Random one shot idea (Boo and Randall centric)

[mentalguru]

Agh- just typical.

I've sort of had a one-shot/short story idea which just struck me. It's COMPLETELY unrelated to 'connections', and involves a younger Boo... about 12, I'd say. So the interaction with Randall and Boo would be very different. It's kind of more creepy too, and involves a Randall who is more 'off' and 'out of it' as well...He's still in major survival mode I guess... but still. (That's just typical of plot bunnies too- I wait forever and then get attacked by a million). If someone wants to take a stab at it themselves, feel free.

It's kind of a one shot/very short story where Boo didn't move away (from New Orleans), and she is still in contact with Mike and Sulley but... she begins to wonder whatever happened to Randall. She's always assumed he went to jail... and asks the pair how long he was 'sentence' was one night, just randomly. She's heard the story many times, and she hasn't ever thought to ask before.

She doesn't get an answer, but Sulley just looks a bit guilty- Mike changes the subject. She puts it at the back of her mind, but its still there... And she's still curious.

She has family who have recently moved near to the swamp and her parents go there, where she has a cousin (cousins?) around her age. They tell her of rumours of a a purple 'monster' or 'thing' which has been attacking dogs and other pets, believed to be eating them and such, but the type of wounds aren't from 'gator' or 'animal' thy know of..., 'it' has risen suspicion from some of the locals- but the aunt/uncle and othr parents don't believe in the stories, and they got the place cheap...

Boo is intrigued- and the stories of how he seems to 'vanish' into thin air only make her MORE curious, because... it MAY be him. It seems to fit the descriptions of him she heard about. Though she never expected to find him in the human world.

She decides to go... to the area. She wants to know.


I'm not thinking Randall kills her or physically hurts her really (nah, can't see him doing that at all)... but it could be interesting

I kind of got the idea from watching 'Aang' and 'Koh' from the season 1 finale of 'Avatar' the last airbender- think of Boo as Aang and Koh as Randall, only Randall is someone you can sympathsise more to than Koh is. Even has some dialogue modified (ie: ripped) in my mind from that episode from it to fit the two of them. This is completely being written off right now in this message box- no spell check etc. It is sort of after she enters his 'haven' (whatever that might be), where he goes to sleep and she calls out his name, which... peaks his interest slightly as he watches from the trees, as he crunches on a dog bone and she continues to talk, then giving her real name, which cause him to reveal himself, finally:

"Welcome." the voice rasped from the being who suddenly appeared right in front of her.

The girl flinched slightly, taken aback and surprised, also not quite believeing that had somehow worked.

He was just like the descriptions (however vague) that the pair had given her over the years- although she was pretty sure the indentations and scars she saw before her, some old, some recent, had not ever been a part of them.

He grinned and the corners of his mouth twitched, which made Mary want to step backwards. Instead she gave a half bow, pretty sure she did not want to extend her hand, as she'd been raised to do by her parents, before quickly raising herself. She found herself trying not to stare him in the eyes, though her gaze was still fixated on him.

"Thank-you" she intoned, keeping it neutral.

"Well if it isn't little Mary" he continued to murmur as he circled her. "It's been a long time" he said, before returning to stand right in front of her.

Beginning to wonder if this had been a huge mistake, the girl swallowed and continued.

"Oh... you remember me?" she asked awkwardly.

"How could I forget you. You were there when those two fools threw me out here..." he looked her up and down "Judging by the looks of you... about nine or ten years ago..."

Trying not to let the shock of this information show, she continued, keeping her voice steady, not wanting to show fear.

"Oh I didn't... know that... why did they.... banish you?"

"Oh, isn't it obvious? There were a few reasons but in the end...I believe it was something to do with... well... you"

The smirk returned to his face, though Boo saw was no real joy in it.

He continued to speak as he vanished right before her, causing her to look around herself in slight panic.

"But let's try and put that behind us... why should I hold something against you when you can't even remember?"

