Eerie, Indiana fanfiction: Product Testing

[froodle]

Syndi Teller surveyed the row of charging stations, her lips pursed in a thoughtful frown. Flicking on the small shaving light and angling the mirrored doors of the bathroom cabinet, she eventually located the tiny "S" scratched into the glossy white finish on the one nearest the shower rail, and slotted her new electric toothbrush in place. A green dot on the handle lit up and began to pulse steadily.

"So?" asked her father, buzzing with expectancy outside the bathroom door. "What did you think?"

"It was great, Dad," said Syndi. "I could really feel that deep clean floss-action."

Edgar beamed.

"You might want to think about offering some different colours before you go into mass production, though," said Syndi. "With the all-white design, it's hard to tell whose toothbrush is whose."

"I thought that might be the case," said Edgar. "So I carved everyone's initial into their respective brushes. Except yours - yours has your full name on, because I'd prefer Simon keep his here while we're in the product testing phase."

"Oh," said Syndi, forcing a freshly-cleaned smile that suddenly felt indescribably gross. "Awesome."

"Anyway," he continued, clapping his hands together. "Be sure to let your brother know what you thought - I know he's just working with me for the summer, but I let him have some input at the design stage and I know he'd value your feedback."

Syndi raised an eyebrow at this, and they both laughed.

Marshall was pouring orange juice into a giant novelty mug shaped like a New York Giant's football helmet when Syndi came downstairs. She wrinkled her nose.

"I don't care how good Dad's new toothbrush is, you'll definitely get tooth decay if you drink all that."

Marshall looked up at the mention of the toothbrush, something of their father's excitement glittering in his eyes.

"Did you try it?" he asked. "What happened?"

Syndi bared her teeth and pointed.

"Sparkly perfection," she said, the words a little muffled by the demonstrative grimace. "Of course, a lot of that is just me, so I don't know how much the brushing helped."

She waited for the comeback she was sure was coming, but Marshall just stared at her with interest.

"Anything... else?" he finally asked.

"No," said Syndi, suddenly suspicious. "Why? Was something supposed to happen beyond plaque removal and minty fresh breath?"

"The handle didn't light up or anything?" Marshall pressed.

"A green light came on when I set it on charge," said Syndi. "Other than that, no. Why? What did you do to my toothbrush, you little weirdo?"

"I'm taller than you," Marshall pointed out with infuriating unconcern. "And for your information, I didn't just do it to your toothbrush, I did it to everyone's toothbrush." He leaned forward, his tone becoming conspiratorial. "If there's danger around - or if you're pressing too hard and risking gum irritation - the handle will flash. Pink for mild pressure, and it gets redder the more danger you're in."

"That," said Syndi, "Is just about the stupidest, most useless thing I have ever heard of."

"So you say," said Marshall with a shrug. "I think it'll cut slumber party massacres in Eerie by half once my safety-brushes hit the shelves."

"No, it won't," said Syndi. "Because nobody's brushing their teeth for the entire duration of a sleepover. You'd have to put the brushes where everyone could see them, and the flashing from the charge light would drive everyone mad."

"Maybe at first," said Marshall. "But people will get used to it. You don't notice the red light on the fire alarm on the kitchen ceiling, or the buzzing from the security system over the front door, or the purple glow from the risen dead wards on the windows, right?"

"I didn't even know we had that last one," Syndi admitted.

"Think about it," said Marshall. "Microwave popcorn sales and scary movie rentals will skyrocket. The World o' Stuff can start stocking Ouija boards again. You'll be able to sleep on your best friend's living room floor in fluffy bunny slippers and a nightie instead of running shoes and a sports bra."

Syndi looked down at her feet. Pink puffy-faced cartoon rabbits stared back up at her.

"I do love my fluffy bunny slippers," she mused.

"And I love Ouija boards and microwave popcorn," said Marshall. "So, do I have your buy-in?"

"Deal," said Syndi, extending her left hand to shake his proffered one. "As far as I'm concerned, the Things Incorporated Spectral Security Toothbrush with Deep Floss Action and Gum Protection Pressure Sensor is a resounding success. Point me to your customer satisfaction survey, little brother."

Marshall grinned.

"Stabbity Steve won't know what hit him," he said.




Teller Family History

First Date by froodle, in which a young Edgar Teller shows off one of his earlier inventions

Popcorn by froodle. Friday night is always movie night in the Teller household.

The Teller Home for Displaced Youth by froodle, in which Edgar harbours some doubts about his new home town

Lawn by froodle, in which Marilyn Teller contemplaces some yardwork

Tornado Day, Revisited by froodle, in which Syndi learns exactly what it means to be Miss Tornado Day

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

Culinary Delights by froodle, in which Syndi's terrible cooking may or may not have been an accident

Camping by froodle, in which Syndi cannot sleep

Artist in the Family by froodle, in which an immortal creature takes a liking to Syndi

Without Due Care and Attention by froodle, in which Syndi finally becomes mobile

Waiting In by froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Brunch by froodle, in which Marilyn does not appreciate Edgar's help in the kitchen

Handmade by froodle, in which the Tellers receive a Christmas package from Marilyn's mother

Poor Life Choices by froodle, in which Syndi loves her brother anyway

Lillian by froodle, in which Marilyn's mother has concerns

Visitor by froodle, in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Nap by froodle, in which Marshall has a quiet moment in the Secret Spot

Fresh Sheets by froodle

Tradition by froodle, in which Dash and Marshall decorate a Christmas tree

Hometown by froodle, in which Mars and Syndi visit New Jersey

Comments

[deifire]

OMG, this is awesome! I think that Marshall could definitely follow in his father's footsteps from here, if he wanted.

Also, love so much that Simon has his own toothbrush at the Tellers', because of course he does! And the risen dead wards in the windows.

[froodle]

Edgar would of course bring a toothbrush home for allll of his kids to try out.

[evilinsanemonkey]

oh my god this is GLORIOUS

[froodle]

:D thank you!