The Power of Persuasion
Two fifteen year old boys, Tirash and Javan, are hanging out after dinner. They are part of a humanoid race who are mental adepts. Their mental powers manifest at puberty, which they call Awakening. Tirash’s brother Dedan Awakened earlier today.
Scene 1 In the street
Javan: Any news of De?
Tirash: No. Mum and Dad said a wild kinetic is dangerous. He’ll have to stay at the Skill School until he’s learned some control and then he’ll come home and go every day for a year. Pretty much standard, really.
Javan: Do you ever wish you could choose your talents? I mean, who wants to be an empath? It’s bad enough dealing with people’s emotions on the outside, without having them in your head all the time.
Tirash: It’s not all the time. Mum says you learn to screen them out as part of your training.
Javan: Still, I wouldn’t like my Mum in my head all the time.
Tirash: She’s not! At least, if she is, she doesn’t say. She lets us have our privacy. But she always asks when we’re worried about something.
Javan: My Mum is only a fine empath, so she can only pick up emotions from one person close to her. I’ve told her to keep away.
Tirash: I don’t know how you get away with speaking to your parents like that. They used to be as strict as mine, but lately they seem to let you do what you want.Javan, smiling sweetly: My sweet nature won them over.
Tirash laughs and pushes him: Yeah, everyone knows how sweet you are, especially around my sister.
Javan pushes back: Like you with Gether. Have you asked her out yet?
Tirash scowls: No, you know I haven’t. It’s so hard to think of what we could do that my parents, and her parents, would approve of.
Javan: What about if we double dated? I’ll bet they would let us go out then. Something public, like the park. Then, after a few dates, the cinema, where we can make out under cover of darkness.
Tirash: Hey that’s an idea! Not about making out, but about going out as a four. Our parents and the girls would be more likely to say ‘yes’ then. I can work on Calneh before you ask her, so she can persuade Gether.
Javan: No need for that, She won’t say ‘no’ to me. I can do my own persuading. I am invincible at persuading people!
Tirash: What’s your secret? I could do with a trick or two to use on my parents.
Javan: I’m just very persuasive, and I have this innocent face I put on which makes people trust me.
Tirash: This I’ve got to see.
Javan: Right! You want proof? Let’s go and ask your parents if we can go down to the stream in the woods.
Tirash: You know it’s out of bounds since that little girl fell in and drowned. They’ll never let me.
Javan: You just let me do the talking. Get down here and let’s go.
(Exit both.)
Scene 2 In the woods (Enter both, running.)
Tirash: I can’t believe it! Mum only hesitated when you asked her and then said ‘Yes.’
Javan: We didn’t have to run all the way, you know. She won’t change her mind once I’ve persuaded her.
Tirash: It’s strange, being here on our own. It’s not the same without the others.
Javan (Gives Tirash a push): Some people are never happy! You dared me to persuade your parents, and now you don’t want to be here!
Tirash: Sorry Javan. I should be thanking you for breaking the ban. How did you do it?
Javan gets serious: I really don’t know. Just lately, I seem to get my way a lot more. (An awkward pause, then he laughs.) When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.
Tirash: Maybe you’re developing a new power – the power of persuasion! Hey, won’t it be great when we get our powers? If we can teleport ourselves we’ll be able to go anywhere we want. With telekinesis we won’t have to work, except in concentration. With telepathy we can talk to each other, no matter where we are. Life will be so easy!
Javan: If only we knew which powers we’ll get, and how strong, that’s the trouble. But power is the word! (Javan grabs a stick and lashes the bushes with it.) The power to do so much! Telekinesis can destroy things too. Oh, I hope I’m a kinetic!
Tirash (shocked): No Javan, our powers are meant to be used for the benefit of everyone. They won’t let you destroy things, you know.
Javan: Don’t forget my power of persuasion. With mind control I’ll be unstoppable!
Ann Marie Thomas is the author of five medieval history books, a surprisingly cheerful poetry collection about her 2010 stroke and two further poetry collections, and the science fiction series Flight of the Kestrel, of which there are four books are out now. Follow her at http://eepurl.com/bbOsyz and get free books.