In the back of his mind, Will notes that it's nice to hear the other boy laugh. It's nice that he still can, after what he's apparently been through.
His smile only grows when Tretij draws the simple face, and he takes out a pencil to put another one beside it. "You don't have to be good at it, sometimes just doodling is good. It can get some of the stuff in your head down where other people can see it and, you know, maybe help with it a little." That's what he does with it after all, when he's not drawing the things that he does just for himself. He repeats the word obratit under his breath, just trying to get better at using the words that Tretij does.
Nodding Tretij put down the sketchbook and floated the food over to himself carefully. It was simple but it was good, definitely better than what they fed him in that military base. And better than the lab in Moscow. It had been a while since he felt like there was little more hope at the end of the firestorm his life had turned into, between Will and his family's gentle nature, the warm food, and the feeling of freedom Tretij felt lighter.
With the hand not currently using a fork to eat from the plate balanced on a knee he plucked up one of the tapes to look at the label.
Sometimes a simple breakfast is the most comforting thing in the world. Will took it for granted, until the last year or so.
When Tretij looks back at the tapes, Will can't help himself, leaning and pointing out which ones were his favorites. The one in the other's hand was a Dead Kennedys album, Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables. The rest of the stack were either recordings that he or his brother had made from the radio, or a Clash album that had been played enough that half of its text was fading off. He explains that he and his brother listen to a lot of this kind of music, so he'd probably hear it playing in the house a lot when they weren't using their headphones.
Turning each one over the one with most of it's words worn away catches his eye and he puts the one he has down to pick it up instead. He's not sure if it's an echo of the emotion attached to the tape or a swell of warmth through the connection over the tape but either way his eyes dart up to Will's and he knows this one is important. This one he should listen to and he should keep it safe.
He didn't intend to let anything happen to any of them but this one specifically.
He nods and puts the tape down to finish his breakfast.
Every tape in the little stack has some feeling attached to it, but it's clear that that worn tape is well-loved, holding significance to Will that would be obvious even without psychic readings. One of the mixtapes has a similar feeling, affection for his brother in every inch of tape.
Will stands again when he hears Jonathan calling that it was time for them to go, though he's reluctant to leave the shed. He looks back over his shoulder at the door, then at Tretij again. "Be safe," he urges quietly, then heads out with a brief wave and closes the door behind him before running out to the car. Inside, Joyce would be getting ready for work. Tretij would be able to feel her fretting a little bit, perpetually worried about something or other, be it a small thing like something they needed from the store, or the low-key dread of potentially getting a call from the school about Will.
It is, at least, pretty quiet when it's just Tretij there on his own with the music and outside forest sounds for company. A good time to rest. Potentially a good time to explore, before the family returned.
After everyone was gone Tretij stayed in the shed for a while. It felt like hours but honestly it was probably only one, but to a kid that felt like an eternity sometimes. Eventually Tretij put his mask back on and went out to explore, he unlocked the back door with his abilities and floated in. The house was different than any he had seen before save for maybe the one time he got to watch television in the lab.
It was warm and comfortable. He saw the drawings on the fridge, notes in a language he know knew a little of. He's exploring rooms when he sees a picture in Will's, it's a drawing of a wizard and the wizard has a familiar necklace. Blinking Tretij can't help but be amused.
He explored the rest of the house before leaving and instead heading towards the forest to explore there, it's much warmer than he's used to in Russia. It feels more like an adventure than being on the run, like in the fables his teacher would tell them. He doesn't go too far from Will's house and the little hiding spot he has in the shed, besides he promised he'd stay safe. Tretij was not about to go back on his word.
Nothing in the house was new or spotless. So much was either secondhand, or had been with the Byers for years already. The energy of their family had seeped into every last corner and envelopes Tretij like a comforting hug. It still smells like breakfast.
That drawing specifically holds the same energy that Will does, as it's something that means a lot to him. It's no wonder that the necklace that he draws his character with would be something that projected itself on Tretij. That character was the side of Will that liked adventure, taking initiative, thinking on his feet and being something more than just himself.
