Post by -The Iceman Levi Russow- on Jan 20, 2022 20:39:14 GMT -5
December 23rd, 2021
Russow Manor
(As madness unfolds seemingly daily in the Russow house there’s one “member of the family” that has never raised his voice…because he never leaves the solace of his books. Levi could have never predicted when he put a random library in the house that anyone would ever actually USE it but then…Charlie was never anything close to typical. On this one occasion, his father is bustling around the library looking for some documents as Charlie looks up from his book.)
Charlie Russow: Father…
Levi Russow: Yeah buddy, what’s up?
Charlie Russow: I…did you know that chocolate chip cookies were invented by a baker named Ruth Wakefield? She ran out of baking chocolate and decided to cut up a candy bar hoping it would melt all the way through, yet she unknowingly invented one of America’s favorite cookies.
Levi Russow: That’s cool dude! Listen, Pop’s gotta run…you’ve eaten today right?
Charlie Russow: A significantly lower calorie intake than I perhaps should be operating on.
Levi Russow: Well…put the book down…go get something to eat and then like, go outside or something! Make a friend!
Charlie Russow: …make…a friend.
Russow Manor
12:37 A.M.
(It was easily a half hour after midnight when a clatter made Levi Russow jolt straight up in bed as his wife coo’ed peacefully next to him and he figured he wouldn’t disturb her. With all of their friends and family that come and go, he was sure something different was amiss. Everyone knew midnight was the latest…so what was going bump in the night?)
Levi Russow: *whispering* Em…Emma…
(Levi sloooowly reaches over and pokes a finger into Emma’s left nostril jolting her awake.)
Emma Russow: WHAT THE SAM HELL-
Levi Russow: Oh good! You’re awake!
Emma Russow: What the Hel-why are you whispering?
(There’s another crash down the hall as Emma seizes up and looks at Levi with fear as Levi gently brushes her face with his hand and kisses her forehead as he slides out of bed grabbing the closest bludgeoning instrument he can grab…his Louisville slugger Emma had signed for him by Ken Griffey Jr…Levi kisses it for luck as he slinks out of the room as Emma whispers…)
Emma Russow: Be careful baby…
(Levi tip-toes down the hallway as another crash falls…a door suddenly opens beside Levi that makes him jump completely out of his skin as his daughter Rosie, Charlie’s dramatic twin sister, is suddenly glaring at him through the one eye exposed from her raising her sleep mask as she snuggles her robe closer.)
Rosie Russow: Summone’s gunna freggin’. DIE.
Levi Russow: Rosie! Shh! Daddy’s got it, go back to sleep!
Rosie Russow: …like you lost every one of your retirement matches but ONE?
Levi Russow: …you littl-you’re GROUNDED!
Rosie Russow: I WILL TAKE THIS UP WITH MOTHER TOMORROW!!!
(Levi ushers her back to her room and quietly closes the door behind her as he slinks down the hall to Charlie’s room…when he creaks open the door he can see that there are a few decent sized boxes and Levi’s toolbox spread out all over the floor and on the bed he sees a still completely dressed Charlie in the fetal position facing the wall. Of course Levi knew he wasn’t asleep…but he tended to use a lenient hand towards Charlie because Charlie, literally, never did anything wrong. He never had time to, he was always reading! So the fact he put a book down and was starting some imagination all Levi could do was whisper…)
Levi Russow: Tomorrow, buddy…
(And as silently as a zephyr through a graveyard all he was met with was…)
Charlie Russow: Sorry father…
(Levi whispered it was alright as he closed the door and started back towards his room. He stops halfway and looks back at Charlie’s room curiously before chuckling a little bit and slinging the bat over his shoulder as he pushes the door open to see Emma holding a curling iron.)
Levi Russow: EASY CAPTAIN SASSOON!!!
Emma Russow: What was it!?
(Levi is putting the bat back in it’s spot as he climbs back into bed with Emma wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead.)
Levi Russow: I do believe our little Charlie has a bit of a project he wants to work on.
Emma Russow: Oh? Did he invite you to help him for once?
Levi Russow: Does he ever? I swear I try and I try but he’s the most difficult nut to crack!
Emma Russow: Maybe start by not calling our children nuts?
