Lucas

[action, multi-topic for everyone]
Lucas is a wreck.  By now, he has forsaken the hat and the mask, and his burn marks are very clearly visible to anyone who didn't guess before.  He doesn't particularly care.

1. He stumbles across town like a zombie, smashing into things wherever he goes, barely registering the pain.  He stops suddenly in random spots, staring at the floor or at a tree or at a shop window or at a drone.  This is where we had ice cream.  This is where I bought him the present.  This is the bench where he listened to my story . . . This is where . . . This is . . .

2. In school, he keeps his head down and buried and sits in a far corner.  His shoulders occasionally heave.

3. At home, he shuts himself in his room.  Family members or those who visit him will find drawing after drawing after drawing of a certain person strewn all across the floor, each one with slash marks through the face.  Is he already forgetting?  Is he losing the smile, the laugh, the voice?

[action, forward-dated, open to Taiwan, Saki, and Mindy]
A full day after his meeting with Taiwan, Lucas enters the house uninvited.  He doesn't care about not being selfish anymore.  He has remembered -- There is something very precious he needs to get back, the symbol and the memory that he absolutely needs.

He finds it in the basement.  True to his word, the Netherlands has framed the very first drawing that Lucas has ever made, of Miffy and Hello Kitty enjoying a picnic in a park.  Propped up beside it is the best piece of art that Lucas has ever produced: a drawing of the two of them, laughing and happy, so closely resembling each other in looks that they could've passed as a father and a son.

He is about to leave with his treasures when he catches a glimpse of something else out of the corner of his eye.  A shoebox.  For 'Lucas'.  His hands shake as he pops the lid; he stares at what's inside.

"Mr. Netherlands . . . . . . . I . . .  I . . . OK.  I'll keep going.  I'll keep fighting . . . "

((I have been informed that Lucas has been left notes of all the conversations the Netherlands has had with Jane Smith, the Westport notes, and Richard Grey's wallet.  Also, Nini, if you don't mind, I think I will forward-date that conversation they just had to after this.))

((I apologize in advance for being a drama whore.  Indulge me.  I am sorry.))

[The inhalation of Luke's hallucinatory gas has left Lucas in a terrible state. This is what he sees. The island of Tanetane . . . The island of nightmares and delusions.  And though he knows that the images he sees must be false, he cannot help but succumb to his dark fears nonetheless.  In fact . . . his mental delusions are so strong that anyone who comes near him may, perhaps, catch a momentary glimpse of his nightmares.  Is this due to the gas lingering around his body or is this because of what is buried deep within his psychic mind?]

[Scenario 1]
Lucas has opened your mailbox and is rifling through the letters.  The expression on his face is one of tormented anguish.  Whispers can be heard if he is approached closely, though they do not appear to be made in his voice.  "The boy named Lucas . . . The boy named Lucas . . . The boy named Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "    There is a terrifying scream.  It is not his.

[Scenario 2]
Lucas is shivering and shuddering as he takes his bath.  His bath appears to be a dirty puddle of mud in the park.  Or a dirty pool of water on the side of the street.  Or a septic tank.  Or a poison swamp.  A pool of knives.  A pool of nothing.  Nothing after nothing after nothing after nothing.

[Scenario 3]
He's running towards you with a baseball bat.  "Run!"  His voice is harsh as he engages the massive smiling face beaming balefully from midair.  Will you fight with him?  Will you help him?  He needs to get home before supper.  Hinawa is coming home for supper.  When is Hinawa coming home?  Come home, Hinawa.  Come home.

[Scenario 4]
He's running towards you with a baseball bat.  " . . . Get away!"  He swings at you.  He wants to kill you.  Let him kill you.  You should die.

[Scenario 5]
Lucas is huddled, knees to his chest, on the ground in the middle of the street.  All of his things are spread out around him as he holds his hands over his ears and rocks back and forth.  Approaching him, you may see a shadowy image and hear a torrent of harsh, angry, deriding words.  Why are you coming near him?  What are you doing?  What did you do to him?  Huh? . . . . . . . . I did it to him? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.  Don't go near him.  Don't go near him.  You did it.  Don't go near her. Don't go near her.   Don't go near her. Don't go near her. Lucas did it.  Lucas did it.  Lucas did it.  Lucas did it.

( Cut for Length; Mother 3 Spoilers )