[M][Earth] Of the People

[Jarka]

“Five thousand, six hundred, and forty-two.”

Jarka twitched in surprise, splashing the lemonade she had been pouring all over the kitchen counter. Ignoring the mess, she strode towards the sofa. She had to have misheard. It was obscene.

Tentatively, she placed her hand on Sigfried’s shoulder. “What did you say?”

The boy gestured to the coffee table. Scattered across its surface were piles of zeni representing every imaginable denomination. He had spent the last hour counting the proceeds of the Earth’s Combined Militia Activism Awareness Bake Sale while Hati and Skoll hovered over him, eyes glistening with avarice.

“Five thousand, six hundred, and forty-two.” He smirked. “You can recount it if you want.”

Clicking his heels as he halted, Roy thrust his chin skyward upon hearing the final sum. He had been silent since they had returned to their dingy apartment, choosing instead to pace stoically on the far side of the room. Now, a charming grin splashed across his cheeks.

He turned to his comrades, his arms outstretched. “It seems that our event was a rousing success.”

The group chattered with excitement, exchanging handshakes and high fives. As the burst of congratulations settled, Jarka couldn’t help but feel guilt once again for her shortcoming. Had she managed to provide adequate confections, they would have made even more money. Still, her contribution was appreciated. She plopped on the sofa next to Sigfried, choosing to remain silent.

Roy moved next to the television and leaned against the wall. “So, only one question remains…” He stroked his chin pensively. “What should we do with the money?”

“BOOZE.” Hati and Skoll needed no deliberation.

Sigfried’s middle finger was an apt rejection to their proposal. His eyes, wrought with unspoken stratagem, fell to the stacks on the table. “Guys, put these back in the briefcase for now. I’ll figure something out.”

Jarka watched as the bickering cronies followed their command. As it always did, Sigfried’s ability to pull the strings of their group impressed her. Even Roy seemed to be a puppet to the younger man, despite being the face and, more importantly, the voice of their makeshift group. She wondered how much Sigfried had toyed with her, if at all.

She knew he hadn’t been entirely honest with her. She almost didn’t mind. To be entirely truthful, it seemed as though everybody she met since joining Earth’s Combined Militia had been bursting with secrets layered upon hidden motives. A bit of a hypocrite now, aren’t we?

Sigfried gently punched her bicep as he rose from the couch. “Hey, I’mma go in my room. Be all dubious and shit. Will you be around later?”

The girl nodded. Where else would I be?

“Cool.” A smirk failed to conceal his preoccupation. His plodding footsteps were soon silenced by the slam of the bedroom door.

“Hey, Jarka.” Hati’s arms crossed at his chest when she glanced in his direction. “You’re in my spot. Move, or, uh,” He bounced his eyebrow. “We’ll have to cuddle.”

With a quick slap to her knees, Jarka was off of the sofa. “Well, I’ll be in my room.”

*****

The book rested in her lap, a bowl of water obscuring the text. Kai, I’ve never felt so stupid in my entire life. A heavy sigh rumbled slowly through Jarka’s lips. Her eyelids gently dropped shut.

Feel the spirit of the water. Feel your mind’s finger tap the surface. Anticipate the wake.

She strained to make a mental picture without thought, like the book cryptically suggested.

Feel your mind’s finger make a circle around the center of the water.
Her breathing slowed.

Anticipate the wake. Feel your mind’s finger make a bigger circle. Anticipate the wake.

She began to feel strangely… exerted. Nevertheless, she continued the exercise.

Anticipate the wake.

Her mind felt as though it were simultaneously silent and buzzing.

Anticipate.

The girl opened her eyes, which soon widened in disbelief.

The bowl was host to a miniscule whirlpool. She had done it. The exercise had worked. She was officially, really, truly, and actually telekinetic. Slowly, a smile worked its way onto her lips. It felt good to be in control of the ability, to not be surprised by it. It felt… right.

She relaxed her body, her mind, her eyes.

“Again.”

*****

“Time to step it up a notch.”

The few days spent practicing had already proven worthwhile. Jarka had mastered the water movement, even managing to create the spirals with her eyes open. Now, her mind’s digit was itching to scratch something a bit more challenging.