Levi Russow; …Em. C’mon.
Emma Russow: *sigh* A girl can have hopes…
(They settle back down into bed and try to go back to sleep…but Levi finds himself having a hard time finding sleep, worrying about his son…thinking about how his own child is like a stranger to him. And that realization flooded his body like a deluge of guilt. And on we go…)
-The Next Day-
*Knock Knock Knock*
Charlie Russow: Yes?
(The door slides open and Levi slides his torso through the door noticing Jack reading a book on robotics sitting cross legged in the middle of the room surrounded by boxes.)
Levi Russow: Hey! Are ya winnin’ son!?
(Levi enters the room as Charlie gives him a quizzical look as if he doesn’t understand the reference…because he doesn’t.)
Levi Russow: Y’know like the…like the meme?
Charlie Russow: …while I am familiar with the concept of memes I’m afraid that particular trope eludes me, father.
Levi Russow: And then you…okay…what?
Charlie Russow: …fret not father, it is trivial.
(Levi slides down beside Jack and picks up one of the boxes.)
Levi Russow: What um…what’cha doin’?
Charlie Russow: It was your insinuation that I make a friend and so here we are…
Levi Russow: …oh no bud this isn’t what…when I said make a friend I didn’t…
(Charlie looks at him with expectant eyes as Levi clears his throat and embraces the different.)
Levi Russow: So…do you need any help?
Charlie Russow: I…COULD use some assistance with the general construction as I do not know the best way to connect him together.
Levi Russow: Okay! No problem! Uhh…maybe a 3/4ths…duct tape is always an optio-
Charlie Russow: Duct tape is certainly not an option.
Levi Russow: …oooookay.
(You could hear a pin drop…the lingering awkwardness in the air. Levi left the door open and little did he know, they were being observed. Determined to bond with his unique son, Levi clears his throat and gives her another go.)
Levi Russow: Yeah bud, I think I can harness that box to this one and anchor the arms but…what’s this box for?
(Charlie takes the curious box from Levi’s hands, it looks like it’s been formatted into a dock.)
Charlie Russow: This is where the life source comes in…but how do we wire him so he fully moves?
Levi Russow: I…I don’t know bud…
Charlie Russow: …perhaps we should ask him!
Levi Russow: Huh? Yeah! Imaginatio-!
(Before he can say anything, Charlie has darted into his backpack and produced an older model tablet as he fires it up and enters a passcode before sliding the tablet into the head dock. Charlie clicks on a peculiar circle.)
Levi Russow: Well what are you-
Charlie Russow: I designed it myself! Well…with some help from Uncle Slappy.
(The tablet suddenly turns into something reminiscent of Face from the old Nick Jr. days as a vivid royal purple hue accentuates the bold outline of the eyes and mouth as it smiles.)
Tablet: Welcome back, Charlie!
Charlie Russow: Hey B.U.D.!
Levi Russow: B.U.D?
Charlie Russow: Brotherly Understanding Droid.
Levi Russow: Charlie you HAVE a brother…
Charlie Russow: He is too preoccupied now for me…rightfully so. It’s okay! I just need to figure out…the schematics…I’m SO CLOSE…
(Levi looks a little concerned but he’s not going to be the one to stop Charlie now…or so he thought.)
Charlie Russow: B.U.D. can you look up instructions on how to wire your body together?
(The machine doesn’t respond…Charlie was brilliant and he made it somewhat responsive…but he’s ten. Slappy just taught him how to make a funny screen face talk to him.)
Charlie Russow: B.U.D.?
Levi Russow: Charlie…he’s not real…
Charlie Russow: HE’S REAL TO ME! B.U.D. STOP PLAYING AROUND!
(In an immense display of uncharacteristic behavior, Charlie suddenly hauls off and slaps the side of the “head” as the tablet goes flying. Levi dives for it but it’s corner…hits perfectly against the hardwood floor…and a shattering can be heard.)
Levi Russow: Oh no…
(Charlie suddenly rushes over and takes the tablet from his father…looking at B.U.D’s now shattered face. Charlie starts shaking…)
Charlie Russow: B…B.U.D.?
Levi Russow: Oh Charlie…I’m so, so sorry…
Charlie Russow: Father…may I please be alone now?