The child suddenly found him behind her and he placed a hand on her right shoulder and whispered in her ear "After all...you're a different person now... and you've come to me... with questions."

Boo took a deep breath.



Cough... yeah... I'm so weird.

There was kind of the idea, Randall took delight in the fact Sulley and the eyeball no longer seemed so great to her, and she feels down about that, although still scared to a degree, unable to stay away, and she continues to meet him over the summer she's staying there.

He's slightly impressed at that, and a part of him is glad for when she brings him actual food... and she's SOMEONE to talk to.

Yeah, I know it's a bit weird. -cough-

[RandallBoggs]

Actually not that bad ^_^ Like the sorta "panter circles prey" sort of moment ^_^ Though I know Ran doesn't really blame Mary, at the time in this story, I can see him a bit unhinged in thinking that the two didn't get rid of him because of their own hate of him, but to protect her. And I guess that because she willingly came to see him in this, it sorta makes him less inclined to be aggressive ^_^
Lot of good qualities just in this little piece ^_^

[pitbulllady]

I was wondering if you knew that there actually IS a legend/folktale among the Cajun and Creole people of the swampland southwest of New Orleans, about a creature called "LeTiche"(also spelled "LeTeche"), which is supposed to be an upright-walking, sapient scaly creature that leaves behind three-toed tracks, and is supposed to have combined features of human and reptile. Nowadays, it's a rather obscure legend not as widely believed as in the old days, and it has origins in the stories of the Houmas and Chitimacha Indians of the region. There is actually an important waterway, Bayou Teche, named after these beings, who allegedly were once a tribe all to themselves, who fought with the Indians for hunting ground.

I've had various plot bunnies(my but those things do multiply just like real bunnies, don't they...and most of the time, they just don't get big or get snapped up by some metaphysical predator of creativity)involving Mary and her family(or single mom)either living in southern Louisiana, or re-locating there due to various reasons, and her eventually encountering Randall once again, under various circumstances. Most of my ideas had her older, old enough to know right from wrong and to have a sense of empathy with others, but still young enough to be cute and innocent. In some versions, Randall is still living out on his own in the swamps, surviving by any means necessary, and in most other versions, he's actually living with an older couple who are Mary's relatives(grandparents perhaps), staying in their barn or other building, working off his room and board and meals as a handyman(or is that, handyMON?) around the place, and the older guy is becoming a sort of surrogate father figure to him. The arrival of Mary and her mom/family sort of throws that balance out of whack, though. You have to understand the Cajun culture to comprehend that an older human couple would actually take in a probably badly-injured reptilian MONSTER and care for him and befriend him and allow him to stay there, as if he were just a human drifter caught up in a bad set of circumstances, but that's southern Louisiana for you. Once they realize that Randall is not just another local animal, but a sentient, sapient being, they'd treat him as they would anyone else. Cajuns have a sense of what can best be compared to the Hawaiian concept of O'hana-you do not have to be biologically related, or related at all, to be family, and once you're family, that is forever.

Of course, I've also considered a fanfic involving Randall and Boo's mother, NOT with him being Mary's father, but with THEM developing a friendship(also set in Louisiana-remember, this is a state whose official Tourism Board's motto is, "Louisiana-Come As You Are; Leave Different".)which just might be turning into something more, with him going through the same sort of guilt-ridden, Wilt-Michaels angst once realizing who that kid is, and pondering how to tell her mother that he was at least partially responsible for that horrible 24 hours that her then-two-year-old daughter vanished, without a trace, and that he nearly did something that might have deprived her of her daughter forever.

pitbulllady

[mentalguru]

I didn't know about the legend, but I kind of thought Randall just wouldn't... talk to anyone. He perhaps gave the impression he was smarter than your average 'predator' and a bit unusual but other than that, he just simply wouldn't talk at all? Other banished monsters... (the legal ones anyway), don't seem to give the impression they 'talk' to humans. They keep out of their way if necessary, bar 'sightings'. Perhaps som would try and find him- mistaking him for this legend, but he'd keep out of their way, he doesn't want to get caught. Any talk about them promising not to harm/be good to him would probably be seen as a trap etc. or he'd scare them off some how.

