savetheearth | [closed] I can see clearly now!

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[closed] I can see clearly now!

Who: Banagher Links, Richard Locke
When: Oct 04, afternoon
Where: Near Starbucks
What: Banagher helps yet another Network person dealing with the effects of an echo aka Richard has the worst luck.

[What does an undercover cop posing as a school teacher get after a long day of classes? A venti Americano with an extra shot in order to get the energy necessary to grade all the tests and then do cop paperwork before passing out for the next 8 to 12 hours. Maybe a meal of cup ramen or a bagel might get tossed in there, but either way, the caffeine is necessary. Even the near lack of parking didn't deter him from feeding his caffeine needs. Walking a couple blocks couldn't be called harmful.

Not even a thought gets tossed to the Cruxis Crystal on his person (worn under his shirt on his shoulder so no to be seen) as he walks down the street. He had put it on the other day after receiving it, but none of the abilities granted by the gem had manifested themselves. Richard came to the conclusion earlier that perhaps the item simply didn't work for whatever reason.

Said conclusion suddenly gets shattered just two blocks from his destination. It happens in the blink of an eye. Everything becomes far too clear. The details in everything become far too visible; the distance he can see becomes far too great; the sounds around him become far too loud. Richard stops dead in his tracks with wide eyes. Standing doesn't continue for long as he then stumbles backward until his back meets a wall. With the wall supporting him enough to keep him standing (quite possibly the only thing keeping him standing), Richard quickly shuts his eyes to not have to deal with that now. Though the lack of sight helps, hearing so much so loudly still overwhelms him to the point of immobility. A hand flies over his mouth when his stomach begins to feel equally overwhelmed. Well, if nothing else, it seems the Cruxis Crystal functions perfectly.]

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[ Banagher's just finished up his last round of classes for the weekend, all at once relieved and sad to see the last of his normalcy go. When he wasn't in class, concentrating on notes or studying, he was aware of that faint buzzing, and that had gotten him into more trouble than he'd care to admit. So he's planning on packing it in and just spending an evening at home for once. Maybe he'd take Haro to the park, shoot some hoops and unwind.

That was his plan as he made his way along the Friday-busy streets by the university, until he feels it.

Until he feels it again.

It's so strong that Banagher freezes dead in his tracks, eyes wide. There was no mistaking it, it was that same flash of fear and pain and acute awareness that had happened once to Colette. The instance in which he'd remembered Audrey's voice. Was it...? No, no. This was different, somehow. More restrained, but achingly similar nevertheless. Banagher is only rudely shoved from his stupor, quite literally, when someone muscles past him on the sidewalk, gruffly warning him to watch it. He mutters an apology he only halfway means as he starts forward, one step, two, and suddenly he's running down the block, ducking past the milling public. All he ever wants when his ability senses these things so sharply is to understand what it means, but he focuses on the raw feeling now, willing himself to be able to follow it.

Tearing around a corner, he grinds to a halt when he catches the flash of red. There he was. Yet again, he know this person. ]

Mr. Locke? [ Wait, was it the same? The hearing? On approach, he tries to measure his steps, keep his voice low. ] Mr. Locke, it's Banagher. What happened?

[So much had suddenly become so loud that it could drive a person insane. Everything and anything close by gets heard: a mother yelling at her child a block away, a car horn honking down the street, a fly buzzing around 6 feet away, etc. It's maddening and painful. To think everyday sounds could prove so unpleasant...

Needless to say, the approaching footsteps get lost amid all the painful loudness. It isn't until hearing his name that Richard realizes someone is nearby, someone familiar going off the voice. Instinctively, he turns to look in Banagher's direction. The action instantly gets regretted and his eyes quickly return to being closed. Viewing everything with so much extreme clarity so suddenly is almost nauseating.

No, scratch that. It IS nauseating. Richard can feel his stomach prepare itself to get rid of everything within. About all he could do for a moment is breathe in and out, as deeply as possible, so to keep everything down. In and out. Good. Once more. And again. Only once somewhat satisfied with the state of his stomach does Richard provide a reply to the question.]