In her palm sat the metal spoon that her kischiatrist had given her. It was light and more malleable than most silverware, something that she’d likely be grateful for in a moment. She raised her hand just inches away from her face.

Exhale. Eyes closed. Anticipate the wave.

The door to her room creaked open. “Hey, Jarrrr…” Sigfried’s unexpected entrance was accompanied by an agape jaw. “Is- Is that a spoon?”

Caching the occupied hand in her lap, her free hand haphazardly covered the evidence of her deeds with a pillow. Her countenance reddening, the girl shrieked at the interruption. “What are you doing? Get out!”

“I-I… Sorry.” The door clicked shut.

She flopped backwards onto the bed. As her nerves steadied, a wave of guilt washed over her. She shouldn’t have snapped at him. She could have explained what she was doing. Why she was doing it. She could have told him everything. She should tell him everything. She glanced to the door. She would tell him everything.

Reluctantly, she slid off the bed and proceeded to the living room.

A perplexed Sigfried reclined on the sofa, refusing to acknowledge her entrance. The girl filled an electric kettle, allowing it to burble as she contemplated how exactly to manage her confession. A barely audible click announced the completion of the heating cycle. Earl Grey seeped into the mugs as she poured the boiling water over the teabags.

The beverages clinked against the hard surface of the coffee table. “Let it steep for five.” Jarka took a seat next to the bewildered boy. Tell him. Now. “I’m sorry. Listen, what you saw - .”

“I should have knocked.” Sigfried shook his head. “My bad. I won’t ask.”

The girl cast a downward glance. She’d missed her shot; he had closed himself off to any more discussion on the mishap. Currently, it seemed he also closed off any hope of conversation as well. The silence grew unbearably more awkward with each passing moment. “So, where’s the gang?”

“Out.”

One word answers weren’t much better. “I’m not mad at you. I was startled.”

Finally, he gazed meekly towards her. “I’m making this worse, aren’t I?”
“A little bit.”

He smirked. “I’m an ass, aren’t I?”

“A little bit.” The pendant around her neck twisted between her fingers.

“Let me explain - ”

The boy tossed his hand, silencing her. “Privacy is privacy. We all have secrets.”

Well, there goes that opportunity. In that serendipitous way that time often works, the hands on the clock had inched forward to exactly teatime. Jarka removed the teabags and handed Sigfried his mug. “So, what’s up, oh fearless leader?”

The boy took a quick gulp of his tea before clacking it back onto the table. “Well! I wanted to run this by you. You know, before everybody else.”

Jarka grasped both hands around the steamy beverage and drew it towards her face, eager to hear his plan as always.

“Okay, so… we’re really starting to get the ball rolling, right? Bake sale went awesome, you rock. Now, this money is great and all, but it’s not enough for an army. Hell, it’s not enough to recruit an army. So, listen.” His fingers snapped into the shape of guns, which he waggled for emphasis. “We need to take it to the next level.”

“How do you propose we do that?”

His face beamed, the wheels in his head clicking into place. “Why, Jarky, I’m so glad you asked.”

The cook listened intently as he elaborated his plan. The money they had earned would, unsurprisingly, be placed right back into ECM’s mission. The zeni could buy them a banquet hall rental and a few tips to the local television stations. Roy and Victoria would spend an upcoming afternoon at the luncheon, rubbing shoulders with society’s upper crust and spreading the message of their organization – namely how much it would benefit their bank accounts. The impressed aristocrats would gladly spread their pocketbooks to assist him.

Following that, the impressive Mr. Munin would engage in another enrapturing public rhetoric. This time, the location would be in Bujin Memorial Plaza, under the honorable gaze of its namesake’s likeness. His newly acquired benefactors would be seated around him, showing the populace just how much they cared and confirming the validity of the movement. It will be here that he would, to wild roars of enthusiasm, announce his plan to run for mayor of Central City.

Roy’s day would end by descending into the crowd for a meet and greet. Babies would be kissed and t-shirts would be signed, all while flashing that stunning smile for the press.

Woo the rich, appease the masses, make for some photo ops. It would be cake for their political darling.

Sigfried locked his hands behind his head. “Well?”

“That’s… incredible.” Jarka’s reaction was not an exaggeration. “You- You thought of all that in just a few days?”

