12th Fight

[nosoul_nomind]

[Action 1: A large box has arrived for Barton at 487 Stone St. today! Past evidence has shown her that items sent to people are generally reflective of what's inside. Her telekinesis came in an envelope, her hatchet and coat in appropriately-sized boxes. She can't fathom what might be in this, as light as it is. But in a supremely despicable

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Action 1

[doofenstrudel]

[That yelp of surprise has brought Doofenshmirtz out from the garage, immediately worried.]

Barton! Are you alr...

[Ack! She's BLEEDING!]

What happened to you!?

[nosoul_nomind]

[She looks up at him, still in a bit of shock.] I... this box... Christ Almighty, how do they do this shit?! [An exclamation from Barton? She *must* be riled up.]

[doofenstrudel]

[Such language from his daughter! Doof flinches visibly, but he hasn't quite stopped fussing.]

Easy! Calm down! Calm down and tell me what happened to you? Who did this?!

[He is quick to retrieve the first aid kit from the garage (and it is a very well-stocked first aid kit, really, any proper mad scientist prepares for horrible workshop/lab injuries) and is already snipping apart gauze pads for her wounds.]

[nosoul_nomind]

I... It was Mayfield. That box, goddamnit...

They're old wounds. I've had them forever back home. I... How do they send stuff like this to you?

[Calmer now, she'll rummage through the first aid kit, sit down on the porch, and begins to bandage herself with expert care. She's done this countless times.]

[doofenstrudel]

Tch. The town sent you injuries? That's hardly fair. And it raises further questions...

[He continues to snip gauze and measure out dressing tape. If he cannot fuss directly, he will at least assist.]

They seem fresh. What, do you pick at them? You shouldn't pick at them. They'll scar. And it's messy.

[nosoul_nomind]

No, I don't, it's... it's a long story, okay. [the sentence ends in a sigh. She's worrying whether or not these wounds will be permanent or not. But she has her soul here, so maybe...]

[doofenstrudel]

A long story. [He snorts, and gives her a gentle prod on her arm, where there are no visible injuries.] You are a long story, I would imagine. One that I am starting to wonder about.

[He continues to help bandage. Any shouting and yelling and not-actually-being-related aside, she's his daughter. So there.]

[nosoul_nomind]

Yeah, I guess I am. [After the telekinses thing and now this, she figures maybe he does deserve an explanation.]

Back home, I... I had no soul, okay? It was stolen. I tried fightin' the guy off but he was down right disgusting. And ever since it was gone, I'd been stuck with these wounds. They never healed. So, at the very least, if they don't heal... I'm used to 'em, I guess.

[doofenstrudel]

[For such a short story, it's provoking a lot of emotion in Doof. First, visible confusion. Then, visible anger. Then, a return to the furrow-browed sympathy of before.]

I... cannot say that I have ever encountered someone without a soul. I cannot say for certain that I have encountered someone with a soul. There are some things that exist in the fiddly, uncertain margins of science... and that is not my particular area of expertise.

[He pops the cap off some antibiotic ointment, and applies some to the latest cotton pad so that it'll cover the wound when pressed down on it.]

We will approach this practically. Scientifically. We will bandage you up, and then monitor your wounds for healing progress.

[nosoul_nomind]

There's a lot more to it, but I'll fill you in later I guess. I figure it's hard to believe considerin' most folks where I'm from don't know about magic 'n' souls and stuff. But trust me, it is.

[She's quiet for a moment as she works.] Guy who took my soul was a scientist, ya know. Studied magic and the soul. He did this to a lotta folks.

[doofenstrudel]

I will take your word for it. You are always honest.

...he was a scientist. [He becomes quiet, as well, although that's a purposeful effort on his part. If there was science involved in this, he would want to know of it, to ask questions, to compare data dispassionately, and to hell with all of those that were harvested for materials...

...saying so aloud would be inappropriate.

And it's different when it's done to someone you've come to give half a damn about.]

...I have to wonder if you could get it back from him.

[nosoul_nomind]

[Oh, Doof. You would LOVE Aries and his experiments. He does amazing things combining science and magic... At the expense of the lives and free wills of others. Nice and evil.]

I was tryin'. For over thirty years, I tried. Ya don't age when you have no soul. You don't do a lotta things, really. But I couldn't find him anywhere.

[doofenstrudel]

[There is evil, and there is evil, and Doof is slowly starting to learn that his standards are divergent from those of other worlds. He and Aries may have a nice chat over coffee... and then have a terrible fight over what you did to my daughter you bastard. So.

Doof cuts and prepares one last section of gauze, but does not hand it over. Over thirty years. You don't age without a soul.]

...You're almost as old as I am, aren't you?

I wonder if this means I should start charging you rent? [He says it with a grin and a little finger-poke, trying to tease.]

[nosoul_nomind]

Makes me the ripe old age of fifty-one. Be lucky they didn't place me as the wife here, instead. [She puts out her hand for the last bandage, and manages a slight smirk in return.]

[doofenstrudel]

...you are older than I am! [What a strange feeling this is.]

Eheh, yes, I am quite fine with how this family has worked itself out.

[He hands that last bandage over.]

[nosoul_nomind]

[She places the last bandage on her cheek, not even needing to see where it is to do it. She sighs. This sucks.]

Well.... Thanks for helping.