Levi Russow: …can I give you a hug first?
(Charlie’s bottom lip tucks and his eyes tear up and he quietly nods as Levi wraps him into the biggest hug he could muster…and Charlie’s tears just flow.)
Levi Russow: I can’t pretend to know what it’s like to be you, Charmander. But even though I don’t know…how to show it. I don’t ever want you to question…how much I LOVE you, okay?
Charlie Russow: *sniffle* Yes father…I love you too…I apologize for my weakness…
Levi Russow: Now you stop that…crying does NOT make you weak. D’you know what crying does?
(Charlie sniffles and shakes his head no.)
Levi Russow: Crying…is a RESET button. Cause once all the tears aren’t cluttering up your brain, you see things a lot clearer! Strong. People. Cry. Don’t you ever forget that.
Charlie Russow: I’ve an eidetic memory father…I cannot forget it.
Levi Russow; Good…I’m gonna give you your space now…you go ahead and let it out…it’s okay!
(Levi quickly kisses Charlie’s forehead as he slides out of the room closing the door behind him as we hear Charlie start to trash everything he’s been working on, letting out all his anger and frustration and tears…and on the other side of the door, pressing his hand and ear against it with a heartbroken look on his face…we see Jack Russow appear. He looks like he wants to knock on the door but instead…he just…freezes. Wait a minute? Freeze? Fathers don’t freeze!
"I came home...
Russow Manor
(As madness unfolds seemingly daily in the Russow house there’s one “member of the family” that has never raised his voice…because he never leaves the solace of his books. Levi could have never predicted when he put a random library in the house that anyone would ever actually USE it but then…Charlie was never anything close to typical. On this one occasion, his father is bustling around the library looking for some documents as Charlie looks up from his book.)
Charlie Russow: Father…
Levi Russow: Yeah buddy, what’s up?
Charlie Russow: I…did you know that chocolate chip cookies were invented by a baker named Ruth Wakefield? She ran out of baking chocolate and decided to cut up a candy bar hoping it would melt all the way through, yet she unknowingly invented one of America’s favorite cookies.
Levi Russow: That’s cool dude! Listen, Pop’s gotta run…you’ve eaten today right?
Charlie Russow: A significantly lower calorie intake than I perhaps should be operating on.
Levi Russow: Well…put the book down…go get something to eat and then like, go outside or something! Make a friend!
Charlie Russow: …make…a friend.
-I Built A Friend-
“I built a friend…
With three pieces of plastic and a pen.
I made him on the table in the den.
I gave him my old cell phone for a head, for a head.
And we spent holidays in my house,
And we left presents in a stocking.
And we bought bolts and things and strings…
And a new watch, that's what he got.
…And we had so much fun together
We knew we'd be friends forever.
And we had so much fun together
We had so much fun!”
With three pieces of plastic and a pen.
I made him on the table in the den.
I gave him my old cell phone for a head, for a head.
And we spent holidays in my house,
And we left presents in a stocking.
And we bought bolts and things and strings…
And a new watch, that's what he got.
…And we had so much fun together
We knew we'd be friends forever.
And we had so much fun together
We had so much fun!”
Russow Manor
12:37 A.M.
(It was easily a half hour after midnight when a clatter made Levi Russow jolt straight up in bed as his wife coo’ed peacefully next to him and he figured he wouldn’t disturb her. With all of their friends and family that come and go, he was sure something different was amiss. Everyone knew midnight was the latest…so what was going bump in the night?)
Levi Russow: *whispering* Em…Emma…
(Levi sloooowly reaches over and pokes a finger into Emma’s left nostril jolting her awake.)
Emma Russow: WHAT THE SAM HELL-
Levi Russow: Oh good! You’re awake!
Emma Russow: What the Hel-why are you whispering?
(There’s another crash down the hall as Emma seizes up and looks at Levi with fear as Levi gently brushes her face with his hand and kisses her forehead as he slides out of bed grabbing the closest bludgeoning instrument he can grab…his Louisville slugger Emma had signed for him by Ken Griffey Jr…Levi kisses it for luck as he slinks out of the room as Emma whispers…)
Emma Russow: Be careful baby…
(Levi tip-toes down the hallway as another crash falls…a door suddenly opens beside Levi that makes him jump completely out of his skin as his daughter Rosie, Charlie’s dramatic twin sister, is suddenly glaring at him through the one eye exposed from her raising her sleep mask as she snuggles her robe closer.)
