Twenty-Seventh PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[public]
It . . . It looks like the town's done exactly what we all thought it would.  Everyone!  Please, if you're hurt, call me and I'll do whatever I can do to keep you safe.  My name is Lucas -- Ask for me and I'll be there as soon as I can.  Even if you're only afraid you might get hurt, I can create a shield for you if you're physically or

Comments

[hispalette]

A shield?

[a_gentle_boy]

Psychic shields. They can keep you from being hurt or even reflect attacks back -- So if someone comes at you with a sword, they'll cut themselves just as deeply as they cut you.

[hispalette]

[hear that? that's the sound of a light bulb flickering on]

Oh. I've used those before, too. Psychic abilities, right?

[a_gentle_boy]

Yes. I call it PSI at home, but most people think it's a type of magic of some sort.

[bluecapboy]

[Have a worried-sounding Luke!]

Lucas, are you all right?

[a_gentle_boy]

. . .

Nothing happened to me. My present wasn't . . . It was only a little bad. What about you, Luke?

[bluecapboy]

...The same. It was nothing I couldn't handle. Are you sure you're all right?

[a_gentle_boy]

. . . It has to be a trick of some sort. It's my own fault for being too selfish. I'll be fine.

he'll be snapping out of this tomorrow morning

[perfektsymmetry]

[If Lucas happens to stop by Crowe's house, the drone dad will tell Lucas that he's in his room. However, once you're up there, Crowe doesn't respond to anything you do. He doesn't seem to see, hear or even feel Lucas's presence, or anyone else's for that matter. He's sitting on his bed, writing in his Mayfield journal, looking rather despondent. He sometimes absently fiddles with the pendant he's wearing.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Crowe? Crowe! Crowe, what's wrong with you . . . ?

[He will scream, shake, lightly hit, and throw water over Crowe. His books will be dropped on the floor, his belongings will be rifled through halfheartedly, and the pendant will be tugged at rather hard. If even all of this doesn't attract Crowe's attention, Lucas will use the most powerful PSI Shields and Healing spells he can manage.]

gaspgaspgasp PLEASE, CROWE . . . !

[perfektsymmetry]

[Sorry Lucas, but nothing seems to work. He's oddly unresponsive to all of the ruckus. He slowly moves to recover his thrown items, blinking as if he was half asleep. However, when turning over all the stuff on desk, Lucas will find the letter from Santa he received.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[And indeed he does. After reading it without comprehending a few times, Lucas frowns and puts it slowly back down on the desk. A peaceful Christmas. So . . . maybe it was total peace by being trapped entirely alone. Looking troubled, Lucas thinks for a few moments.

He leaves a few moments later, leaving behind a post-it note stuck to Crowe's forehead that reads, "YOU'RE NEVER ALONE". The same thing is written on a note taped to the door.]

[windmill]

[He's just looking dully at his surroundings as if he can't quite believe what he's doing here. His face is eerily blank.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[He can't bring himself to get any closer to the man and from a short distance, he turns his gaze to the ground.]

. . . You're just the drone, right?

[He isn't sure whether or not he wishes that statement is true.]

[windmill]

[He fixes Lucas with a look that cannot be described with any word other than 'irritated'. It is a look the Netherlands has never shot at the boy before.]

Do I look like a drone? Sound like one? Shit...

[a_gentle_boy]

[At the Netherlands's words, Lucas feels a shock run up and down his body. Not the drone . . . Not the drone. That was a voice he'd never honestly believed he would hear again. It was, undoubtedly, his. A small gasp escapes him, and he takes a step forward almost unconsciously.]

Mr. Netherlands . . . ? You -- Do you remember who I am?

[a_gentle_boy]

Don't worry about me, Mom. This is exactly like what I told you about earlier.

[a_gentle_boy]

. . . I won't let anything bad happen to the people I care about. And that means you have to worry more about yourself, OK?