Eighteeenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

((I apologize in advance for being a drama whore.  Indulge me.  I am sorry.))

[The inhalation of Luke's hallucinatory gas has left Lucas in a terrible state. This is what he sees. The island of Tanetane . . . The island of nightmares and delusions.  And though he knows that the images he sees must be false, he cannot help but succumb to his dark

Comments

4 of course

[strike_you_out]

[Lucas's behavior throughout the day has not gone unfollowed by those who keep a sharp eye out for disturbances. Granted, disturbances happen all the time in Mayfield, but this one in particular is truly promising.

Armed with a baseball bat of his own, Slugger steps out onto a patch of lawn in an alley set between neighboring rows of houses. Seemingly, he has just passed right through a tall privacy fence (or was it only the effects of the hallucinogen?) and directly into the boy's line of vision.

An attack is imminent. Slugger sees it coming, sees it in the kid's eyes. Something is so wrong.

Something... is so right.

There comes an explosive metallic crack when the two bats meet, Slugger's bat poised even with the horizon to block the other's oncoming swing.]

[ooc] I may have to ask something of you...

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas's eyes are filled with an unnatural fire as he bounces back away from Slugger.]

I didn't save you.

I couldn't save you.

. . . That doesn't mean . . . That doesn't mean I don't deserve the little I have . . .

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger responds with nothing more than a silent and steady stare. Slowly, the bat is turned and lowered to rest upon his shoulder.

It can't be done here. Here is too public. It must be done elsewhere.

He takes a hesitant step back...]

[a_gentle_boy]

Claus . . . Are you going to fight me?

[strike_you_out]

[No answer.]

Come with me.

[a_gentle_boy]

No.

Don't think I don't remember the last time . . . I might still have to fight you, but I can at least recognize you for what you are.

[strike_you_out]

[Very well. If a fight is what it will take...

Slugger assumes a sidelong stance, bat held level with the center of his body.]

What am I?

[a_gentle_boy]

You're just a memory. A delusion.

[strike_you_out]

[Though Slugger is well aware the boy isn't in his right mind, being referred to as a 'delusion' still strikes a raw nerve within him. As if to invalidate the remark, he takes a wild swing at Lucas, not necessarily with the intent to hit (just yet) but certainly with the intent to threaten.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[The boy blocks it readily, his bat smashing Slugger's own aside.]

No matter what you do . . . I won't back away now.

[strike_you_out]

[It won't be denied, the kid has got quite a swing.

After a brief interval of recovery, Slugger is once again poised to swing; however, this time, he doesn't launch directly into another attack.

Instead, he flashes Lucas a playful smirk and veers toward the fence, passing through it and out of sight as though either he or it were nothing more than an illusion. The fence is tall and not easily seen through, but the grating sound of Slugger's bat heard dragging along the row of planks and away from Lucas is a dead giveaway to his location.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[He was cheating. Claus wasn't supposed to run away. . . . He didn't understand it. What was he supposed to do in this case? It had never happened before. The fence to him, appears to be made of Swiss cheese as Slugger passes through it and so the boy eventually decides to chase after.

After smashing into the cheese a few times, Lucas changes his mind and follows the source of the sound.]

[strike_you_out]

[Once he's sure he has the boy in tow, Slugger stops at the end of the yard where a door is built into the fence. Unlatching it, he pulls the door open, careful to remain hidden behind it in the process.

Beyond the entryway is an empty yard, fenced on all three sides. Slugger waits quietly, hoping Lucas will enter and cross into the perimeter.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Claus! Claus, what are you doing? I don't have time to play games, Claus . . .

[Lucas's voice is clear and steady as he wanders down along the fence in the direction that his brother had gone. How odd. There is a larger than normal hole in the Swiss cheese. This is probably because of the flat, door-shaped mouse (doormouse?) calmly nibbling away.

Lucas sticks his head inside the hole to look for his brother.]

[strike_you_out]

[From his hiding place, Slugger can vaguely spot Lucas's movements through the tiny gaps between the boards. When it appears his victim has ventured close enough, he leans right through the planks, bat set in a direct course of collision with the back of the boy's head.

If the bat hits its mark, Slugger will quickly drag the boy into the yard and close the gate. If it doesn't, he'll be forced to block the doorway bodily to keep Lucas from escaping.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[The blow strikes true. Lucas cannot bring his own weapon up to defend himself in time -- In hindsight, it wasn't a good idea to stick his head through anything when a monster masquerading as his brother in a hallucination was on the loose.

The pain, though, isn't enough to disable him from throwing up a Shield to protect himself. He swings back as well in response, his bat wildly smashing in every which direction. He has, however, fully entered the yard.]