Twenty-Fifth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[Here's another stranger around town, Mayfield.  Ten years later, the blue-eyed, blonde-haired boy is a twenty-four year old man of stature nearly rivaling the Netherlands.  Those who are familiar with Lucas will easily recognize his shy smile and bright eyes.

1.  Immediately after his appearance in Mayfield, the man is simply meandering, lost in thought with hands stuck into the pockets of his slacks.  He'll be a bit shy to strike up conversation with the people he comes across, although he'll readily do so if he meets anyone he remembers

2.  An odd sight you might come across in the park is a fully-grown man attempting yo-yo tricks.  The vast majority of his attempts are abysmal; he's rusty and hasn't had the opportunity to try this in years, so maybe he'll hit you by accident as you walk by.  After a while, though, he might pull off an amazing trick every now and then, instead.  Regardless of the outcome, he'll be smiling and shaking his head to himself.

3.  For someone like Lucas, the clothing he's got on is really way too fashionable.  Why does he look so spiffy?  The answer might come to those who enter the school's music wing.  Seated at the piano is a grown man, and he plays it beautifully.  This is his occupation on the side, after all, and he may have been interrupted in the middle of a performance.]

((This is the only icon of adult!Lucas I have, so pretend the rest of the icons match.  He's wearing the same outfit as in the icon.  He is not anywhere near as good at yo-yo-ing as the guy in the video; that guy is just amazing and I felt like linking it.))

Comments

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

That could be true, too. I guess it's not really worth thinking about.

[He sits up a little straighter and looks up at the sky.]

If we're only going to be here a short time . . . We shouldn't waste it.

Let's do something exciting, Crowe.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He flashes a grin.] Something exciting? In Mayfield? What, should we go egg the Smith's house?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . Why not?

Everything is so strange. I feel like doing something exciting and . . . and silly and weird and not at all what I'd ever do normally. I don't know why.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Too bad we're in the capital of dull. You can't even get a good drink in this town!

You know, if I miss anything in this town besides the people, it's the cars. They've got some real charm, don't you think? And they're really easy to hotwire. [That grin gets bigger.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[What are cars? Lucas had mostly forgotten. The blank look on his face slowly begins to shift as he dimly recalls -- Ah, right. The fast things. . . . There goes one now.]

Huh . . .

And you know, it's an infinite loop so it's not like we'll ever stop.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I'll warn you - I've never been the best driver...

[Not to mention he's spent the last several years in Italy, home of the world's most terrifying traffic. Crowe checks the nearest unlocked car and hops in. Starting old cars without keys is easy, and he manages to get it going by just messing with the starter. He can hardly believe he's doing this, but screw it - this is Mayfield after all.

He waves you over, laughing.]

Hurry up! This kills the battery so we don't have long!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas quickly stands and jogs along behind, hopping into the car when Crowe beckons him to. The grin on his face is slightly sheepish, but he was the one who wanted to do something completely out of character, after all.]

Here.

[Crowe may feel a brief tingle as Lucas holds up a shining palm. Was Defense Up useful against car crashes? Who knew?]

Just in case! Alright, I'm counting on you, Crowe.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

...I have no idea what that is, but I trust you.

Alright my friend, buckle your seat belt!

[But before you can even do that, he hits the gas and takes off. Mayfield gets to put up with the holy terror that is Calleo Crowe behind the wheel of a car, but hey, he's having fun.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas is reaching for the thing to the side -- that was the seat belt right -- when he suddenly pitches backward at the sudden acceleration. Within a few moments, he is applying a copious layer of Shielding to the two of them as he clings to the armrests.

He has never gone so fast in his life. It is terrifying. It is also amazing.]

Everything's going by so quick! Just like that! L-Look, that tree, I blinked, it was gone, and another one and -- !

[Lucky that Crowe probably can't hear him too well over the roar of the motor since his babbling is very silly.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He's laughing the whole while. Crowe is a notoriously terrible driver, and does his best to just make sure he doesn't hit any pedestrians. Unforunately the battery will drain and the car will all be slow to a halt. And he's still laughing.]

You never get to do that back home.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas is clutching so hard to the armrest that his nails leave heavy marks in them. After they've slowed to a stop, he takes a few moments to finish panting, after which he exhales a sharp breath.

He turns to Crowe.]

. . . That was amazing.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I feel bad that they don't have cars where you're from. I've always been more fond of motorcycles anyway, but this is fun too!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It was! It was exactly the kind of thing I was thinking. Thanks, Crowe.

. . . What's a motorcycle again?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Ah, a motorized bicycle, pretty much. Those and scooters are much more popular where I live anyway. I remember here, Ken had one returned to him. I was so jealous.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Something like that is a little difficult for Lucas to imagine, though if he thinks really hard, he might've remembered something like that in New Pork City. He nods, slowly.]

So they go faster than cars, even? I'd like to see that . . . Technology really isn't very -- . . .

[Looking down at his lap, he blinks in slight surprise. He can see his pants through his hands . . . ]

Huh.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Well generally cars go faster, but they're better for-- wait, what--? Lucas, what's...? [He's not even sure how to finish that question.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas stares for a second or two longer before he figures it out.]

I guess . . . that's all the time I have.

[He shifts in his seat a little to face Crowe, smiling and grasping his friend's hand warmly. Or at least, attempting to.]

I . . . I'm glad I could meet you again! Take care, Crowe.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He gives you a big smile.] It was fun, my friend. Same here. Maybe we'll see each other again someday!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

We will. I'll always --

[Before he can finish his sentence, he pops out entirely. And there is a very confused young boy sitting in his place a few moments later, covered with what appears to be hay and dirt.]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Um.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[Crowe's not sure what else to do.]

Well. Hi there, Lucas.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas blinks.]

Hi. Who -- . . . Crowe?

. . .

I'm so confused.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

It's been a pretty weird day all around.

[So you really DID swap with yourself. Chouno was right.]

I hate to say it, but welcome back to Mayfield.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas regards the man before him solemnly.]

. . . Um. Thanks, C -- . . . I should probably go back to calling you Mister. How much time did I spend in the future?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

No no, no "mister" for me. That would just seem strange. And don't worry, you weren't gone long. Whatever happened to you, happened to me as well. Did you have a good trip, I hope?

[At this point he gets out of the car.] No point in staying in! The battery's dead now.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Still somewhat dazed, Lucas follows suit after fiddling with the buttons and handle and things for a few moments. What happened to him happened to Crowe . . . ?]

. . . So you're in the future? I'm in your future? But you're older in your future so . . .

[Pause. Then, a bright smile.]

Yes, I did! I . . . I saw my friends! And my dad! A-And . . . Tazmily and the whole island and everything and it's all still there . . . !