When Will makes it back home that day, he's managed to find a couple of different books at the library, one a beginner's translation guide, another an introduction to sign language. That way neither of them would have to struggle to understand each other and wouldn't always need to be in each other's heads. He wouldn't need to feel invaded and Tretij could keep his mask on and maintain his peace. Everyone wins.
He'd just run back to the shed after dropping off his backpack when he realizes the door is cracked open, and just for a moment, he panics. It abates when he spots the flash of red that is his new friend's hair out there between the trees. He jogs out to meet the boy floating about in his exploration. He waves before he comes too close.
Seeing Will approaching Tretij waved and floated over before lowering enough to touch still damp leaves and grass. There's a moment where he wants to defend himself because he's sure that Will is about to yell at him....but then he doesn't feel it. He doesn't feel the anger or disappointment. It's confusing but not unwelcome. There was worry and then relief when Will realized he was okay.
Though he was sure and certain there would be at the very least annoyance but he'd just show Will how he could keep from being seen.
"Privet." He breathed out through the mask. Under the black rubber he grinned, he'd get Will to learn at least a few Russian words.
Will huffs a quiet sigh, halfway toward a laugh in his relief. "Privyet! Rat teebya veedet," he announces, and his pronunciation and accent...well, it leaves something to be desired. He'd learn, with time and practice.
Nothing about Will is cross at having spotted Tretij out here, just the worry that comes with being him in the circumstances they're in. He doesn't want Tretij to feel like he can't go for a walk, after all. Not after the same thing was done to him even with the best of intentions. He holds up his finds from the library, the cyrillic on the cover readable at least to the one of them.
Tretij's eyes were wide when he heard the familiar language. Sure it was broke and his accent wasn't the best but...he had found books and was trying to learn. Trying to reach out and communicate with Tretij in his native tongue.
"Not bad!" He laughed and clapped a bit, surprise still evident in his face and voice."
It wouldn't be fair to just expect Tretij to keep trying to remember what he could of English, and trying to grab a whole language out of someone's head was probably a lot harder than someone would think, so this is definitely the better option. Plus, it's kind of cute seeing the way Tretij perks up when he sees Will and hears the attempt at Russian.
"Sorry if you were bored out here. Are you hungry? Mom said she's bringing home groceries later. Uh..." He flips through the book on the spot, then tries slowly, "U nas budet zamorozhennaya...pizza?"
Tilting his head Tretij shook his head with a small frown, not that Will can see it past the slight squint. He has no idea what this 'pizza' is.
But he's willing to try anything, he's never been allowed to be a picky eater. The only time he's refused food was a couple times when he was in the labs, especially after they started putting sedatives in his food.
He may not be able to see Tretij's expression, but the narrowing of his eyes gives away the confusion, confirming what Will already suspected. So Will just gestures for Tretij to come inside with him, letting him decide whether he would go into the shed or into the actual house.
"If you like cheese I think you'll like pizza," he offers.
Without questioning it Tretij followed Will inside, floating until they got inside in which he let his feet touch the cool linoleum of the kitchen floor. Inside he removed his mask, the warmth of the house making the mask a little harder to breath in. Besides in a small town like this it was easier to block most of the voices out, especially with how secluded the Byers' house is.
Reaching out he gently tugged the dictionary from Will's hand to flip through it finding the word he had heard. "Ah, cheese is...syr. I like cheese." He nodded as he handed the book back.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2026-01-13 07:17 am (UTC)His smile only grows when Tretij draws the simple face, and he takes out a pencil to put another one beside it. "You don't have to be good at it, sometimes just doodling is good. It can get some of the stuff in your head down where other people can see it and, you know, maybe help with it a little." That's what he does with it after all, when he's not drawing the things that he does just for himself. He repeats the word obratit under his breath, just trying to get better at using the words that Tretij does.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 07:40 am (UTC)With the hand not currently using a fork to eat from the plate balanced on a knee he plucked up one of the tapes to look at the label.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 07:53 am (UTC)When Tretij looks back at the tapes, Will can't help himself, leaning and pointing out which ones were his favorites. The one in the other's hand was a Dead Kennedys album, Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables. The rest of the stack were either recordings that he or his brother had made from the radio, or a Clash album that had been played enough that half of its text was fading off. He explains that he and his brother listen to a lot of this kind of music, so he'd probably hear it playing in the house a lot when they weren't using their headphones.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 08:29 am (UTC)He didn't intend to let anything happen to any of them but this one specifically.
