maskormenace | 001 [ video ]

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001 [ video ]

—and, got it!

[When the feed cuts in, the first thing anyone might see is—a mop of brown curls. Wow. So exciting. After a moment, a young boy's face comes into view, blue eyes alive with an excited curiosity. Some more adjustments, and the background finally makes itself clear: the kid's in a park somewhere in De Chima, and he happens to be dressed like a Ghostbuster like it's Halloween or something.]

Hey, so, I've got a few questions. A lot of questions, actually. [So many curiosity doors, so little time.] To start with: anyone else here from Hawkins? [He hopes so. He—really doesn't want to be alone.] Man, Mr. Clarke'd have a field day.

[Eat your heart out, Hugh Everett.]

Secondly, has anyone started up an imPort A/V club yet? I'm a little curious about how it would work, especially since people from all kinds of different worlds with varying levels of technology keep getting pulled in. I think it'd be a great opportunity for us to learn about technology from other worlds, and from this one too. I know I'd love a crash course in how to use this—they called it a phone, but it doesn't really look like one. [Phones looked very different where he's from, and they definitely can't do half the stuff this device can.

Something warbles shrilly nearby. Dustin's head turns, and he bends down a little out of frame to talk to something just off-screen:] Shh, Dart. I'll feed you nougat later, just gotta finish this up first. [Turning back to the comm:] Also: Is there a species on your world that, appearance-wise, might be comparable to a pollywog but isn't? Like, pollywogs are cold-blooded and need heat and light, for example, but that particular species actively avoids heat? What kind of food would you feed it? [Beat.] I'm asking for a friend.

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[Holy shit. Holy shit.] What, really? Where are they? Are they okay? Who did you meet?

[Whoa there, slow down.]

I'm from 1984. Yeah, obviously they've come a long way. [There's a silent well, duh, in there that only a teenager can achieve.] So what's your specialty, then?

[A long moment, during which Dustin seems to think it over, before he turns the camera onto a small, slug-like creature with stubby little arms, peacefully snacking on a 3 Musketeers candy bar. Beside him are a couple of books on reptiles, checked out from the local library.] D'artagnan, actually, Dart for short. I found him foraging for food in my trash. I have no idea what he is, I was hoping to find out.

A boy named Will showed up a couple days ago? He seemed to reconnect with his friends pretty quickly. I'm sure they'll see this.

[Cosima is just able to hide her laughter, but is still obviously amused by his teenager-ness.] Oh, man, if you're into A/V stuff you're going to have so much fun with the tech we've got now...

I'm a biologist. Specifically, evo devo and genetics, but I dabble in other--[She trails off as the creature comes into view, eyes and grin widening in unison. She doesn't know what the kid's pet is, but she is sure she wants to find out.] Holy watershed, where did you find him? Here?

Will's here? Is he okay? [There's a lot of worry there, evident in his face when he turns the camera back to himself, because last Dustin had checked Will had to leave their trick-or-treating trip early. To hear that he's somehow ended up here—it's more cause for concern.]

Yeah, my friends and I are in the A/V club back home. The latest thing we got was a Heathkit radio. [The wistful way he speaks of it means something may have happened to it. Oops.] Can you tell me more about what there is now? Besides this phone, though I'd love to hear more about that too.

Evo devo? [He grins, incidentally showing off his teeth.] I told you, my trash! Back in Hawkins, actually. Little guy just got dragged in here with me. [He shifts the camera again, petting Dart.] Say hi, Dart.

[Dart just warbles, less out of a desire to obey the order and more out of how happy he is that he's getting fed lots of nougat.]

He seemed good. [That might be a bit of an overstatement, but Cosima has a feeling that the other teen will have recovered from the initial shock of the arrival by now.]

The Internet. [And then because she remembers she's talking to a teenage boy from the 80s and the Internet is a huge step from radios.] Man, even just home computers are going to blow your mind. And we need to get you a modern video game system.

Evolutionary Developmental Biology. It's a trip. [She can't take her eyes off Dart once he's in view, even offers him a little wave.] Hey, Dart. I'm Cosima. [And then she looks up at Dustin.] Nice to meet you both.

That's—Okay, that's good. Did he say where he was?