Boo, because of their past, might be enough to get him intrigued and show himself. (Shrugs)

Very interesting aspect of culture though, never really thought about that.

[RandallBoggs]

Many many possibilities ^_^ I recall a long time ago I was going to do a parody of So Weird with Ran in it ^_^ It's this old show on Nick I think that stared this girl who always became involved in matters of the supernatural ^_^
*shoulders Pitbulllady* I have a bet you wouldn't mind Ran as a handymon hu hu ^0^
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Despite knowing humans aren't toxic...it doesn't make him all hugs and giggles with them. He certainly KNOWS the dangers they present, the adult ones anyways. He's probably seen it once or twice, definetly learned about it, in his career.

[pitbulllady]

Jun 5, 2009 20:24:44 GMT -5 mentalguru said:

I didn't know about the legend, but I kind of thought Randall just wouldn't... talk to anyone. He perhaps gave the impression he was smarter than your average 'predator' and a bit unusual but other than that, he just simply wouldn't talk at all? Other banished monsters... (the legal ones anyway), don't seem to give the impression they 'talk' to humans. They keep out of their way if necessary, bar 'sightings'. Perhaps som would try and find him- mistaking him for this legend, but he'd keep out of their way, he doesn't want to get caught. Any talk about them promising not to harm/be good to him would probably be seen as a trap etc. or he'd scare them off some how.

Boo, because of their past, might be enough to get him intrigued and show himself. (Shrugs)

Very interesting aspect of culture though, never really thought about that.

One thing that sets Randall apart from the other banished monsters, though, is his strong Type 3 personality. Randall NEEDS attention, NEEDS to be recognized and praised, just like he needs food and oxygen. It's intrinsic to his very survival, honestly. His personality TYPE was hard-wired in him before he was born; how his behavior developed was dependent on him receiving the that recognition/praise/acceptance that his Personality Type required. After so many years of NOT receiving it, his behavior would have gone downhill more and more, just like a person who needs a certain thing, like insulin for example, will get sicker and sicker when they can't get it or can't get enough of it. Even if Randall did not get seriously hurt by that shovel, and regardless of his intelligence, I find it hard to believe that he will simply be able to go live in the woods like Bigfoot, with no contact with other sapient beings at all. Randall is just the sort of monster who'd buck that trend, and take that risk, since if he had to live totally isolated and without the attention of others, he'd die anyway, by his own hand or simply just by giving up and dying, but either way, he would not survive.

About the "killing dogs" bit though; I don't know if you're familiar with Louisiana's Official State Dog, the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog or not, since there are not many of them in the British Isle at all. Spray paint one black, and you have got yourself a real-life version of a Barghest, or Black Shuck, or Padfoot, or Hell-hound or whatever local name that thing goes by. I've personally seen just TWO Catahoulas disembowel a full-grown alligator they surprised up on the riverbank. I used to breed these dogs for hunting wild boar, their main purpose, and I've still got several, although they're getting up there in years now. I've had Catahoulas kill my Pit Bulls in one-on-one accidental kennel fights. I've callled them "four-legged Velociraptors", and it fits them, believe me. Unless Randall has gotten his hands on a .30.30 deer rifle, a flame thrower and a chainsaw, he'd be best leaving those puppies be and sticking with easier prey, like bobcats, alligators, Cottonmouths and Bull Sharks! And yes, there ARE some pretty darn big Bull Sharks in the fresh water of most Louisiana waterways, including the Mississippi River. I've eaten some that were caught in the Atchafalaya River. Not as tasty as Mako, but still pretty good grilled.

I have some nice fantasies about Mike Wazowski, dog-phobic that he is, running into a pack of Catahoulas, though.

pitbulllady

[RandallBoggs]

In the past, Randall actually made up somebody to talk. He was...encouraging at first but...well...lets just say we see that "friend" in the Door Vault...