Pu- [Deep breath.] pulse related.

[Constructing full sentences could wait until his stomach no longer threatened to bring his lunch back up. Ugh, maybe putting the Cruxis Crystal on so casually had been a bad idea.]

[ Like he thought. Richard's pinched expression nearly spears him through, telling him everything he needs to know about what he was experiencing. Everything is bright and sharp in his mind's eye, even diluted as it is. ]

I was right. [ Shuffling his bag from his shoulder, he quickly pulls free a jacket that he'd stuffed in there earlier. ] This is the same thing as before... here, for a minute.

[ It might have only been a small comfort, superficial and fleeting, but he throws his jacket over Richard's head to hopefully dull out some of whatever he was going through. Silently, he hopes Richard stays steeled. They really had to stop meeting when vomit was potentially involved. In truth, he might be a little prepared to panic if this got any worse, but for the moment, he was prepared to do what he had to. ]

I know it must be painful, but you can't stay here. Where do you need to go, the clinic?

[Banagher's shuffling coupled with the odd commentary gains a light creaking open of an eye from Richard. The action proves useless due to everything suddenly growing dark. What the--? Did... did a jacket just get thrown on his head??

Reaching up to feel whatever now rests on his head proves that theory correct. Yup, it's a jacket. Why did he...? Might this be an effort to dampen the intensity of his senses (which didn't do much for the hearing but at least lets him keep his eyes open)? Banagher had just mentioned this being the same as before so the possibility of that exists. Questioning that can wait; dealing with this unpleasant situation comes first.]

No, the clinic won't be necessary.

[No real need exists for seeing a doctor, severely upset stomach aside. Going somewhere, however, IS necessary. Simply standing around in the middle of the street with a jacket on his head screams HI I'M SUSPICIOUS. ARREST ME. Hmm...]

My car isn't far.

[Not that he plans on driving. Far from it. It's just that sitting inside a car would not only get them out of the street, but might also block out sound better than a jacket.]

Edited 2013-10-09 13:30 (UTC)

[ His first instinct is to ask just that; no way could he think about driving with the way he looked, or felt, in a way. But Banagher doesn't get that sense from him the moment he's said it, and glances either way apprehensively. Lucky for them, the bystander effect was in full swing, and no one seemed to be paying them much mind beyond the superficial.

Luckily the jacket seems to do just about as much for Richard's focus as he thought it might, which wasn't much, but enough. Banagher takes a tentative step forward. ]

Where is it? I can lead you there. You can hear really well now, right? Enough to follow me?

[ If Richard could pinpoint him specifically, leading him to his car amid the sea that his senses had created around him should be possible, in theory. He knows it's asking a lot, if this was the real deal, but it's one of the only things he can think of. ]

[Any debating whether or not he knows gets tossed out the window upon hearing that second question. So he does know. Another question, namely regarding how, pops up, but gets saved for a later time.

Working his way backwards, the last question receives a reply first. Richard nods, the sleeves of the jacket swaying from the movement.]

More than enough, yes.

[Whether or not he could discern Banagher from the surrounding noise is the real question. There's just so damn much of it. One never notices how much goes on around them until they're forced to hear every last bit of it.

Ah well, nothing could be done other than to try or risk people starting to question the guy with the jacket on his head. The only small silver lighting rests in the fact he hadn't parked that far.]

It's around a block and a half to the east, a blue 2011 Honda Accord with the license plate (insert numbers here).

[ There's shuffling as Banagher goes to fish his phone from his pocket and type that number into a blank message to remember it. ]

Alright, got it. I'm going to take the jacket off, okay? I don't think anyone's going to notice you if you keep your eyes closed. There's still some rush left from classes letting out.

[ And a Friday on Locke's streets meant that they should have enough cover to mingle in unnoticed by anyone who might be looking; Banagher knows now they can never be too careful. Of course, it'd make it that much harder to distinguish him from the rest of the crowd, but he has to trust that Richard is capable of it. Taking one more glance around, he reaches for his jacket and tugs it off. ]

Ready?

