Fifteenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

Stop it!  Stop going!  Stop . . . !

There's   . . . There's so much blood, I -- [Lucas breaks off and seems to gasp for breath for a few moments.  He is, in fact, covered with the stuff despite not having exchanged anything at all, having just finished helping NIc.]  The sidewalk . . . Everything . . . Even on the trees.  It's just like when

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[resurrectinto]

LUCAS. Snap the fuck out of it!

[Reaching to take him by the shoulders and look him in the eyes. She's already kind of freaked out enough, post-Teatime adventure.]

You need to calm down and take a deep breath, okay?

[a_gentle_boy]

[He does so. It doesn't help. He tries it again. It still doesn't help. In about twenty seconds, he is hyperventilating.]

[resurrectinto]

[Wrapping him tightly in a hug and ignoring the blood. Her own dress is spattered with it anyway, it doesn't matter. She gently pats his hair, trying to be comforting.]

Sh, it's okay. You're alright. It's gonna be fine, okay? I promise it's going to be okay.

[a_gentle_boy]

[This is a little better. He presses his face against the dress and pretends that he does not see the bloodstains he is getting all over it. After a little while, his breathing slows down to a more normal pace.]

. . . It's not really. . . . Everyone's . . .

[windmill]

[running up to him, scarf flying oh so dramatically in the wind] Lucas-?! Shit! Did you exchange anything-!? [assumes he's the injured one oh god.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas is a sight. His shoes are soaked, as is his left hand up to his elbow. Running away from the post office, he'd slipped and fallen so that it's all up his front and in his hair and unbeknownst to Lucas, his own blood is oozing out from a cut on his forehead.]

No. No no it wasn't me . . .

[windmill]

[taking a moment to process this, having already grabbed the kid by the shoulders and begun inspecting him possessively.] God...damnit. Who..? What happened?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas is a bit like a rag doll.]

. . . A boy I talked to on the phone once. His leg . . .

[numanstan]

[Hey, look who's completely and utterly fine physically.]

Lucas! Christ... What'd they take?!

[a_gentle_boy]

Nothing. Nothing . . . I don't want anything back. Not like that.

[numanstan]

You're covered in blood... Here, use this.

[He takes off his shirt-- a normal Mayfield collared shirt-- and hands it to him. Normally, giving up an article of clothing would be akin to giving up a kidney, but not today.

Oh, and there's what looks like the most overstuffed suitcase it in the universe behind him. Don't mind it.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas stares at the shirt blankly for a few moments. What was it for? Lucas idly begins to wipe the blood off his face with it. Probably not what Vince intended. He notices the suitcase soon after.]

. . . Where did you get . . . ?

[ponypuncher]

Obviously people are gonna die if ya lop their leg off, kiddo. Fingers ain't nothin' to worry 'bout.

[Says the tree of a man with his right hand wrapped up in pieces of a shirt.]

[a_gentle_boy]

It'll get infected and you'll get gangrene and you'll die!

[Lucas is, for some reason, angry. If you don't stop him, he's going to Lifeup-Punch your right arm.]

[ponypuncher]

The hell is gangrene? Yer speakin' some kind of gibberish with that.

[Crossing his arms, head cocked to the side.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Infection! If you don't get a wound cleaned, it will get infected.

[Lucas points at the man's injury.]

Let me see that!

[defreezes]

[sharply!] Pull yourself together or you'll be no better than they are. I just left the post office to get some supplies at home; unless someone went crazy with a gun up there in the time I was gone, I can safely say that you're overreacting.

Calm down.

[a_gentle_boy]

P-People are walking out without eyes and hands and fingers and limbs! They need help!

[defreezes]

And how do you think they'll react when help comes and starts hyperventilating? I sure know I wouldn't find any comfort from that.

I can understand not having any confidence in yourself, but at least be strong for them.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Well that's insulting.]

. . . Nobody else is doing anything! Anyone who has any ability to heal should be there! And if you have the time to give lectures, you have the time to go down to help the people who are hurt.