Food-wise, Ran didn't have much in the way of "easy prey" *shakes head* *shrugs* At least these days a bowl of pasta doesn't try to bite him ^_^

[mentalguru]

I kind of think Randall does CRAVE approval alot, but I don't think he's all that dependent on it like food and air. (In my opinion)

In my mind, if Randall is anything, he is a survivor. He won't ever be HAPPY alone, but he could endure it if it was for the sake of his own survival. He'd go a bit.... well you know what I mean- but I think he'd endure.

[pitbulllady]

I don't know...there was something just a bit..."Little Red Riding Hoodish" about the way that one-shot was presented, now that I read it again. Randall comes off a lot like the "Big Bad Wolf" here; it almost seems as though he's been stalking this adolescent girl, waiting for the right moment when she's alone in the deep woods. We all know of course, that this old fairy tale is more than just a story about how awful wolves were perceived to be, as the "wolf" is symbolic for male sexual predators who target young girls. There's an even stronger sexual overtone here than in "Connections", where the emphasis is more on a developing friendship. Here, Mary is still very much undergage, and Randall seems far more menacing, in a really bad way.

pitbulllady

[mentalguru]

Blinks... Oh dear God, that wasn't what I wanted to convey at all....But I can see where you'd get it from on re-reading...

The actions actually happen to Aang, a 12 year old (like for Boo) in Avatar by this giant centipede like 'Spirit' known as Koh- the 'face stealer'- he kind of basically does all these actions. Aang is not allowed to show fear- for it he shows any emotion, he will 'steal' his face. And Koh DOES grip his shoulder and whisper in his ear. I more wanted to make it seem like Randall wanted to scare her a little bit more than anything else.

I did kind of think Boo would help him establish contact with humans... that they're not all bad. That he'd finally get some help.

Though, Randall here, is a bit more menacing than I wanted, probably because of the character I was inspired by I'll admit, but I was more going for the eventual mentor-mentee relationship, sort of, if I ever wrote it.

But yeah, on re-reading I can sort of see your reasoning.

-puts one-shot idea to the side-


But I do get alot of short stories floating in my head.

Like one about where Sulley is a little more observant, and notices Randall's changes in behaviour earlier, perhaps is a bit more curious as to what's happening.

Little things can throw the entire movie events in a different direction in a way.

[pitbulllady]

I wouldn't put it aside, but some changes might be necessary. For one thing-and I know how much you love "Avatar"(it does sound more and more interesting to me)-that series, American-made or not, DID capture the Eastern culture/religious/spiritual "feel" really well, and that is rather different from us plain ole' Amurkans(to quote Gallagher)! Some of the dialog from Randall here was just a tad over-the-top, and not quite "him", but would work for the character that inspired it. Randall is very Midwestern American, and his dialect in the movie reflects that.

I like the idea of the second one, though. I have always wondered if Sulley, or anyone else, had really picked up on the obvious change in Randall's behavior and wondered what the heck was going on with him. Like I've always said, there's no way that Randall could have gotten his job, let alone KEPT it, if he'd been a jerk and an ***hole all along, as some of the Pixar and Disney folks would want us to believe. There are plenty of qualified workers who can get along with others, so businesses do not have to put up with those who can't. As Randall's mental and emotional state deteriorated, surely someone must have realized that this was not the same Randall that was chosen to train just-hired Scarers. He doesn't even LOOK the same; compare the screen caps from the movie with those high-quality screen caps from "Pinball Panic", which is supposed to take place before the movie. Randall has far fewer lines under his eyes, and he's just got that happy-go-lucky grin that puts Wilt's to shame! He looks like he doesn't have a care in the world...and actually has time to play pinball games, too. Sulley might not be the sharpest pencil in the desk drawer, but he is pretty observant, so he must have wondered, at least once or twice, why Randall had changed for the worst. Mike probably would have thought Randall was the scum of the Earth from the moment he met him, though, and even if Randall had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and spent each weekend cooking for the homelss, nothing would have changed Mike's opinion of him.