[Maybe the jacket hadn't done much, but it sliding off results in the loss of the only small amount of protection from the noise. It makes Richard feel oddly vulnerable. Nonsensical it may sound, but when dealing with something of extreme levels of discomfort, any protection is welcome protection.

Banagher hadn't needed to say anything about keeping his eyes closed; that much is a given. Actually looking at things now would likely be the breaking point for his stomach. Bad as the situation may be, potentially ruining another pair of shoes (and by his own hand) would only make it worse.]

As much as I can be.

[Which isn't much. All these senses hit far too hard and far too fast to permit for any sort of readiness. He'll try, though. Richard focuses best as he can on Banagher. Yes, he could do this. It's only a little more than a block. Entirely doable.]

[ Nodding, Banagher steps off from the building's exterior, trusting in Richard to follow. A different sense is keeping him on alert while his eyes rake over the flow of people along the sidewalks. One a little more nebulous, but all-together handy in a pinch like this. ]

I can keep talking. [ Banagher keeps his voice low enough to not draw attention to himself, knowing that he'll still be heard. ] If that might help you.

[ His pace is slow for the moment, and he avoids looking over his shoulder thanks to his heightened awareness, stilling ringing with the effects of an echo that wasn't even his own. ]

[The trust is well placed since Richard follows instantly and stays directly behind. Doing anything else may lead to an unpleasant collision with another person. That may also lead to high levels of shouting, something really really best avoided.

Avoiding, however, proves tricky, or rather, following certain footsteps when dozens, if not hundreds, of others were all around. Practice may lead to being able to discern a single, particular sound; now, about all he could do is be grateful Banagher offered to keep speaking.]

Please.

[Part of him berates himself for sounding so weak saying that. There's little choice, but to be weak right now. As disconcerting as relying on the aid of another person like may feel, no other option at present exists. Not even removing the cause of this could happen now, not in the public eye.]

[ To Banagher, there wasn't really any notion of either strength or weakness in the response. Helping or being helped was only natural, so attempting to weigh it down with that imbalance just wasn't something he thought about. Staying slow was about his only plan right now, giving people plenty of time to think he was just some brat who didn't know how to navigate a sidewalk quickly. And plenty of time to clear a wide enough path around him for both of them to get by relatively unscathed by the errant step or odd shoulder and elbow. ]

You're curious about how I know, aren't you?

[ It's the only thing he can think to offer up at the moment. Small talk wasn't really easy to dredge up in a situation like this. All the while, he's on alert for police cars and the like, but even as he comes up on the corner of the block, the coast is clear. ]

[Being able to hear every single footstep around you can only be describing as maddening. One can grow accustomed to it over time no doubt, but the first several minutes are absolutely hellish.

By some miracle, Banagher's voice can easily be distinguished from most everything else (which is good since it saves him from running into people or things). It maybe simply due to knowing what to listen for and ignoring all else. Hmm perhaps that may be key in mastering this ability.]

I had been wondering as much, yes.

[Just a bit too focused on keeping his stomach at bay while forcing himself to not rip out his own eardrums to have asked earlier.]

You're not the first one this has happened to.

[ That's the long and short of it, really, or at least clears up the reason why Banagher was able to identify someone else's echo process, though not how. Each step he takes is measured, just like his words, when the people begin to thin as they round the block. Banagher knows it was probably just a drop in a bucket, but hopefully even that much more quiet would help. The late afternoon shadows of the buildings had been to crawl and reach up from the pavement on the sidestreets, casting a cool dimness over them.

He's quiet for a moment longer, scanning the rows of parallel parked cars. Though he was attempting to help, he still felt as though this was somehow intrusive. So, he continues. ]

And I felt it that time too. How it feels to have everything inside you go sharp.

[The coolness of those shadows makes the walk a bit more bearable. Maybe there hadn't been much warmth to begin with, but the additional chill makes it feel more relaxing. People may also start to scatter when the coolness sets in, a welcome thing when one can hear every single person in close proximity.