Rosie Russow: Summone’s gunna freggin’. DIE.
Levi Russow: Rosie! Shh! Daddy’s got it, go back to sleep!
Rosie Russow: …like you lost every one of your retirement matches but ONE?
Levi Russow: …you littl-you’re GROUNDED!
Rosie Russow: I WILL TAKE THIS UP WITH MOTHER TOMORROW!!!
(Levi ushers her back to her room and quietly closes the door behind her as he slinks down the hall to Charlie’s room…when he creaks open the door he can see that there are a few decent sized boxes and Levi’s toolbox spread out all over the floor and on the bed he sees a still completely dressed Charlie in the fetal position facing the wall. Of course Levi knew he wasn’t asleep…but he tended to use a lenient hand towards Charlie because Charlie, literally, never did anything wrong. He never had time to, he was always reading! So the fact he put a book down and was starting some imagination all Levi could do was whisper…)
Levi Russow: Tomorrow, buddy…
(And as silently as a zephyr through a graveyard all he was met with was…)
Charlie Russow: Sorry father…
(Levi whispered it was alright as he closed the door and started back towards his room. He stops halfway and looks back at Charlie’s room curiously before chuckling a little bit and slinging the bat over his shoulder as he pushes the door open to see Emma holding a curling iron.)
Levi Russow: EASY CAPTAIN SASSOON!!!
Emma Russow: What was it!?
(Levi is putting the bat back in it’s spot as he climbs back into bed with Emma wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead.)
Levi Russow: I do believe our little Charlie has a bit of a project he wants to work on.
Emma Russow: Oh? Did he invite you to help him for once?
Levi Russow: Does he ever? I swear I try and I try but he’s the most difficult nut to crack!
Emma Russow: Maybe start by not calling our children nuts?
Levi Russow; …Em. C’mon.
Emma Russow: *sigh* A girl can have hopes…
(They settle back down into bed and try to go back to sleep…but Levi finds himself having a hard time finding sleep, worrying about his son…thinking about how his own child is like a stranger to him. And that realization flooded his body like a deluge of guilt. And on we go…)
-The Next Day-
*Knock Knock Knock*
Charlie Russow: Yes?
(The door slides open and Levi slides his torso through the door noticing Jack reading a book on robotics sitting cross legged in the middle of the room surrounded by boxes.)
Levi Russow: Hey! Are ya winnin’ son!?
(Levi enters the room as Charlie gives him a quizzical look as if he doesn’t understand the reference…because he doesn’t.)
Levi Russow: Y’know like the…like the meme?
Charlie Russow: …while I am familiar with the concept of memes I’m afraid that particular trope eludes me, father.
Levi Russow: And then you…okay…what?
Charlie Russow: …fret not father, it is trivial.
(Levi slides down beside Jack and picks up one of the boxes.)
Levi Russow: What um…what’cha doin’?
Charlie Russow: It was your insinuation that I make a friend and so here we are…
Levi Russow: …oh no bud this isn’t what…when I said make a friend I didn’t…
(Charlie looks at him with expectant eyes as Levi clears his throat and embraces the different.)
Levi Russow: So…do you need any help?
Charlie Russow: I…COULD use some assistance with the general construction as I do not know the best way to connect him together.
Levi Russow: Okay! No problem! Uhh…maybe a 3/4ths…duct tape is always an optio-
Charlie Russow: Duct tape is certainly not an option.
Levi Russow: …oooookay.
(You could hear a pin drop…the lingering awkwardness in the air. Levi left the door open and little did he know, they were being observed. Determined to bond with his unique son, Levi clears his throat and gives her another go.)
Levi Russow: Yeah bud, I think I can harness that box to this one and anchor the arms but…what’s this box for?
(Charlie takes the curious box from Levi’s hands, it looks like it’s been formatted into a dock.)
Charlie Russow: This is where the life source comes in…but how do we wire him so he fully moves?