pitbulllady

[mentalguru]

Hee. True. But I wouldn't want to start it until 'Connections' was finished anyway. Perhaps I'll come back to it someday. I DEFINITLY recommend Avatar. Aang is such a loveable kid. It takes a few episodes before the real story becomes more interesting- but its worth it. Episode 12- 'the Storm', shows the pasts of both Aang and Zuko, the next episode 13 'Blue Spirit' is one of my favourites, not just for the action, but for the sad yet touching ending. Its the first hint that they are not supposed to be enemies.

Re: Sulley and Randall idea.
I kind of figured most of Sulley's attention seemed to be on training and scaring perhaps at the time, like in the movie- and apart from Mike and before Boo, that was all he seemed to pretty much does. Probably incredibly distracted, 'blinkers' mentality, you know?


But what if he had noticed something about Randall?


If, as said, Randall was his trainer, perhaps he was a particulary good student, perhaps they had a pretty good relationship at one stage. Not very close perhaps but... amicable. Sulley seems like a genuinely nice guy (it's partly why him throwing Randall out the door shocked me- but I think it was probably Mikes influence as well as an overprotective nature towards Boo which made him snap). Randall was supposed to be encouraging in the game- yes? Seems to reason he probably was with Sulley. And he did a good job of training him! They might not have been close- the kind of aquaintences you hardly see out of work, but they got on fair enough.

Perhaps when Randall first started on the road of building the Scream extractor, he became more snappish and unpleasent. Sulley perhaps felt a little hurt and Mike (probably having some untold grudge against the guy, or just being... Mike) convinced Sulley "See I TOLD ya he was a jerk- just stick with me pal...I'm your best friend, have been for years, I know best" and Sulley just shrugged and went with Mikes advice, throwing himself into work, and not prying much into the issue with Randall.

But what if Mike hadn't convinced him of that? What if he'd made it known to Randall one day that- if he wanted to talk, even though they didn't know eachother well, that he could? Perhaps he observed a bit more and became a bit concerned about his ex-trainer. He perhaps kept his distance in some respects, but continually let the guy know he was there.


That could change everything. Even if Boo is still let in by Sulley.

[pitbulllady]

That's the problem with a lot of guys, though(and take it from me, who's been around a few of 'em)-most guys aren't good at talking about things. A lot of that is cultural; from the time they are toddlers, guys in our society have traditioanlly been taught that me don't discuss their feelings with ANYONE, let alone another GUY! I've often tried to imagine in my head how things would have gone if Randall and Sulley had had the opportunity to sit down over a couple of beers...or mugs of coffee...whether before all this mess went down, or afterwards. One of those reasons is that neither really had a clue what motivated the other. Sure, Sulley had learned about the Scream Extractor, but he probably didn't know anything other than Randall built it, it was designed to force human children to scream, and Waternoose was behind it. He probably did NOT know that it was not designed to be lethal, or that Randall probably had little choice in his role, either. As for Randall, HE would have had absolutely no reason to even assume that Mike and Sulley were actually trying to protect "the kid", based on monsters' attitudes towards human children. You have to wonder, then, just what WAS going through his frazzled mind when he realized that they had her. I'm sure he assumed that they were going to use her to sabotage HIS attempt to top the Scare Board, which means that RANDALL thought THEY were the ones who were cheating! I doubt he figured that anything good was going to happen to that little girl in their hands, either, and of course, there was that costume. That must have seemed like a neon middle finger in his face! We know, from that scene in the Door Vault, that while Randall himself probably felt no real sympathy for Boo, let alone affection, he also didn't want her to come to any harm, and it was NOT due to him still wanting to try out the Scream Extractor on her, either. That machine was pretty much down for the count, thanks to Sulley, and getting it fixed up and running again would have taken weeks at the least, IF it was reparable at all. Randall had ample opportunity to kill Boo, and had actually been ordered to do so, but he didn't. He actually prevents her from slipping at one point, something that surely would have killed her had his grip failed. I can't help thinking about how different things would have gone after that final fight, if only Sulley had not listened to Mike and had given Randall a chance to explain himself, something he was clearly trying to do, before they threw him into that door! Wouldn't it have been ironic, if both had found out that both of them at that point were simply trying to do the same thing-get that kid back to her own room?