“No,” A chuckle gently shook his body. “It’s rolled around my head for a while. Now was just the prime time to pull the trigger.” A look of concern flashed onto his normally despondent features. “So, you do like it?”

Wordlessly, the girl held up her fist, prompting Sigfried to pound it with his own.

“Good.” He winked. “There’s the only opinion that matters.”

The girl clutched her hands mockingly to her heart. Her hair was quickly mussed by Sigfried in response.

Laughing, Jarka poked him in the side. “I take it you need me to cook for the luncheon?”

“Who else could I trust?”

Without thinking, the girl blurted out, “I’m psychic.” Her palms clasped over her mouth as though they could catch the tumbling words before they reached his ears. Instantaneous regret coursed through her bloodstream, burning her face. Tears threatened to spill when she realized there was no retracting what she had just said.

“You’re… psychic? Really?” Sigfried looked incredulous, but concerned. Still, she hadn’t meant to tell him. Not like this. How could she have been so stupid?

First a sniffle, then a whimper, and then the sobs came. The girl doubled over, burying her face in the crook of her elbow as her shoulders trembled.

“Hey. Hey, now. Come here.” Scooting closer, the boy gently guided her onto his chest into a comforting embrace. His fingers reassuringly stroked her hair; his arms offered an occasional squeeze. The girl clutched his sweatshirt, grateful for the warmth of the cozy fabric and the kindness of her friend.

When her weeping subsided, he lifted her chin with his forefinger and brushed a wet lock from her face. He whispered in a soothing tone, “Do you want to talk about it?”

The girl struggled to speak. It was strange, to say the least. She had spent so much time, so much energy trying to keep her secret from the people she had become involved with. Now that she was ready to talk, it was like she couldn’t even remember what she had been hiding.

She wiped away the moist residue from her cheeks. “Sigs, can you get me a bowl of water?”

“Water?” Sigfried looked puzzled, but obeyed. He set the bowl on the coffee table and resumed his position by Jarka’s side.

“This is all pretty new to me.” She gestured towards the bowl. Her companion leaned forward, watching intently.

Anticipate the wake. Her mind pulled the water into a whirlpool, faster and faster. Soon, the bowl wobbled from the force of the current. Faster swirls meant more wobble, meaning more movement from the bowl. It spun off the table, soaking the carpet where it landed.

The psychic winced. “Sorry. Got a little carried away”

“It’s water. I don’t think it’ll stain.”

The girl giggled. “But, yeah. I’ve only known about this for, like, a month or so.”

Eyes still transfixed on the bowl, Sigfried muttered, “Slipped through the cracks, eh?”

The comment caught Jarka off-guard. Could he mean -

“So! You move shit with your mind.” His voice was awestruck.

She nodded slowly, absolved of any suspicion. “Oh. And, I can see the future. Sometimes.”

He tossed his hands up, stunned. “’Oh, and!?’ Jarky, that’s badass!”

“Well, it’s just, like, ten seconds ahead.” She bit her lip. Best keep the prophecy to herself. “I still don’t really understand how to use it.”

The boy shook his head slowly, gazing back at splotch of water. He jerked his head toward the bowl. “How long did it take you to learn that?”

“A few hours. It gets harder if it’s farther away. A couple of days to do it with my eyes open.”

Sigfried turned back to the girl, examining her as she reclined gently on the sofa. For the first time since she’d arrived at ECM, she seemed relaxed, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She was smiling softly to herself, an expression that seemed more natural for her than breathing.

“Not to pry or anything, but…” Sigfried hesitated in order to find the correct words. “Why’d you wait so long to tell me?”

“Sigs, aside from my parents…” A slight shrug distracted from the tears that teased their way into her eyes. “You’re the first person I’ve told.”

The boy was silent; his eyes remained locked with hers. She watched as his face became a medley of emotions, some recognizable, some indecipherable.

Pride, affinity, elation, empathy, and perhaps a dash of guilt all colored the smile that spread across his face. Moisture tickled his eyes, a sensitive reaction she doubted he often showed.

Sigfried collapsed into a tender embrace with the girl. Jarka squeezed his torso as tightly as she could, as though she hoped never to let go of the friend, the confidante she had gained.