Not the first one, hmm? Might this be regarding a certain tea house server? And being able to feel it? To what extent? Richard continues to trail closely behind Banagher while debating which inquiry to pose first. Starting from the starts feels an obvious enough of a plan.]

I take it the 'first one' refers to Colette?

[No one else on the Network had made reference to receiving any jewels or powers similar to theirs. Should it not be then learning who else may be in a similar predicament can't hurt.]

[ Though Banagher is silent for a long moment, a pause that probably gives him away faster than if he were to answer, the fact that Richard knew right away doesn't come as too much of a surprise to him. Of course people in the same predicament, even potentially, would gravitate. That was physics. That was inevitability. Briefly, he thinks of Audrey, before scanning along the line of cars once more. ]

It does. [ He chews on the inside of his cheek. ] Did you think this would happen?

[A hypothesis proven correct. It makes Richard make a mental note to have a chat with her on the subject, a thorough one. She deserves to know these deals as much as he. Although knowledge won't make this any more pleasant, better to know what's happening than be left in the dark.]

I had been excepting it, but underestimated its intensity.

[His assumption had been a small or gradual increase and not a sudden, extreme increase. The fault for his present situation rests entirely on his shoulders.]

[ He hadn't exactly cleared up how he'd known about it, in either case, but there were more pressing matters. In the distance, Banagher thinks he sees the car Richard was referring to. Blue, but he can't make out the model quite yet, so he picks up his pace, if only just a little. There was nothing much to see but an expanse of gray asphalt and the towering backs of office buildings, so he focuses on the car. ]

It was only the hearing, for her. I wonder why you were different.

[ Then again, predicting echoes was an inexact science at best, and completely impossible at worst. ]

[The how will be inquired about once the urge to chuck that meowing cat down a sewer passes (hey it'll land on its feet). Hmm? Is Banagher speeding up? Those are still his footsteps, right? Richard frowns, hoping as much as his own pace shifts to match that of the leader's.]

What causes it affects different individuals at different paces. Colette will more than likely receive the heightened eyesight in due time.

[It's tricky to explain. Mana, which he had looked up, was typically referred to as some sort of energy and apparently that dictated how the crystal worked? And a certain mana, though rarely, grants one really bad side effects. Simply put, different people got different reactions and some reactions are really really bad.]

[ While Banagher had been expecting that sort of answer, even if he didn't exactly need Richard to voice it for him, he finds his heart sinking a little. She already tried to bear so much, and once had looked nearly impossible to contend with, though she always tirelessly assured him otherwise. In their current state, as a group, he knows it'd be wisest to prepare for the inevitable rather than avoid it, but if he could delay the inevitable, he would.

But he can't, so the most he does is make a soft noise of affirmation before changing the subject. ]

I think I see your car now. A Honda, right?

[It's an odd response, that noise, but Richard opts not to question it. Chances are, the two may be friends or maybe Banagher simply doesn't like the idea of her suffering further after seeing it once. Either way, it isn't his place to pry.

And it seems there may not even have been an opportunity to pry. Please let this be his car. Walking around like this, like a duckling trying to follow its mama in the middle of the night, really cannot be called enjoyable.]

That's right. A blue Accord.

Edited 2013-11-13 02:15 (UTC)

Hang on, let me check the plate.

[ There's a scuff he makes consciously when he steps off the curb and around the back of the car to compare it to the number Richard gave him earlier. A match. Mama duck breathes a sigh of relief now that the perilous part of the journey was over. Mostly. ]

This is it.

[ Stepping back up onto the curb, he pauses. A brief walk wasn't much time to steel against the idea of super-sight. ]

What do you want to do? I don't think it's a good idea to open your eyes just yet, is it?

[The scoff gets noted and Richard makes a note to somehow repay Banagher for not only helping, but putting in so much effort to make this as easy for him as possible. Not everyone would be so considerate.