pitbulllady

[RandallBoggs]

I don't think Randall really depends on it...but he does have a want for it...and as his hardships increase...it slowly becomes a need for him. But in terms of survival, appreciation and admiration may take a back drop. Which kind of splits Randall in two. His normal self craves appreciation and acceptance. But this other self of him is a survivalist, and almost primal force. It's sorta split-personality he has. And that brings about some conflict. Someone may want to help him, and he may want it, but that primal part is telling him all these negative things (think Confidence and Paranoia, but the later is aggressive).
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Tah! Pitbulllady ha ha..get...get this...^0^
You remember? WHAT is the definition of Randall's name origin? ^_^ WOLF...SHEILD! I think I get what it means now! Ran is portrayed origin-wise for his name as a seemingly-evil or manevolant force...but the sheild is a sign of protection and strength to do so. Meaning he's not a "hero" persay as his actions are questionable, but his intentions are good. So THAT'S probably why his name is that! And that sorta gives in to his Anti-hero like persona.
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Oh I remember that episode. Aang couldn't even show emotion in front of the face stealer. So I guess if Boo showed fear to Randall....hmmm...

I get this image of something terrible happening, and Sullivan, far away, witnesses an act from Randall he didn't expect. (like pulling up Boo from falling off something, an allusion to the event in the film). Actually I planned in a fic that Randall would purposely put Sullivan into the same situation as in the film in the door vault, but shows what he would have done if he had a chance to think things through.
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Remember Pitbulllady...in some fics, Ran might not be himself. Years in this world, struggle to survive, and the injury to his mind might bring out different personalities at the time.

Ran was rather carefree in those days. Top Scarers DO get allot of recognition and some perks (see Sullivan getting reservations for a friend at an exclusive resturant). He even was a spokesperson for an ad on a candy bar. Forgot which one....
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The show tends to get allot more serious after Crossroads, a series finale.

Sullivan was more into brawn than brain, as Randall say's. Though brain-wise, Sullivan did pass his scareing tests with high grades (of course he did, he was taught by the best ^_-)

Sullivan might have noticed, but was distracted with being in the Top Scarer position. Lot of pawing for a furry than a reptile.

Actually...I've been convertibly working on a Pixar-worthy story. The beginning of which is a flashback that shows Sullivan and training, and that Randall was his trainer (Despite everything Pixar does in the future, they CAN NOT change the fact that Randall was a good guy before AND trained the "hero")
From what Ran told me, Sullivan WAS a good student. Did as told, though some of things Randall had him do were sometimes questionable ^0^ (Which is probably why Sullivan keeps himself fit, Ran's training. Of course....SOMEONE took that up 0_-) As for Wazowski, Randall saw NO potential in him of scareing kids and he actually was the one to say he'd fit better as an assistant. THAT was a core hit that made Wazowski hate him more, despite Randall's claim was honest, and Sullivan actually agreed.

Sullivan may have wondered what was wrong with Randall. BUT...the main thing may be because he thought Randall was just being stubborn that his trainee was now Top Scarer (unknowing to Waternoose's "help"). And with Wazowski planting that thought in, he may have thought that's all it was.

