milliways_bar | (no subject)

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(no subject)

[OOM: There's only one more Needle to go. And it's someplace lively and filthy.]

Somehow in the hustle and bustle of Milliways, Lucas returned to the Nowhere Islands and evened the score. It was strange, not even bothering to stop in Tazmily. Lucas barely noticed, however, finding the same comfort he would expect from his former home in Ionia's shell cottage.

He means to go back there, sometime after whatever awaits him in New Pork City. Out of all of the Magypsies, Ionia is the one who stayed with him the longest and he can feel the weight of knowing she's gone now pressing down on his very being.

And if all of that wasn't enough, he's still feverish.

But that makes opening the limousine door and finding Milliways instead of the promised luxuries within the car even better. So he's found himself taking up a bar stool, nursing an apple juice and looking over some literature about New Pork City.

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"I dunno. I thought I was from Earth but nobody's heard of the Nowhere Islands 'nd that's where I used t'live."

In fact, have a pamphlet, Rabastan! It's advertising something called the Empire Pork Building, which is apparently the pride and joy of King Porky.

"Speakin' of, have you ever heard'a New Pork City?"

"Think it's just the name people aren't familiar with. Have you ever shown a map of the Nowhere Islands to anyone? They might recognise it as something else."

Pause. What's this? Pamphlet? With information? About things? Oh. Well. Never mind that bit of advice. Unless you want to, Lucas.

"Sounds like what Muggles call 'New York City'. But. It can't be the same thing, can it?"

Will the pamphlet have anything to say about it?

Despite the name and the Empire Pork Building, the pictures of New Pork City on the brochures don't look very much like New York City. If anything, the whole place looks cramped and a bit seedy.

"I dunno anything about New York City OR New Pork City. But a man drove up to me in a strange, long car 'nd said King Porky wants me to go there. But see, I never heard'a King Porky, either."

And suddenly, Lucas gets out of his stool.

"Sorry but d'ya mind if I pace 'round a bit while I think this over? I got a PSI fever and sometimes it helps t'move."

"Sure. Um. Okay."

He examines the pamphlet some more. As he's never been outside of Europe and any pictures shown of the Muggle side of cities are not going be accurate or up-to-date, he wouldn't know enough of what New York City is supposed to look like to draw a conclusion from.

On any Earth.

"Is that contagious?"

"Oh no. It's just somethin' that happens when I'm about t'learn some new PSI skill."

"Oh. Well. As long as you get better, that shouldn't be too bad, right?"

Rabastan has no idea what PSI abilities even are. But getting sick from them doesn't make them sound like a nice thing to have.

"Yeah, I'll be better soon. Better'n better."

And then, just a moment later, Lucas seizes as if he just sneezed.

"Okay, there we go."

Blink.

"Are you ... not sick any more?"

"Yep. Fever's gone."

He sits himself down on the stool again.

Good to know.

"How often does this happen, if you don't mind my asking."

Pause.

"Ice cream?"

"Pretty often nowadays. There're a lotta things happenin' at home an' I'm learning a ton of new skills t'keep up."

He smiles at the offer of ice cream.

"Sure, that'd be great."

He pats the top of the bar, and a second bowl appears.

"Oh? What kind of things? School?"

You look old enough to be in school, Lucas.

Lucas shakes his head.

"I've never been t'school."

"Never? At all?"

Pause.

"Are you not old enough for school?"

Makes sense to him. It's how education is set up in the Magical World.

Lucas shrugs.

"I'd be old enough if we had school but I've never been. I stayed with my parents an' helped take care'a the sheep with Dad."

:I

"Have... Have you learned things like how to read, at least?"

"Oh sure. Mom taught me. And I've picked up some things here, like how money works."

Right. So it's not formal, but the boy is learning things regardless.

"So who teaches you all the other things? The skills you need for whatever thing it is you need them for?

"Anything like your PSI abilities?"

Lucas tilts his head downward, the hand holding the spoon for his ice cream suddenly stilled.

Ionia's gone.

His hands go to cover his nose and mouth and he shakes his head a little.

" 'msorry," he says from behind his hands. "I just....someone like that just....."

"Oh. Oh... I'm sorry there. I didn't mean... I didn't know..."

Pause.

"Are you okay there... Er...

"You can call me Rabastan from now on."

He lowers his hands.

" 'sokay. It just happened. And it... I knew it was gonna happen. It-"

He shakes his head again. There's so much to explain.

"I...my name is Lucas."

"You knew?"

That cannot be good for anyone to know something as weighty as this.

"Doesn't make it easier, does it?"

Do you want another scoop of ice cream, Lucas? Sprinkles? Fudge?

"When they're someone special."

Lucas nods.

"She was a Magypsy. They're not like humans, Magypsies. They don't die, they just kinda fade away when they're done with their job. But Ionia, I knew her better'n any other Magypsy."

He presses his palm into one of his eyes.

"But I pulled the Needle she was protectin'. She wanted me to. But now that she doesn't gotta protect the Needle anymore, her job's done and she..."

He sucks in a breath through his nose.

"She's gone."

More ice cream then.

Comfort foods are good for you sometimes.

"Physically. But some part of her is with you. In your head. Your heart. I know that sounds a bit silly, but they are. They don't really go away.

"Sometimes I think my mama's still with me, when I'm by myself, or feeling low. Keeping an eye on me."

With his mother, it's more true than Rabastan realises.

Lucas takes his hand away from his eye.

"You lost your mom, too?"