Hmm good question. It's worth a try, if nothing else. He cracks open his eyes only to quickly shut them again. Between how painfully strong the eyesight is and how badly his stomach had near instantly protested? No, opening them wouldn't be happening now. Mama ducky will need to keep leading his duckling a little longer.]

I would prefer to avoid doing so a while longer.

[Which means him opening the car is out, leaving only one option. Quick fumbling in his pocket produces a soft jingling sound (soft to anyone without heightened hearing, anyway). After a moment, the car keys get pulled out and offered to Banagher.]

Would you mind?

[ Though he thought as much, he still has the grace to look surprised when he's presented with the keys. It's only a split-second hesitation, however, as he reaches out to take them. ]

No, I can do it. But are you sure you don't want to go to the clinic?

[ Even as he's... well, halfway chiding and halfway asking a legitimate question, he's moving over to unlock the driver's side door. There was no way he could drive like this, and even worse yet, Banagher can't imagine just leaving him to sit in his car until his brain somehow rewired itself to accept super-vision. Who knew how long that could take. He presses his lips together and glances between Richard and the car door skeptically. ]

[Richard can practically feel the dubious gaze on him right now. Not surprising given his current condition. Much as the concern is appreciated (and it really is), it feels wasted on him. Maybe an explanation regarding what's happening may help settle Banagher's worries, but that'll come later, at the very least AFTER getting inside the car.]

It's pointless to go when there is no need.

[Going would do nothing. He KNOWS the cause and it's something he needs to get used to. These abilities are far too valuable to be left unused simply due to discomfort.]

[ Brows raising, Banagher sighs. What a way for someone to attempt to out-stubborn him. With nothing else left but to let him do as he wished, Banagher reaches out and taps the pad of his index finger against the hood of the car, right above the driver's side. Not enough to cause too much noise, but enough so that he should be able to gauge the distance he had. ]

There. Don't hit your head.

[ Which is about as far as he's willing to budge, himself. ]

[The tap manages to aid in avoiding a painful collision between forehead and car, if only by a small margin. So, by some miracle, his butt hits the cushioned car seat and that perilous journey comes to an end.

...Now what?

Head lulling back against the headrest, Richard runs a hand through his hair. Driving right now remains a huge no. Part of him wants to take off the exsphere and attempt getting used to it later; part of him wants to tough this out.

It's in the midst of this mulling that he remembers Banagher. Right. Suddenly heightened senses didn't mean a simultaneous loss of manners.]

Thank you for all your help.

You're welcome.

[ It's an honest, if not conditioned, reply. Falling silent, he stands straight. Looking down the quiet side-road and the sparse lines of cars positioned along the sidewalks, he can't bring himself to just leave. People would be coming for those soon, with the workday nearly over. ]

But you can't stay here all night until you get used to this, and you can't drive. It's not safe. So...

[So something needed to be done. Staying here like this just wouldn't work. It seems option A had become the winner without much of a fight.

Thus, Richard takes off his own jacket, tossing it in the passenger's seat. Then he unbuttons the dress shirt on him, though it doesn't get fully taken off. Instead, once enough buttons have been undone (possibly enough to give Banagher a nice view of a large scar right in between Richard's right shoulder and throat), he reaches under the shirt.

Something then gets plucked off his right shoulder. The thing is soon produced from under the shirt, revealing itself to be an odd type of blue crystal. As soon as it's off, his entire body appears to instantly relax. Maybe even a relieved sigh accompanies that relaxation. Much better.]

It'll be fine now.

[ The scar pitches him into a stunned sort of disquiet, catching his gaze for a moment before he panics a little and looks away. There was something about scars he didn't like, particularly the scars of others he maybe shouldn't have seen. What eventually reels him back in is the whole reason for the set of motions: the crystal.

Right away, the difference is so apparent it's nearly tangible. ]

What is that?

[The crystal gets placed on the dash of his car so to make re-buttoning the shirt easier. Maybe the lack of commentary on the scar is appreciated, too. He knows it's difficult not to notice, but a subject matter he really doesn't want to discuss.]

Something called a Hi-Exsphere or Cruxis Crystal.

