First PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

Ah.  Um.  H-Hello?  This is a telephone, right? . . . You talk into it and other people talk back?  Excuse me!  Is anyone there?  . . . I'm not sure if it's working . . . Well, if anyone's listening, I need to know.  What happened after the Dark Dragon came?  The world was destroyed, but . . . I didn't think it'd be reborn so quickly.  A-Actually, this doesn't look anything like what I thought the new world would be . . . It's not like Tazmily Village at all.  I thought . . . I thought after I pulled the Seventh Needle, everything would just, well . . . go back to the way it was before.  . . . I guess I was wrong.

Oh, I'm sorry.  You probably don't know who's talking.  My name is Lucas.  You've probably heard of me; I'm the one Porky called out to fight.  I hope you've all realized the truth by now.  I don't blame anyone except Porky for what happened, but . . . Well, that isn't important.  Does anyone know where my dad is?  Flint?  Or Kumatora, Boney and Duster?  I ca -- . . . Huh?  What is . . . AH!

No way!  Wh -- What's a Happy Box doing here?!  After everything we went through . . . Haven't you all learned from your mistakes by now?!  This isn't right.  I've got to take care of this.

[Moments later at 846 Goldberg Street, a television falls out a second story window and smashes to the ground.  This is followed by several wads of dollar bills, a smattering of coins, and a radio.]

Comments

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Ah! I-I'm really sorry! I didn't see you . . . You're not hurt, are you?

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'm alright. You've gotta be more careful, though, kid! Never know who could be innocently walkin' by. [He says as he pockets the money.] I mean, y'almost hit my hair! That would've been a tragedy.

... What're you doin', anyway? Not like somethin' on the telly? They've got an 'off' switch for that, y'know...

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

The . . . what? That's a Happy Box. They're terrible things. I-I had to get rid of 'em.

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

... No, it's a telly. Television. You watch programs on it- well, not on yours anymore, 'cause you've gone and thrown it out a window...

Happy Box? Sounds alright by me. What's so terrible 'bout somethin' that makes you happy?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

That's right. You watch the 'programs', the lives of people who don't really exist. You waste your time and forget to care for the people who really are important. You see so many things that you think you need but which don't matter at all. You spend your life wondering why you're never as happy as you think you should be.

. . . They don't bring happiness. They were the worst things that ever happened to Tazmily.

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

[Oh what a beautiful impassioned speech that went right over his head.]

You're just thinkin' about it too much! 'Sides, most people can tell the difference between stuff that's on the telly and stuff that's real, and you can watch it and still be happy. I mean, look at me! I watch it all the time, and I'm made of sunshine.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . . . . . . . . I-I don't think you understand. No one really could if they hadn't known Tazmily before.

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

I don't even know what Tazmily is at all.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

My home.

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

Oh.

You an alien, then?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

What? N-No! Why would you think that?! I'm a human . . .

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

Y'never know, with this place. Seems like we're all from different realities- it'd make sense if there's people from different planets, too.

This Tazmily in America?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Different realities? Different . . . planets? I don't know what you're talking about. What's America?

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you mustn't be from mine, then. [He just figured that out.] America's where you are, mate! Well, Mayfield, to be specific. We're all on some kinda forced holiday or somethin'. It's been well borin' so far, but the people are cool, so you'll probably fit right in! Just... no more throwin' stuff out windows, alright?

[He starts walking away, but remembers something kinda important and stops.] Oh, and you can't die here. Just somethin' you oughta know.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . O-Oh. Thanks. I think. I'll make sure to look the next time I've got to dispose of something.

I'm so confused.

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

Rumor has it that you can't really die here, that you just come back later like nothin' ever happened. 'Course, I haven't got any personal experience with that, 'cause that's just not somethin' you try for yourself... It's magic, this place. Weird magic.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

But what's the point of bringing people here? I-I don't want to stay here . . . And if it's magic, why can't I use my PSI?