4th Mental Baggage

[tsunkinesis]

 [phone]

So...out of curiosity, does anyone know a place to practice psychic powers? N-not that I’m asking for myself or anything. It’s just for reference in the future.

[2240 Stevens Road]
[In the front yard, Lili can be seen using her telekinesis when there’s no drones around to start moving some snow out of the way. And every once in a while, she molds some of the snow into a snowball and chucks it at drone who’s back is turned to her.]

Hah. That never gets old. Now where was I...

[There’s a piece of paper floating in mid air that she keeps referring to before resuming her work. Pester her?]

Comments

2240 Stevens Road

[spitefulvitae]

[The house has a mother in it now, and that mother is standing in the front door, watching the proceedings with curiosity.]

Telekinesis...

[Curiosity, and a little smile on her lips. It was a wonderful thing to see.]

[tsunkinesis]

[Lili heard Natalie's voice and turns around. At first she's afraid her not!mom would freak but that smile says otherwise.]

You're not bothered by psychic powers?

[spitefulvitae]

[She shakes her head.]

Not particularly. It's not something I've seen... but I've seen a lot of other things.

[tsunkinesis]

That's a relief. If there's one upside to this place, having powers isn't such a big deal.

[And she goes off to snipe the back of another drone passing by with a snowball.]

What do you mean by other things?

[spitefulvitae]

The abnormal and the secret is all out in the open here, isn't it? That's going to take some getting used to. I'm used to keeping secrets.

[She takes a moment to slip on some boots, then steps out into the yard.]

I mean... other things. Exploding trees. Ghosts. Monsters stitched together from straw and pig parts. But no one with telekinetic powers, until now.

[tsunkinesis]

Same here. Well, back home for me, psychics are a bit of big deal. There's psychic terrorism and the like.

Wait, exploding trees?

[spitefulvitae]

Psychic terrorism. Oh. [Her eyes widen as she takes that in.]

...yes. Exploding trees. [And her expression settles back to something more normal and neutral.] There's a story. It ends with me half-dead from all the splinters and riding home in someone's trunk.

[tsunkinesis]

Yeah. Basically with a psy-portal, psychics can enter people's minds and mess around with things. That's why we have the Psychonauts. Think of them as psychic international secret agents.

[And her dad happens to be the head honcho over the whole organization. Go figure.]

Huh. You mean they were filled with explosives or it was magic powered?

[spitefulvitae]

That's... very interesting! [She's being earnest, not sarcastic... but it's such a fantastic thing that it's hard to think of anything particularly intelligent to say on the topic.] Psychic secret agents. I can see that. That seems plausible.

[...and then she gives a slow shrug.]

You... raise a good question. I'm fairly sure it was magic. I don't think packing a tree full of explosives would have been that particular High Priestess's style. But I'll have to ask around when I get back...

[tsunkinesis]

Yeah, we have two of them here. There's my boyfriend Raz and Agent Vodello.

High Priestess?

[spitefulvitae]

Ah! Maybe I'll have the chance to meet them. But what about yourself? Not interested in that kind of career?

[Aaaand she nods.]

High Priestess.

[tsunkinesis]

For a while I wasn't but then stuff happened and I want to do it in the future. You could say it's part of the family business.

[spitefulvitae]

Aaah, the family business... it's nice to follow in the footsteps of the ones that raised you and taught you, isn't it?

[She smiles, and her gaze shifts away from Lili, taking on a distant and wistful quality.]

Phone

[hontobakabaka]

What is involved in practicing them?

Phone

[tsunkinesis]

Mostly levitation and psyblasts--you know shooting mental energy as firepower? I-I need a little work with that now that I got that skill back.

[hontobakabaka]

I thought you said it wasn't for you but hrm. How big of a space would you need and would you damage it?

[tsunkinesis]

Er right...Damage, yeah mostly likely. I just need some space but away from drones too.

[hontobakabaka]

Well, I have a hangar on my ship, but I don't have a repair crew so I'm not sure that would be a good place.

[tsunkinesis]

Yeah that definitely isn't the greatest idea ever. I wouldn't be able to pay for damages. Don't think my allowance can cover that.

[hontobakabaka]

Perhaps in the park beyond the tree line. They seem to recover daily and not many of the drones head out there.

[tsunkinesis]

They recover? Huh, that sounds way too convenient to be true. Still, wouldn't hurt to check this place out. Thanks.

[hontobakabaka]

Most of this town recovers. The key is to not do so much damage that the town drones you.

[Phone]

[hintcoinplz]

...Psychic powers, you say? You mean as in moving objects around with your mind and all that?

And um, I suppose the park would have the most space...

[Phone]

[tsunkinesis]

Well, what you're talking about telekinesis. That's just one of the many skills psychics can have. I'm thinking about using psychic energy for offensive purposes.

Yeah, but the problem would be the drones out there. I bet they don't take to us using powers in the open.

[2240 Stevens]

[ra_ra_razputin]

[Guess who's coming over for a friendly visit? Before announcing his presence, Raz catches a snowball that's just about to hit a drone.]

Hey! Whatcha reading?

[tsunkinesis]

Hey! Oh c'mon, that would've been a nice shot.

I-it's nothing! [She hides the paper behind her.]

[ra_ra_razputin]

Aw, come onnn, just one little peek?

[tsunkinesis]

No way! It won't make any sense to you.

[And that tsun side of her is back.]

[ra_ra_razputin]

What, is it all girly stuff or something?

[Because that stuff may as well be Chinese to him.]

[tsunkinesis]

Maybe, maybe not. You're never gonna see this until it's done anyway.

[ra_ra_razputin]

Can I have a hint?

[tsunkinesis]

Never in a million years, Raz. And you can't read my mind to get the answer.

phone

[last_to_kneel]

Nope. Can't say that I do. Might wanna try the roof or somethin'. That's where I like t' go to think. Maybe you'll find somethin' there.

phone

[tsunkinesis]

Hmm well I did manage to defend myself from zombies using my TK from the rooftop. No one's gonna be looking at the roofs.

That might just work. Now I'm gonna need some targets to practice with.

phone

[last_to_kneel]

No one thinks t' look up. Targets? That can be anything from water hoses in the drone's yard t' loose bricks on the sidewalk. Maybe a car that's in the way or blockin' traffic can be one too.

[Luckily, he knows somewhat about telekinesis from working with his boss that had that power and then some.]

phone

[tsunkinesis]

Yeah and I'm sure no one's gonna mind if I shoot some small psyblasts at those things too. I'll be sure not to over do them. I can't believe I didn't think of that sooner.

Besides, what's the worst that could possibly happen?

phone

[last_to_kneel]

[He laughs.]

Flat tires.

phone

[tsunkinesis]

Well that's not my problem then. I'll just pick on the drones though.

phone

[last_to_kneel]

Sounds like a plan. Have fun with that.

phone

[tsunkinesis]

Oh I will. This is even going to be better than sneaking in psyblast at that jerk Bobby from summer camp.

phone

[last_to_kneel]

A bully, huh. Gotta keep them boys in like somehow, right. Can't blame ya for that. Bet he looked funny too when he got it in the end.

[He chuckles.]

Sounds fun.