[As the final button gets buttoned, Richard glances over at Banagher. Being able to look at people without seeing every last detail so clearly to the point of pain feels wonderful.]

This would be the culprit behind my predicament just now.

[ Hi-Exsphere, or... ]

Cruxis Crystal. [ He repeats the words, trying to get a feel for the thing that had been responsible for all of this. Which had to be true, given that Richard could look at him again, as if he hadn't just been ready to collapse under the strength of the powers it bestowed. Backing up and standing straight again, his brows knit. ]

All of that, because of that little crystal? Why didn't you take it off sooner?

[ Was Colette like that, too? ]

[Banagher's expression shows that his thoughts mirror Richard's own. To think something so small and ordinary looking could grant such extreme abilities. All the pain had been worth testing the gem and realizing just how an invaluable of a tool it is.]

Aside from not thinking clearly for the first few moments, suddenly taking off my clothes in weather this cool felt as though it would draw too much attention.

[And he really didn't want to draw attention to himself taking clothes off all to take off a weird gem on his shoulder. Plus, maybe part of him wanted to determine whether or not these senses could be toughed out. Definitely doable, but just painful and something that'll take a while.]

That's true, but still...

[ For a moment, he finds himself in just a little bit of awe. Maybe Richard had admitted he wasn't thinking clearly, but at the same time, Banagher can't entirely take it to heart. Because not only had he thought it through enough to realize he'd make a scene, but he hadn't acted on it regardless. When he had so obviously been in serious discomfort. Pain, even.

If it were him, he was absolutely sure he wouldn't have had that sort of resolve. Pressing his mouth into a thin line, he straightens and takes a step back. ]

You stuck it out that entire time, knowing you didn't have to.

[ A lesser person would have probably flung it off in an instant, if they knew. ]

[Banagher's words make him feel more like a stubborn old goat than anything else, a fact not easily argued. Few could be so stubborn as to not remove something causing them THAT level of pain the instant they could.]

No, I did have to. Today helped me gauge an estimate as to the strength of this gem and what it will take to master the abilities it bestows.

[The senses it gave were unlike anything he could have imagined. A small heightening had been the exception and not suddenly being able to hear everything within the nearest few blocks.

Maybe he softly sighs as he glances over at the exsphere.]

It'll be far more difficult than I'd envisioned.

[ While Banagher agrees with him, he feels as though it'd be adding insult to injury to say as such. Or cheapening what he'd just gone through, and by proxy, what he's willing to keep taking on. It unsettles him, but there's no place for him to argue.

Was there? The urge exists, but he carefully forces it down. ]

Good luck.

[ Which is something he means.

And now with his civic Network duty accomplished for the day, he shifts as though to leave. ]

I'm going to take off, if you're sure you're okay to drive. Take care, Mr. Locke.

[The lack of arguing with him is appreciated. Between his stomach still attempting to settle and the headache the hearing had brought on, arguing now would not be fun.]

I will be fine now, you needn't be concerned. Thank you for all your help, Banagher.

[He makes to start the vehicle when it occurs to him that one needs keys to actually start a car. Said keys? Still weren't in his possession. A soft sigh leaves him as he wearily glances over at Banagher.]

My keys?

[Enhanced senses, stomach troubles and now looking like an idiot: great day is great.]

Oh, right! Um, sorry.

[ Great, he'd nearly just walked off with someone's car keys. Which meant that he didn't exactly believe Richard, or think that he needs to worry less about it. Again, the urge to argue the point bubbles up, hits the edges of his patience, and simmers down again. No, no. Where had that gotten him in the past? No where fast.

Stepping over, he gives up the keys. ]

Here you go. ...I'll see you around.

[The keys get taken from Banagher. Having in his hand feels as though a long and painful trial had finally come to an end.]

Thank you.

[He shoves them in the ignition and the car comes to life quickly enough. A nod comes from Richard's end at the 'see you around' comment. They do have an odd tendency to run into the other due to echoes so a third run in isn't outside the realm of possibility.]

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[closed] I can see clearly now!

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