The what? Wait, do you still need to use BASIC? [Definitely a child of the 80s, if BASIC's even still a thing with him.] Oh, shit, what are video game systems like now?

Then you just might be able to help me find out just what Dart is. [Besides a baby demogorgon, but Dustin privately hopes not. Maybe Mike's mistaken.] Just let me keep the credit for discovering him—I think he might be a new species.

One of the apartments in De Chima, I think. Are you close?

[Cosima does laugh at his next question, shaking her head in amusement.] No, you don't have to use BASIC. Look, you're not gonna believe me unless I show you all this stuff, but trust me, it's awesome.

[She nods eagerly as he continues, a notebook and pen appearing from seemingly nowhere.] I thought you'd never ask. I'd love to help you figure that out and I promise to make you first author on any papers we publish. And give you the grand tour and access to my lab.

He's one of my best friends. [Like Mike said, screw logic—Will's one of Dustin's closest friends. He's glad to hear that Will's safe, that Will's okay, and even better that Will's just nearby, because:] They stuck me in De Chima too.

Okay, so you gotta show me this stuff. Where are you and where should we meet up? 'Cause I'm at the park, but I can leave real quick. [Sorry Nancy, the future is calling him.]

Holy shit. [He says it in an awed whisper. This? Is the most awesome day of his life. He's gonna be famous he can see it now.] I—Holy shit. Okay, um—can we meet at your lab? I can bring Dart with me, do you have any nougat? Or—rutabaga too, I guess, someone said to try and wean him off of nougat.

I got that. I mean like, physically, but if you're in De Chima you can't be too far.

[She seems to feed of his enthusiasm, looking just as excited as he does.] And luckily, I'm not too far either. I work over at the De Chima Medical Research Institute. If you can find your way there, I'll meet you outside and let you in. And I'll see what food I can scrounge up for the little guy.

I know that one, I can get there in a jiffy. And thank you so much, Miss—I didn't catch your name, sorry.

[He sets the comm aside, so the camera's pointed at some hot dog vendor now, and there's some inquisitive squeaking from Dart.] Guess what, buddy? We're gonna go on a trip! But you gotta be quiet, okay? For maybe two minutes, max. Got it? Okay, good.

[There's the sound, a moment later, of a little trap door shutting. And then Dustin picks up the comm once more, and has to refocus it so it's not showing off his mop of curls.]

Okay, we're coming. Front or back door?

[She makes a face at being called "Miss", though it's much better than "Ma'am".] What is up with all you Hawkins kids? You can just call me Cosima. No "Miss" needed.

I'll meet you out front. Unless back door sounds more fun? This is sort of a secret project... [That she's discussing very loudly and enthusiastically on a public network, but details!]

We're just being polite, Mi—Cosima. [All you Hawkins kids—he wonders who else is here. Will, definitely, and Mike and El have already answered. Nancy too, though she hasn't shown up on the network yet. Hopefully the Porter hasn't pulled in, god, Troy at any point. That would suck hugely.] I'm Dustin.

Out front's fine. Dart already blew his own cover, anyway. [There's a muffled trill of contentment coming from the ghost trap.] Yeah, Dart, you kinda did.

It's nice to meet you, Dustin. I'll see you outside soon. [And she grins again, eyes darting to the trilling sound.] And you too, Dart.

[As promised, Cosima will be waiting outside the Research Institute, on time for one of the few times in her life. She has a reusable grocery bag from a nearby market slung over one shoulder and is pacing out front, too excited to stay still.]

[Dustin stands out in a crowd, is the thing—he'd been brought all the way to another world just as Halloween was winding down, so he's still wearing a Ghostbusters costume, the proton pack on his back and a ghost trap in his hand. There are occasional warbles from the trap that sound like Dart, who sounds curious about where they're going. What a chill baby monster.

Once he spots Cosima, he waves a free hand.] Cosima! Hey! [And then he pretty much sprints up to her. Short he might be at the moment, but he's pretty fast even with a proton pack.] What's in the bag?

Hey.

[He's definitely easy to spot, and Cosima waves him over. She crouches down when he's approached, peering into the trap at the very chill baby monster.]

Snacks for your little friend.

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