8th Fight

[soulless_soldier]

Barton has found a letter addressed to her in the mail box. She's suspicious - there's a lot of things she doesn't want Mayfield to give her back. Especially ones that might be intangible and would come in an envelope. She brings it inside, and sets it on the kitchen table, staring at it. Thinking. Maybe she could just burn it.

Wandering off to find some matches, the envelope sits face-down on the kitchen table, where meddling housemates could check it out...



[Later that day - phone call placed to all non-drones:

There's a long silent pause before Barton speaks. She's even quieter than usual. If you listen close enough, you might even be able to tell that she sounds a bit shaken.]

Um.

Does anyone out there... Does anyone in town know how to use telekinesis? Is that something you can teach?

Comments

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Hm... There are types of psychic power when you can communicate with people over a distance. That might help you find him, if you ever develop a power like that. ...I can't really do that, either.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

I'll see if I can do it sometime. But for now all I got is the telekinesis. The other one, that's called telepathy, right?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I think so.

Do you mind if I asked how you learned your abilities? I haven't met many psychics - it's usually magic, or something else along those lines.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

That's part of the whole story.

[There's a short pause. She sighs. Barton's not one to talk so much, but what could you do?]

I used to have magic instead. I could make myself and other people stronger. Then one day the asshole mage came along and stole my soul. When he did, the psychic power showed up and I kicked his ass with it. He wasn't expectin' it. He was expectin' some harmless little girl. He still got away with my soul and the magic that goes with it. And he was the one I was lookin' for. He knew I was lookin' for him too cuz he'd send his little cronies after me sometimes. Not like they could kill me since my soul was gone.

[The mage who stole her soul is unbelievably powerful and centuries upon centuries old. And the only thing that scares him is Barton.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[There is an awkwardly stunned silence for a short period of time. Lucas recovers eventually, though.]

He... stole your soul? I thought that was something that happened to people who go to church here. I mean, to people who don't -- Wait, I mean -- Well, I guess.

That happens?

Um. I'm very sorry. You seem to be... very... normal for not having your soul. But you have it back here, right? And, um. Do you mean your magic is tied to your soul?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Does where I'm from, apparently. He's done it to a few other people, I've heard. I met one of them. He was in a lot worse shape than me.

Yeah, I got it back here. Otherwise I'd be pretty different. I was startin' to... [She searches for the right wording.] Not care about anythin'. I could shake it away, but not for good.

Magic's tied to your soul, telekinesis to the mind. That's why I could still do that, I guess.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas resists the urge to comment with something inane like 'oh really'. Silence prevails for another second or two.]

Is that what happens to people who lose their souls? They become... apathetic. To life.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

A lot happens actually. But that's one thing, yeah. After awhile it's hard to focus on anything.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

...Is it possible to get it back?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

I dunno. That's why I was lookin' for the guy who took it. But it'd been over thirty years and I still don't have many leads.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Thirty years?

But... You're human, aren't you? You don't look much older than me. ...Is that because of your soul, too?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It makes you kind of into a ghost. Eventually, you stop needing to eat, sleep, breathe, feel, care... It like you got hollowed out from the inside.

[A beat.]

I dunno if you cared to hear all of this, but, there it is.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

N-No, it's fine. I don't mind hearing at all... I just wish I could help in some way. My PSI can restore the body, but... I think the soul is beyond it.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Nothin' can fix a stolen soul. Nothin' I know of, anyway. Ya can't even die. Ya just get back up after awhile if you do.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Then... Then that means you can always get up to fight again. Just like it is here.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That's what I was doin'. I was still lookin' for him. And I won't stop till I do. But now that I'm here... I dunno what to think. This place sucks, but I'm back to normal here, at least. For now. Somehow I think Mayfield will find a way to take it away from me again.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Be careful about any regains you might get. They can definitely give you your... soullessness back.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

I just ain't gonna open anythin' the town sends me from now on.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I think, in the worst case, you can always... trade something you don't want. If you're willing to risk it.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

The Postman, right? He might end up taking a limb or something. I guess it's an option.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I think most people are able to trade without a problem, but ... the kidneys still go missing every now and then, uh-huh. Just be careful...

Oh - I can go with you if you need to.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Right, you said you can heal people. I'll let you kow if I decide to go through with it.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh. .....Just let me know if you ever need me. And good luck with the telekinesis.

...Did you want to see my version at all?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure, if ya want.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I don't mind, particularly. It's nothing very interesting, but actually... do you mind if I see yours, too?