13th Fight

[soulless_soldier]

All she had to so was erase herself, her brother had said in her dream. Never exist, and this way, her family never had to go through the pain of her running away, that the mage who stole her soul would have one less soul to power his twisted experiments. That she wouldn't have to drift endlessly through existence, unable to die but unable to live, throwing off the balance of the world, scaring and unsettling any living being she encountered.

It would just have been better if she had never existed, Andy said. Just fade away. Maybe then, he could smile again, not have to wonder and worry day in and day out what happened to his only baby sister.

She accepted. And then she awoke that day to the news broadcast.


[Action A, locked to household. Barton looks at the news broadcast, her expression skeptical.]

What kinda bullshit is this?

[Action B, around town not much later

This situation is a little weird. Even though she's been here for several months, Barton doesn't know a ton of people, but she'll be looking for any familiar faces and hoping for some kind of explanation. Just hoping to find someone who doesn't think she's some sort of fake or copy.]

[Action C, Makeout Point

Well, if this is how it's got to be, so be it. It's almost like being soulless again. She spent 35 years that way. How long will Mayfield keep this up? Who knows. But she'll persevere.

She'll be building a fire up on the hill, sitting bundled in her large trenchcoat, quiet and stone-faced as always.]

Comments

[doofenstrudel]

[Doof had watched the announcement, just like everyone else, not sure what to think about the whole thing. How could that many people agree to erasing themselves?]

...the heck is this? Seriously. And... Barton?

[He blinked at the TV. He turned and then looked at Barton. And he saw... not-Barton. A shoddy replacement. He checked his coffee cup, took another swig to ensure himself that it wasn't adulterated with anything, and then... back to not-Barton.

Still not-Barton. Very much so.]

Well this is insulting and disturbing. Also, depressing... You... could you go away? Somewhere else?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

[Barton turns to him, confused.

Sharply:] What?

[a-crazygirl.livejournal.com]

[Toni shoots Doof a dirty look.] That's a terrible thing to say! How could you-

[While she's talking she turns to "Barton" and is filled with such a sense of revulsion that she trails off with a sharp intake of breath.]

I, uh, I mean, you can't just kick her out into the cold.

[But that does sound like a good idea right now.]

[doofenstrudel]

[He turns to Toni with a defensive kind of anger.] I didn't mean kick her out in the cold!

Just... maybe to her room. Somewhere else.

[And he side-eyes Barton, not much wanting to look at her head-on.]

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

What are you guys talkin' about?! Don't tell me you're believing this stuff. I ain't erased, I'm right here. Nothin' happened.

I nearly missed this! Action B.

[hardhat-truckie.livejournal.com]

(There's a familiar Texan just across the road Barton. He looks really upset as he brings a giant wrapped box back home.)

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

[Barton trots up to him. She looks a bit harried.] Engie! Hey!

[hardhat-truckie.livejournal.com]

(He turns to face her. For a moment he holds her gaze, before he gives her a sad smile.)

What can I do for ya, miss?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

"Miss"? Engie, somethin'... I don't know what's goin' on. I'm not erased but people are actin' like I'm... I'm fake or somethin'.

C

[pants-yourmove.livejournal.com]

[[The fire draws his attention.

Right now hiding from his own worries in coyote.

Of course, when he arrives, he notices who it is.

This is getting frustrating, why do they all have to have these strange fakes?!?

He growls.]]

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

[Barton is immediately on her feet, her hatchet drawn from her coat. She's run into plenty of coyotes in her time, and most would react the same way due to her soullessness.

But this was Mayfield. And while it felt like she'd lost her soul again, she wasn't. So she hesitates.]

Where the hell'd you come from?

[pants-yourmove.livejournal.com]

[[He continues to growl. But doesn't approach.

Pawing at the dirt and trying to look threatening.

Though, that's more like something with hooves would do, wasn't it?

He wants her to go, he wants them all to go away.]]

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Get out of here. I've had enough harassment from people today, 'n' I don't need it from animals too.

C

[thecoolexec.livejournal.com]

[Tony walks by and sees a young woman he doesn't know standing by the steep hill of Makeout Point, looking out over the sharp drop, practically swimming in a trenchcoat. Naturally, one look at her face is all he needs to initiate conversation.]

Uh... please don't jump? There; now at least someone has tried to stop you, if no one else has already. I get the feeling that no one... knows your here right now?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

[She turns to him, her face still blank. But that's Barton for you. She tilts her head in curiosity a bit, wondering who this was.]

I ain't. Wouldn't do me any good. And no, they don't. I'm just gonna stay up here until... Whenever all this "fakes" stuff blows over.

[thecoolexec.livejournal.com]

Well, that's good. [He glances at the drop.] That... crevice? Is that what you call that? Crevass? Well, whatever it's called, I'm sure it didn't for one dead... I'm sorry, I don't know your name. That seems like a grievous mistake, as I'm sure you're someone worth getting to know.

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. I just needed a place to stay till all this blows over. Who knows how long that could be in this town. I'm used to stayin' outside anyway. [She cocks her head to the fire she built.]

An' it's Barton, by the way.

C

[pretty-bear.livejournal.com]

.... Barton-chan?

[Teddie was erased too, so he kind of understands how she feels. Even though she seems...off, he's figuring that if he wasn't erased maybe she wasn't either. Maybe....]

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

[Barton looks up at him from her seat near the fire. That looked like Teddie, but he felt wrong. No. This didn't make sense. Mayfield had to be messing with her... right?]

...Teddie?

[pretty-bear.livejournal.com]

Yeah....

[She seem off to him too. Unfamiliar. But he's so lonely right now that he almost doesn't care.]

A-are you okay?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

Despite what everyone thinks, I'm still me.

C'mon, ya might as well warm up by the fire.

B

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas can be found wandering the town on top of his table, with a generally absent expression on his face. The table will slow by itself as it approaches Barton. Lucas turns face forward and simply stares at the girl for a short while.]

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

[Barton had yet to run into any other 'fakes', so she stares back, confused and offended.]

Who...

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Lucas.

[He responds quickly.]

...You said 'yes', too, Barton?

[nosoul-nomind.livejournal.com]

It's... really you. [It sounds like she's trying to affirm this to herself.]

Yeah, I did. The dream, right? That's what did this?