Sixteenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[For most of the summer, torturous sounds have been coming from the music room of the school during the late afternoons.  After deciding the recorder was a bust, Lucas had moved on to the violin, the trumpet, and the flute, passing through each one and deciding in short order that he had better stop for the good of humanity.  It was only about about three weeks ago that he had decided to try his hand at the piano sitting dusty and forgotten in the corner.

He had seen something like it before, with the DCMC.  Duster had taught him a little about instruments while they'd been traveling -- He'd even been allowed to pluck a little at Duster's bass.  And, of course, there'd been that whole business with feeling the beat of the enemy's life force.  This didn't mean that he knew anything about playing instruments.  The futility of the summer had proved that.  Yet . . . when he'd begun to plonk away at the keys . . . something just clicked.  Sure, the torturous sounds continued.  But after a little while . . . they at least began to resolve themselves into something vaguely resembling a song.

It was a song he wouldn't forget soon.  The song that had played in that room . . . The song that meant . . .   And with his last meeting with Vince still fresh in his mind, Lucas somehow thought he knew what the song was trying to say.]

Do you hear me call to you?  Can you even hear my heart's cry?
Still I call out to the wind . . . Even as it flows on by, for
I believe our dreams can still come true.  I'll always keep my faith and trust in you

Even if I'm a fool, I'll always feel the same about you.  I believe in friends and laughter and the wonders love can do; I believe in second chances and that's why I still believe in you.

 . . . . . . i . . . believe in second chances . . . . . . .

[Later that night, he returns to the park and sings his song quietly with a good sense of pitch.  He is wearing his school clothes from last year.  They are too small for him.
Time moves on.]

((Feel free to comment while Lucas is practicing on the piano as well. He will sound pretty awful unless he's playing this song.))

Comments

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

You're fine, Lucas. It's a really pretty song.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Do you think so? . . . It's nice, but the words are pretty silly. I had to make it up.

((At least until his player realized he wasn't meant to be a songwriter and switched to the official ones.))

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's better than anything I could do. Got a bit bored, though?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Something like that. I thought it'd be nice if I could manage to learn a song before school started . . .

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

I keep forgetting that's starting up again. The school system here is so weird. You nervous at all?

...And you should probably get something that fits better, I'm just saying.

[Kind of... being fussy. Since Netherlands pointed out their little family unit, Margot can't unsee it.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . .

A lot, actually. That's the other reason. This song makes me feel a little better. But Crowe and Kay say high school isn't so bad, so . . .

[Lucas glances down.]

But I was just wearing this last school year.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

You're going to the... high school? The bigger one?

I think you're just getting bigger. It happens.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

That's what they told me at the end of the last school year. I guess I'm going to be fourteen soon . . . I'm not sure when, though.

And I'm not sure I really want to grow up, either.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

[laughs] You can't stay young forever. Besides, being an adult? Pretty awesome, I have to say.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . Really? But adults have to work and stuff. I mean, I don't mind working, but I think I actually like school better.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

There is that, but... there's a certain freedom to it, I dunno. I could do without all of the bills, though. Just enjoy being a kid while you can still, I guess.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Now you're making it sound like a bad thing, too. I don't think I'd make a very good adult, anyway. I'm kind of boring.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

It's... both. [laughs] Why do you think you would be boring?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Um. Well . . . I'm not very smart. I don't know anything about math or science or stuff like that. And I don't know anything about technology, either. I hate television, actually. And . . . I think the world would be a lot better off if people stopped using money, but the last time I said that, people got mad at me so I stopped saying it.

And . . . actually I'm pretty boring for a kid, too. That's why I've been trying to learn to do all of this stuff this summer, but it hasn't been working very well. People talk to me anyway because they think I'm cute, I think, but I'll stop being cute when I get old so no one will do that anymore.

Also I only have one friend my age. Two.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

[Margot can't help but laugh.] You're kind of ridiculous, you know?

You're going to grow up to be a handsome young man and if people won't talk to you just because you've gotten old, send 'em my way and I'll set them straight, okay?

And school will be good for you to make friends your age! There are all sorts of clubs and dances and stuff. I mean, just because we're stuck here doesn't mean you can't have a good time or anything like that.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . I really can't see myself grown up, anyway. You and Mr. Netherlands are much better at it.

Do you think so . . . ? I'm not sure about dancing, but I'll see if I can join more clubs. It's probably my own fault if I don't have many friends.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

If you want to learn how to dance, I can show you how. I think it's... I think it's pretty old fashioned for this world -- waltzes and stuff, but it's a good skill to have and I'm not bad.

And don't go saying that. It's other people's fault if they can't be bothered to get to know you. You're wonderful, Lucas, really.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind. I'd like to learn as many things as I can while I'm here, actually . . .

Ah, thanks . . . But I meant it's my fault if I don't try and talk to other people, too.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

Dancing it is! Maybe we can even pick up some of the moves from this era, hm? Even if they look ridiculous.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen any, actually, but you don't have to do anything you think looks silly.