Twenty-Fourth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

U-Um.  Sorry about all the weird stuff I did this weekend.  I don't think I actually hurt anyone, but . . . I think I said a lot of rude things.  The, um.  Psychic PSIclone is setting down his cape.  Permanently.  And if I did hurt you, let me know and I'll make it up to you.

I'd like to make a request of you all.  It's a little strange, but.  It would help me a lot.  I'm asking for someone -- or several . . . ones -- to attack me.  The more powerful you are, the better.  And . . . you can use PSI or magic or anything else you know how to use, too.  . . . Maybe even a gun.

Thanks.  Just come by my house if you want to try.  I don't have anything else to do today.

Comments

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

Actually. . . it's the opposite. Because of this brand, my friends and I are believed by the people back home to be cursed and to the military? We're not human, just targets.

( he gives a small smile, shoulders dropping a little as he covers the brand with his hand. ) I'm grateful for my ability to use magic, and I'm so happy I got to meet Alexander but. . . everything else I could have done without.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

W-What? That's -- !

[Distant echoes from the past rise up before he can protest too much. Margot's story of the mages in her world and the war between the two races. Shina's tale of the immortals and her destiny to kill them.]

I don't understand. Why does something so insignificant mean so much?

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

Anything from Pulse is considered evil, and to be branded by a Pulse fal'Cie? We're seen as nothing but dire threats to Cocoon. . .

We're cursed, servants really. We're marked by something that everyone believes will bring about the destruction of everything they know.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . I don't understand what you're saying, but . . . there's no reason for anyone to think something like that. It doesn't matter what.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

It's a long story, way to long. . .

But since we were born, we have been told by our government and by our fal'Cie that anything from Gran Pulse, the world below ours and the Pulse fal'Cie are evil. Why wouldn't people believe them when they give us everything? Take care of us, nurture us, give us the food would eat and the sun in our sky? When there are stories about how Pulse attacked and tried to destroy Cocoon before.

Really, it would be surprising if someone didn't think like that when it's all we've been made to believe.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I . . . I guess I'd like to think that people could recognize right and wrong for themselves without being told what it is. Maybe . . . Maybe I'm the one that's strange. Maybe I wouldn't believe it if I was born in your world.

So I can't judge anyone for that . . . but I still think it's wrong.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but. . . well—maybe one day I'll explain everything in more detail. Just believe me when I say, it's far more than knowing what's right and wrong; the people. . . we were all blind to everything.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[For Lucas, morality has become a tangled mess. Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not lie. Thou shalt not fight thy brother and let him kill himself for your sake. But, despite it all, the thing that guides him above all is still Love.]

I think I can understand that. Sorry . . . I shouldn't really say anything when I don't know everything about it.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

It's okay, it's just really complicated and I'm probably not the best person to try and explain all in great detail. ( he chuckles, itching his cheek. )

Besides, this about me helping you right now anyway.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

What?

. . . Oh! R-Right. Um. Let's go around back . . .

[Lucas closes the door behind him and begins to head for the back yard.]

I'd like to hear more about it sometime, though.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

( and hope will follow along, curiously tilting his head at the statement. )

I'll, um, I will sometime then.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

If you want to, I mean . . .

[Lucas trails off a little as the two of them round the corner to the back.]

So . . . I guess you can call for him now.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

Okay. . .

( hope nods at the statement, and moves into the yard. glancing about and making sure he had enough room for the eidolon, as well as them before he pauses and steadies himself with a deep breath. the sight (http://i51.tinypic.com/s5v62o.jpg) is perhaps a little strange as he brings out the crystal and cups his hands around the object. though a second later it seems to vanish in a flash of light as he throws his arms out and calls the eidolon's name out and the summoning symbol appears at his feet and around him.

the sky seems to darken for the brief moment before something literally comes crashing until the symbol, breaking it's fall from the sky and preventing any of the yard from being destroyed but it doesn't stop a sudden gust of dirt being kicked up. it settles soon enough, and the very tall and very larger eidolon (http://i54.tinypic.com/w7bi8y.jpg) is left in the wake. hope happily running up to the summon with a smile as the tilts his head up. )

Hey there, big guy! Long time no see. ( the answer seems to come in the form of alexander simply tilting his head downward, and letting out a low sound. ) I need your help, okay?

We're ready when you are, Lucas!

1/3

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

2/3

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Oh.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Um.

Right.

[No fear! This was a friendly test! Exactly what he had wanted! In response to the amazing coolness that had been the Summoning, Lucas leaps backwards a few light steps, his feet glowing as he lands. Hey, he has to try and look cool, too. It almost seems as if he hovers in the air a little before he settles to the ground, his normally constrained PSI ebbing and flowing around him in a display of ethereal light.

Shield Alpha. The bubble that shines forth is a light aqua blue.
PSI Shield Alpha. The deep purple PSI merges with the blue to become a pulsing, swirling aura of protection.

Lucas digs his yo-yo out of his pocket and holds it loosely in his hand.]

I-I'm ready.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

Okay, Alexander. Go ahead, just ah. . . try not to use all your strength at first, okay? Bring it down, just a bit.

( another low groan rumbles from the eidolon as he approaches lucas, and raises one arm and curls his hand into a fist and strikes at the side of the bubble. as hope has requested, it's certainly not all of the raw strength that can usually send monsters twenty times lucas's size flying into the air. but the strike certainly packs its own punch. )

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Meep. The merest flick from Alexander's finger is enough to send Lucas flying over the nearest housetop and crashing into a copse of pines.

Or at least, this is what happens in his imagination. In reality, he flies backward several feet to land stunned on his back, more from the force than anything. Lucas doesn't seem especially pained, either way, though he thought he had felt a few ribs crack.]

Um. Good.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

( just. . . this face. )

Are you sure you're okay?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I-I'm fine!

[Or at least, he will be in a few seconds. The magic of Refresh is slow, but thorough. He lies for a full minute or two on the ground, staring at the sky as his body speeds up its natural healing processes to repair itself.]

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

O—okay.

( he'll just stand quietly, glancing toward alexander as the eidolon gives another low groan. )

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Um.

[Elevator music plays for a few more seconds before Lucas gives the A-OK sign and sits back up to face Hope.]

I . . . I think I'm going to boost to the maximum amount of defense I can manage.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

All. . . right, then. As long as you're sure you still want to do this.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[After fully increasing his defenses as high as they possibly can go, Lucas stands again, body blazing with PSI. His skin, if Hope had felt it, was hard to the touch.]

I'm ready.

[avengesthesky.livejournal.com]

( hope is still a little unsure, but he nods and looks up to the eidolon. )

Same as before, Alexander. ( the eidolon does nothing more than take a step forward, raising a fist and striking. )