They may have talked one time. Randall usually had his lunch at....Stop and Go I think it is...dinner near M.I. They may have talked there, but Randall, with more on his mind at the time, didn't open up. And it would depend on the time. Randall maybe have been looking at someone who he thought took what he could from him in training and kinda "Betrayed" him. (take a look at Linguini and Collete. "The plungier won't be coming to you for help, he's gotten all he needs" as Horst said. And Collete did train Linguini (and Remy), and shows that she "could have let him drown". Of course the difference is that despite Randall and Collete having worked their ways to their positions, Collete had feelings for the person opposite her (Linguini) and cared. Randall's perception of Sullivan was slashed when he thought Sullivan was cheating to get to the top. (See how far the web Waternoose made is? IF Randall could trust Sullivan, they might have tried to figure out what was going on)
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Ran. *snickers* As a toddler *snickers again*

*folds arms* Unfortunately, life doesn't work out that way. Just like humans, mons can be easy to manipulate. Waternoose, despite being caught, was a genius in all the webs he constructed to have Randall pulled into that spot, Sullivan keep his mouth shut about wondering about things, and to get rid of anybody in his way.

[mentalguru]

Randallboggs: Yes, indeed, I loved Koh, he was possibly my favourite one-shot character in Avatar. His scaring tactics are probably similar to Randall's in the end (Jump from the shadows!).

Pitbulllady: It IS a problem, and in the (AU) fic, about a year before Boo is let in, Randall would be incredibly reluctant to talk about it. I did have a scene in mind where Sulley stayed behind at work (for whatever reason- perhaps he decided to do paperwork for Mike once before, but has trouble remembering such things), and he sees Randall speaking to Waternoose. At first he is pleased, because he thinks the 'caring' (in his eyes) CEO has noticed the change too in Randall and maybe wants to help him. He tries to get out of the way as discreetly as possible but can't help catching a few words- insults from an agitated Waternoose because the scream extractor is taking longer than previously thought, pretty bad ones, calling him "Pathetic... waste of space" (kind of like when Randall called Sulley that).

Sulley is shocked, because he did think Waternoose was a nice guy, and this is a side of him he has never really seen before, and when Waternoose leaves, he kind of calls after Randall, wondering if he's okay.

(Once again, I'm writing this directly into the message box right now- no speallcheck or anything)

Randall kind of freaks out and yells at him to leave him alone and to mind his own business and it more or less accumulates into Sulley saying:

"If you want to talk, I want you to know the offer still stands"

"Sullevin it's NOTHING" he snapped back, his raised fronds and voice however, indicated otherwise. "Just keep your nose out of it. Like I said, it's really none of your business."

The other monster flinched. There had been a time when Randall had called him Sulley, a time when Randall seemed to actually smile rather than grimace or snarl. He no longer helped train monsters, yet whatever free time he had gained from this did not seem dedicated to sleep. This only became more obvious the closer he looked at him, his form slightly more hunched, the lines under his eyes a little deeper.

Randall suddenly looking alot older than his 23 years.

Yet he looked younger too. It was a mess of contradictions which Sulley could not make sense of.

"I know... I know" Sulley said, sounding rather defeated "I'm just saying, Randall, if you do change your mind, then I'm here. "

"To Talk" the other monster spat, folding two pairs of arms across his chest. He snarled the two words Sulley had told him months ago, yet they still seemed to sound foreign when he said them himself.

"That's what friends do." Sulley said with a shrug.

"Are we friends?" Randall suddenly asked, challenging.

He hesitated at first, but eventually answered. "I like to think we are... or at least... we should be." He amended.

Randall simply snorted at that and made his way towards the lift, pressing the button quickly, just wanting to get away from here, and from him as fast as possible. He didn't have TIME for this.

"And Randall... I don't think you're pathetic OR a waste of space."

Even as he said them, the words sounded stupid to his own ears, but he felt like he had to get them out.

Randall gave him a look of anger at his knowledge of this just before the doors closed but a hint of curiosity also betrayed his features.

"Just thought you should know that." He shrugged again in his non-offending away, and as the doors slid shut and Randall continued to descend, a conflicting sense of anger, resentment, fear and hope seemed to overwealm him.

He hated hope the most.