He nods and puts the tape down to finish his breakfast.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 08:39 am (UTC)Will stands again when he hears Jonathan calling that it was time for them to go, though he's reluctant to leave the shed. He looks back over his shoulder at the door, then at Tretij again. "Be safe," he urges quietly, then heads out with a brief wave and closes the door behind him before running out to the car. Inside, Joyce would be getting ready for work. Tretij would be able to feel her fretting a little bit, perpetually worried about something or other, be it a small thing like something they needed from the store, or the low-key dread of potentially getting a call from the school about Will.
It is, at least, pretty quiet when it's just Tretij there on his own with the music and outside forest sounds for company. A good time to rest. Potentially a good time to explore, before the family returned.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 08:51 am (UTC)It was warm and comfortable. He saw the drawings on the fridge, notes in a language he know knew a little of. He's exploring rooms when he sees a picture in Will's, it's a drawing of a wizard and the wizard has a familiar necklace. Blinking Tretij can't help but be amused.
He explored the rest of the house before leaving and instead heading towards the forest to explore there, it's much warmer than he's used to in Russia. It feels more like an adventure than being on the run, like in the fables his teacher would tell them. He doesn't go too far from Will's house and the little hiding spot he has in the shed, besides he promised he'd stay safe. Tretij was not about to go back on his word.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 09:19 am (UTC)That drawing specifically holds the same energy that Will does, as it's something that means a lot to him. It's no wonder that the necklace that he draws his character with would be something that projected itself on Tretij. That character was the side of Will that liked adventure, taking initiative, thinking on his feet and being something more than just himself.
When Will makes it back home that day, he's managed to find a couple of different books at the library, one a beginner's translation guide, another an introduction to sign language. That way neither of them would have to struggle to understand each other and wouldn't always need to be in each other's heads. He wouldn't need to feel invaded and Tretij could keep his mask on and maintain his peace. Everyone wins.
He'd just run back to the shed after dropping off his backpack when he realizes the door is cracked open, and just for a moment, he panics. It abates when he spots the flash of red that is his new friend's hair out there between the trees. He jogs out to meet the boy floating about in his exploration. He waves before he comes too close.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 08:53 am (UTC)Though he was sure and certain there would be at the very least annoyance but he'd just show Will how he could keep from being seen.
"Privet." He breathed out through the mask. Under the black rubber he grinned, he'd get Will to learn at least a few Russian words.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 09:08 am (UTC)Nothing about Will is cross at having spotted Tretij out here, just the worry that comes with being him in the circumstances they're in. He doesn't want Tretij to feel like he can't go for a walk, after all. Not after the same thing was done to him even with the best of intentions. He holds up his finds from the library, the cyrillic on the cover readable at least to the one of them.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 05:30 am (UTC)"Not bad!" He laughed and clapped a bit, surprise still evident in his face and voice."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 06:15 am (UTC)"Sorry if you were bored out here. Are you hungry? Mom said she's bringing home groceries later. Uh..." He flips through the book on the spot, then tries slowly, "U nas budet zamorozhennaya...pizza?"
Freezer pizza. He's offering freezer pizza.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-19 04:23 am (UTC)But he's willing to try anything, he's never been allowed to be a picky eater. The only time he's refused food was a couple times when he was in the labs, especially after they started putting sedatives in his food.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-20 09:05 am (UTC)"If you like cheese I think you'll like pizza," he offers.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-23 11:33 pm (UTC)Reaching out he gently tugged the dictionary from Will's hand to flip through it finding the word he had heard. "Ah, cheese is...syr. I like cheese." He nodded as he handed the book back.