Levi Russow: I…I don’t know bud…
Charlie Russow: …perhaps we should ask him!
Levi Russow: Huh? Yeah! Imaginatio-!
(Before he can say anything, Charlie has darted into his backpack and produced an older model tablet as he fires it up and enters a passcode before sliding the tablet into the head dock. Charlie clicks on a peculiar circle.)
Levi Russow: Well what are you-
Charlie Russow: I designed it myself! Well…with some help from Uncle Slappy.
(The tablet suddenly turns into something reminiscent of Face from the old Nick Jr. days as a vivid royal purple hue accentuates the bold outline of the eyes and mouth as it smiles.)
Tablet: Welcome back, Charlie!
Charlie Russow: Hey B.U.D.!
Levi Russow: B.U.D?
Charlie Russow: Brotherly Understanding Droid.
Levi Russow: Charlie you HAVE a brother…
Charlie Russow: He is too preoccupied now for me…rightfully so. It’s okay! I just need to figure out…the schematics…I’m SO CLOSE…
(Levi looks a little concerned but he’s not going to be the one to stop Charlie now…or so he thought.)
Charlie Russow: B.U.D. can you look up instructions on how to wire your body together?
(The machine doesn’t respond…Charlie was brilliant and he made it somewhat responsive…but he’s ten. Slappy just taught him how to make a funny screen face talk to him.)
Charlie Russow: B.U.D.?
Levi Russow: Charlie…he’s not real…
Charlie Russow: HE’S REAL TO ME! B.U.D. STOP PLAYING AROUND!
(In an immense display of uncharacteristic behavior, Charlie suddenly hauls off and slaps the side of the “head” as the tablet goes flying. Levi dives for it but it’s corner…hits perfectly against the hardwood floor…and a shattering can be heard.)
Levi Russow: Oh no…
(Charlie suddenly rushes over and takes the tablet from his father…looking at B.U.D’s now shattered face. Charlie starts shaking…)
Charlie Russow: B…B.U.D.?
Levi Russow: Oh Charlie…I’m so, so sorry…
Charlie Russow: Father…may I please be alone now?
Levi Russow: …can I give you a hug first?
(Charlie’s bottom lip tucks and his eyes tear up and he quietly nods as Levi wraps him into the biggest hug he could muster…and Charlie’s tears just flow.)
Levi Russow: I can’t pretend to know what it’s like to be you, Charmander. But even though I don’t know…how to show it. I don’t ever want you to question…how much I LOVE you, okay?
Charlie Russow: *sniffle* Yes father…I love you too…I apologize for my weakness…
Levi Russow: Now you stop that…crying does NOT make you weak. D’you know what crying does?
(Charlie sniffles and shakes his head no.)
Levi Russow: Crying…is a RESET button. Cause once all the tears aren’t cluttering up your brain, you see things a lot clearer! Strong. People. Cry. Don’t you ever forget that.
Charlie Russow: I’ve an eidetic memory father…I cannot forget it.
Levi Russow; Good…I’m gonna give you your space now…you go ahead and let it out…it’s okay!
(Levi quickly kisses Charlie’s forehead as he slides out of the room closing the door behind him as we hear Charlie start to trash everything he’s been working on, letting out all his anger and frustration and tears…and on the other side of the door, pressing his hand and ear against it with a heartbroken look on his face…we see Jack Russow appear. He looks like he wants to knock on the door but instead…he just…freezes. Wait a minute? Freeze? Fathers don’t freeze!
…but in the face of potentially experiencing what is to come for him as his twins grow…Jack Russow froze.)
"I came home...
to find him on the table
With a note, scribbled out in pencil...
And he wrote, that he just wasn't stable all alone, all alone...
Next to him, an empty glass of water
That he spilt...
And he wrote, that he just wasn't stable all alone, all alone...
Next to him, an empty glass of water
That he spilt...
all over the body that I built.
It fizzled and it popped...
And then it killed... then it killed
And we had so much fun together...
We thought we'd be friends forever.
And we had so much fun together...
We had so much fun."
It fizzled and it popped...
And then it killed... then it killed
And we had so much fun together...
We thought we'd be friends forever.
And we had so much fun together...
We had so much fun."
...I built a friend.