13th Fight

[nosoul_nomind]

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]

[Barton turns to him, confused.

Sharply:] What?

[a_crazygirl]

[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.]

I nearly missed this! Action B.

[hardhat_truckie]

(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]

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

[hardhat_truckie]

(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]

"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]

[[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]

[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]

[[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]

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

C

[thecoolexec]

[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]

[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]

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]

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]

.... 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]

[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]

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]

Despite what everyone thinks, I'm still me.

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