking corpses start piling up as far as the eye can see.

"It's not your business. You couldn't possibly understand. You, especially." This, clearly, is directed at Edward. "He doesn't exist to be happy. That's what humans strive for. We exist to carry out what we were created for. If we can find happiness on the way, that's all very well, but you can't put it above duty. The world needs Death. Didi doesn't.

"If he can tell me that he can still be Death, with human emotions, with infatuation, with love, then fine. I don't care who he fancies. If not... he's making a mistake. And it needs to stop before the damage is irreparable."

[questionauthority]

He glowers, as is usually to be expected whenever he's told that there's something that he couldn't possibly understand. But he's said his piece and he's done his appropriate share of rooting, he supposes.

"At the end of the day," Edward muses, crossing his arms, "it's his decision."