a_gentle_boy: (Sad)
Lucas ([personal profile] a_gentle_boy) wrote2010-10-30 09:58 pm

Twenty-Second PSI

[The events of the previous few weeks have left their mark upon Lucas.  Following mere hours after Netherlands's droning, mere weeks after his extremely painful and scarring encounter with Billy Smith, the boy hadn't been in any state to be of help during the hazmat attack.  Normally, he would have jumped at the chance to assist the injured; he would even have sacrificed his own life to do so.  But this time . . . he wasn't sure if he could have done so.  Death after death after death, and all he could do was pray that the nightmare would end quickly.  Privately, he recognized the part of him that had wished for the Russian man to be found.

He remembered his encounter with Sergei as clearly as if it had just happened.  The fear upon the man's face, the desperation in his words.  Lucas had promised that he would do everything he could to help -- Yet in the end, he had done nothing, had even hoped that the man would be discovered by his hunters.  For the boy who made emotional bonds so easily and valued human life so greatly . . . the feeling of guilt was immense.]

[He stands in front of City Hall, now, fists clenched and body trembling slightly with emotion as he stares at the corpse.   He had passed by it earlier.  Recognized it immediately.  Recoiled in horror from the sight.

At his side is a bucket of fresh water and a small pile of rags.  He will decide whether or not he dares to release the body from its noose later.  For now, he simply applies his healing PSI to close the open wounds, gently wipes away the blood with his cloth, does for Sergei what he had not been able to do while the man was still alive.

Be at peace.]

[identity profile] rapier-ex.livejournal.com 2010-10-31 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
...

In the end... were we fools for wanting to save him? That's what... a lot of people implied.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-01 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
We can't even save ourselves. But . . . I don't think that means we shouldn't have tried.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-02 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
. . .

[Lucas returns quietly to his task, only speaking again after a minute or so has passed.]

I hope he's not suffering any more.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-02 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
. . .

[He works in silence after that, just . . . thinking.]

[identity profile] rapier-ex.livejournal.com 2010-11-02 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
... Did you want me to leave you alone, Lucas?

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-02 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
U-Um. No, but. It might be best if you did . . . If they don't like what I'm doing.

[identity profile] rapier-ex.livejournal.com 2010-11-02 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
Mm, if it's something like that, I'd rather stay.

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-03 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Lucas opens his mouth to protest further, but slowly takes back the words before they can be voiced. Virginia understood what she was doing . . . ]

Thanks.

[identity profile] rapier-ex.livejournal.com 2010-11-03 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
No problem, Lucas...

-She plops down to sit nearby, letting out a heavy sigh.-

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-03 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[After a few more moments of silence, Lucas makes an attempt at conversation.]

. . . What do you think about it all, Miss Virginia? The Russian man, the notes he showed, the war . . .

[identity profile] rapier-ex.livejournal.com 2010-11-03 08:32 am (UTC)(link)
... I know what can happen to a world ravaged by war. Filgaia was turned into a desert planet by Metal Demons, after all. I can understand that... the desperation of trying to save humanity could lead them to where we are now.

I don't agree with taking us along for the ride, but I'm getting the impression they don't know any better. That's even why they still fight each other. But he was the last one, wasn't he? Will these "Americans" turn on a new enemy now? It's hard to say...

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-04 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
If he was really the last one . . . maybe things will start to be a little different here. But you know, I don't know if the point of this was entirely about the Russians. There's still all the Westport stuff to think about . . .

[identity profile] rapier-ex.livejournal.com 2010-11-04 11:37 am (UTC)(link)
Who can really guess where it goes from here...

[identity profile] a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com 2010-11-05 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah . . . It might be pointless to try and guess.

[identity profile] rapier-ex.livejournal.com 2010-11-05 08:34 am (UTC)(link)
For now, we just show solidarity.