The mind's take on locked-in syndrome

[have_your_lives]

[It wasn't as though Schuldig expected anything good for Christmas. For one, it's Mayfield; anyone with the barest flicker of intelligence (which would be to say, Ken) could recognize the town's pattern for making life miserable. For another, even if the real Santa had come to visit the town, 'naughty' isn't even near a strong enough word for him. And, finally, he's had years of miserable Christmases, often where the holiday went completely unacknowledged because he was in places that couldn't care less about holidays; experience alone has taught him not to expect differently.

But Mayfield deserves credit where credit is due - this is, without a doubt, the most horrible Christmas in his entire life.

Even before he'd reached the end of his Christmas letter, he'd known he was in trouble. But he hadn't realized just how badly until he reached the last word, and all sound stopped.

All sound.

His ears echo with the silence; telepathically, his mind rings with the emptiness. Every connection he has to the rest of the world has been severed, so abruptly that he has no chance to adjust, no chance to anticipate or cope. It was bad enough when he was restricted to hearing with just his ears when he first arrived in Mayfield, but now he is utterly, completely alone with himself.

And when he tries to scream, he can't make a sound; not that he could hear it either way. He exchanged his voice for the telepathy that's now been ripped away from him.

He can't actually hear the bomb that's ticking away in his stomach, but in his current state, he'd actually consider death a relief. Others may be able to pick up on it, of course...

Housemates can find a shell-shocked Schuldig downstairs by his letter; otherwise, he'll probably be making his way to Nagi's house. Obviously, he's got no other way to communicate with his teammate now. Anyone trying to talk to him will have a very hard time communicating, since he can't hear you and he can't talk back, but you're welcome to try...also, he has his gun in his hand. Surprising him might not be the wisest course.]

Comments

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

I could shoot myself. I'm not squeamish, Nagi.

But it seems like a waste of a perfectly good explosion...

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

I need to learn how to use a gun in case my power gets taken away.

What if it's not a big enough explosion?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

I'll teach you later. It'll be your Christmas present.

I've got to make do with what I've got.

[sting-like-a.livejournal.com]

[Miakis does let go, but only so she can try and bite his gun hand. If he doesn't dodge, it'll be enough to draw blood and cause a fair amount of pain, but that's about it. It's meant to serve as a warning: don't fuck with her humans. :| ]

[rulethegame.livejournal.com]

[His eyes widen slightly.]

Ah. Took your hearing, did they? What did you ask for, I wonder?

[Well, the fact that Schuldig hasn't tried to talk to him via other means answers his next question. He pats his pockets absently, wishing he had his cellphone on him, before making a gesture that clearly says wait here and ducking into the nearest open house. Privacy, what privacy, that's for little people.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig actually follows him for a few steps before stopping and waiting, not entirely patiently. The isolation being imposed on him is bad enough that he's desperate for company, any company. It's both a reassurance and, more importantly, a distraction.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Unsurprisingly, when Miakis lunges, Schuldig fires. However, trying to fire and yank his hand away from her mouth at the same time means that, even at such close range, he misses. The gunshot will still be pretty deafening at this range, though, especially to heightened dragon horse senses.]

[rulethegame.livejournal.com]

[He makes an amused sound at Schuldig following him, not that the guy can hear it, and emerges with a notepad and a pen, scribbling something down before passing it to him.]

Other than taking your telepathy and your hearing, did they do anything else to you?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[This much Schuldig can answer with just a shrug. There's nothing else he's noticed, anyway...though if you're quiet enough, Joshua, you can hear the ticking.]

[sting-like-a.livejournal.com]

[Miakis lets out a shriek of pain and surprise, recoiling and stumbling backward. Her ears are ringing and the gunshot scared the shit out of her, so she won't be going after him again. D:]

[rulethegame.livejournal.com]

[He can, actually, and it prompts his next question.]

What, exactly, did you ask for? There's a ticking sound coming from your body.

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

Fine.

I'll go with.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig aims at her more carefully as soon as she backs away, but he doesn't fire again; he's been conserving his ammunition fairly strictly, since his only source of income is getting money from Ema. Once he realizes the thing isn't coming after him again, he snorts with something like faint satisfaction and turns for the door again.

Fortunately, Miakis, he has no designs on Ken! And he'll be emerging with Nagi in a little while, at which point she can stalk after them if she likes.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig pauses briefly, then borrows the pen and scribbles a list on the page.]

Guns
My voice
Quiet
Explosives

[He glances up at Joshua, then underlines 'quiet'. And then he circles 'explosives', and adds a question mark after it.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig raises an eyebrow at him. His question is exceedingly succinct.]

Why?

[rulethegame.livejournal.com]

[His shoulders tense at that revelation, and he gives a slow nod, calculating quickly whether his telekinesis would be able to shield him from a sudden blast. Still, running away now would be quite a blow to his dignity.]

Probably. [A pause, before he smirks.] Don't suppose you fancy a trip to the City Hall?

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

It's better than spending Christmas with Ken and Miakis.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig cocks a sardonic eyebrow as he scribbles a question.] Somewhere conveniently far away, you mean?

I need to talk to Nagi first...and I already had a target in mind.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

You'd prefer dying with me? I don't know if I should be flattered, or Ken and Miakis should be insulted.

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's a bit of both.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

Maybe. [There's a long pause before Schuldig writes something that, under any better circumstances, he'd never admit.] I wouldn't mind the company.

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

[Nagi knows it's a rare admission, but he doesn't tease, he just nods at Schuldig.]

Then I'll stay there with you until we die.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig nods in return.] You know Farfarello's gone?

I was going to blow up the church for his Christmas present, and I still want to do it. He'll appreciate it.

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

I saw his drone with two eyes again the other day, so I knew he left.

Blowing it up will be a good gift.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig grins at Nagi and makes a 'come on' gesture.] Now you can be my voice and ears, I guess. [He picks up the notepad and pen after writing the last note, indicating the door.]