#22 - [Video Post]

[totallyinaband]

[Failed Filter to Young Neil - open to all]

[The video starts shakily. There is a blur of trees, sky, and Stephen's usual flannel shirt. It finally steadies on a close-up of his face.]

Neil! Dude, wherever you are, you have to get back to the clearing NOW. There is no way you are missing this!

[Stephen flips the camera around, to reveal the extremely curious-looking face of brontosaurus. It is about five steps away from where Stephen is standing, alternatively munching on a tree and inspecting this strange new human intruder with mild interest.]

I'm totally going to try and pet him. Get over here, dude!

[ooc: before anyone else points it out, yes I know they're not really called brontosaurs anymore. But Stephen is a ninties kid who grew up on The Land Before Time, so that's all he knows them as.]

Comments

[totallyinaband]

Looks like you were attacked with a terrier with attitude. You sure they didn't follow you?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Probably not. Made a bridge over a river with a branch, then pulled it to the other side after I crossed. Saw somethin' like that in a movie once. 'S fine if they can't get across or around somehow. Should be, anyway.

[And on that extremely reassuring note, let's address the elephant in the room. Or, more accurately, the GIGANTIC FREAKING DINOSAUR in the middle of wherever-the-hell.]

Who's your... friend...?

[totallyinaband]

[Stephen throws his arm around Neil's shoulder and pulls them a little closer.]

I totally think he'll let us pet him if we get close enough.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

I-I dunno man. That thing could eat us. Or, like, step on us.

[totallyinaband]

[As if on cue, the brontosaurus moves its long neck down until it is looking the two of them in the eye. It makes a strange noise, somewhere between a screech and a growl. And then moves back to the tree.]

DUDE!

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil's eyes are wide, and he is completely frozen. His ability to speak full words also seems to have fallen byt he wayside, for the moment.]

Ffffffff--

[totallyinaband]

[Stephen lets go of Neil's shoulder, and takes a tentative step forward. Very slowly, he reaches out one hand.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Words are back. Coherency not so much.]

Oh god oh god oh god oh god. Dude? Dude. Oh god. Don't. Dude!

[totallyinaband]

Stay calm, man! Don't freak him out!

[Stephen is still taking slow, measured steps forward, his hand in front of him. The Brontosaurus moves his head at the commotion and looks down.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Oh god. We're gonna die.

[Neil squeezed his eyes shut, resigning himself to his fate.]

[totallyinaband]

[His head is now on level with theirs, hovering just out of reach of Stephen's hand. Stephen takes a deep breath, and takes the last step forward, his hand landing on the side of the dinosaur's neck. It's head turn's sharply towards the touch, and Stephen snaps his hand back quickly. the brontosaurus makes a last growl, then turns its head and returns to eating.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[...Unable to stand the suspense, Neil peeks just in time to see Stephen touch that huge terrifying thing, and he almost passes out on the spot. But he manages to breathe and stay on his feet.]

Hoooooly crap, man. You just totally went all How To Train Your Dragon on that thing!

[totallyinaband]

I think I'm going to puke.

[By this time the brontosaurus has finished his tree. He makes one last curious glance towards the boys, and then ambles off to greener pastures, his tail swishing after him as he leaves.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

...'S cool, man. We're alive.

[Neil is trying to be reassuring. He... doesn't really know how to do that. Especially when his blood is still running cold.]

And you've apparently got some Dinosaur Whisperer shit going on so... y'know, that's good to know...?

[totallyinaband]

[Stephen collapses in the grass. Standing is difficult at the moment.]

That is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil crouches down awkwardly to level out the height difference.

For a moment, Stephen's words confuse him, but then he finally manages to get past the shock and terror long enough to actually think it through.] Y-yeah. That was.... epic.

[totallyinaband]

[This is about the state of shock where awkward laughter starts. Stephen falls back into the grass, laughing.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Okay, this is freaking Neil out. So he just continues crouching there awkwardly and says nothing.]

[totallyinaband]

Dude, relax. We just met a BRONTOSAURUS.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Yeah. We... yeah.

Since when are you, like, ancient-monster-taming-dude?

[totallyinaband]

I dunno, man. It hasn't exactly come up before now.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

...Do it again.

[totallyinaband]

We're just supposed to be finding these rock-egg things and then getting back to The City.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Right. But see, I'm thinkin'-- what if your new friend can lead us to 'em? Y'know?

[totallyinaband]

[Stephen glances towards the Brontosaurus, who is now shambling away.]

I'm ready if you are, man.